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  1. Can't believe I haven't posted this yet, Aggie Park is a redevelopment of the area between Kyle Field and the Corps Quad. It will include a lake, grand promenade leaded up to the east side of Kyle Field, and an event center for Ring Day. Construction camera: https://app.truelook.com/?u=ma1629835378#tl_live The Gardens: https://gardens.tamu.edu/leach-teaching-gardens/
  2. Is the new midtown park fully open? The chain link fence is gone, people are using it, but one of the gates to the dog run is padlocked. (There's two gates but only one is padlocked)
  3. We've seen reports that highlight the lack of green-space in Southern DT, but plans are being set in place for a park in this area. In the very early stages, 1/2 - 1 Block will be acquired for the park. This will be a joint effort by the Downtown Management District, COH Parks Dept. and TIRZ 3.
  4. A nice spot for me has been the fountain (main @holcombe) where the shamrock stood.
  5. https://commprecinct2.org/communityparks/ https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/government/2023/03/29/montgomery-county-approves-master-plan-creation-for-fish-creek-regional-park/ " A master plan for the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Fish Creek Regional Park is underway after the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a professional services agreement with Burditt Consultants, LLC during its March 28 meeting. The agreement was approved as part of the consent agenda, on which items are approved with one motion without discussion. Fish Creek Regional Park will span 391 acres and be located off the Fish Creek thoroughfare near the Woodforest community, according to Precinct 2’s website."
  6. Never knew about this small, local, park in the TMC! Now swallowed-up by the Houston Methodist Research Institute, and the Walter & Centennial Tower. 1129 Wilkins Street Garden Club of Houston Park (1982) Charles Tapley Associates This exquisitely detailed garden court seeks valiantly to compensate for the mean, chaotic, indifferent treatment of public spaces within the Texas Medical Center. The fountain is a rewarding demonstration of what can be accomplished with thoughtfulness and ingenuity. Unfortunately, the garden was conceived as an isolated treatment rather than the model for more amenable public environment within the medical center.
  7. Beautify the `superblock' and watch the Midtown area's tax base grow By DAVID CROSSLEY Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle News Services Often we hear in Houston that it's "too late" to do something that would have great positive impact on quality of life. We are approaching one of those moments. Two years ago, I proposed that a new urban park be created on the Midtown "superblock" on Main Street abutting the McGowen rail stop. This four-block long property with no streets crossing it has been the subject of a hunt for the right development project. I felt that no urban development really needed that kind of configuration, and indeed that much space with no pedestrian ways across it so close to a rail station would be terribly counterproductive. The only thing that really makes sense there is a great public park. Many creative people put a lot of energy into the idea, which we tentatively called McGowen Green. The proposal, which was accompanied by exciting drawings from Kevin Shanley and SWA Group, McGowen Green would be urban amenity, tax revenue source seemed to catch fire for a while. But a Chronicle article last week (``Ideas filling vacant block / Some see park, others see urban oasis in Midtown, Aug. 31'') indicated that the board of the Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) is acting to convey its interest in the property to Camden Property Trust, which already owns about half of it. Camden apparently intends a large apartment project there, probably with some retail or artist space on the ground floor. This is a real shame for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is loss of significant future tax revenue for the city. Parks are the greatest of urban amenities, and properties adjacent to them tend to rise in value faster than other properties. With a lush river garden ambience surrounding a formal boat pond and promenade, McGowen Green would produce the highest value center in the Midtown district, and in time one of the most important in our city. To my knowledge, the MRA board hasn't expended any energy exploring the benefits of a park or the creative means to finance it. A lot of the important work to determine how parks affect real estate has been done by Dr. John L. Crompton, a Texas A&M professor knowledgeable in the economics of park development. Crompton's studies reveal that people will pay more for property close to parks than for property that does not offer this amenity. This means they pay higher property taxes. In effect, Crompton says, this represents