New Playground at Discovery Green Finally Unveiled

New Playground at Discovery Green Finally Unveiled

DISCOVERY GREEN UNVEILED its renovated John P. McGovern Playground yesterday, and it promises to quickly become a favorite among Houston area kiddos and parents alike. Although construction was completed on the new Mendez Play Space — a $2.3 million project that rests in the park's northwest corner, bordering La Branch and McKinney Streets — in August of last year, the finished project remained walled-off behind construction fencing due to Covid-related city ordinances.


The new space, part of the Discovery Green Conservancy's $13.3 million master plan improvement project, doubles the amount of play space in the park, and features new energy-efficient lighting and 31 new shade-providing trees — a must for Houston's hot summers.

"Discovery Green is vital to Houston as a vibrant and centrally located meeting space where visitors from inside — and outside — the beltway can interact with one another and learn about the diverse traditions that coexist in the city," said Discovery Green Conservancy President Barry Mandel in a statement. "We are very excited that our littlest patrons will now have this improved play space to explore and enjoy."

The park's youngest visitors will undoubtedly enjoy the new play area, which features nearly 15 pieces of play equipment that encourage fitness and creativity, a play hill, and a separate area that features a ropes course for older children that is located near the park's popular Gateway Fountain.

The new playground, which will be open daily from 6am-11pm, was made possible by grants from the John P. McGovern Foundation, The Elkins Foundation and the Houston Endowment Inc. in honor of David Mendez — the former chair of the Houston Endowment board of directors and VP at JPMorgan Chase, and the namesake of the newly completed project.

People + Places
Thrive & Inspire: ‘I Believe in Having Employees that Are Happy,’ Says Wilvin J. Carter

Wilvin J. Carter, The Law Offices of Wilvin J. Carter P.C.

WHAT'S THE SECRET to running a successful business? I have found that there is no real secret to running a business. I abide by a set of principles that have allowed my business to grow and flourish for the past 15 years. First, I make sure that our team is competent on the laws and the facts surrounding all my clients’ individual cases. Secondly, I am always staying abreast of the public’s temperature as it relates to hot button topics that may affect prospective jurors who will be determining the outcome of my clients’ cases. More importantly, my clients’ feelings and needs are always at the forefront of our legal representation of them. Our clients’ happiness is the most important aspect of my business. My law firm obtains excellent results for our clients and in return, they refer their friends and family to us for legal representation. Client satisfaction is not a secret.

Keep ReadingShow less

THE MEANING OF “cool” evolves. In the ’50s you might have thought greasers were cool, with their leather jackets à la Danny Zuko. In the ’70s, a long-haired activist or a Studio 54 reveler in Halston. In the ’80s, a Wall Street master of the universe?

Keep ReadingShow less
People + Places

Rosé Soiree

THE WOODLANDS IS the place to be June 5-11, when a lineup culinary greats and wine luminaries converge to offer foodie-friendly events with entertainment ranging from fashion shows to speaker panels. This year’s theme is Wine + Food = Art, which will celebrate the creativity found in the wine and food industry.

Keep ReadingShow less
Food