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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!

http://www.hutchensmote.com/#!projects/c1lv5

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.

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

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.

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

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.

By any chance, will there be community improvements the neighborhood park called Gail Reeves Park located at 8800 Mullins Drive? Who exactly was Gail Reeves?

Does anyone in this forum have any information about Highland Park Lake in Houston? I've come across old postcard images of Highland Park Lake in Houston, Tex. but can find no reference to it today. I suspect Highland Park is now Woodland Park because the area was once named Highland Park Heights. But I can't find a lake anywhere near it on old city maps. The lake must have been of some importance in that postcards were made of it. I've also found a reference to a swimming pool at Woodland Park yet no pool exists today. Can anyone here shed some light on this elusive Highland Park Lake? The attached images are old postcards of Highland Park Lake in Houston Texas.

I never knew about this small neighborhood park in River Oaks. I believe it was first named after the daughter of George Meyer, Rebecca Meyer. Now it is simply referred to as Meyer Park? Kind of confusing since the large shopping center near meyerland is called Meyer Park Shopping Center. Rebecca Meyer Park covers an area of 1.8 acres and offers 0.3 miles of footpath. Located a few blocks north of Westheimer in River Oaks. From a Sanborn map dated 1934 - Aug 1950, probably in 1948.

Does anyone know where the park in the picture below was? it says Colonial Park Houston Texas. I know there is a Colonial Park in West U (Bellaire) but I found out that area was outside of the Houston City limits until some time around the 1940's, this picture looks like way before that time frame so It can't be that park or am I missing something. http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/Vago_Pachuquero/1012398_1397846847134865_884869356_n_zps168be647.jpg

Anyone ever been to this park? I used to come here back in the day! Here's some information about it. http://www.westburycrier.com/greenspaces This 8 acre park has a .51 walking trail and is adjacent to Anderson Elementary. Hager Park, with its covered basketball court, is located between Landsdowne Drive and McClearen Dr, and attracts many in the neighborhood for outdoor sports. There is playground equipment and a soccer field.

this seems like a really interesting project! https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2020/08/11/379574/this-proposal-would-help-protect-the-houston-area-from-hurricanes-and-create-a-10000-acre-public-park/

I was browsing the 1930 Houston Chronology and noticed a The Houston Chronicle article that was transcribed onto the document. I couldn't find anything else about this place. I wonder if the proposal did not go through? Or if the name was changed? I did see a Lakeside Park in Smithville, Texas in 1909. Probably not the same though. Aug. 24, 1930 Lakeside Park will be the name of Houston's new $250,000 amusement park and playground.

https://awards.re-thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-awards-2020-winners/alief-neighborhood-center-eyp-inc/ https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/communitycenters/cc-alief.html

I discovered an old downtown amusement mark, or hall, called Dreamland. This advertisement is dated April 14, 1914: Dreamland. First of the dancing competition for a grand prize of $50. July 12, 1919: Benefit at Dreamland. A big benefit entertainment for the Boys' Truant Home will be held at the Dreamland Hall, Milam and Prairie, Wednesday night, July 16 - Adv..

That big hill at 610/59 was definitely a waterslide at one point. My brother's girlfriend (at the time) worked there, so I'd rike my bike over & she'd let me ride for free. I was trying really hard to remember when that was, but I know that I was either nearly out of elementary or just starting junior high - so that would put it around '80-'82 ?

I was browsing the newspaper The Union Review dated May 7, 1920 and came across a social dance article that had the dance at Joyland Park, 22nd and Boulevard, Galveston. Attention! May Fest Social Dance Do you know that the Woman’s International Union Label League No. 142 is giving a dance at Joyland Park, 22nd and Boulevard, Friday, May 7, Gents 50c – Ladies 25c. Music by Schelewa’s Orchestra sure, I’ll be there. Will you? Arrangement Committee – Mrs. T.J. Moore, chairman; Mrs. Saliba, Mrs. Flake, Mrs. Boening, Mrs. Thomas. The Union Review dated Friday, May 13, 1921: Joyland Park “The Center of The Beach Activities” Offers For Your Diversion and Pastime, the--- “Garden of Tokio” Dance On a Floor Par Excellence to the Latest “Hits” Rendered by Schelewa’s Superb Orchestra. For A Real Joy Ride The “Dodge ‘Em and Derby Can’t Be Beat. Don’t Miss a Booth, Each One Has Something To Interest You. Joyland Park “Where Every Minute is a “Joy Minute”. The Daily Tribune dated February 21, 1927: North Alert To Texas Gulf Coast Beach Development Is Depended On Advertising Fund. The Texas gulf coast is in on the eve of a great development era, J.E. Stratford, manager of Joyland Park and the Garden of Tokio, declared last night. He returned from a several week’s visit to Northern and Eastern points.

