I come here often and it is great to have a dirt/gravel running trail in the heart of Houston! However, I do feel as though there are alot of cons and improvements that need to come with the park. Positives Great running, hiking and biking trails. I love the workout poles and benches throughout the jogging trail. I also love that it is free to the public! The road to drive on is pretty wide. Negatives I hate that the running trail is all alongside the roads. All you do is sniff up the fumes and listen to the cars passing by. Parking is such a pain!!! Diagnol parking along the street are narrow. Traffic can get pretty bad sometimes during peak hours. The crowd is such a pain to deal with during weekday evenings and weekends. My tips: If you want a relaxing day at the park, go during the weekday morning/afternoon. Saturday early mornings and Sundays. read more

I love that this massive bit of nature exists in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Houston. My husband and I have been looking for a place to walk in the evenings that we really enjoyed. We've been walking through neighborhoods, on sidewalks, on streets, and it's be okay. But there is nothing quite like seeing 4 rabbits while walking. The path is a little under 3 miles and really fun to walk. It's better than walking on streets and sidewalks because there are minor hills and your body has to fight the gravel. I feel like I've accomplished something when I'm here. The air is cleaner, the people are nicer, the walk seems relaxing and yet challenging at the same time. It's a great way to spend an hour every evening. read more

I've been to the driving range (golf) a few times now and it's pretty good, since it has some shaded areas. Due to the position of the sun on the west side in the evening, the overhang doesn't provide much help, but in the middle of the afternoon (when it's HOTTEST - too freakin hot to do anything outside in Houston's unbearable summers) it helps give you protection. They have artificial grass mats w/ rubber tee's - a plus in my book (as a beginner who doesn't know anything)! At least you don't have to waste your own tee's. I need to get me one of those ! read more

Wow, I used to be a Rice Trail snob and squawk at the idea of driving out to memorial park for a run, but now that I live down the road from this place, I can't say I'll ever go back to the Rice Trail unless I were in the med center and my friends wanted to run it. The trails are so much wider! Also there's a lot more people on the trail at all hours of the morning, day, night. The downside is that there is less shade/tree coverage on the trails, so it can get much hotter in the summer, but the scenery offers much more and there is free parking since its a public park unlike Rice where you gotta scrounge for parking or pay a few bucks for the back lot. read more

Whether here for the work out, walk or serenity... I always find myself at peace amongst the glorious scenery. Even rainy days have their own story. It's good for biking, walking, jogging or whatever your level of fit is. Just be sure to give it a try. They have pull up bars periodically throughout the 3 mile track. Also, they have tennis courts, a golf course, and a Beck's Prime inside the perimeter. I definitely recommend this park if you like the lively atmosphere to get in the rhythm. But there are also benches around to sit and enjoy nature. read more

Memorial Park - Every journey starts with the first step - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Best park ever for the lazy girl or the runner. I have a ton of girlfriends, guyfriends that love this park. Not too too crowded, but def enough people to feel safe! For the runner or even for the walker, this park gets 5 stars because its safe and MOST importantly, it MAKES you finish! Once you start, you're pretty much screwed and have to finish :) read more

One of my favorite places to run in Houston... Go figure. Everyone's right? It is not as shaded at Rice trail. Nice 3 mile trail around the park. Nature in our concrete jungle. Tons of people watching. My favorite. Traffic here is horrible weekend mornings and after work. On the off chance I can get to the park earlier I jump on it because after 4:30 it's hard to find parking! But still one of my favorites, I know I'll get 3 miles in, even if there are a ton of people I don't feel too crowded on the trail and clean bathrooms at the tennis courts. I would avoid the rest of the bathrooms along the trail though. read more

If you're like me, it's tough to justify being inside a gym on a beautiful day, and Memorial Park offers a great trail on which to get outside and run. The trail, which circles the golf course, tennis courts, and club house, makes about a 3 mile loop with enough varied terrain that you don't get too bored making several circles, or you can take some auxiliary trails to add mileage. The Park Trail was a regular haunt of mine while training for the half marathon. But it's not just the trail which draws Houstonians to Memorial Park. The aforementioned golf course and driving range has would-be Lee Trevinos out swinging the sticks, several softball fields for organized leagues, bike trails (although cyclists can be reckless out there on the roads circling the park, taking lanes, causing traffic - I saw one get run over the other night, scary), arboretum, and just general ample green space for family picnics, frisbee, volleyball, and soccer all afford opportunities for outdoor activities. Granted, it gets hotter'n hell during the summer months, but during the spring and fall, Memorial Park is a great place to be. read more

Great area park! Wonderful, long winding, natural looking jogging trails. I take the kids to play, run around in the fountains, and take walks... read more

