Emancipation Park Redo

[Subdude 1450]

Historic Emancipation Park overhaul is just part of the plan to reenergize the Third Ward

The wheels of redevelopment are in motion at Emancipation Park, the historic 10-acre square purchased by former slaves in 1870 as a dedicated site for annual Juneteenth celebrations.

Almost a century and a half later, the Third Ward park — the city's longest-standing public space — is set to get a major $33.6 million overhaul that will create a LEED-certified recreation facility to provide classrooms, a health center and a regulation-sized basketball gym. Sculpture, small pavilions and a new baseball field will be added as well.

Also part of the project is the full restoration of Emancipation's vintage pool house and community center, the latter of which was a 1939 WPA project designed by one-time Rice University architecture dean William Ward Watkin.

Scheduled to begin in October, the makeover is headed by celebrated architect Philip Freelon, most widely known as one of the designers for the Smithsonian's forthcoming National Museum of African American History and Culture. Houston firm M2L Associates will lead landscape design efforts.

 

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/03-17-13-emancipation-park-overhaul-moves-forward-along-with-plans-to-return-historic-dowling-street-to-its-bustling-heyday/

 

[SkyEye 2]

Another squandering of my tax money. How 'bout fixing the potholes in my street huh?

[JLWM8609 547]

Nice!

[Croberts 9]

This is a long overdue recognition of the role of Emancipation park in the history of Houston. Juneteenth Day is now recognized by most states as a holiday and will likely be a national holiday someday. While the holiday did not originate in one place, this park can claim an early association with the holiday. For a long time the only written record of the holiday was J. Frank Dobie's articles, related to this park.

[Urbannizer 39314]

Work on the park began on October 26th; set to be completed by the fall of 2015.

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/gray/article/Friends-of-Emancipation-Park-hope-renovation-4947655.php#/0

[J.A.S.O.N. 6]

This is a long overdue recognition of the role of Emancipation park in the history of Houston. Juneteenth Day is now recognized by most states as a holiday and will likely be a national holiday someday. While the holiday did not originate in one place, this park can claim an early association with the holiday. For a long time the only written record of the holiday was J. Frank Dobie's articles, related to this park.

 We were taught in school the holiday originated on the island. An impromptu celebration on the streets of Galveston by freed slaves in response to General Granger's speech. 

Kudos to Third Ward for this wonderful project!

 

Edited December 15, 2013 by J.A.S.O.N.

[Urbannizer 39314]

[Urbannizer 39314]

[BeerNut 1623]

[JLWM8609 547]

Looks like it's coming along nicely! I was supposed to participate with a group in the grand opening festivities on Juneteenth weekend, but the April and May rains put such a delay on construction that the grand opening will likely be in November.

[Urbannizer 39314]

Emancipation Park partners with city of Houston, plans to unveil completed renovations this fall

 

Quote

Emancipation Park, which is undergoing a $33.6 million renovation and new construction project, received a boost from the city.

The city of Houston and the Emancipation Park Conservancy are teaming up for the next 30 years to run the park, according to a release. The agreement frees up the conservancy to focus on fundraising and allows the group office space at the Houston Parks and Recreations Department.

The 11.7-acre park expects to reopen Nov. 12 following the renovations and construction, per the release.

Phil Freelon, of Chicago-based global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will, designed the park, according to a release. The group has a Houston office.

Plans for the park include restoration of a community center and pool house, construction of a new recreation center and creation of a 3,000-person multipurpose space. The park is located at 3018 Dowling St. just south of downtown.

 

[BeerNut 1623]

http://www.khou.com/mb/news/community/emancipation-park-to-reopen-in-january-following-33-million-facelift/333398237

[HoustonMidtown 3575]

The park will be amazing when it is finished:

[Texasota 1640]

Those lights are nifty

[Triton 10326]

https://www.facebook.com/events/1193360700726782/

[Urbannizer 39314]

https://archpaper.com/2017/02/new-emancipation-park-houston/#gallery-0-slide-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HoustonMidtown 3575]

WOW - very nice!!

[j_cuevas713 1964]

Amazing! Great for this part of the community!

[BeerNut 1623]

I'll have to swing by with my camera.

[HoustonMidtown 3575]

The construction fencing has been removed from around the buildings - it's still up around the playground areas

 

[UtterlyUrban 1628]

Looks to me like a wonderful space for  eighborhood kids of all ages!  Seems to have taken a lot longer to build than originally planned but it certainly does look like a great spot.

[BeerNut 1623]

This park is a huge success for the area.   I see families utilizing the playground, swimming area(crazy crowded with the heat), and the covered areas.  Even stopped by to eat free BBQ when Drake had his Houston Appreciation Week.  

 

New York Times article about the park

[Triton 10326]

I drove by the other day. It looks amazing. 

[BeerNut 1623]

Love my neighborhood park.

[Luminare 4403]

Emancipation Park was published in Archdaily today. The photos look awesome. An amazing transformation.

 

https://www.archdaily.com/889059/historic-emancipation-park-perkins-plus-will

[j_cuevas713 1964]

While I love this park, it's no secret that 3rd Ward is rough! I drove thru today by TSU and idk where to begin. Emancipation Blvd is slowly looking better but I don't think I've seen as much trash and illegal dumping in any part of the city as I've seen here. Once you cross 45 South in to EaDo the whole neighborhood changes. Even empty lots in Eado look nicer. Is there some sort of 3rd Ward TIRZ???

[BeerNut 1623]

7 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

While I love this park, it's no secret that 3rd Ward is rough! I drove thru today by TSU and idk where to begin. Emancipation Blvd is slowly looking better but I don't think I've seen as much trash and illegal dumping in any part of the city as I've seen here. Once you cross 45 South in to EaDo the whole neighborhood changes. Even empty lots in Eado look nicer. Is there some sort of 3rd Ward TIRZ???

There isn't and never will be as long as Midtown TIRZ wants to use Third Ward as a cheap place to bank land.

Edited February 24, 2018 by BeerNut

[Ross 924]

16 hours ago, BeerNut said:

There isn't and never will be as long as Midtown TIRZ wants to use Third Ward as a cheap place to bank land.

It's not just the Midtown folks. Garnett Coleman is bound and determined that the demographics of the Third Ward will not change, and he encourages Midtown to buy land and keep it out of the hands of developers that might sell to folks other than those who live there now.

[BeerNut 1623]

Looks like they're trying to force drivers into two lane width traffic at Tuam and Hutchins.  

[BeerNut 1623]

The area around Emancipation Park is changing quick.  It's mainly empty lots being developed.

[Triton 10326]

13 minutes ago, BeerNut said:

The area around Emancipation Park is changing quick.  It's mainly empty lots being developed.

 

I rode my bike through here the other day. The change is happening at an extraordinary rate. I happen to plan an update on the Third Ward thread you also posted to. 

[BeerNut 1623]

On 9/22/2019 at 9:18 PM, Triton said:

 

I rode my bike through here the other day. The change is happening at an extraordinary rate. I happen to plan an update on the Third Ward thread you also posted to. 

 

I also noticed on Redfin that this area had it's first home to enter the Northern Third Ward market over $500k .  They've since lowered the price but that definitely is telling if they're pricing new town homes at prices that only a few years ago you had to be on the other side of 288/69.

Edited September 25 by BeerNut

[BeerNut 1623]