The Commons, Hermann Park's Long-Awaited New Playground, is Finally Here

The long-anticipated opening of the reimagined Hermann Park play space is finally here! The Commons, located in the Southwest portion of Hermann Park on the corner of Cambridge and Fannin Streets, is a newly transformed 26 acres of public space to be enjoyed by all. The centerpiece of the major renovation are two acres of playground and play gardens complete with a splash pad, carousel, and a 45-foot-tall rocket ship.

We were invited to take a sneak peek of the The Commons, and it was beyond anything we could have imagined. The kids deemed it “the best playground in Houston” and the adults enjoyed the common spaces just as much. 

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new playspace and commons area, and to find more fun places to play outdoors check out our Outdoor Activities Guide for Houston Kids.

Hermann Park The Commons: Everything You Need to Know

A water play area in Hermann Park's The Commons.

What to expect at The Commons Play Space

The play spaces and play gardens are spread across two acres, connected by paved walking paths. Each play area has its own unique theme and offers a wide variety of experiences. 

Upon entering, my kids were immediately drawn to the Space Adventure area with its towering 45-foot rocket ship, so we headed there first to play. There are multiple slides, a space capsule to climb inside, and plenty of opportunity for imaginary play.

The Water Lab in Hermann Park

Nearby is a play area with features designed just for kids under 5 with smaller-scale slides and a fun large wooden snake den to crawl inside. Next is The Bayou, which features water dynamic equipment and activities, plus a sandy area to dig and play. Uphill from The Bayou is more water play including a splash pad with towers projecting cyclones of water in the air. We'll be back this summer!

The kids took a ride on the beautiful, brand-new carousel before continuing to Swing Hill, where there are swings for babies, an adaptive swing, old school swings, and a hammock swing for multiple kids to ride together.

Our last stop in the new play areas was Gorilla Forest, a larger-than-life gorilla structure as a nod to the neighboring Houston Zoo.

Relax on the Live Oak Terrace while the kids play.

The Commons: Beyond the Play Spaces

The Commons were designed to be a common place for all Houstonians to enjoy. There's a large central lawn to relax or play, situated next to Live Oak Terrace, a deck built under the large Oak trees and filled with chairs to relax and gather.

Stone Cove borders McGovern Lake, and has natural seating options and a pier. The park is filled with extensive new native plantings and is a great place to connect with nature. Fannin Pavilion has been completely redesigned to be light and airy and has plenty of tables and benches for visiting families.

Gorilla Forest is perfect for smaller kids.

Know before you go to Hermann Park The Commons

• The park is free and open to the public
• Bathrooms and changing rooms next to the water play areas are available
• Grills and covered picnic tables are available throughout the park
• Bring a swimsuit and towel for the water play areas
• The play spaces are accessible
• Although there are a lot of sunshade canopies and trees in the play areas, some are in direct sunlight so consider applying sunscreen before heading out.

Photos by Johnny Than Photography for Hermann Park.