Anyone remember Electric park in galveston? Any info on it? i heard they had a good wooden coaster.

"Houston's push for more public green space has now grown to the west side. Camden Park, a new, 3.4-acre park in the Westchase area, has broken ground on Wilcrest Drive just north of Richmond Avenue, per an announcement." https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/game-changing-new-park-with-restaurant-kids-spaces-tunnels-and-more-breaks-grounds-in-west-houston/

Thanks to @Ross I discovered a new park that was located in the Texas Medical Center in the decade of the 1910s. Ross suggested this pre-dates the Hermann Park. I researched, and according to the Hermann Park Conservancy, Hermann Park opened in 1914. Or, in 1914, the park was announced and the master plan started. Hermann Park may have opened a year later than 1914? https://www.hermannpark.org/history/timeline/ In May of 1914 Houston real estate investor and industrialist George H. Hermann announced publicly his intention of deeding to the City of Houston 285 acres of this property for a municipal park across the street from the Rice Institute and thus Hermann Park was born. A century later, Hermann Park is 445-acres of beautiful green space and is visited by an estimated 6 million people per year. I first discovered the park while researching the Colonial Park Amusement Park near Fannin Street and Southmore Avenue. 1913 City of Houston map: The Houston Post dated July 19, 1913: Amusements: Main Street Park- Wild West Broncho Bustling at 5 p.m. Isis Theater- "Beauty and the Beast" and other motion pictures. Pearce's Theater- "The Master Painter" and other motion pictures." Top O'Houston, Carter Roof- Motion pictures, carabet, features and refreshments. The Houston Post dated June 8, 1912: Dekor to make flight at Main Street Park Houston Aviator will give exhibition prior to leaving the city. Fred De Kor, the aviator. will make a series of exhibition flights Sunday afternoon at Main Street Park, prior to leaving the city. Mr. De Kor has been contemplating giving the public thorough exhibition of his powers for some time and now feels that he has the best opportunity to do . The flights will be made at Main Street Park at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon-- The advertisement showing the date: Don't fall to see the exhibition flight at Main Street Park June 9, 1912 at 2:30 p.m. By Aviator Fred De Kor. In huis new aeroplane, The Green Dragon. The Houston Post dated September 28, 1912: Baseball Sunday, Sept. 29 At Main Street Park Game Called at 4 O'Clock. Houston Sporting Goods Vs. Sharp and Hughes. Both clubs have strong line-up, and a good game is promised. Batteries- Houston Sporting Good, Wehrman and Holt; Sharp and Hughes, Malloy and Page. Take South End Cars and transfer for Main Street Park. The Houston Post dated January 5, 1913: Farming With Aetna Dynamite. Demonstration will be held at Main Street Park Tuesday afternoon, January 7, at 3 o'clock. Stump Blasting, Subsoiling, Tree Planting, Ditching. Everybody invited. Take Sound End Car, transfer to Westmoreland. L. Harde & Co. Dealers in Agricultural Blasting Material, Room 3, Cotton Exchange Building. The Houston Post dated December 24, 1911: Location is Changed. For three years the Sunny South has made the traps at Delmonico Garden famous. In 1912, however, the Houston Gun Club offers a new location, Main Street Park. The new grounds are considered far better in accommodation than the old, and, since last July, have been used as the regular grounds of the Houston Gun Club. Main Street Park is located on the extension of Main street out beyond the Rice Institute. The park is reached by the South End and Westmoreland Farms car lines. The service off the South End line is present on every hour, but for the Sunny South the street car company will be requested to make special provision. With this improvement the park will be as accessible as Delmonico. Main street has already had its baptism as a trap shooting center, the Texas handicap having been held there in midyear of 1911.

