Discovery Green – Downtown Houston

Howdy, y’all! How have y’all been doing?! With our lives so busy doing the necessary things and carrying out our responsibilities, we often forget that life’s beautiful and is meant to be enjoyed! This can be done without throwing away your responsibilities!

Life can be enjoyed doing what you love to feel refreshed. It may be to read a book, to go out dine with your friends and family (or even take a nap haha), or you can go enjoy time at the Park.

Talking about parks, there’s something special, one of my favorite cities in the whole of Texas -Houston – has to offer!

And if you are from Houston, this name won’t surprise you. No points for guessing it, as you already might have known by reading the title that I’m talking about – Discovery Green!

Discovery Green

Discovery Green is a 12-acre (yes, 12 acres of fun!) park located in the heart of downtown Houston, Texas. The park is adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center. It has something for everyone. No matter your age or background, you will always find something worth spending time at this absolutely amazing park. It is designed to be an interactive place serving all ages.

The BEST thing about it? It keeps up to its name! Green! They are super eco-friendly! Even the great amount of the energy they use is sponsored by their long sponsoring partner – Green Mountain Energy.

From food to play and from leisure to entertainment, Discovery Green has you all covered! Not only that, if you are someone who really enjoys the company of nature, you’ll find 100+ years old oak trees welcoming your visit, exquisite gardens delighting your soul, and other nature involving activities that will satisfy your heart like no other. Also, you’ll really appreciate the efforts taken by the park authorities to keep the park green and eco-friendly.

For awesome parents with amazing children, your children will definitely love this park just because there’s just so much to do!

Yes, how can I forget the caring and loving parents of the fur babies! Spoiler alert… the park has special dog fountains and 2 dog runs (appropriately sized for large and small canines) too!!

Oh, and plenty of parking area surrounds Discovery Green, including the underground parking garage (entry on Avenida de las Americas, across from the George R. Brown Convention Center), and the park is just a couple of blocks from the Main Street Metro rail.

Entrance Fee

The park is free for all visitors except if they are charging for some event happening there. You’ll need to purchase tickets if you are planning to play games at the park.

Discovery Green offers free wifi and picnic tables, so it can be a good place to get your work done in the park if you so wish to do.

A lil’ History

A lil’ history helps us understand and value what we have, so let’s dive in and go back to how it all started.

The city of Houston acquired a portion of the land in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center in 2002. When the rest of the property went up for sale, a group of philanthropists – Nancy G. Kinder of the Kinder Foundation led by Maconda Brown O’Connor of the Brown Foundation approached then honorable Mayor, Mr. Bill White with their idea of turning that space into an urban park. 

Upon agreement, a strong public-private partnership was developed for the $125 million project. Later on, many other foundations joined the cause.

Discovery Green Conservancy was incorporated in 2004 which now operates the park. Hargreaves Associates, which is an internationally well known landscape architecture firm based in San Francisco, oversaw the design effort for the park. Landscape and horticultural design services were provided by Lauren Griffith Associates. Artists Margo Sawyer and Doug Hollis were important members of the design team. Discovery green proudly displays Synchronicity of Color (by Margo Sawyer) and Listening Vessels And Mist Tree (by Doug Hollis).

(P.S. The Synchronicity of Color marks the entrance and exit of the under ground garage.)

Ever since the park first opened in 2008, it became one of the people’s favorite park in downtown Houston.

Major Attractions

There are quite number of things that the park offers. Plus they always update thier plans to add new things that people would love. But the most major features include :

Brown Foundation Promenade

This walk way is lined up by 100+ years old oak trees that overshadow the path. Making it a real special experience if you have a heart for it. The largest of the oak trees is the Nancy G. Kinder Oak near Avenida de las Americas.

Hess Patio

Adjacent to Brown Promenade is where you’ll find the 4,700-square-foot raised deck called Hess Patio. Constructed from eco-friendly Brazalian Ipe wood, Hess Patio was Installed in Spring of 2014. You will love to sit, eat, and simply relax enjoying the beauty of the park at Hess Patio.

Kinder Lake

It is the only lake in the park covering an area of 1 acre. It also features water gardens and a model boat area which is a a shallow pool especially designed to accommodate remote-controlled watercraft operated by park goers.

Discovery Green organizes a lot of activities at the Lake such as – having a kayak ride. (Although this service has stopped until further notice.)

Andrea and Bill White Promenade

Andrea and Bill White Promenade, also simply called white promenade, is the main walkway right through the center of the park joining the Lamar St. with Mckinney St. Going right through the center of the park, it offers a 360-degree view of Houston’s beautiful skyline.

John P. McGovern Children’s Playground

Recently renovated just a few years back to encourage more children in outdoor games and activites, the playground is the place where children of all ages absolutely love! It includes structures for climbing, sliding, rocking and much more. Certain leveled up ground called “The Hill” seems to be children’s favorite thing as they climb up and slide down on cardboards. You’ll find their smile tell you how much they love it.

