Brazos Bend State Park: A Treasure in Our Own Backyard

Brazos Bend State Park is a 5,000-acre treasure in our backyard on the southeast border of Fort Bend County.  The plethora of activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, equestrian, and fishing.  The park website is:  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/brazos_bend/

However, heed the warnings to pay due respect to alligators, which are numerous in some areas of the park. Often sunning themselves on bike and hiking trails, they are completely disinterested in humans. However, dogs seem to be a delicacy; so, leave Fido at home.  

Children, of all ages, are encouraged to to take advantage of the at least three free interpretive programs and hikes that are offered every weekend.

For smaller children are air condition seekers, there the Nature Center is open Monday - Friday from 11 a.m - 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. and displays a "hands-on" alligator discovery area, a tactile model of the park, freshwater aquarium, live native snake species, a touch table and an open-captioned orientation video for all visitors including those with hearing impairments.

The crowning jewel of Brazos Bend Park is The George Observatory that is located in the park and is open Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.  For information on stargazing programs/passes and other programs, call the Observatory at 979/553-3400 or at 281/242-3055 (as a satellite of the Houston Museum of Natural Science) or visit the George Observatory web site.

Karen Naumann, APR

Fort Bend County Cycling Workshop Set for May 24th

Modern Mobility: The Cycling Connection in Fort Bend County breakfast and workshop will be Monday, May 24, 2010. Join the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend County municipalities and cycling advocates for a morning of learning and networking while promoting bicycle connectivity in the county. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the workshop following from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, 445 Commerce Green Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas.

The workshop will feature discussion of the status and outlook for a growing network of bicycle routes and linkages within Fort Bend County and area cities. The event will also highlight the regional funding and support public/private partnerships, and public awareness that are essential to improving connectivity and safety for residents who choose cycling for both local trips and recreation. Speakers include The Honorable Bob Hebert, Fort Bend County Judge; The Honorable James Patterson, Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 4; The Honorable James Thompson, Mayor of Sugar Land; The Honorable Allen Owen, Mayor of Missouri City; The Honorable Joe Gurecky, Mayor of Rosenberg; The Honorable Jacqueline Baly Chaumette, Sugar Land City Councilmember At-Large Position 2; W. Preston Tyree, Director of Education, League of American Bicyclists; Jeff Taebel, Director Community and Environmental Planning, H-GAC; and Nicole Volek, President of Shape Up Sugar Land.

The breakfast is generously sponsored by HDR Engineering, Inc. Other sponsors include The Houston-Galveston Area Council, Councilwoman Jacquie Chaumette, Wilbur Smith & Associates, Shape Up Sugar Land, Kendig Keast, and Edminster Hinshaw Russ and associates.

For more information about this event, contact Jacqueline Baly Chaumette at (281) 565-0390 or
Jacquie@JacquieChaumette.com or Ellen Bush (281) 491-0277 or Ellen@fortbendcc.org.