Houston Advances $75M MacGregor Park Transformation
The Third Ward park’s two-phase renewal combines recreation buildings, courts, trails and landscape improvements.
Houston’s MacGregor Park transformation has reached its October groundbreaking milestone after portions of the park closed for first-phase construction in August. The approximately $75 million program will renew major recreation facilities and strengthen connections to Brays Bayou Greenway.
The October 1 ceremony was scheduled at the basketball pavilion. It followed the August 17 closure of facilities including the tennis center, baseball field, large playground and sections of the trails and parking, so the ceremony should not be treated as the first day of site preparation.
Project at a Glance
- Overall program estimate:
- Approximately $75 million
- TDLR construction estimate:
- $50 million
- Filed renovation area:
- 55 acres
- Completion target:
- 2028
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Rebuilding the park’s recreation network
Plans include a new clubhouse, 16 tennis courts and two practice courts, eight pickleball courts, an accessible shaded playground and improvements to the pool, pool house, fitness center and basketball pavilion.
The program also calls for more than three miles of trails and sidewalks, more than 3,000 new trees, renewal of the Martin Luther King Jr. plaza and improved greenway connections. The work combines new facilities with upgrades to established public spaces.
Two cost figures describe different scopes
Houston Parks Board places the overall program at approximately $75 million, supported by a $27 million Kinder Foundation gift and public and private funding. The TDLR record carries a narrower $50 million construction estimate for a 55-acre renovation scope.
The filing lists September 2026 through September 2028, while the broader program is targeting the end of 2028. The construction estimate and overall program figure should not be added together. Members can follow the project team and dated delivery milestones in Project Insights.
Explore the project overview, dated updates and delivery milestones in Project Insights.
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