Dome reimagined

Regarding “105M plan could be Dome’s saving grace” (Page A1, Sept. 24), having read about the renovation of the Dome in the Houston Chronicle for many years, the larger and more important asset is the vast 350 acres that the site encompasses. Currently there is a black sea of asphalt with more than 26,000 parking spaces using the majority of that land surface.

The Astrodome can be saved as a very useful structure. Let’s talk shade: specifically, shade for people and automobiles alike. Think about going to a major event at Reliant Park in August and parking your new car in a cool concrete structure, then taking an air-conditioned, above-ground escalated walkway over to see the Texans or to the Offshore Technology Conference, the Houston Rodeo or to an air-conditioned light rail station on Fannin.

The Astrodome could easily and cost effectively be converted into a magnificent parking garage holding 30,000 cars. A state-of-the art parking garage with direct access to and from the South Loop, with walkways over beautiful parks surrounding our various venues. And, most of all, a complex of buildings and campuses that are pleasures to walk through. Of course, a key component of this plan is having these open landscaped areas available yearround with possibly a public plaza, a food truck court, a permanent carnival area, a small water park and a zip line between the Dome & Reliant Stadium.

Charles Tibbits, Houston