Memorial Park - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Favorite place to go for a jog! Reason being: -Once you start running, you force yourself to complete the whole loop -its motivational to see everyone else jogging -ample parking -plenty of benches to stretch and do abs -well-lit with cops doing rounds I wish there were more parks in the loop like this one. I like to go the opposite direction from the norm because you won't have as much congestion issues and running around the walkers that like to walk 3-wide. read more

Great park for a job, bike, walk, picnic, tennis, golf course and range, racket balll...so much more. We live in the park and LOVE it!!! This is the best park in Houston!! Great for the whole family. Pros: Tons of extracurricular activities Well lit and busy in the early morning and night Tons of parking and waterfountains Stretching area is nice The closed off area for biking is great for closing off traffic A couple of bathrooms (tennis courts, golf course and one port a potty and one new shower/bathroom on the south end of the park) The granite trail is a great place for running and the park routinely updates the crushed granite Cons: The memorial gym is outdated and needs a facelift read more

I love running Memorial. You just cannot beat having a three mile dirt loop in the middle of a huge city! My only annoyance pertains to people who do not follow the posted rules and walk three or four abreast so that runners have to swerve around them. There are water fountains and porta-potties. It is a popular place to run, so parking is a mess after work. read more

With the recent renovations, the park only gets better! One of the best assets of Houston! It is approximately 3 miles around and though it is popular, you don't ever feel claustrophobic. But if you want to avoid the crowds, go after 8 and there are still enough people to feel safe. Not only can the park boast about its running trail, but it also offers tennis courts, playing fields, a fitness center, swimming pool and mountain/biking trails along the bayous. I After your run/bike, go visit the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center to cool down! read more

I don't think I'd be surving Houston well without some sort of oasis like Memorial Park. The facilities I've enjoyed: - Running Trail: nice gravel 3 mile loop, perfect for morning or evening jogs - Picnic Loop Bike trail: paved figure-eight loop, good for evening 10-20 mile rides - Trail System: I like to trail run here (word to the wise - don't run these in the summer, it's just too hot and humid, and even if you get there really early, it's not that much cooler and there are spider webs out, eek!). Some people like to mountain bike these too, but I wasn't a fan of them as biking trails. Too many roots for my taste - Soccer fields: there are soccer and volleyball fields available for use. We sometimes bring a ball and just play around here. They can also be used for yoga, stretching, etc. Get off your couch and go visit the park! read more

There are numerous biking trails here ranging from beginner to expert. For beginners I would recommend the purple trail as there aren't that many roots or slopes you have to go over, just watch out cause there are also people that walk on these trails. read more

I love this park! We visit Houston a few times a year and always forget until I'm there how beautiful, quaint, and relaxing the park is. The path is well labeled, there is an area to stretch in. This time we took my dad to a few of the parks and trails in houston to run in and as soon as we got to memorial he was instantly wowed and wanted to buy a house in houston somewhere close to the park! No matter where you are you should be aware of your surroundings and be careful but even as a girl I always feel safe here. There is a nice area to stretch and bathrooms available for use by the tennis center. My only complaint is the doggy bag locations are very few and far between and they are usually out of doggy bags so bring your own to clean up if ya bring your pets to walk with you. Also if it rains a lot it gets muddy too. read more

Great place for a picnic, biking trail, a path to either run or walk and so much more. When the weather is cool and not HOT, I often come here for jogging / walking. Great place to go for exercise. read more

For the few beautiful days in Houston we get a year, where the sun is shining, the wind is blowing gently, and the sky is clear, this is the place. My dog loves it! We have been many times to take him for long walks. I also met friends up to kick a soccer ball around once. Good times. Last weekend, I had work to do (joy). But it was a little more bearable when the husband and Charlie and I headed out to the park with a picnic lunch, snacks and drinks, and our books. We sat there for a good three hours, and had a great time. Best of all, the day was free! Things to bring: - Delicious sandwiches, or something to put on the grill - Water - Sunscreen - Water for your doggy - A plastic bag (in case your doggy does his or her business) - Sanitizer (the bathroom didn't have soap) - Music ( - A good book, or work, if you have it - A football or frisbee The Verdict: Great place for a run, long walk, or a slow-paced relaxing day in the outdoors. read more

This park is nice, but WHY is the traffic so crazy here? I'm thinking it's a park people slow down, chill, relax, enjoy the view. Yea I need to be a passenger at Memorial park because I'm sure to piss off people who seem to be in a rush to RELAX, walk, jog, bike, play etc. read more

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Not a bad park. For me it's really kind of not that thrilling being that there's no real fenced in Dog Park. There's a dog area but it's still scary for me to take my dog out there because she may take it upon herself to run into traffic. Parking honestly just sucks. On the weekends good luck with parking. Might have to be rude and fight for a space just to park. In the end I think it's cute but's mainly for joggers, bikers, people who skate, just to sit by the dirty water and read. It's not a park I'd like to go to daily but it'll do. read more

