Last year, 3.3 million visitors found their way to Discovery Green – an attendance not seen since before the pandemic. From our offices in the center of the park, we see it all: little ones taking their first steps, marriage proposals, athletes playing frisbee on lunch breaks, and friends gathering for picnics or painting parties on the lawn. Whether monumental or ordinary, so many of life’s cherished moments unfold here.

In fact, a recent University of Houston study found that one in three Houstonians visit Discovery Green at least once a year. Visiting the park is a reminder that people can create meaningful change in their community. This 12-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Houston is a safe, inspiring space that respects nature and brings people together. Spending time here, we feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. It’s a special place to be, and I am privileged to shepherd its evolution.

If you haven’t visited in a while, let me assure you: the park is better with you in it.

This year, Discovery Green hosted more than 700 events. I say this as proof: At Discovery Green, there’s always something to discover. From concerts to fitness classes to art installations, the park has been home to countless awe-inspiring experiences. We were even voted Best Park in Texas by USA Today.

This community takes a village to maintain. In February, hundreds of our friends and supporters gathered for the annual Gala on the Green® presented by H-E-B making it the most well attended gala in more than a decade. With co-chairs Ulises and Kara Kinder Vidal and Eduardo and Maria Vidal Morales at the helm we raised over $1 million dollars for Discovery Green’s programming and operations! Perhaps most importantly, we celebrated our founding president, Guy Hagstette and the metamorphosis of his vision into a vibrant park. It was a cherished opportunity to look back as I chart the path forward made even more poignant with the additional presence of my mentor, Barry Mandel.

Read the full 2025 Impact Report

CULTURE

Discovery Green continues to celebrate Houston’s incredible diversity through art, music, and cultural traditions. By coming together in this shared space, we strengthen our bonds, grow civic pride, and foster community.

This year, we introduced unforgettable experiences:

Discovery Green’s Art Lab launched with international renowned artist Jen Lewin as the first mentor. Art Lab is a groundbreaking mentorship program designed to give Houston artists the skills, opportunity and connections to break into the public art realm. Out of 63 Houston applicants, two talented artists, Karen Navarro and Gerardo Rosales were selected as inaugural fellows. Lewin mentored the two while also working on her mesmerizing installation Atlas, consisting of 24 oversized and interactive moths hanging from the oak trees on the Brown Promenade.

We are thrilled to announce that as a result of Art Lab Discovery Green commissioned Navarro to create a temporary public art installation at the park this fall. Chroma Collective will be displayed in Discovery Green September 12 through November 2.

Our signature event Green Mountain Energy Earth Day flourished with a first-time partnership with Houston First. The collaboration brought Squonk’s Brouhaha – an innovative band and performance art group spectacular to the park. The group created a 30-foot-tall musical instrument that required audience participation to play. As visitors worked together, it brought home the message that saving the planet requires everyone united in a single goal.

For the first time ever, we presented bumper cars at the Green Mountain Energy Ice rink. It was such a smash hit that we brought in bumper boats this summer while also reintroducing kayaking for the first time since the pandemic. Houston has loved the opportunity to experience Kinder Lake in new and exciting ways. About 40,000 rides were sold!

Plus, the Houston Pumpkin Festival welcomed nearly 100,000 people, making it one of our most popular ticketed events. We’ve invited the Houston Pumpkin Festival back with even more new and exciting fall fun and photo ops.

Culture, when shared, has the power to transform lives—and Discovery Green is proud to be where those connections happen.

NATURE

Behind every beautiful green space is a dedicated team, and this year, our operations crew went above and beyond. They refreshed numerous garden beds with new plantings, filled in the butterfly and hummingbird gardens, brightened the donor hill with seasonal color, and replenished granite along the promenades.

We invested $220,000 in maintaining our lawns and gardens, including repairing bare spots and improving turf quality. Thanks to generous support from Apache Corporation and Houston First, we also replanted five trees lost during Hurricane Beryl.

These efforts create a healthier, more vibrant space for all of us to enjoy. As research shows, the benefits go far beyond beauty. Connecting with nature, whether through a quiet walk among the oaks or a yoga class on the lawn, makes us healthier and happier.

WHAT YOUR SUPPORT MAKES POSSIBLE

Discovery Green has always been a catalyst for transformation. Its creation sparked $1.8 billion in nearby development, and this year, we uncovered a new way to measure our impact: according to Americans for the Arts, every dollar we spend on arts programming returns $3.70 to the local economy.

Health, happiness, and economic prosperity—that’s an incredible return on investment! This upcoming year we have our sights on even more exciting program. While fan favorites like Mexico en el Corazon and Scream on the Green® will return in the fall, we’re also planning an evening bigger Día de los Muertos with a community altar by artist Angel Quesada, a Catrin and Catrina contest and a musical “ofrenda” honoring the legacy of Texas music legends who have passed.

This winter in addition to the Green Mountain Energy Ice rink opening, we’ll celebrate with a new light installation from Frankie To-ong, also known as H-Town Frankie. His genius with music and lighting design promises to be an exciting addition to the season’s cheer. Then, in the spring we’re planning a Lunar New Year celebration, even bigger EOG Resources’ FUNomenal Spring Break, a fresh Jazzy Sundays in the Parks series and so much more. Stay tuned!

To our visitors, sponsors, donors, and friends: thank you for making Discovery Green the extraordinary place it is

-Kathryn Lott, Discovery Green President and Park Director

Donate today to keep Discovery Green thriving.