After the Houston Parks and Recreation Department acquired the land where the former Heights Transit Center was located in 2019—near the intersection of Main, Cavalcade and Studewood streets—the city hired the landscape architecture firm Lauren Griffith Associates to come up with a master plan for a neighborhood park at the site.
A community survey conducted by the city of Houston yielded several key elements, including that the park will be fenced, and that it will include a playground, tricycle track, water pad and an intergenerational fitness area.
The bus shelter on site will be renovated into a pavilion, and bathrooms in an existing kiosk will be usable during events, according to city information. The oak trees at the site will be preserved, and more will be added, per survey feedback.
Other parks designed by Lauren Griffith include Market Square Park, Discovery Green and the Hermann Park trails.
Houston City Council approved the submission of the grant application in October. With the grant award secured, a timeline previously suggested by Lauren Griffith indicates the design effort could run through next summer and construction could begin in the spring of 2023.
The state's Parks and Wildlife Commission awarded roughly $21.6 million in total grants statewide on May 27. Other Houston area parks to receive grants include the Challenger Seven Memorial Park in Webster, Wildcrest Park in the Westchase District and Jerry Matheson Park in Tomball.
