![\"Native,](\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Woodway-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Native, edible amaranth in the foreground planted by Buffalo Bayou on the bank of the Woodway drainage outfall. Smartweeds, snoutbean, and other plants, mostly native but also some invasive, in the background. Native plants like amaranth and smartweed stabilize the soil and help prepare for new forest growth. Non-native Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses planted by contractors. Photo Aug. 28, 2015<\/p><\/div>\n
Closed to the public for more than two years, including more than a year after the $1.36 million taxpayer-funded solar-irrigated \u201cerosion control\u201d project was completed, the ugly, massively enlarged outfall draining Post Oak Road is still officially a Texas Parks and Wildlife Paddling Trail boat launch<\/a>. Previously it was also a forested area with a nature trail.<\/p>\n But officials with the Uptown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 16<\/a> now seem genuinely eager to do \u201cwhat we can to get it open to the public,\u201d said John Breeding, administrator, at the Uptown board<\/a> meeting in a Galleria high-rise last Wednesday, Aug. 26.<\/p>\n The board voted without discussion to award a contract for $219,272.10 to Jerdon Enterprise, LP<\/a>, which was the sole bidder for the long-delayed project. With \u201cadd-ons\u201d the cost could go to $335,615.10. That seems like a lot of public money for taking down some chain-link fencing, putting up some standard railing, laying down some loose gravel, etc. But apparently no one else wanted to do it.<\/p>\n Work on the Outfall Phase II is now scheduled to begin this month and be completed by December 15, 2015.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re confused about why a TIRZ and not the parks department or the city council would be making these decisions, well, it is confusing. But the TIRZ has control of the money<\/a>.<\/p>\n