Discovery Green is a public-private partnership initiated in mid-2004 when the sale of the privately owned green space across from the George R. Brown Convention Center was announced.
There are three entities that worked collaboratively to realize the vision for Discovery Green:
City of Houston. Mayor Bill White initiated the public-private partnership to secure the site for a park, and City Council approved a contribution of 6.4 acres of land toward the project and $7,900,000 toward acquisition of the remaining 5.4 acres. The city also created the Corporation, and it will contribute $750,000 annually toward maintenance of the park. In early 2006, the city approved funding of $21,500,000 for a garage under a part of the park.
Houston Downtown Park Corporation. The Corporation is a public local government corporation that owns the land. Upon the park’s completion, the Corporation will dedicate Discovery Green as a public park. The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Conservancy for development of the park and underground garage and for operation of the park.
Discovery Green Conservancy. The Conservancy is a private non-profit created to develop and operate Discovery Green. It is the first private non-profit organization in Houston to be responsible for managing all aspects of a major public park’s ongoing operations.
The Discovery Green Conservancy has a 50-year lease to manage the operation of the park.
MISSION: To build and maintain a backyard for downtown Houston which is uncommonly beautiful, informal and welcoming. We will provide a green space where Houstonians and visitors have an opportunity to enjoy the simple and intimate pleasures of life. Most importantly, the Discovery Green Conservancy seeks to capture the true spirit of our city.
Project Cost
The total cost of building the park was $122 million. The Discovery Green Conservancy has raised more than $54 million in private funds to supplement the city’s contributions. See a complete list of Building Campaign donors (link)
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§ Land (partial contribution for City of Houston)
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$57 million
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§ Park Features and improvements
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$38 million
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§ Garage (contribution from the City of Houston)
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$21 million
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§ Art and installations
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$8 million
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Houston Downtown Park Corporation -- Board of Directors
Nancy G. Kinder, Chair
Brady Carruth
David Mendez
Maconda B. O’Connor
Ali Saberioon
Barron Wallace
Discovery Green Conservancy -- Board of Directors
Nancy G. Kinder, Chair
(Kinder Foundation)
Brady F. Carruth
(The Wortham Foundation, Inc.)
Tom Castro
(Border Media Partners)
Dr. Larry Faulkner
(Houston Endowment Inc.)
Jacqueline S. Martin
(JS Martin Associates, LP)
Dr. Maconda B. O’Connor
(The Brown Foundation, Inc.)
Bob Eury, Ex-Officio
(Central Houston)
The Leadership
Sheryl Johns, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
(Houston Endowment Inc.)
Nancy Pittman, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
Ron I. Erlichman, General Counsel
(Bracewell & Giuliani LLP)
Guy Hagstette, AIA, President
Susanne Theis, Programming Director
Julie H. Bergen, Development Consultant
