TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
Mayor says renovation of Levy Park shows city’s beautification progress
A new $15 million park redesign attracted crowds Saturday eager to check out a new gem in the heart of Houston.
City leaders boasted at a ceremonial ribbon cutting Saturday that the Levy Park reopening signifies Houston’s progress in beautification, recreation and conservation.
“This city is becoming an example to the nation,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “It’s truly inspiring to look and see you all, so many Houstonians, enjoying the latest contribution to our city’s great green space. Never before have Houstonians had so many options for places to gather together, to celebrate our heritage and diversity and to plan and find respite from a contentious world.”
With activities kicking off at 10 a.m., young fami- lies and their pets enjoyed face painting, concerts, food trucks and mural painting by local graffiti artist Gonzo.
The 5.2-acre plot was donated to the city by Wall Street investor and widely-known philanthropist Leon Levy in 1941. Extended members of the Leon family attended to commemorate the park’s reopening.
Ken Levy, Leon Levy’s great-nephew, recalled the park’s ever-shifting recreational purposes over the years.
“I remember when it was a baseball park, and I remember when it was a dog park and not wellkept,” Levy said. “But what these people did, the numbers of people that have come out — it’s fabulous. It makes me feel so good that someone in our family did something like this and to see the name on it. This park will be enjoyed for many years to come and it’ll bring a bright spot to the name Levy, and I’m very proud.”
Spearheaded by the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority, the $15 million provided a children’s playground with a modern
“It makes me feel so good that someone in our family did something like this and to see the name on it. This park will be enjoyed for many years to come and it’ll bring a bright spot to the name Levy, and I’m very proud.” Ken Levy, great-nephew of park namesake Leon Levy
climbing wall and observation deck, an enclosed dog park, a performance pavilion, community gardens, a promenade and a large activity lawn.
In the name of conservancy, 30 live oak trees were preserved in the design. ‘More like New York’
Among several families strolling throughout the park’s promenade, Michael Babajanov pointed out the children’s amenities to his two young sons. The family came from Bellaire to attend the reopening.
“It’s appropriate of how Houston is changing,” Babajanov said of the updated park. “The city is becoming a little bit more like New York, like L.A. It’s good that they’re trying to invest a bit more and trying their best to attract the younger crowd.”
Despite the drive, Baba- janov intends to bring his children to the park regularly. For young and old
A woman who didn’t want to give her name trekked from West University, where she’s lived for over 60 years, to survey the new park, since she said there isn’t one in walking distance from her home.
“It’s a fabulous park, but they still need to be thinking about the senior citizens,” she said. “It’s a wonderful design for the children, but the children are not paying the taxes.”
Levy Park plans to have year-round programming for both adults and children, including yoga, meditation, piano concerts, hula hooping and a Houston Public Library story hour.
A schedule for the park’s daily activities is listed on the Levy Park website.