UrbanPublicSpaces.com

Root Memorial Square – commonly call Root Park – is in downtown Houston across LaBranch Street from the Toyota Center; home of the Rockets Basketball team. The square was rebuilt in 2004 into a park that commemorated the history of the area and the fans of the basketball team across the street. Originally the block contained the mansion of Alexander Porter Root and his wife, Laura Shepherd Root. The land was donated in their memory by their descendants in 1923. (more…)

The contractor’s fence came down as the last minute touches were made getting ready for the opening Saturday. But, for those looking for a place to eat lunch, walk the dog or curious to see the changes the park was “open”.

The concept of the new park, as opposed to the previous concept of an art and historic park, is leading to far more usage. There are the usual benches and stone walkways, fountains, color flower beds, great lighting at night and, in a couple of weeks, a local favorite eatery selling Greek fast food. There was unfettered green space for the dogs but they made that space unappealing to the non-dogs. The new park has a great dog area-the best I have seen-with plastic bag dispensers. (more…)

Hines, a world leader in real estate investment, built an elegant public space at the corner of Lamar and Louisiana Streets in downtown Houston. The area had been a large open paved patio with a large contemporary sculpture that 99.9% of the public hurried past–it did not contribute to their day. (more…)

Houston Center is a business, living and leisure complex of sky-walk connected buildings in downtown Houston. The buildings and the centrally located garden in this photo are managed by Crescent Real Estate Equities, Ltd. The garden, at the corner of McKinney and Caroline, is a great place to get away from the glass, metal and concrete world of the inner downtown Houston office towers. (more…)

I have driven through roundabouts in England but do not recall how the pedestrian space around them was used. In the case of one of the new roundabouts here in Houston the design provided great garden-like open spaces with benches and large plants. This space is part of the Washington on Westcott Roundabout Initiative, Inc.–a non-profit organization of neighborhood associations and community leaders donating their time. (more…)