In 2004 the Kinder Foundation, the Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment, the Wortham Foundation and other philanthropists approached then-Mayor Bill White with an idea. The group, which became the Discovery Green Conservancy, sought to acquire the Houston Center Gardens adjacent to downtown Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center property and create a permanent downtown green space and public park. In addition to the Kinder Foundation’s gift of $10 million, Nancy Kinder served as the founding chairman of Discovery Green Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that built and now operates the park.

The park opened in 2008 and, to date, has had a tremendous impact. It is a destination for Houstonians and visitors alike attracting more than one million people every year. The park hosts some 600+ events every year ranging from festivals, concerts, films, exercise classes, toddler activities, and more. Furthermore, the park was an anchor for $625 million in downtown development and serves as an asset in attracting coveted conventions and national events to Houston.