A new downtown park

Something to look forward to, when we’re all comfortable being in crowded spaces again, even outside crowded spaces.

Houston officials broke ground [earlier this month] on a new park in south downtown that by next year will provide the area with its first addition of major greenspace since Discovery Green opened more than a decade ago.

The park will take up most of the block surrounded by Bell, Fannin, Leeland and San Jacinto streets, replacing a Goodyear Auto Service Center. It will include a central lawn area, gardens on the north and south sides, dog runs for large and small breeds, water features and art installations, and a second location of Tout Suite, the East Downtown cafe. Construction is expected to wrap up next March.

Officials have dubbed the new area Trebly Park, a nod to the three street corners surrounding the park, and the implication that “there’ll be three times as much here for everybody who lives in the neighborhood and who visits,” said Bob Eury, president of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority. The project previously had gone by the name of Southern Downtown Park.

[…]

Mayor Sylvester Turner said the project is part of city leaders’ ongoing efforts to bring more parks and greenspace to the downtown area, such as the renovation Jones Plaza farther north. Those types of investments will spur further growth downtown, Turner said, adding that when he was growing up in Houston decades ago, the central business district would become “dead” shortly after everyone left work for the day.

“When I grew up in this city, there were probably, other than the hotels, I don’t think there was anybody living downtown. And now we have about 10,000 people living downtown,” he said. “The developments have led to the design and construction of this park, and at the same time, the parks are leading to residential and other transit-oriented development downtown.”

Downtown has other issues right now, but I expect they will sort themselves out one way or another. In the meantime, more park space is welcome. If like me you were scratching your head at the explanation of the “Trebly Park” name, CultureMap is here to help:

“Trebly Park is located on Block 333 of Downtown Houston, on a site defined by three city block corners. Trebly, meaning ‘three times as much,’ is fresh in spirit, rolls off the tongue, and is not moored in convention. By its definition, Trebly Park implies that the park has much to offer those who visit it in terms of experience with ‘three times as much’ fun, play, interaction, relaxation and deliciousness.”

Good to know. I’ve got it on my places to visit next spring.

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5 Responses to A new downtown park

  1. David Fagan says:

    What about the rest of the city parks I’m always hearing from city council they are coming under disrepair?

    Must be frustrating being a council member that cannot get any help maintaining the parks in their district while watching new ones pop up.

  2. voter_worker says:

    The word “park” is inadequate to describe this venture, but it will have to do. It’s occupying leased land, will be a restaurant venue, is funded by a TIRZ and managed by a quai-public management district. The only similarity it has to a City of Houston neighborhood park is having open space as a significant design element. Those neighborhood parks are unlikely to ever enjoy this creative mix of funding and design input.

  3. C.L. says:

    If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the big corporation and office lessee’s downtown don’t really need to be leasing all this office space if folks can successfully work from home (something I’ve been doing for a year now).

    I expect to see more single square block ‘parks’ being formed….

  4. Jen says:

    What we need here in the city center are some wildflowers. Some of the parks they make here are sculpted concrete, over-architected, over-developed little areas. Any grassy area is manicured to the limit, with plenty of chemicals to insure orderly Nature. Pity any poor little Bluebonnet or Indian Blanket flower that tries to grow. A lightly managed portion dedicated to native plants as part of every park would be really nice.

  5. David Fagan says:

    Not able to have both, plenty of parking AND wildflowers? Houston chooses plenty of parking.

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