Hermann Park in Houston is full of wonder. Hermann Park is a 450-acre urban green space in the heart of Houston. The park is home to some of the city’s most favorite spaces, including the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and McGovern Centennial Gardens, making the Hermann Park a true local treasure.
This week, the Hermann Park Conservancy and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department officially broke ground on The Commons, a 26-acre space that encapsulates multiple play gardens and zones, a community gathering area, and natural spaces.
The Commons will be located in the southwest area of the park bordering the Houston Zoo to the east, with Cambridge Street to the south, Main Streets and Fannin to the west.
“Our objective for the Commons, and our master plan, is simple: to ensure that the Park becomes an even more valuable place for all the citizens of Houston in the years ahead, contributing to the quality of life and serving as a place that unifies our community for all the years to come,” the website reads.
Play Gardens and Zones
The Commons’ centerpiece will be a two-acre “play for all” central playground. Designed for all children and a variety of experiences, the play space will include the Space Adventure area featuring a 45-foot-high Rocket Ship and capsule, a carousel, an old school playground experience named Swing Hill near the Picnic Pavilion, and the Splash Cove water zone with cyclone-propelling water towers.
Additionally, the play area will feature various zoo-inspired experiences, including the Cypress Grove area with snake-and-alligator shaped equipment, and the Gorilla Forest with “play equipment in the form of a friendly, larger-than-life gorilla.”
Furthermore, the new play gardens will feature a couple nature-inspired experiences including a first-hand look into the water dynamics behind the city’s natural water, The Bayou, as well as The Thicket wooden enclave with a variety of safe play options for children up to the age of 5.
Community Gathering Area
For everyone, the park will feature a number of exciting community spaces. Coming attractions include new grilling and picnic areas, renovations to the Historic Fannin Pavilion that will include added food stations, food truck court, and added natural light.
Additionally, the park will add the Central Lawn for relaxation and informal sports play, as well as a decked-out Live Oak Terrace placed along the park’s oaks.
Natural Spaces
Lastly, the park’s master plan is set to feature a number of natural areas in which visitors can connect with nature that which include nature habitats and activity areas, a Wetland Garden, Stone Cove, and extensive new native plantings.
Hermann Park Conservancy and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department aims to begin construction on The Commons this month, with the goal of completion in January of 2024.
See also: Sail Away On McGovern Lake On These Adorable Pedal Boats In Hermann Park