The park is divided into two sections — one for ages 2-5 and one for ages 5-12.

Gateway Fountain

It is an extension of the playground area. The granite surface has those water sprinkler type thingies otherwise called jets that sprays water all over place creating fountain that children absolutely love to play in and splash water in this really exciting waterscape. (After all who doesn’t wanna play in /with water on a hot Houston day?!)

Jones Lawn

It is the park’s largest green space. It provides ample area for pick-up sports or events organized by Discovery Green. The lawn offers great view of the skyline. A perfect place to relax in my opinion.

Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Foundation Performance Space

This amphitheater is used to conduct a variety of performances ranging from live music shows to dances! It is designed in such a way that the audience can be seated on the sloped lawn and enjoy the shows. When the platform is not in use, it is open to all as space to work or lounge, etc. By the way, the stage is big enough to accomodate an oversized movie screen.

An oversized movie screen?! yes, heard the right! Wanna guess for what purpose? Well for presentations, slideshows for different events, and… sometimes even for MOVIE NIGHTS! Know more here.

Public Art Displayed At Discovery Green

Discovery Green features real magnificient beautifully crafted works by artists Margo Sawyer and Doug Hollis along with Jean Dubuffet’s Monument Au Fantome.

Monument Au Fantome

It’s a piece of artwork by Jean Dubuffet donated by Dan Duncan. It was earlier moved from 1100 Louisiana in downtown Houston in October 2007. Its estimated value +$1 million. You just cannot miss this.

Synchronicity of Color

This exquiste artwork by Margo Sawyer comprises of 151 panels, 1,500 boxes, and uses 65 different colors. The Synchronicity of Color marks the entrance and exit of the under ground garage.

Listening Vessels

Sculpted by Doug Hollis, Listening Vessels, is a gift from Maconda Brown O’Connor. sits in the midst of the Urban Gardens, a perfect place where it fits right in and yet stands out. The two parabolas, cut from solid limestone and placed 60 feet (18 m) apart. They were placed apart from each other because it’s was Doug’s desire to call to attention the simplest thing we take for granted, for instance, conversation (Found this reason on wikipedia, so not sure how true it is. But it sure does make sense)

Visitors are intended to come across the vessels and gain an understanding of the functions of the listening vessels. They find out that they can hear the words of another person audile at a normal volume even thought they are so far from each other.

Mist Tree

This is one of the main highlights of the Discovery Green (among many others) and at Discovery Green it’s famously called “Mistree” (love the play on words haha).

It was created but Doug Hollis too, but it was a gift from Fayez Sarofirm to Discovery Green. Mist Tree is located next to the playground. It is a 15-foot high and a 22-foot wide stainless steel structure that is sited to attract people to the park.

It is visible from beyond the park’s boundaries, the mist streams created by the Mist Tree refreshes every passer by on a hot Houstan day. (btw, Children love being around it)

The Grove and The Lake House

How can relaxing at a park be truly relaxing if you can’t have something good to eat?

Well, Discovery Green has got you covered. The Grove and The Lake House are two restaurants on site that are operated by the Schiller Del Grande Restaurant group who are best known as creators of Cafe Annie.

The Lake House offers fast, casual, family-friendly food. It offers views of the Kinder Lake and the Jones Lawn. It’s a self-serve restruant but it has convenient and easy counter service

The Grove server lunch and dinner in a “signature” restaurant style setting. It offers views overlooking the great views of the park and especially the majestic oaks. They have exceptional service.

Menus for both comprises of award-winning Chef Robert del Grande’s creations. You’ll also find Food Trucks around, presenting you more options to savor upon. 😋

Ice Skating Rink

Discovery Green has an amazing ice skating rink that you’ll absolutely love! The ice is kept cold and perfect for skating using coils that has some coolants running underneath the rink, which then uses chillers to make the ice rink perfect for you.

The Alkek Building

This is the building where the park’s staff, information center, and public restrooms are located. It overlooks the gateway fountain and the children’s playground.

Reading Rooms

Discovery Green also got you covered if you would like to enjoy some time reading in this beautiful park.

They offer you multiple reading rooms. They are as follows –

• Morgan Reading Room
• Powell Foundation Outdoor Reading Room
• HPL Express
• Toddler Tuesday (It’s a program where HPL children’s librarians read books and sing songs for and with the toddlers)

To know more about other attractions, click here.

Other Features

• McNair Foundation Jogging Trail – It’s where you can jog or take a walk.
• Carruth Foundation Bocce Courts – this is where you can play bocce on the
• Wortham Foundation Gardens – features flowering trees, plants, fountains and other eye catching works of art
• Hagstette Family Putting – One of the most enjoyable places for playing with kids/family/friends (the game looks easy but is hard.. at times. Don’t look at me! I’m the best! haha Also, don’t ask me to prove it :P)
• The Park has about 12 gardens features different flora!
• Trini’s Shuffleboard Court- it is right next to the Grove Restaurant off Lamar Street in the Wortham Foundation Gardens area of the park

Discover Green at Night

Discovery Green comes even more ALIVE a night with all the light events! It’s simply mesmerizing. The art lab just glows up at night. The park even organizes free movie nights! Yes! You can enjoy it out in the open under God’s beautiful night sky!