I was reading the newspaper The Houston Post dated October 11, 1906 and came across an article about Giggling Park. Closed with Fun-Makers. Patterson-Brainerd Company has been Secured. Elaborate Plan for “Giggling Park.” The fun makers for this year’s Carnival have been secured- the Patterson-Brainerd Carnival Company, one of the best aggregations on the road. Representatives of the company will be here today, and the papers will be signed up this afternoon. This company carries a large drove of trained animals and has other features essential to a carnival, with a full corps of well organized “spielers.” Giggling, Charley will be there and all the silver-tongued songster, while the stadium will have many new features that has never been exhibited in Houston before. The association is congratulating itself upon securing this company. “Giggling Park” Plan. The plans for “Giggling Park,” which were yesterday submitted by Scholl Bros., have been accepted. In appearance it will be the most magnificent that has ever inclosed a carnival in Houston. The color scheme will be that of the Carnival colors. In the center will be a grand entrance, composed of a large semi-circle arch twenty feet wide and neatly decorated with vari-colored electric bulbs, flaked on either side with small minarets, allows room for two ticket offices which will facilitate the handling of the crowds. Over the arch will be placed the name plate and other suitable decorations. The terminal of this center is composed of a tier of electric lights in different colors, and above this will be the flagpole and streamers. Ove the minarets will be a lattice, balls and flagpoles with electric lights. Each side of these minarets will be wings extending out to the curb on each side. Throughout the whole will be an innumerable electric lights and elaborate decorations. Those who have witnessed the design pronounce it the most elaborate that the Carnival has ever presented, and the Messrs. School Bros. deserve much credit rot heir artistic work. The Houston Post dated October 23, 1906: Giggling Park Site. Will be federal square- the work will begin Thursday. Council Yesterday Granted Permission to Close Potions of Surrounding Streets and Sidewalks. Work on the Giggling Park for the No-Tsu-Oh Carnival will be started Thursday. It will be the Federal square site, the same as the Carnival grounds last year. The association yesterday secured permission from the city council to close a portion of the streets surrounding the square, and this will give ample room for the amusements and will hold a large crowd of fun seekers. The entrance to this inclosure will be artistic. The plan of Architect Scholl was accepted some days ago. It will be a high arch with ticket offices on either side, with pillars and pedestals, and the whole will be decorated with hundreds of electric globes. This entrance will be at the intersection of Capital avenue and San Jacinto. This site is the most convenient for the Carnival that could be se secured and the association closed the deal with the government officials for it some time ago. The Houston Post dated November 13, 1906: Giggling Park and Revellers. Fun and Merrymaking Runs Riot on Carpet of Vari-Colored Confetti. The park is the Objective Point for a Stream of Humanity- Here the Spieler Holds Full Sway- The Shows are Many and Interesting- All of them are clean, and Were Well Patronized last Night. Upon a carpet of confetti, the Carnival revellers giggle, while the vari-colored particulars fill the air, the eyes, the nose, ears, and the mouth- mirth is running riot in the city of No-Tsu-Oh. When Mayor Rice turned over the keys of the city to King Nettoc yesterday morning and resigned the city to his keeping for a week, the first act of the monarch was to unlock the giggles and chase away care; he put a hobble on rowdyism and issues a decree that each and every one of his subjects who shall enter the gates of his favoured city shall have a good time until the close of the festivities Saturday night. Maun street from Franklin avenue to Capitol and down Capitol to Giggling Park and the whole park was one swarming mases of joyous humanity yesterday afternoon and until a late hour last night. It was the largest crowed that ever thronged the streets on the first day of a No-Tsu-Oh Carnival, and it is the best natured and most ordered crowded. A lady’s or gentleman’s costume is complete in his or her hair, hat, even eyebrows and shoulders, be not bespangled with confetti. Everyone who entered the city last night was out in full garb.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Daily Post dated March 31, 1896 and came across a historic park located in The Heights. Edit: The park is named after Edward L. Coombs (E.L. Coombs.) Coombs' Park, Harry Clifford, Mgr. 3-Sensations-3 Three Thousand Dollar Engagement 1- The Diving Hors. 2- Dr. Carver. Great Rifle Shot. 3- The Clown Horse. Commencing April 1, Five Days Only Admission - - - - - Fifty Cents. April 6, 1896: At Coombs' Park Thousands Delighted! Every promise fulfilled! Great Success of Carver .. and his .. Diving Horses Re-engaged for Five Days, Commencing Wednesday and Finishing on Sunday at 3 p.m. Daily. At Popular Prices: Adults .... 25 cents Children .... 15 cents Great Pigeon Shooting Match on Sunday, Carver to kill ninety live birds out of one hundred. If ninety-five birds are killed he is to received $100, and $10 for each additional bird. Dr. Carver's record is 153 birds at thirty yards rise. November 29, 1895: Bicycle Races. There was considerable sprinkling of people out at Coombs’ park to witness the races this afternoon, in spite of considerable sprinkling of rain. The track was heavy but the sport was good all the same, in spite of the slow time made. Following are the summaries: First race, one mile, novice, first prize, bamboo fishing pole; second prize, umbrella stand-- Second race, mile and one-quarter, for class-a riders-- Third race, one mile match between professionals-- Fourth race, one-half mile, for boys under 15-- A City of Houston map dated 1895 that I found online that outlines Coombs Park. The below link from Houstorian has more in-depth details if anyone wants to read more about Coombs Park. https://houstorian.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/coombs-park-and-heights-natatorium/