a capitalization of park land into increased property values of proximate land owners. Crompton calls this the ``proximate principle.'' If the incremental amount of taxes paid by each property attributable to the presence of a nearby park is aggregated, he argues, it will be sufficient to pay the annual debt charges required to retire the bonds used to acquire and develop the park. As it happens, the board of the MRA is the same board as the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ. One of the purposes of a TIRZ is to increase property values during its lifetime (in this case 30 years) so that the city receives greater revenues from the district once it begins to pay full taxes. Most people who do projections on land values would say that the increase in taxes coming from the four-block Camden project would be dwarfed by the taxes of developing - at a much higher value - the 14 blocks surrounding a park on that property, not to mention the second tier of properties in the next ring of 22 properties. The public interest clearly will not be reasonably served by encouraging the Camden project, which should be developed on several of the blocks surrounding the park. And why does an apartment project in an urban place need to have continuous land without cross streets? A four-block long apartment project would create a horrible pedestrian environment, and one of the goals for Midtown has been walkability. In his ground-breaking book Cities in Full, Steve Belmont says that neighborhoods deprived of natural features are severely handicapped in the competition for middle-class households. He cites examples showing that a well designed and maintained park can substitute for natural features as the heart of a thriving neighborhood. He also claims that for a neighborhood on the path to revitalization, [a park] represents a prudent investment with the power to attract affluence, and he notes that it takes relatively few affluent newcomers to reverse the negative image of a derelict neighborhood. Last spring, my organization, the Gulf Coast Institute, distributed hundreds of postcards urging Mayor Bill White to pursue the development of McGowen Green. These were signed by nearly 500 people and mailed. Surely, before it is too late, the mayor and City Council (the property is in Councilmember Carol Alvarado's district) should have a look and determine whether the long-term interests of the city are best served by a great urban park or by another apartment project. Midtown needs an important park that people will actually use and that will draw tourists to the area. The park would be a gift to future generations that cannot be given later. Link
  8. I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated June 29, 1907 and came across an advertainment for Chutues Park Galveston, Tex...on Seawall Boulevard. Now open for the summer with all new and pleasing attractions. The greatest amusement resort on the Southern coast. You'll find these in the park- the famous Katzenjammer Castle: One continuous scream of laughter. The Palace of Wonders. Presenting the latest hand-colored imported animated reproduction's of the beautiful Fairy tales. The Parisian Illusions Theater. In which the world's famous SunGard's present the latest European sensation, "Aga, or the Floating Princes." The Fun Factory. Sixty laughs in one minute- don't miss it. The Famous Mystic Chutes. As 1100-foot science boat ride through underground tunnel and science regions. You pass through the Black Canyon and Royal Gorge of the Rocky Mountains, Fairyland, etc. A $15,000 attraction. The Caragraph of Tours of the World. The finest ever presented in the South- 500-mile ride for a dime. Armand's Novel Battle of the World and the City of Yesterday. This is the attraction that created such a big sen action at St. Louis World's Fair, where the admission was 50c. Now you see it for 10c. See it. You'll like it; everybody does. Hooligan's Crazy House. WHAT IS WHAT? Do you see what? Well, just guess awhile and guess again. The Great Delta Baseball Game. The only one in the South The Arctic Refreshment Parlor. The finest ice cream and soda resort in Texas for children, ladies, and gentlemen. Another ad from July 2, 1908: Some Attractions at Chutes Park: Happyland. Chutes Park on the Beach Vaudeville, Pictures, Songs, Music, Refreshments. Open All Day. Herrle, Brick, & Hubbard The G.T. Theater. The popular Play House Moving pictures, Vaudeville, Illustrated songs. Prof. Leo Beers, Musical Director All for Five Cents, includes a Glass of Cold Spring Water For the Best Ice Cream and Soda Water on the beach go to. Jamison's Parlors Next to Snug Harbor Hotel. We use Willis & Sullivan's Cream
  9. I'm relatively new to the area (since 2003). I was wondering if the public pool at Love Park is operated during the summer. If so, is it all free swim for kids, or would I be able to do some laps? Where do other Heights swimmers go? Any input is appreciated...
