HOUSTON—After opening 25 years ago, New York City's Bryant Park has been totally transformed and in Dallas, Klyde Warren Park has emerged from an eyesore freeway to a green space built atop the freeway to unite the previously divided city. The newest privately managed urban park, Levy Park, opens on February 25.

A public green space in the Upper Kirby District area of inner-city Houston, Levy Park is undergoing a $10 million renovation that will create a gathering place and an entertainment and recreation destination. The Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority, in partnership with the Upper Kirby District Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on community and quality of life improvements, is funding more than $12 million in public park amenities to transform Levy Park into an urban space and improve the city's real estate landscape.

The Upper Kirby District hired Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, a consulting firm that specializes in developing and operating public spaces, to launch the programming and operations of Levy Park. Other partners in the program include the Houston parks and recreation department, city of Houston, Midway Companies, Office of James Burnett, Natalye Appel + Associates Architects and Burton Construction.

Dan Biederman is a prominent urban planning and redevelopment consultant, and president of Biederman. Biederman is best known for transforming Bryant Park as well as creating Klyde Warren Park. Both have had a positive impact on real estate values in those cities and the same is expected in the area surrounding Levy Park.

“Studies have shown a direct correlation between green space activity and value, including tax benefits, created in the surrounding real estate. A bad park is a detriment to surrounding areas and asking rents for housing and townhomes are not attractive to building additional structures,” Ben Donsky, vice president of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures and project manager of Levy Park, tells GlobeSt.com. “Levy Park is a development that understands the value of public spaces. This type of park creates a central town square for a neighborhood that didn't have a center.”

The 5.5-acre park includes a performance pavilion, two large lawns, a community garden, interactive water features, a dog park and a children's playground. An in-park restaurant and food kiosks are also planned. Redevelopment of the park will feature curated, year-round programming, native landscaping and botanical experiences.

According to Biederman, through partnerships with local organizations and businesses, Levy Park will feature an active schedule of free daily programs and events, including fitness classes, literary programming, dance lessons, art classes and live music. There will also be amenities available for use at any time during the park's operating hours, including ping pong, football, a board game cart, an art cart and a reading room.

Levy Park Conservancy, a nonprofit formed by the Upper Kirby District through an agreement with the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority, will manage the park. The conservatory will oversee the operations, programming and revenue development for the privately managed park. Two 99-year ground leases granted to the Houston-based developer, the Midway Companies, by the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority as well as the rent from a planned restaurant will contribute to revenues used to fund the operations and public programming in Levy Park.

Biederman is currently working on public space and park projects in Boston, Newark, NJ, Buffalo, NY, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Stamford, CT.

As previously reported, the Kirby Collection is a 1.11 million-square-foot luxury mixed-use development located in the Upper Kirby District near the River Oaks neighborhood, as well as the Med Center and Galleria.

Biederman is currently working on public space and park projects in Boston, Newark, NJ, Buffalo, NY, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Stamford, CT.

Instant Insights /

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