I was browsing the newspaper The Tri-Cities Sun dated May 6, 1932 and came across an article for the Tri-Cities Speedway, located within he Tri-Cities Fair Park. Auto Races Sunday 3 P.M. Tri-Cities Speedway Goose Creek 5 Professional Races 1 Stock Car Race 1 Motorcycle Race Horse Race, Boxing Exhibition, and Pie Eating Contest. Eddie Cox challenges any stock car in the Tri-Cities to a match race. Bring your fast cars. Dealers or individual owners with Buick, Studebaker, Chrysler, Plymouth, Rockne, Dodge, or any other car, will you accept? Admission Adults 50c - Kids 25c Auto Speedway Being Groomed. Five Pro Events Will Lead Off Varied Race Program. The new five-eighth-mile speedway at the Tri-Cities Fair Park is being carefully groomed today in preparation for the second auto races to be held Sunday beginning at 3 p.m., according to Nolan Wells, manager of the park. The southeast turn, where water made the track so soft it slowed the races last week, has been drained and smoothed over so that the top speed can be maintained on it now. The parking ground around the track has also been drained. The home stretch will be oiled to keep down the dust. A variety of races will be offered speed fans Sunday with a program consisting of give professional auto races, a motor cycle-

Today on HAIF there was interest to find information about a local park. The Houston Post dated August 5, 1909: Real Estate For Sale. Improved- City. Propositions of Merit. Cottage and 50x100 lot, 1618 Hutchings street; on Aransas Pass car line, $1850-- Delmonico Park (formerly Angerhoffer's), 11-3/4 acres, on Harrisburg Road car line passes this property. 728-foot road front street on each side, railroad in rear; finest site in South Texas to improve, and will be a money-maker In fact, now enjoys best of patronage. This would make an ideal city proposition; now has bowling alley, dance pavilion, refreshment, restaurant, an elegant modern home; all fenced and fine artisan well. Houston needs an up-to-date pleasure resort and any one with the nerve and money can make this a success. See us for particulars. The Houston Post dated July 3, 1910: Telegraphic Returns of Jeffries-Johnson Fight. On Grounds of First Annual Joint. W.O.W. Picnic. Demonico Park, July 4.. (Angerhoefer's Park) Given By: Red Oak Camp No. 95-- Exhibition Drills by two Lady and Two Gentlemen Degree Teams, also "Manchester Guards." Band Concert 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dancing 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Music by W.O.W. Band. Hon. K.C. Barkley, Orator. Admission Free - Take Harrisburg Car. The Houston Post dated February 9, 1912: Delmonico's Park Leased. Deal Closed for Ten Years to Harris and Backenstoe. By the term of a lease practically closed yesterday between William Angerhoefer, Jr. and Harris & Backenstoe, the latter have taken a ten-year lease on Angerhoefer's garden, on the Harrisburg Road. The contract will be signed today. Extensive plans for improving and adapting the park to the requirements of a city pleasure garden are entertained by the lessees. "We will probably spend upwards of $50,000 in improvements," said Mr. Harris. "Our plans are not entirely worked out, but they will include an entire remodeling of the park and the construction and installation of amusement and pastime features such as go to make up a city pleasure park. Among these will be natitorium.