  10. I was reading the newspaper The Houston Post. dated June 5, 1924 and came across this unknown park. Thought I would share with HAIF. Looking online, I see Bayshore Park is still active. I wonder if what involvement Jimmie Joy had. Is this even the same park? https://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/65/573 Dancing Every Night Jimmie Joys Bay Shore Park Commencing Saturday, June 7. Dancing starts every night at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Admission Gentlemen 99cent Ladies Free
  11. elnina999 has added a photo to the pool: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7508/15968469087_34294eb9ba_m.jpg Houston, Texas Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr
  12. https://sparkpark.org/wordpress/ "The SPARK School Park Program works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds. Since 1983, SPARK has built over 200+ community parks throughout the Houston/Harris County area. Currently, there are 150+ active SPARK Parks. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods. While all of the parks are different, a typical park consists of modular playground equipment, a walking trail, benches, picnic tables, trees, an outdoor classroom, and a public art component. SPARK Parks are available for public use after the school day (including after-school programs) has ended and on weekends and holidays." School/Park Locations: https://sparkpark.org/wordpress/schools/#locations https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/education/2023/09/21/spark-parks-in-woodland-heights-neartown-among-those-being-upgraded-in-10m-campaign/ "As part of the $10 million campaign, Spark officials will build 20 new school parks in four years at several school districts across the Greater Houston area. In addition to that, the campaign also involves improving—or "resparking"—20 existing Spark parks. Sixteen schools were initially identified, including eight schools that will get new Spark parks and eight schools that will have existing parks improved."
  13. does anyone think Houston will ever get a legit botanical gardens? the ones in San Antonio are very nice and it would be a great addition to things to do/see around town. i know there are some smaller gardens, but why dont we have a full fledged botanical garden like many major cities?
  14. I couldn't find any information about it. Here is the picture and caption from that monorail site: http://www.monorails.org/webpix/1956.jpg Now my question is what was "Arrowhead Park"? Was this an amusement park? I couldn't find it on a map of Houston from the mid-1950s.
  15. I found this photo of Vicks Park which was taken in the year 1900. A brief description: A two story house on the top of a bank along an area of Buffalo Bayou known as Vicks Park. The area is now covered by the cloverleaf at Waugh Drive, Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway.
  16. I found a rare, obscure 1940s amusement park! I've never seen it discussed on the internet or in the library archives before! I was searching around Twitter for Playland Park. A Twitter account that documents Houston history posted some Playland Park memories and (wrongfully) included a Speer Park flyer in the post body. At first thought I thought Speer Park was just a rebranding of Playland Park, but it appears it's a whole different amusement park! Anyone know about this park? I wonder why it's never spoken about? Maybe Playland Park overshadowed the smaller park? I just don't know why this park didn't have any daily/weekly newspaper articles and advertisements. No press whatsoever! The park was located in the opposite direction of Sivils' Drive-In Restaurant At 8001 South Main St. and Prince's Hamburgers Drive-In Restaurant At 8101 South Main St. The developer, owner, and manager was Sim L. Speer. "Houston's Permanent Family Playgound - Cool Speer Park" In the April 10, 1943 edition of Billboard Magazine, there was a listing of all the Texas amusement parks: Galveston- Beach Amusement Park Sam Serio, Manager. Has eight rides, six concession games. Houston- Playland Amusement Park John E. Williams - Secy. On South Main St. Houston- Speer Park Sim L. Speer - Owner. Has 10 rides, 20 concession games. Houston- Sylvan Beach Park E.L. Crain, Owner / H.W. Dahse, Manager. Has five rides, four concession games. Another Billboard Magazine article from the early 1940s: Houston, April 11 - Speer Park, under management of Sim L. Speer, opened its season yesterday, with all special low prices for kids under 12 to be in effect thruout season, Fridays thru Sundays. Park has 10 rides and 20 concession games. Billboard article about a day in Houston visiting Playland Park and Speer Park: 1940s ground water report specifying the location of Speer Park that was 5-3/4 miles southwest of the Houston courthouse. Here's a 1955 aerial image of the South Main/Old Spanish Trail "Y" Split. The two drive-in restaurants are located in the center, off of South Main. I'm not sure which side Speer Park was on. The amusement park might have been dismantled and demolished by the time of the photograph? I'll have to look at Google Earth Desktop a bit later to see the 1944 images. Maybe you can see the park with Google Earth. Can anyone spot the park?
