- April 1
Houston Future Landmark Award
Houston Future Landmark Award
April 1, 2019Emancipation Park Conservancy wins Preservation Houston’s 2019 Future Landmark Award - March 1
Houston Development and Distinction Award
Houston Development and Distinction Award
March 1, 2019Emancipation Park Conservancy wins Urban Land Institute Houston’s 2019 Development of Distinction Award - February 1
Site of Memory UNESCO Designation
Site of Memory UNESCO Designation
February 1, 2019Emancipation Park Conservancy designated by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Site of Memory Associated with the Slave Route Project. - January 1
Construction on Founders’ Monuments Begins
Construction on Founders’ Monuments Begins
January 1, 2019Emancipation Park Conservancy beings construction on Founders’ Monuments to enhance the park and story of Emancipation Park and its founders. - January 1
New Executive Director
New Executive Director
January 1, 2018Emancipation Park Conservancy hires new staff lead by Executive Director, Lucy Bremond - January 1
Park Rededication
Park Rededication
January 1, 2017Emancipation Park 33.6 million renovations complete and park rededicated during annual Juneteenth Celebration. Over 8,000 patrons attended the event. - October 17
Emancipation Avenue: 2016
Emancipation Avenue: 2016
October 17, 2016In 2016 the City of Houston planning commission passed a resolution to have Dowling Avenue, a street bordering Emancipation Park named after Confederate soldier Richard W. Dowling, renamed to Emancipation Avenue. It was subject to approval by the city council. - June 19
Emancipation Park Conservancy: 2015
Emancipation Park Conservancy: 2015
June 19, 2015Emancipation Park Conservancy formed as a 501 (c)(3). - October 26
Breaking Ground: 2013
Breaking Ground: 2013
October 26, 2013
H.P.A.R.D., TIRZ Almeda #7, and the Friends of Emancipation Park broke ground for renovations on October 26, 2013 - January 1
City Renovation Planning: 2011
City Renovation Planning: 2011
January 1, 2011In 2011 the city government planned to establish a capital campaign to install new facilities at the park. It spent $2 million in its own money and secured $4 million in funding from the local government corporation OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority as well as $1 million in funding from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. - August 1
Freelon Group Selected: 2010
Freelon Group Selected: 2010
August 1, 2010
In 2010, the OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority and Houston Parks and Recreation requested proposals to develop a new concept for the park. North Carolina-based The Freelon Group, was selected to work with Houston-based landscape architect M2L Associates on the project. Mr. Phil Freelon is an internationally recognized African-American architect, most recently lauded for his work … - June 19
Historical Marker Designation: 2009
Historical Marker Designation: 2009
June 19, 2009
The Friends of Emancipation Park unveiled the parks Official State of Texas Historic Marker as part of the 2009 Juneteenth Celebrations. - November 7
Park Preserved As Historic Landmark: 2007
Park Preserved As Historic Landmark: 2007
November 7, 2007Under the Houston Historic Preservation Ordinance, Houston City Council voted unanimously to designate the park a protected historic landmark, due in large part to the efforts of the Friends of Emancipation Park to lobby for the ordinance. - June 19
Friends of Emancipation Park: 2006
Friends of Emancipation Park: 2006
June 19, 2006In 2006 Carol Pratt Blue and Bill Milligan, natives of the Third Ward, formed “Friends of Emancipation Park” in order to revitalize the park. The board was established in March 2007. - June 1
Rev. Jack Yates Dedication: 1976
Rev. Jack Yates Dedication: 1976
June 1, 1976
In 1976, the Association for Study of Afro-American Life and History donated a plaque dedicated to Rev. Yates, which is displayed at the entrance to the community center. - January 1
Major Renovation: 1974
Major Renovation: 1974
January 1, 1974Urban redevelopment cleaved the Third Ward from the City of Houston via the 59 South Freeway thereby creating a physical barrier and an imbalance in development and gentrification. This combined with general desegregation lead to the neglect of the Third Ward and Emancipation Park, with the last major renovation to Emancipation Park occuring in 1974. - January 1
Additions From Great Depression: 1938
Additions From Great Depression: 1938
January 1, 1938In 1938-39, the Great Depression’s Public Works Administration (PWA) constructed on the park site, a recreation center, swimming pool and bathhouse designed by prolific Houston architect William Ward. The landscape plan, by Hare & Hare of Kansas City, Missouri, was rendered in pencil on tissue paper. It was originally drawn on May 31, 1938, and … - January 1
Park Donated To The City: 1916
Park Donated To The City: 1916
January 1, 1916After changes to the tax code and issues surrounding ownership, the Park was donated to the City of Houston in 1916. Initially, the Park was merely an open field with a race track around the perimeter and an open-air pavilion in the center. - November 1
De-Ro-Loc No-tsu-oh: 1909
De-Ro-Loc No-tsu-oh: 1909
November 1, 1909The park was the home of the first De-ro-loc No-tsu-oh (“colored Houston” spelled backwards) carnival in 1909. The carnival was patterned after the No-tsu-oh carnival, and included attractions such as a Wild West show and a football game between Prairie View and Bishop Colleges. - June 19
Land Purchased In 1872
Land Purchased In 1872
June 19, 1872
Sparked by the desire to have a place to commemorate the anniversary of their emancipation (“Juneteenth”), community members (all former slaves) in the Third and Fourth Wards led by Reverend JackYates, Richard Allen, Richard Brock, and Reverend Elias Dibble united to raise $1,000 in 1872 to purchase 10 acres of park land to host Juneteenth …