Up The Creek...			...At Alexandra Park
			by Debi Osborne

Hidden behind the tennis courts and the Houston Booster pool, Alexandra Park stays cool in the shade of giant cottonwoods until far into even the hottest summer afternoon. There are more than a few people in Houston that figure the park on Copeland Avenue is just that. Only a place with picnic tables, a metal riding horse, monkey bars and other outdoor facilities.

Playground and picnic tables and the start of the trail

But a relaxing walking trail awaits the person that heads south through the park. For thirty minutes, you can walk the trail that hugs the bank of Buck Creek to end up at Haftner Road. Clean and well worn, this trail is maintained by the District of Houston, who have strategically placed concrete barricades to ensure the walk isn't over-run by 4-wheelers and ski doos. It remains an attraction to strollers, seniors, bikers and people wanting to stretch theirs or their animal's legs.

Calm surroundings only minutes from the Houston Shopping Centre

Peaceful is the first word that comes to mind on this walk. The faint scent of roses drifts across your nose from wild bushes lining the creek's banks. The water trickles, and birds sing in the trees. Hard to believe you are two minutes from the bustle of downtown and the Houston Shopping Centre. If you didn't walk past a few fenced backyards along the way, you might be convinced you were in the middle of a pleasant stretch of untainted countryside.