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Public Realm Action Plan

Project Status: In Devlopment

Downtown Houston+ and Downtown partners are working together to develop a Public Realm Action Plan for Downtown. When the Action Plan is completed in Jan 2025, DTH+ and partners will have new ideas inspired by YOU for improved public spaces and ways to enhance and connect our existing public parks and plazas, stadiums, and more.

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Past Engagement Events

Open House for the Future of Downtown's Public Realm
Monday, September 30, 4pm-7pm
Hosted by Discovery Green

Why a Public Realm Action Plan? 

While Downtown boasts amazing parks, stadiums, food halls, theaters and more — each destination acts as its own oasis. The space between lacks a coherent, consistent public realm to connect these places and make our streets vibrant and inviting. The result is that, despite Downtown’s many assets, its public realm can feel like less than the sum of its parts. Downtown Houston+, in partnership with urban strategy team Gehl, Agora Partners, and Outside Voices, is working to create a Public Realm Action Plan to address this challenge.

Will the Action Plan include all of Downtown and its partners?

By weaving design, programming, and operations together, the Plan will be shaped by Public Workshops, Focus Groups, and the DTH+ Public Realm Advisory Group to produce an implementation-based vision for the next generation of Downtown — a roadmap to transform the district into a more livable, delightful, connected, and prosperous place. Action Plans — like this one for Chattanooga— help align visionaries and doers around a shared goal, organize responsibilities across sectors, and kickstart impactful projects.

Process and Timeline

[Summer – Fall 2024] Existing Conditions Analysis & Synthesis: The team will conduct a Public Space Public Life analysis to record how people today move through and experience Downtown. This analysis involves observing people moving and spending time in Downtown, noting their behaviors. This analysis will be paired with stakeholder and community engagement to understand the opportunities and challenges in Downtown.

[Fall 2024] Visioning: The team will engage with stakeholders and community members to imagine the future of Downtown Houston and develop a clear vision for this revamped neighborhood.

[Fall 2024 – Winter 2025] Strategies: The team will develop a menu of transformative strategies to achieve the co-created vision. These strategies may include capital projects, tactical improvements, and ideas for future events. These strategies will make up the Action Plan and provide Downtown stakeholders with ideas on how to work together to bring this vision to life.

[2025 and Beyond] Pilot Projects and Implementation Across Downtown

For any additional questions, comments, or concerns regarding the project, please contact Cassie Hoeprich, Director of Planning & Economic Development, at cassie.hoeprich@downtownhouston.org