And, if you are looking for some fun with friends, the park has Happy Hour Fridays on fridays ofc. Startig from 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Check out their site for more info and to register!

Movie Nights At Discovery Green

Watching your fav movie with your loved ones, is surely one of the best feelings! How much more awesome would it feel to watch the movie with your loved ones, all warm in the blanket, with something delicious and warm to snack on, being surrounded by beautiful artistic lights, AND the night stars twinkling upon?!

Discovery Green brings to you this magical experience at screen on the Green. Different movies are streamed on a big screen for all the community to get together and watch! And it’s FREE!

Click here to know about upcoming movie nights and register. No need to pay a penny!

The movies are sponsored by the Bank of America but other screenings can be sponsered by different organizations.

The Sponsorer and the location (In Discovery Green) for every movie night might be different, but we’ll keep you posted if any new movie nights comes up, therefore feel free to visit our website for any info on upcoming movie nights.

You can bring your mats, cozy blankets, even chairs with you! No alcohol or glass containers are allowed but food, beer and wine are usually available for purchase at The Lake House!

Just a tip : Please check the for the weather for the day the movie night is held. Showers will wash all the fun away.

Bumper Cars on Ice

Who doesn’t like a bumper car ride?! but bumper car ride ON ICE?!! that’s something you wouldn’t wanna miss! This winter, Discovery Green brings you an opportunity to experience the joy of having a bumper car ride on ice on Discovery Green’s outdoor ice rink.

The Tickets start from $20 per head for a 7-minute ride. [All the money goes to maintain the park and host free events.]

Kids need to be taller than 42″ in order to ride the bumper cars.

This is a limited-time event. January 19th being the last day to get a ride on bumper cars. Therefore, hop on the ride before it’s too late!

The timings are :
Monday – Thursday 06:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 
Fridays 06:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 06:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Know more and purchase tickets for the bumper car ride on ice, click here.

Fun facts

• The children’s play area designed to reflect the path of migrating birds.
• The underground parking garage has space for approximately 630 cars. So, plenty of space to park.
• The park earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification due to all their eco-friendly efforts and practices.

Games

Like I said earlier, the park has something for everyone. The park if full of different options on different games that you can enjoy with you family and friends.

Be it trying bocce ball or playing croquet. Or just trying to show how great you are at a game of horseshoes, the park has got you all covered. The games do require you to get a ticket. After the ticketing you can get a rentable four – wheel golf cart, which itself is designed by local art car artists. These cares kept ready with all the equipments you’ll need for your game.

Events

Events are something that Discovery Green loves to organize. Be it the start of the year or the end, there will always be something on the park’s schedule that you’ll want to attend.

Discovery Green hosts live music shows, live dance performances and a theater (movie nights! it’s free!)

And nuh-huh, it’s doesn;t stop there! Discovery Green believes everyone deserves a little health and happiness so they organize exercise/yoga classes.

They have numerous events for children to get them involved in more physical and interactive play. AS they say – Reduce screen time and increase Green time. The park also has an urban market.

Park spaces may also be reserved for private and public events. You can book for your own events, be it wedding a small gathering for birthday parties, or any public meetings, the Park will organize it all for you. Click here to know more.

The categories of events organized at Discovery Green are :

1. Entertainment
2. Families & Children
3. Health & Fitness
4. Music
5. Nature & Outdoors
6. Other Public Events
7. Public Art and
8. Special Events

Signature Experiences

Apart from organzing and hosting those events, Discovery Green organizes a series of particular theme events! These come under Signature Experiences.

At the time of posting this, there are currently 5 ongoing Signature Experiences.

1. Green Mountain Energy Ice
2. ATLAS by Jen Lewin
3. Flea by Night
4. Inclusive Skaters: Green Mountain Energy Ice
5. Santa’s Little Yelpers presented by H-E-B

That was all for this post. We will keep it updating it with time as soon as we get know something new. But what do you think about Discovery Green? Is this ideal spot to spend time with kids. Is it a good place to get your work done quietly right in the embrace of nature? Isthere something you liked more about it? Or do you prefer some other park? And if you are not from Houston, would you like to visit Discovery green? Feel free to comment all you think about to all these questions! We, at Texaslyf, really value community interactions so it’s a nice place to share your thoughts on the Discovery Green.

Learn more about Discovery Green at – https://www.discoverygreen.com/ and for the common questions you might have visit – https://www.discoverygreen.com/faqs/

* We don’t own any of the images displayed except the ones with caption “Made By Texaslyf”. The other images belong to their respective owners. They are used here purely for illustration purposes in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. (Please contact us if you are the owner of the image and want us to take it down from our website.)

* We don’t post AI content, all the posts directly comes from my heart and research for you. Know more about our “no AI content policy” here.

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