I started going to Memorial park to walk and run recently. It is a nice place. The track is pretty wide and can accommodate a lot of people. However, this place can be a zoo when the whether gets nicer in Houston. Parking can be difficult to find which really is my biggest problem with the place. I hate the frustration of looking for a parking spot when I just want to get a quick workout in. The large amount of people does have the added benefit of entertaining people watching as you workout. It's always good to have something to distract from the fact that you are too out of shape to actually run the three miles around the park. Overall this is probably my favorite place to go running in Houston. read more

Oh Memorial Park, how I love thee! Unfortunately due to my super busy school schedule and adding work on top of that I haven't been able to come as often as I wish I could. But the times I get to come I love it, love the trail. This is perfect for someone that wants to see a good scenery while running/jogging/walking. My absolutely favorite thing is the length of the trail, I have to finish one way or another either going all around or going back 1/2 way which in the end I will end up making the 3 miles but that's a plus since it keeps me on check. You will always see people jogging/walking and the variety is amazing, from kids to elders, mom's with strollers and people jogging with their dogs, from slim to not so slim so no need to feel intimidated here. If you're in a need of a break from the city life, the hectic life we live as humans or you just need a good inhale/exhale then check this place out. There's nothing better than nature itself. Happy walk/jog/run! Oh I believe there's also a cycling trail which I haven't checked out but looking forward to it. read more

Memorial Park Swim Center - Open starting Memorial Day weekend Tuesday thru Sunday from 1pm-8pm. Closed Mondays for pool maintenance. read more

Memorial Park - Fallen trees - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This review is for mostly the runnig trail. ok, I am obviously in the minority here but i can't stand to run here! Dog poop, way crowded at peak times, obnoxious people sometimes, like gross dudes there to just hit on girls trynig to run. I just don't see the appeal! there are way less crowded trails that are just as good. Why does everyone LOVE this place!?!?! read more

I love running this trail point blank. Its an absolute beast, especially when hot. They really revamped it also by cutting trees, cleaning up the trail, adding more lights and making the gazebo better. Also don't let me forget about the Smoothie King, the pool facility, tennis, golf, Beck's Prime, stretching stations, plenty of water fountains. This trail has everything you need to succeed. read more

Memorial Park - Beautiful stroll at the park - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Memorial park is one of the larger recreational areas in Houston. There are softball fields, soccer and kickball areas, workout areas, picnic areas, and miles of tree-covered jogging and biking trails. It's not uncommon to see people of all ages walking and running, along with their dogs and kids, at all hours of the day. There is ample parking, but some weekends, those can fill up. Oddly enough, there is also a Beck's prime on site as well. This is a great spot for meeting groups, or just reading outdoors. Honestly this review is pretty general because you can do most activities here. read more

Memorial Park is a long standing Houston tradition for joggers, walker and bikers alike. The trails are well kept and you won't find any roots or crap sticking up the trail like other places. For the single person, it's great for "motivation" there's always some good looking people jogging along ;-) read more

Absolutely love love love Memorial Park! My favorite place to run...You can find me there with my daughter at the playground or enjoying some prayer time in the mornings :-) Very serene read more

Memorial Park offers a lot, as one of the largest urban parks in the country, so it means something a little different to different people. Primarily I come here to jog (because I just move fast enough anymore to call it running). There is the basic 3 mike loop around the park on dirt and cinder; it's a great surface for my aging joints. The width of the trail varies but usually can accommodate 4-6 people abreast, and it's relatively level with a few minor elevation changes. They have been expanding and improving some side trails and branches so it is easy to get some variety in your route if you are running (sorry, jogging or walking in my case), and you can branch off to trails that head downtown along the bayou or into the neighborhoods. Or you can do some trail running, but be aware that you might be sharing the single track with mountain bikers. I don't live in this part of town so I often grab a shower at the tennis center. Showers cost $0.75, and you can rent a towel or locker for about the same price. Honestly, the locker rooms and showers are not that great but they are passable. All in all, not a bad place to get some exercise when you are ok with running with others. The trails can get pretty crowded in the evenings but are pretty quiet at other times. But seeing lots of people, from all walks of life and different shapes, exercising "together"!can be inspiring in its own way. This is not my favorite place to "trail run/jog" in the area but it's great nonetheless. For out of towners, it's a must if you want to get out an enjoy the Houston exercise "scene." read more

My favorite park for jogging! Hands down. 5k trail. Good environment. You can just go and get lost in a workout.

