Market Square Park

The most historic block in Houston

Market Square Park has been central to Houston since the city's founding, the square was donated to the city by founder Augustus Allen in 1854 and served as an open-air produce market. It went on to host the city's first four city halls / market houses between the 1840s and a 1904 building, later became a parking lot, and was reborn as a park, with the current design reopening after a major renovation in 2010. Today it's a leafy, oak-shaded square in the heart of the downtown Historic District.

A dog park within the park

The park's standout family-and-pet feature is the Holly Anawaty Dog Park (dedicated in 2011), with two separate runs, one for small dogs and one for large dogs, wrapped by a lit crescent walkway. Both runs include benches, water features and canine drinking fountains, and there's a dedicated dog splash pad where cool water shoots up from the ground so dogs can beat the Houston heat while owners watch from nearby seating.

Food and public art

Hungry visitors can grab a bite at the Niko Niko's Greek kiosk, a compact, sidewalk-café-style outpost of the famous Montrose original that opened in the park in 2010, serving gyros, salads and to-go boxes from an elevated patio. The park is also anchored by public art and memorials, including James Surls's sculpture 'Points of View' and Lauren's Garden, a 9/11 memorial with a water feature honoring Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a Houstonian who died aboard United Flight 93.

Events and visitor tips

• The park hosts a year-round, mostly free calendar, movies on the lawn, concerts, fitness classes and markets; check the official site for dates.
• It's an urban park, so parking is street/garage downtown, plan ahead, especially during events.
• Bring water and a leash; the dog runs and splash pad are the main kid-and-dog draw on a hot day.
• This is a green plaza, not a children's playground, so it pairs best with a meal, the dog park and the splash feature rather than play equipment.