West 11th Street Park

West 11th Street Park, also known as the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve, is a 20.2-acre urban oasis located inside Houston's 610 Loop. The park represents the largest tract of native Texas forest added to the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department's inventory in recent years within this area.

The park features a diverse ecosystem with rapidly growing understory and serene wooded trails. It serves as a haven for wildlife and provides a respite from urban living for visitors. The forest floor is blanketed with fallen leaves, and the park is home to old oak and pine trees.

West 11th Street Park boasts an impressive biodiversity. It is home to 153 species of birds, including great horned owls, and 44 species of butterflies. The park also contains around 200 species of plants, including a variety of vigorous second-growth deciduous trees.

For nearly two decades, the park has functioned as a permanent nature preserve, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The park offers more than one mile of nature trails for visitors to explore.

One unique feature of the park is its Wireless Wilderness audio tour. Visitors can find signs throughout the park with a phone number to call and stop numbers to dial, providing information about the park's ecology. There are 16 stops in total, offering an educational experience for park-goers.