Played tennis and jogged the trail! Great way to start the day!! :) only $20 to rent the balls & court!! :)

I come for the running and how close it is to the house. It's a great 3 mile lap with LOTS of people after work. I guess everyone is quiting the treadmills to come outside to Memorial Park. There are ALOT of people here after work. A big bonus for the center of Houston is that there are NO safety issues. My wife and I never had any issues on the trail, together or when we run separately. I would give Memorial Park five stars if there were more water fountains and they maintain the trail just a little more. For example, the dust clouds are getting crazier with the drier weather. Maybe have a city truck spray down the trails? Also, fill in some of the low spots to cover the exposed drainage pipes. Peeves - people who walk in the middle. Please move over to the right. And the group of walkers who line up like a game of red rover. read more

Houston is very lucky to have such a wonder park (rated one of the top 10 parks in the US). There are many activities to do at the park from swimming, golf, tennis, biking (mountain & road), volleyball, running and more... So if you want to be active and outside this is the place to be. I've been here countless times to run the 3 mile loop. The loop is a wide compacted dirt trail with 3 water fountains. There is also cement mile markers placed on the trail too. Last year they finally finished building out the meetup area and it's pretty awesome. This spot includes wooden benches and wooden patio. It's located just under a few huge trees for added shade. You can find people on the trail at all times of day so grab your athletic gear and get outside to this park and enjoy! read more

Great place to walk/jog/run/bike in the city. Plenty of parking spots on either side of the road. I like that its a loop and one way, so easier to cross the road. read more

Memorial Park is such a nice little get-away located inside the Loop. I enjoy the running trail and how it is very well lit during the evening and at night. I believe that because of the 2011 drought, they had to cut down and uproot a bunch of trees, so it looks a little whack in some spots. Another downside to the removal of trees is the stupid freeway noise and visibility of the Katy Freeway. I remember that it was never as loud and you could not see the freeway, but that is no longer the case. I hope that we have plenty of rain to keep this treasure nice and green for as long as possible. PS: Parking may suck sometimes and traffic can really back up on Memorial Loop Dr. specially when the weather is nice and lots of us go out there to enjoy it. Just FYI :) OH and to the jerks who park at the EV parking spots, be courteous and don't park there unless you're parking an EV. I wonder when the city will pass an ordinance on this. read more

Of the places I have run in Houston thus far; Memorial Park is pretty good. It can be crowded; it can be pretty exposed on a hot, sunny day; it can be tough(ish) to find parking; and it can be tough to get to if you are not from that area- as 610 traffic can drive you crazy. Having said that, this place is nice. Roughly 2.9 mi roundtrip along the inner loop. Packed pea gravel yields good cushioning and good drainage after rain. The trail is quite wide for the most part (with a notable exception being along Memorial Drive) so people can run 2 abreast both ways without impeding those that are passing on the left from either direction-- MUCH better than the Rice University trail. Every city has a "work-out scene." For Houston, this seems to be it. It's a great cross section of super fit people to the normal Joe and Jane enjoying the outdoors and getting exercise. Refreshing, really. It's a nice change of pace from those long solitary runs. A bit- o- eye candy never hurts the motivation to pound out one more lap or pick up the pace a bit however... read more

Golf Course Review Only: I played a round while visiting for pleasure and did not risk airline travel with my clubs. I rented a set of beat up Mizuno clubs, bought a glove, 8 balls, and cart for $58 as the shop attendant knew i was out of town and was very nice to give me a deal of $10 for green fees. However i cant say the same for the Starter who insisted there was an error and was not happy about the deal i was given, but allowed it anyways. The course was pretty packed for a Wednesday afternoon as all the locals in their "winter clothes" were out duffing it around. Granted i had not swung a club in months, being a New Englander, i hit the heck outta those rentals, but came to the conclusion that this course is very easy The course is FLAT, no trees to contend with and minimal water. Great course for a confidence boost in your game, but i would check out the many surrounding courses. read more

Best park inside the loop! The three mile jogging loop is great. The crushed gravel trail is easy on the legs and the beautiful people are easy on the eyes. The picnic loop is great for cycling. After work, the loop is closed to automobiles which allows cyclist to ride without having to deal with auto traffic. If off road cycling is your thing, the mountain bike trails provide some fun for any skill level. Although the Arboretum is right next to 610, it has great hiking trails where you can catch a glimpse of nature. There is also a golf course, baseball field, volleyball courts, driving range, tennis court, and a pretty beat up quarter mile track. Overall, this park makes Houston a better place. read more

My breath of fresh air and second home. The park is located in a convenient location and I find it to be safe at almost any hour of the day. I have been out there as late at 9:30-10 p.m. and there is always a lot of people. The locker room is a bit older, but still very clean. read more

Awesome park and path for exercising or just relaxing. Gets pretty busy on weekends but certainly recommend! read more

Memorial Park - Me and "the dude" our for his walk. :) - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas