A group of Texas environmentalists is advocating to convert the deserted Houston Astrodome into a community green space, the reports.
Washington, D.C.-based Urban Land Institute presented a proposal last week to turn the former baseball and football stadium鈥攖he world鈥檚 first domed sports stadium鈥攊nto an outdoor recreation mecca, complete with running and bike trails, zip lines, a garden, and pavilions. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who first proposed the idea, told the AP he believes his plan has 鈥渁lmost a 100 percent chance of succeeding.鈥� ULI hasn鈥檛 offered a cost estimate, and it鈥檚 not yet known how the renovation costs would be covered.
The Astrodome was closed in 2008 after a slew of citations for code violations. 聽the stadium have been unsuccessful. Voters narrowly rejected a 2013 referendum to convert the stadium into a convention center, largely due to a $217 billion bond .
City councillors are split on the idea of simply leveling the structure, which would cost between $5 million and $80 million. Polls show that voters are generally opposed to the idea, despite health hazards in the stadium and a $2 million annual expense to maintain the venue.