Excitement builds for Midtown Park Capital Campaign and Super Bowl LI

Midtown will celebrate the kickoff of the Midtown Park Capital Campaign on Friday, Oct. 28th.  The capital campaign will help bring together all the pieces to make Midtown Park a showcase for arts and entertainment in the Houston area.

Joining the “100 Day Super Bowl Countdown” line-up, the campaign kickoff event will open to the sounds of Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul drumline and provide lunch catered by Midtown BBQ.  Attendees of the event will hear from Midtown Houston staff, consultants and project stakeholders including a Midtown Park project briefing, capital campaign lead gift presentation and special announcement by the Houston Super Bowl LI Committee.

The goal of the Midtown Park Capital Campaign is to raise $8 million for the “above and beyond” enhancements including commissioned public art pieces.  Other enhancements include a pavilion for concerts and performances, a dog park, miniature bayou, and playground with water features for the kids.

“It’s (capital campaign) an incredibly exciting project because it’s going to help bring Midtown alive,” said Kim Sterling of Sterling Associates, which is assisting Midtown Park with its fundraising effort.

The art plan for the park has been developed by Rick Lowe of Project Row Houses and Jessica Cusick, founding director of the civic art and design program for the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County.

“We are honored to play a role in developing Houston’s newest urban park, which will showcase some of the best art and entertainment that the City has to offer,” said Bill Franks, chairman of the Midtown Management District Board of Directors. “We’re happy to spotlight many of the young artists and young professionals who are now calling Midtown home.”  

Progress at the park is going smoothly. A one-story, 400-space parking garage has been built beneath the park, and work is underway on landscape, arts and entertainment amenities, said Steven Spears, of Design Workshop who is responsible for landscape architecture as a subcontractor for lead engineering firm Walter P Moore.

The 3-acre park will be anchored by the pavilion and will include three water features, a playground, a restaurant and public art, a series of gardens and substantial improvements to Main Street as an arts promenade.

When Midtown Park is completed next year, it will be a focal point for arts and entertainment for the entire Houston region.  Midtown Houston is home to more than 40 art venues including the MATCH, Community Artist Collective and Zoya Tommy Gallery.

To contribute to the Midtown Park Capital Campaign, contact Sterling Associates at 713-807-1411.

Super Bowl LI will take place on Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium.