Hermann Park

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A view of the reflecting pool and Sam Houston statue in Hermann Park.
The Pioneer Memorial obelisk stands at the end of the Reflecting Pool in Hermann Park. It was erected by the San Jacinto Centennial Association and dedicated on August 30, 1936.

Hermann Park is one of Houston's finest and most-visited public parks. Situated between Fannin Street and North MacGregor Way, it is within walking distance from the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and the Museum District, and within a few miles of the Third Ward, the historic Astrodome and Reliant Stadium (home stadium for the Houston Texans). The land which it occupies was presented to the City of Houston by George H. Hermann in 1914. The park is located at 29.717°, -95.391°.

This historic 445-acre park space is home to numerous cultural institutions including the Houston Zoo, Houston Garden Center, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Hermann Park Golf Course, which was the first desegregated public golf course in the United States.

The Hermann Park Conservancy

Hermann Park was presented to the City of Houston by George Hermann in 1914, and is now Houston's most historically significant public green space. Over the years, the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and one of the first desegregated public golf courses in the United States all have added to the Park's importance as a recreational destination.

By the late 1980s however, due to insufficient public resources and very high public attendance, the park became rundown and entered a state of disrepair. In response, a group of committed and visionary Houstonians formed the nonprofit organization known as the Friends of Hermann Park (FHP) to encourage the development of more attractive, usable green space in Hermann Park and to promote the restoration of the Park to its originally intended standards of beauty.

Creating the Conservatory

In 1993, FHP commissioned a master plan for Hermann Park from Hanna/Olin Partnership of Philadelphia, a landscape architectural group recognized internationally for the excellence of its work in public parks around the United States and Europe. This Master Plan, created in consultation with the City of Houston and various stakeholders, was adopted in 1997 by Houston City Council. In 1995, Friends of Hermann Park adopted a master plan for Hermann Park that has provided a “blueprint” for all subsequent renovations and enhancements to the Park. In 2004, Friends of Hermann Park changed its name to the Hermann Park Conservancy (HPC) to reflect an institutional and permanent commitment to stewardship of Hermann Park’s natural resources and physical infrastructure.

Ongoing projects

The Hermann Park Conservancy continues working in partnership with the City of Houston to secure funds and manage the design of projects to be undertaken in the Park:

  • The Molly Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool
  • The Molly Ann Smith and Sara H. and John H. Lindsey Plazas
  • The enlargement, renovation and beautification of McGovern Lake (including three new islands as well as bird and wetland habitat area.)
  • The West Entrance facility and plaza for the Houston Zoo.
  • The beautification and re-alignment of North MacGregor Street to improve access and circulation in and around the Park and the Texas Medical Center.
  • The acquisition of additional land and capital improvements to Bayou Parkland, an 80-acre area in Hermann Park along Brays Bayou being "reclaimed" for healthier activities and used extensively for stewardship programs.
  • The creation and implementation of extensive stewardship programs, including Field Studies 101, Natural Guard, and Scouting Around Hermann Park.
  • The completion of the expansion and renovation of Miller Outdoor Theatre.
  • The coordination of the comprehensive renovation of the Hermann Park Golf Course (completed by BSL Golf Corporation).
  • The coordination of the Hermann Park Miniature Train track expansion.
  • The planting of over 2,400 new trees.
  • The park-wide installation of new park furnishings such as light fixtures, benches and trash cans.

The Conservancy also developed a Maintenance and Operations Master Plan Study for Hermann Park - the first such comprehensive study ever for this flagship park of Houston. The study identified many concerns for preserving and protecting Hermann Park, including a gap of 20,000 maintenance hours for the Park. In response, the Conservancy hired a Manager of Volunteer Programs. In 2004 over 1,200 volunteers provided over 14,000 hours of volunteer service in the park.

Hermann Park Attractions

File:Miller Outdoors.jpg
The Miller Outdoor Theatre
  • Houston Zoo
  • Hermann Park Jogging Trail
  • McGovern Lake
  • Miller Outdoor Theatre
  • Miniature Hermann Park train
  • Bayou Parkland
  • Brays Bayou
  • Hermann Park Golf Courseand Golf Course Club House
  • Stand at the dock of McGovern Lake plaza and get sprayed by the geyser
  • Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Playground for All Children
  • Japanese Garden
  • Sam Houston monument
  • Houston Garden Center
  • Fragrance Garden
  • Lake Overlook
  • Reflection Pool
  • Marvin Taylor Exercise Station
  • Urban Forest in Bayou Parkland (the paths are wheelchair accessible)
  • Mecom-Rockwell Fountain and Colonnade
  • Pioneer Memorial Log House Museum
  • Pedal boats on McGovern Lake
  • Bloch Plaza Cancer Survivor's Plaza
  • Four interactive fountains at the Molly Ann Smith Plaza
  • Fishing at Bob's Fishing Pier on McGovern Lake (You must be under 12 years old or over 65 *years old and bring your own equipment)
  • Judson Robinson, Jr. community center
  • Chinese Pagoda
  • Arbor in the Pines
  • Pioneer Monument Obelisk

External links

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