Houston is creating a cooler downtown Main Street promenade with new trees and shade ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
HOUSTON — Houston is transforming downtown’s Main Street with a massive cooling project designed to reduce temperatures by 10 degrees ahead of the World Cup, which is less than a year away. The Main Street Promenade will span seven blocks from Commerce to Rusk Street, creating a pedestrian-friendly corridor with expanded shade and cooling elements.
Construction crews have been working on the project for two months, with workers currently digging tree wells to accommodate 80 new trees that will be planted starting next month. The ambitious undertaking aims to make downtown more comfortable for both visitors and locals in Houston’s notorious heat.
“A big concept here is the creation of more shade,” Kris Larson, president and CEO of Downtown Houston Plus said. “So, through this project, our goal is to decrease the ambient temperature in the summertime by 10 degrees and the way we’re gonna do that is by having an expanded tree canopy, as well as shade structures awnings and cooling elements that are gonna make it more comfortable for people to hang out.”
The promenade will stretch from Allen’s Landing to Dallas Street, featuring no vehicular traffic except for rail service. The area is designed to be a destination where people can “eat, drink and be merry.”
The tree-planting initiative will include a mix of tall sycamores, elms and oak trees – both local varieties and trees brought in from Georgia. These trees are specifically chosen to provide maximum shade coverage while beautifying the downtown corridor.
Local businesses are enthusiastic about the project’s potential impact. Josh Jones from Fifth Vessel Coffee Company sees the development as crucial for attracting customers to the area.
“It’ll really liven this area up, I think it’s something that’s really needed to bring more customers,” Jones said.
Downtown visitors are also supportive of the improvements. Customer Wes Whitson expressed optimism about the project’s aesthetic and practical benefits.
“I think downtown is beautiful and we need a main street that matches it,” Whitson said. When asked about preparing for the World Cup, he added, “That’s right, getting it all ready and I think it’s gonna get more people downtown if it looks good down here.”
The Main Street Promenade is projected to be completed just in time for the World Cup, providing a cooler, more comfortable environment for the international visitors and increased foot traffic expected during the tournament. While Houston will undoubtedly experience a “hot time” during the World Cup in more ways than one, downtown visitors along Main Street will have relief from the heat thanks to the expanded shade coverage.
Got a news tip or story idea? Text it to us at 713-526-1111.