What this is
A new 10-foot-wide trail along Brays Bayou in Meyerland will connect neighborhoods and honor a local hero who saved thousands of lives.
Harris County Precinct 4, in partnership with the Houston Parks Board, will construct new, continuous, 10-foot-wide hike and bike trail segments along Brays Bayou in the Meyerland area. As part of this $6.6 million project, the trail will extend from Braeburn Glen to S. Rice and pass under seven bridges. Additionally, a memorial plaza will be built along the trail to honor the life and heroism of Captain Gary L. Herod. The community and his family have rallied for years to make this memorial a reality.
Captain Gary L. Herod, a Texas National Guard pilot, heroically sacrificed his life in March 1961, by staying with his failing jet to guide it into an open area along the banks of Brays Bayou and away from thousands of nearby homes, saving many lives. It landed along the Bayou near Atwell. Funds were raised by community members in partnership with the Houston Parks Board to create a memorial plaza in honor of Captain Herod along Brays Bayou at the intersection of N. Braeswood and Mullins Dr.
Construction anticipated start date: Early 2025
Construction anticipated end date: Mid-2028
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Within the Herod Memorial Plaza will be the Herod Hero Bench. The wood for the bench came from the Herod Hero Tree that once stood along Beechnut in front of Meyerland Plaza. The tree was cut down on July 17, 2018. The stone marker and plaque were relocated to the grounds of Herod Elementary School. (Bench constructed by: The Woodworkers Club of Houston)
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