Connecting People and Places in Houston

Recorded in 2025.

[A drone shot looks down a green trail corridor in the Heights, with people walking and cycling.]

Jeremy Hurdle: Yeah, my name is Jeremy Hurdle. I live here on the trail in Heights.

[Jeremy stands in a sunny field by the trail, in a cap and a light long-sleeved top.]

[On screen: "What's your earliest memory of using this trail?"]

Jeremy: I actually moved to the Heights in 2022. I moved straight to an apartment building right on the trail. And, you know, I went out. Went out exploring on the bike one day, found the network of trails where it connected to the bayou, connected to downtown.

[A cyclist rides along a planted trail between apartment buildings.]

Jeremy: So I was pretty, pretty stoked to realize I was living somewhere that was connected by the trail.

[Volunteers plant young trees along a dirt path beside the trail.]

Recorded in 2025.

Interviewer: Is this rolling?

[A drone shot over a park and the trail, with rows of houses beyond.]

Marion Miller: Hey, I'm Marion Miller.

Ron Miller: I'm Ron Miller.

[Marion and Ron are filmed separately, standing on the grass by the trail.]

[On screen: "What's your earliest memory of using this trail?"]

Marion: Well, it happened, actually, when we were looking for houses. We moved to Houston, and, after Harvey and, we were looking all around, and we saw the trail, and we're like, hey, this is the place for us.

[Runners pass on the trail; then neighbors gather by a white tent at a trail event.]

Marion: So we bought a place that pretty much is right on the trail.

[On screen: "How does this project bring people together?"]

Ron: I think that, I guess the dream of the two bridges across the bayous is really going to put together, like an important need of North-South connections. And there's, like, so much cool stuff just south of the bayou and north of the bayou that is, well, it's difficult to get to now. And I've seen people out, you know, big groups of people out —

[Volunteers in safety vests carry young trees and tools along the trail.]

Ron: So that's another way to bring people together. And it's kind of a permanent mark on the landscape — a permanent positive mark on the landscape.

Recorded in 2025.

Interviewer: Let's do this, boys!

[A drone shot looks down a tree-lined trail with people walking.]

Gabe Nunez: Sure. Yeah! This is Gabe Nunez. I go by Gabe. I'm going to start over.

Interviewer: (Don't even worry about it.)

[Gabe stands on the grass by the trail in sunglasses and a T-shirt with a City of Houston bicycle seal.]

Gabe: Hey. Yeah. So this is Gabe. And, you know, I think this idea with all the trees in the Heights is amazing.

[A young tree, newly planted beside a building.]

[On screen: "What's your earliest memory of using this trail?"]

Gabe: You know, the very first time I came through this trail must have been about maybe five, six years ago. I was here with some of the people that I love the most in life. Right? And it was just getting started. All of this wasn't here. There was, there was actually a railroad that used to be here before. And, over time, it has become this magnet for community, this magnet for wellness for all.

[Drone shots: a planted trail with tents beside it; a cyclist on the trail; crowds on the grass at an event.]

Gabe: I mean, look at all these people enjoying life and, you know, just, walking their dogs, going on a stroll with their kids, with their babies, you know, just living life. It's amazing. It breathes life.

[On screen: "Why should others get involved with A Tale of Two Bridges?"]

Gabe: Wow. You know, so the tree project, I think. I think it helps communities get closer. Right?

[Close shots of people at a tree planting; walkers pass young trees and a trail sign.]

Gabe: It helps people in the Heights. People in the area. Breathe a cleaner air with all the trees and all the life that comes with it. Right? It's an amazing project. It's run by very good people that have a clean and clear heart. So, they know what they want, and they're pushing for it to make a better life for everybody around them, which is, again, amazing.

[Volunteers plant trees along a dirt path.]

Recorded in 2025.

Interviewer: Perfect, we're rolling.

[A drone shot looks down a long, straight trail through grass between houses.]

Kevin Quist: My name is Kevin Quist. I live in Montrose, but I'm very invested in walkability, urbanism, and good nature around Houston.

[Kevin stands on the grass by the trail in glasses and a long-sleeved top; runners gather behind him.]

[On screen: "How can planting a tree be an act of hope or resistance?"]

Kevin: So I'm sure everybody here who's watching the video will know that our summers keep getting hotter. And so everyone's going to feel like we can't go outside, but I really think that trees are our answer. And if we do a big tree planting push in this decade, down the line, it's going to pay off really well for our future Houstonians, who will be able to enjoy public spaces.

[Close shots of tree bark and leaves; drone shots of new townhouses and tree-lined streets.]

[On screen: "What's one word that describes this project for you?"]

Kevin: Inspiring.

[On screen: "What do you want future generations to feel when they walk this path?"]

Kevin: I want them to feel cool, and I want them to feel relaxed. And I want this to be a place where people feel a sense of therapy really, to look at trees and calm the mind every day, and at the end of the day.

[From above, families gather on the grass at a trail event; a park pavilion; a young tree with a tag tied to its trunk.]

Recorded in 2025.

Interviewer: Who am I here with today?

[A shot of grass at a tree planting; then two people walk along a wide trail.]

Abbie Kamin: Abbie Kamin, very proud Houston Council member for District C.

[She stands in front of a fenced field by the trail, in a light jacket.]

[On screen: "What's one word that describes this project for you?"]

Abbie Kamin: Safety. For Houstonians, means taking a holistic approach. That means shade and cooler environment so people don't overheat. It also means protection from flooding, but it also means safe crossings. Last year alone, 2024 was the most deadliest year on our roads, not just for those in cars, but on bikes and pedestrians.

[A cyclist in a green bike lane; a runner on a shaded street.]

Abbie Kamin: We need to be working towards Vision Zero. That means safe crossings. That means safe pedestrian realms. That means supporting all types of transportation, all types of users, and making sure that our neighborhoods are safe for families.

[A playground and parking lot from above; people on the grass at a trail event.]

[On screen: "How can community groups partner with the city to bring projects like this to life?"]

Abbie Kamin: Anyone can reach out to our office at districtc@houstontx.gov to inquire about Department of Neighborhood Matching grants, but there are other ways to engage. Whether it's through your civic club, whether it's through organizations like A Tale of Two Bridges, whether it's getting together with your neighbors to say, we want to do something. These are the types of partnerships that bring together not just our Houston community, but bringing incredible projects forward.

[On screen while she gives the address: "districtc@houstontx.gov". Volunteers plant trees; drone shots of new houses and families on the grass.]