The new downtown Discovery Green park, located across Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center, is scheduled to open early next year. The elaborate 11.78-acre, $93 million park, being constructed through a public/private partnership, will change the face of downtown.

The features of Discovery Green are almost too numerous to mention. They include picnic and play areas, of course, an oak promenade with hundred-year-old live oaks, a central promenade that can accommodate outdoor markets and art exhibits, an interactive fountain, a one-acre pond lined with native wetland plants, a jogging trail, two restaurants, an amphitheater and outdoor stage accommodating 1,000 guests, a bandstand, fenced dog areas, and indoor and outdoor reading areas with wi-fi access.

The park is being built by the Discovery Green Conservancy, a private, non-profit corporation formed by several private foundations to design, build and maintain the park. In a complex real estate transaction on December 17, 2004, the City contributed $8 million toward the $27 million purchase price of two blocks of downtown property, which were combined with two other blocks the City had previously purchased. That property, plus the Crawford Street right-of-way, was then conveyed to the Conservancy. The property donated by the City has been estimated at $41 million, with the funds to build the park coming from private donations.

The Conservancy received a deed which required the park to be completed by December 31, 2007. A government corporation was formed to hold title to the land. When the park is completed, the corporation will enter into an agreement with the Conservancy to operate the park. Under the terms of the agreement, the City will contribute $750,000 a year for operating costs, with the Conservancy funding capital improvements and any additional operating expenses.

When it deeded the land to the Conservancy, the City reserved an underground easement, which it is using to build a 630-car parking garage to serve the park, the convention center, and other parking needs in the area. City Council appropriated $21.5 million for this purpose from the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department, which will manage, operate and maintain the parking garage, and retain all operating revenues from it.

The www.discoverygreen.com website describes it as "the vision of Mayor Bill White and the Discovery Green Conservancy." Parks in cities such as New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco were reviewed to develop the concept for the new park. In addition, many meetings with citizens, and a four-hour public workshop, were held. Input also came from a variety of focus groups.

One important goal of the park is to create a positive impression of Houston for those attending conventions at the Brown Center. "Being located next to the Convention Center, this park will give many visitors their first impression of Houston," said Joe Nelson of Houston Endowment, Inc., "and we want to make a good impression."

The park is also considered an amenity for the growing number of residents in the downtown area, is projected to positively affect property values, and to spur DISCOVERY GREEN

Continued from development east of Main Street. Finger Companies is developing One Park Place, a luxury 37-story apartment building, adjacent to the new park.