At the heart of the idea was a bold question posed to the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority: what if we reimagined the connections between Houston Heights and the surrounding green spaces and trail systems, like the White Oak Bayou Greenway, the Houston Heights Reservoir and the Heights Hike and Bike Trail?
That question evolved into a grassroots proposal. The vision included underpass lighting where White Oak Bayou meets IH-10 and IH-45, a streetcar-style circulator to connect the various pockets of the Heights, and a promenade-style redesign of the 60-foot wide right-of-way along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail between Shepherd and Yale.
The original proposal also envisioned activating the 30-acre green space now labeled on Google Maps as the Houston Heights Reservoir and Bird Sanctuary. Dug in 2010–2012, this detention basin was reforested with over 10,000 trees by TxDOT. That reforestation inspired our own planting strategies for what later became the Shade Project.
Start with two bridges
In 2022, when the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority first reviewed the vision, they responded with a practical suggestion:
“Why don’t you start with two bridges?”
Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority (MHRA/TIRZ 5), 2022
And so, A Tale of Two Bridges was born.
These proposed Rutland and Patterson pedestrian and bike bridges became a symbol of what was possible: how infrastructure could overcome the very real barriers that fracture neighborhoods across Houston, from freeways and rail lines to water bodies and wide arterial roads.
Learning how the city decides
From there, the work turned to understanding how decisions get made in the city: meeting civic associations, super neighborhoods, city council members and local nonprofits, and asking for letters of support.
Later that year, Patterson Park partnered with us to host our first large-scale community event highlighting the proposed Patterson Street Bridge, which would reconnect the Heights with Rice Military, the Washington Avenue Corridor and ultimately Buffalo Bayou.
A planning grant
By the end of 2022, we worked with MHRA to apply for funding through TxDOT’s 2023 Transportation Alternatives Program. While we originally aimed for a construction grant, we adjusted our strategy to seek planning funds, knowing that building a bridge requires thoughtful preparation. In 2023, that grant was awarded.
The grant has since supported MHRA in developing a comprehensive plan for the Greater Heights area that identifies projects to improve safety and connectivity for residents, employees, and visitors. The Patterson Bridge and Bird Sanctuary Loop was identified as one of the Plan’s nine Catalyst Projects and is designated as C7 in the Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan. Released in May 2026, the Plan was informed by multiple rounds of community engagement and input, including considerable community support for the C7 project.
What comes next
A Tale of Two Bridges recently established a Patterson Bridge Task Force to advance the project. The Task Force includes community members, local business owners, and representatives of local government. The Task Force is currently working to facilitate a soil and geotechnical assessment for the proposed Patterson Bridge.
We hope you’ll join us for what comes next.