Houston leaders have announced a new plan to transform Tranquillity Park as part of a broader push to elevate downtown public spaces.

HOUSTON — At his annual State of the City address, John Whitmire announced a new mission to elevate Houston’s parks and public spaces, including a transformation of Tranquillity Park, located in the shadow of City Hall at 400 Rusk St.

Working in partnership with Downtown Houston+, the city aims to give Houstonians and visitors a more welcoming, world-class park in the heart of downtown.

Tranquillity Park, flanked by Smith, Walker, Bagby and Rusk streets, opened on the 10th anniversary of the historic 1969 lunar landing. The park honors Commander Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, who announced, “Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

“Tranquillity Park can and should be a better reflection of this great city’s ambitions and achievements. This is one of the popular places where Houstonians gather to participate in our most cherished public events and parades. It can be a place where we welcome visitors from around the world. It can be a place where people who serve the public in local government or residents and workers in Downtown’s office towers can come for a break during their workdays,” the mayor said.

Kris Larson, president and CEO of Downtown Houston+, said he applauded the mayor’s vision and commitment to restoring one of Houston’s most important civic green spaces.

“We appreciate Mayor Whitmire for challenging us to think creatively about this public asset in the heart of our region that had been ignored too long. Reviving Tranquillity Park will require clever interventions to broaden the park’s appeal and ease of use, while celebrating Houston’s proud history of space exploration. But physical updates teamed with active management can transform the underused public space into a reenergized place without heavy reconstruction,” he said.

As part of the effort to restore the park as a place of civic pride, Whitmire said work has already begun with improved care and maintenance. Last November, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, along with Houston Public Works, added soil, mulch and new sod at the roots of the park’s heritage oak trees.

Since then, paver repairs have started, and wider upgrades are scheduled to begin in March.

Mark Folkes, president and CEO of The Hobby Center for Performing Arts, said improvements to the park will help more closely connect The Hobby Center to downtown.

“For years, Houston Theater District visitors have passed Tranquillity Park and imagined its potential as a vibrant outdoor destination that complements its prime location adjacent to City Hall and The Hobby Center,” he said. “We’re thrilled that improvements are underway to transform the park into an engaging public space that extends the energy, creativity, and vitality happening inside our world-class performing arts institutions, and we’re grateful for Mayor John Whitmire’s leadership in moving this effort forward.”

City leaders say improvements to public spaces across downtown — including the transformation of the George R. Brown Convention Center and the new Main Street Promenade — are helping spur private investment.

Recently announced downtown projects include new hotels, conversions of outdated office buildings into residential properties and hotels, and a $50 million reimagining of the office tower at 910 Louisiana to open its ground floor toward Hermann Square and City Hall.

“I ran for mayor to fix Houston. This is an example of a long-neglected space that will be fixed,” the mayor said. “We will honor Tranquillity Park’s history and improve the public space, not just for aesthetic reasons, but also to create a park for Houstonians and visitors to enjoy and to position downtown Houston for the future.”

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