Throughout its 140-year history, Emancipation Park has served as a gathering place for Juneteenth celebrations and stands as a monument of hope in the Third Ward and the City of Houston. In early 2017, a major $33.6 million park improvement project was completed by the OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ#7) and City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). Enhancements include an updated gym, community center and pool, a new stage for cultural performances, a baseball field and outdoor fountain, and community and public art features. In partnership with HPARD, Emancipation Park Conservancy schedules and produces programs in the park that serve the community.

The Kinder Foundation, with Houston Endowment, has long joined Emancipation Park Conservancy in supporting this important Third Ward park. The Kinder Foundation gave an initial $2 million in 2012 to renovate the existing historical pool house and pool shade structure. In January 2017, the Kinder Foundation and Houston Endowment announced $750,000 grants each to the Conservancy to further park programming and operations, with the Kinder Foundation providing an additional $250,000 to the Conservancy for meeting a fundraising challenge met by H-E-B.

The park was officially re-dedicated with a public ceremony of events on June 17, 2017.