  17. Guadalupe Plaza Park renovation started. Will be a one year project. I saw this on the Greater East End website http://www.greatereastend.com/guadalupe-plaza-park Are they going to re-align the intersection (Runnels/Navigation/Jensen/Franklin)? I know there were some plans to put in a round-about. Also will the TBH still be part of the new Plaza?
  18. Hi all, Here is a web site that has pictures of the old Sea-Arama Marineworld Park At 91st St. & Seawall Blvd. It has lots of pictures: www.seaarama.zoomshare.com/ check it out!
  19. http://www.hutchensmote.com/#!projects/c1lv5
  20. Someone placed cement lane dividers in the parking lot at the southeast corner at Leeland St. and St. Emanuel St. They form a circle with a small opening toward the real estate building.
  21. Saw this in Cohen's enewsletter- $25,000. Doesn't seem like much to begin developing a park.The "future Park" is one city lot, covered in black top and surrounded by wrought Iron fence, Cyprus trees in the ROW on Whitney street side.COH/parks is beginning to hold community meetings to gather residents input. Hopefully a name will be chosen. Seems most residents would like simple, minimalist park because of size--something that might pay tribute to Avondale development in 1907. I took that to mean that everyone is hoping it won't be a grass lot with many 20 gallon ubiquitous live oaks trees. Some of the residents were concerned about the "current" trend in developing green spaces after watching the "beautification" MMD is putting in on west side median at Lovett and Montrose? Yep, a n updated green space of concrete and live oaks. The developers of Avondale pooled their money in 1911 to have a box card load of palm trees delivered brought to Houston.many were planted down the middle of MEDIAN down Montrose Blvd south towards museum district( all were removed last time MONTROSE Blvd got redone--MONTROSE Blvd conservancy would like to put back the median but won't consider replanting palm trees due to COH restrictions.) and a few can still be seen within Avondale.So everyone is hoping Live Oaks won't be the tree of choice. Not sure if there will be access to water at this park, so probably xerescaping should be considered plus keeping the wrought iron fencing might not be a bad idea either. Would using recyclable materials keep costs down? no idea. Still everyone seems to love the idea of recycling so guess that should be considered also. That seems a lot to keep in mind when developing a park, the next open meeting is Aug. 16 upstairs at The Women's Home 6:30pm.I was hoping the Civic association would offer a money prize to university architecture students to submit a plan for this park, keeping all those restrictions in mind. It would be great to see what the young talent of Houston could come up with. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but it seems an opportunity is presenting itself why not take advantage of it. _________________________ PARK UPGRADES - $355,000 This funding provided for new park design costs, playground equipment replacement, sidewalk repair, and other improvements to parks throughout District C. $240,000 - TC Jester Park: Playground equipment replacement $60,000 - Meyerland Park: Playground equipment repair $25,000 - Future Park at 424 Westheimer: Design costs $20,000 - Oak Forest Park: Tennis court repair $10,000 - Peggy Shiffick Park: Sidewalk repair
  22. Does anyone know where the old Houston neighborhood known as Luna Park was/is? (In the mid-20s). Was it a neighborhood or a park? Alternatively, has Houston Ave. always been known as that? Or did there used to be another Houston Ave.? I have 2 references, one to Luna Park the other to an address on Houston Ave., but I don't know if it's the same place being referenced. If so then it's basically between Downtown and Woodland Heights, north of Washington Ave. I'm new at this and I have no idea where to go to find this sort of info. Thanks.
  23. This park in Bellaire. I never knew about it, and it looks like the Zindler family was a major donor. https://www.bellairetx.gov/1711/Bellaire-Zindler-Park
  24. Never knew about this Texas Medical Center park until today! Some information I gathered: Full name of the park is Katharine Randall Schweppe Park. It was developed in the 1980s and has a doctor involved as a donor. Dr. Irving Schweppe. The park, 1801 El Paseo Road, was originally purchased with money from Dr. Irving Schweppe and his wife, Laura. The couple wanted to create a park in honor of their daughter, Katharine Schweppe. Katharine Schweppe, a graduate of Kinkaid School and a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, was 19 when she died in a car accident in 1979. According to the department, her parents wanted to create a park for children and for it to represent Montgomery County, Port Aransas, and the family ranch in Kendall County - places Katharine spent most of her life.
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