The view has changed. Instead of a sea of low rise buildings and parking lots, a visitor to the George Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston now sees a stunning downtown skyline bordered by green, flowers, trees and water. It is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of 21st century life.

Bolstered by a public-private partnership that invested over $130 million in 12 acres of downtown real estate, Discovery Green is now a crown jewel in Houston's urban core.

Modeled on several urban open spaces including New York's Bryant Park and San Francisco's Yerba Buena Park, Discovery Green is a compelling mixture of the contemplative with the interactive. A Houstonian might catch a few rays on the lush lawns or participate in a Guitar Hero competition on the Anheuser Busch Stage as hundreds watch and cheer.

For a visitor to Houston, the park offers a variety of amenities.

Kids need some play time? Let them loose on the playground or in the Gateway Fountain. They can even test their sailor mettle on Kinder Lake, a shallow pool specifically designed for remote-controlled boats.

Adult recreation? There's horseshoes, chess, shuffleboard, bocce courts, and a putting green.

Looking for some casual park food? The Lake House overlooks the Jones Lawn, and offers fast casual dining.

Something less casual? Discovery Green's signature restaurant and rooftop bar - The Grove and The Treehouse -- promises to appease the appetite for great beauty as well as great food. The Grove is located on the south side of the park near Lamar Street.

And for some "me time" there are park benches, gardens, public art and roaring fountains.

The park is managed by the Discovery Green Conservancy, a non-profit organization that was also responsible for the park's development. Along with overseeing the day-to-day operations and maintenance, the Conservancy has established an ambition schedule of activities

Even readers have a place to go: the Houston Public Library has established a family oriented satellite called HPL Express. The library provides free Wi-Fi for the park as well as laptop check out and electronic access to the Library's massive holdings.

On almost any day of the year, visitors can choose from a varied menu of concerts, screenings, workshops and classes. Checkout the user friendly website for a current schedule.

Discovery Green, a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston, opened on April 13, 2008. With its proximity to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center, Discovery Green is an ideal location for the city's newest attraction.

General Info
The downtown Houston park is located across Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel. Toyota Center, Houston Center and Minute Maid Park are only blocks away.

Admission is FREE.

Hours
The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hours for events may vary. Areas of the park may be closed occasionally for maintenance or private events.

For more information:
1500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77010
713-400-7336
www.discoverygreen.com

His primary focus is real estate development, but he can always make time for a well-mixed cocktail. He can be contacted at jeff@jeffwestconsulting.com