Emancipation Park 5K Walk & Run

In 1872, four formerly enslaved persons, Reverend Jack Yates, Reverend Elias Dibble, Richard Brock, and Richard Allen worked with the community to raise $1,000 to purchase 10 acres of land to serve as a gathering place for the African American community to celebrate their freedom from slavery and hopes of economic and social emancipation. The heroic undertaking marked a new era for Houston’s African American community, as slavery ended and Emancipation Park and Juneteenth celebrations became recognized as part of our nation’s history. For almost 150 years, Emancipation Park has been a beacon of hope and inspiration, and a revered place in the Houston community. The site was a safe haven under Jim Crow and a site for mobilization and activism during the Civil Rights movement. The spacious, open grounds, the canopy of trees, buildings, recreation center, and swimming pool were places for teaching life skills to African American children. More important, Emancipation Park has served as a wellspring by which the mind, body and spirit of the community were nourished. In recognition of the Park’s significance, in 1914, Emancipation Park was designated as the first public park in the City of Houston. Under the Houston Historic Preservation Ordinance, in 2007 the Houston City Council voted unanimously to designate Emancipation Park as a protected historic landmark. On April 24, 2019 Emancipation Park was designated as a UNESCO Site of Memory associated with the Slave Route Project.

Emancipation Park Conservancy (the Conservancy or EPC), a 501(c)(3) organization, was formed by the City of Houston to create a renewed cultural, learning, and recreational gathering place in the city. Its mission is to enhance Emancipation Park by preserving its integrity and enriching its heritage as a local, state, national, and international landmark. Formed on June 19, 2014, the Conservancy represents the assurance to the community that Emancipation Park, its history, and its resources will be consistently developed, nurtured, and maintained. Led by a board of directors, the Conservancy has implemented impactful programming and projects for families, children, seniors, and the city at large in the areas of education, economic empowerment, health and wellness, and the arts.