Design plans for the $18 million Emancipation Park overhaul are done, reports KUHF’s Pat Hernandez, and the work — including renovations (as this rendering suggests) to the gym, baseball field, pool, and community center — is expected to begin at the 10-acre Third Ward park this summer.
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Yesterday, Mayor Parker met with community leaders in the park’s 70-year-old gym to discuss the project, the details of which can be inferred from the site plan directly above. Bought by a group including Jack Yates for $800 in 1872, the park was meant to provide a space where Houstonians could celebrate Juneteenth. It’s bound by Elgin, Tuam, Hutchins, and Dowling, across Elgin from the Eldorado Ballroom and Bert Long’s “Field of Vision” installation. Upgrades to the park are expected to improve the community center, shown here, that faces Dowling:
And the gym:
With new pavilions to picnic and sit in the shade added along Hutchins (which, the site plan suggests, will be adjacent to one of those water-spray splash-pads):
The north end of the park near Hutchins is also expected to feature an iconic statue or sculpture, depicted in the rendering below by those swooping triangles:
- The Historic Emancipation Park Makeover Continues [KUHF]
- Previously on Swamplot: Freeing Up Funds for Emancipation Park
Renderings: Friends of Emancipation Park
is that a community swimming pool? didn’t know the city still had enough funding to build those things.
This doesn’t look at all what Emancipation Park is supposed to be about. But, that’s just me.
@joel the pool is already there, so it’s not like they are building a new pool just updating it.
“The north end of the park near Hutchins is also expected to feature an iconic statue or sculpture, depicted in the rendering below by those swooping triangles:”
What kind of statue or sculpture would be iconic for this park? Lincoln? A couple of Juneteenth slaves dancing?
No wonder town homes are popping up near by.
Here come Whitey!
Tennis courts removed? I’m no good at tennis, but damned if it isn’t good cheap fun chasing a fuzzy ball around, wonder where the nearest tennis courts will be now?
the ratio of basketball courts to tennis courts in the montrose area is seriously out of whack. i’m glad to see the tennis players get stiffed for once.
Looks awesome – this hood is up and coming, and the park will help. Only complaint is I don’t see an outfield fence on the softball field. Having practiced there with my team on several occasions, that is much needed.
I’m really looking forward to this, and I’m glad the design seems to leave lots of open green space and not just fill all the space. The renderings remind me of Discovery Green, really. It would be nice if they could keep the obvious alcohol consumption and pot use out once it’s finished.
Truly wonder who is this park being renovated for? Hmmmm! Seems like the real estate is changing rapidly.