Our Story

CONCEPT
The idea of building a park in downtown Midland began following the demolition of the Midland County Courthouse in 2017. Community leaders envisioned turning the four acres into an urban greenspace inspired by two established Texas parks – Discovery Green in Houston and the Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. In August 2018, the Midland Downtown Park Conservancy (MDPC), a nonprofit organization, was formed to manage the project and hosted a news conference to announce the plans to the community. Rhotenberry Wellen Architects in Midland and Ten Eyck Landscape Architects in Austin developed the plans to design the new greenspace. In April 2019, the MDPC hosted a groundbreaking celebration for Centennial Park. Construction concluded in the fall of 2020.

DESIGN
Centennial Park’s design transforms two central blocks in downtown Midland into a vibrant outdoor destination, providing a natural respite for its visitors. Inspired by the gridded land patterns of West Texas, the landscape utilizes native and adapted plants appropriate for the harsh climate. The park is designed to educate visitors about sustainable water conservation techniques, an incredibly precious resource in Midland’s arid climate. The sustainable designs include modular suspended pavement systems to promote healthy tree growth, vegetated swales to gather and filter water runoff, and irrigation processes that reuse stormwater and air conditioning condensation from the Bush Convention Center.

FUNDING
The $18 million park project was funded through a public-private partnership. Public support included $2 million from the hotel occupancy tax collected by the City of Midland and over $16 million was given through private donations. Centennial Park is operated and managed by the Midland Downtown Park Conservancy.

To see a full list of park donors, click here.