Birthday Present

Best park in America? Discovery Green beats out Central Park in coolest citypark rankings

A pet-friendly park
Glowarama
Photo by Michelle Watson
Kenny Chesney performs at Discovery Green
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Ice skating
A walker's or jogger's paradise

New Yorkers have had a century of being smug about having Central Park as their backyard. Well, no more.

Travel + Leisure searched around the country for the best, the most exciting and the coolest city parks for their April issue, and Central Park didn't make the cut — but Houston's Discovery Green did.

Just three years old — and celebrating that milestone with a celebration Wednesday afternoon — Discovery Green got plaudits for its abundance of entertainment, with T+L noting that it has hosted over 800 events in that short time, including the recent Big Dance concerts by Kings of Leon and Kenny Chesney.

"It’s a place where people can kick back and relax,” Discovery Green founding president Guy Hagstette told the magazine, while noting that the transformation of the 12-acre stretch of the east side of Houston's downtown from parking lot to green space has also spurred $500 million in development in the area.

Other new and revitalized parks that made the list include Chicago's Grant Park, City Park in New Orleans, San Diego's Balboa Park and Governors Island in New York — you didn't think the Big Apple would be completely shut out, did you?

One area in which Travel + Leisure missed the mark? Recommending visitors check out Discovery Green during the sweltering days of August. While Houston Restaurant Week is a great time to explore the city's restaurants on the cheap, it's not when we want to be outdoors. Houstonians know March, April, September and October are when Houston's weather is most fitting for an outdoor adventure.

Is Discovery Green better than Central Park? What about Hermann or Memorial? Tell us what you think.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana