A HUMAN LOOK AT 288: WALKING TOUR
The closer we get to something physically and spiritually the better we can understand it, what it has done for us, and what it has done to us. Starting from the Gray Street bridge with that in mind, this walking tour will slow us down along the edge of the fast lane and follow State Highway 288 from its origins to its impacts to its future. We will walk along this massive and dominating piece of infrastructure, weave through neighborhoods that have been dissected because of it, and see how the communities have grown around it. We will feel its physicality while communing with its peculiar history and deeply consider its function and impact on the city and our lives.
The tour is 2 ½ hours long and will start and end at the intersection of St. Emmanuel & Gray St. (street parking is available in the area). Masks are mandatory, and comfortable walking shoes and highly visible clothing is advised – this is a walking tour along a freeway, all on city-provided sidewalks, but nonetheless, due to the presence of cars and some poor and rather inconsiderate planning decisions, the danger is inherent. Water and snacks from Crumbville will be provided.
This walking tour is part of Is There Life on Here? A Human Look at Houston’s Freeways: 288, 2020 Project Freeway Fellow Jeffrey Bussey’s investigation into how the gargantuan freeway system has constructed Houstonian’s identities and the areas they call home.