WHAT'S NEW ON THE TRAIL
There's progress around every corner. Discover the latest additions and ongoing projects bringing new life to Willow Waterhole's trails and greenspace.
A Note from Daniel Millikin, Our New Executive Director
I’m so excited to step into the role of Executive Director for the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy. Many of you may know me from my years working in Houston’s gardening and environmental community, helping people connect with plants, soil, and the larger natural systems that make this city so vibrant.
Before joining Willow Waterhole, I was deep into Houston’s horticulture/ conservation scene and led educational outreach through radio, television, and nonprofit work with the Houston Botanic Garden, Memorial Park Conservancy, and the Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance. My passion rests in guiding people to see how science and nature come together in the land, and how caring for nature connects us more deeply to each other.
What draws me most to Willow Waterhole is its spirit of community. This place shows what’s possible when people come together to restore, protect, and celebrate our shared green space. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of that story — and I can’t wait to work alongside all of you to see what we’ll grow next.
Parking at the Greenway
Big news: the expanded Dryad parking lot was completed in March 2025. This doubled the number of spots from 35 to 70! If you’ve visited on a weekend or evening lately, you’ve probably noticed it’s been bustling with activity.
Looking for other places to park and start your Greenway adventure? Check out our newly finished lots at 11100 and 11400 Clematis Lane (near Willow Lake) and 4800 Gasmer Drive (at Prairie Lake). They’re perfect launch points for hiking, biking, or just soaking up the scenery.
These improvements were all part of the Conservancy’s Discover Your Greenway capital campaign which focused on making the Greenway more accessible and enjoyable for all.
Thanks to generous supporters, the campaign also brought:
· 8 miles of ADA-accessible trails with wayfinding and educational signage
· 40 new benches and picnic tables
· 5 safe street crossings
· A scenic pier
· And even more trees!
We’re thrilled to see more and more visitors enjoying everything the Greenway has to offer and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.
FLORA & FAUNA SPOTLIGHT
Each issue, we will shine a light on a fascinating resident, from rooted natives to winged visitors and everything in between. Keep an eye out next time you're on the trails -- you just might spot them yourself!
Turks Cap
This Texas tough native thrives in shade, extreme heat, and drought. It is a low growing perennial shrub that spreads easily with leaves that look like baseball mitts.
The Turk’s cap flowers get their common name because of their red upright blooms that resemble a Turkism turban. The flowers eventually turn into tiny, red apple-like fruits that are a favorite of birds and other wildlife.
Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Mottled Duck
Keep an eye out for the Mottled Duck as you walk through Willow Waterhole. Depending on the season, you may spot ducklings trailing behind their mother.
Both males and females are mostly brown and buff. Males have bright yellow bills, while females have greenish-yellow to orange bills, sometimes with dark markings.
Here’s more about this unique bird:
Feeding Behavior – Forages in shallow water by dabbling in the mud just below the surface, occasionally upending. Ducklings often dive to feed; adults rarely do.
Diet – Eats seeds of aquatic plants and grasses, insects, snails, and sometimes small fish. Ducklings feed mostly on insects and invertebrates.
Nesting – Builds a shallow bowl of grasses and reeds, lined with down and breast feathers.