Last June, the city of Houston announcedHood Design Studio had been tapped to renovate MacGregor Park, a historic Third Ward public space. This week, the Houston Parks Board and City of Houstons Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) rolled out the firms final conceptual design, with support from Kinder Foundation. Hood Design Studios vision for the revamped park was informed by lengthy community outreach, the city shared in a press statement. More than 2,500 interactions with local community members through 18 public engagement sessions, which included surveys and interactive workshops, were conducted. As previously announced, other firms working with Hood Design Studio on the project include, Talley Landscape Architects, Moody Nolan, and Walter. P. MooreMacGregor Park holds generations of memoriesa place where culture, history, and community converge. We sought to preserve its legacy through the layering of preservation and cultural programming while creating spaces that invite new stories to unfold, Walter Hood said. In doing so, we also will bring forth the recognition that MacGregor sits on the banks of Brays Bayou.The upgraded park will be connected to a series of trails. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)MacGregor Park is 65 acres. There, Hood Design Studio seeks to integrate nature into the park more effectively, the city shared. The final design acknowledges the native landscapes, which includes prairies and post oak savannah, there before the park was built.The final conceptual design has a central promenade meant to unify the parks various components, offering a central focus point for all activities and park users. A new natural amphitheater will be connected to the central promenade, stocked with open seating for performances and civic gatherings. A plethora of new shade trees will be added to protect visitors from the sweltering Texas heat, making the park comfortable for users year round, an ideal space for quiet reflection. There will also be an expanded walking trail around the park perimeter that connects to the existing Brays Bayou Greenway, a 38-mile uninterrupted trail.The existing tennis center will be renovated. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)Another important component will be the refurbishment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza. Hood Design Studio was able to keep the monument in its original location near the MLK Tree of Life. Surrounding the monument will be new seating and shading, thanks to a stretch of new grove trees.By introducing new ecologies to the park, the cultural and athletic heritage of the park will become enmeshed with an ecological story, Hood added. The renovated park will act as a bridge between past and future, honoring those who came before while welcoming the next generation to shape its evolving story, all amongst a native ecology.Among the recreation facilities are new pickleball courts (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)A new natural amphitheater is part grass, part stone construction. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)Hood Design Studio affirmed that the park will have a new, all-inclusive, ADA-accessible playground for all ages and abilities to enjoy. The existing Homer Ford Tennis Center will also be renovated, as per the communitys request.The parks renovation is part of a longterm effort by the city of Houston to address gaps in park equity.Construction will begin in 2026 and wrap up in 2028.