HOUSTON – If you were planning to catch a movie or browse Flea by Night at Discovery Green this Saturday, you’ll need to make other plans.
The popular downtown Houston park will close at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20 -- earlier than usual -- at the request of the Houston Police Department.
Two scheduled events have been canceled as a result: Screen on the Green’s showing of “Bend It Like Beckham” and Flea by Night.
The early closure comes one week after a chaotic scene unfolded at the park, bringing out more than 100 police units.
What happened last weekend?
Around 9:20 last Saturday night, HPD officers swarmed Discovery Green after reports of a “teenager takeover.” They found an estimated 500 to 600 juveniles -- along with some adults -- gathered in the area.
As officers worked to clear the park, a large crowd formed across the street. Then shots were fired.
Officers moved toward the gunfire, and about 10 to 15 minutes later, a second round of shots rang out. No injuries were reported, and no officers were hurt. Two people -- an adult and a juvenile -- were detained. Police said they both had guns.
More than 100 police units responded and remained in the area for several hours. HPD said the swift response helped prevent any incidents from spilling over into the nearby FIFA Fan Fest.
Mayor John Whitmire praised officers for their handling of the situation.
“We love having folks enjoy our city, but everyone needs to follow the law and respect public safety,” Whitmire said. “Thanks to the professionalism and training of our HPD officers, they brought the situation under control quickly and safely.”
When does Discovery Green reopen?
The good news -- the closure is temporary. Discovery Green is set to reopen at 6 a.m. Sunday, June 21, with bumper boats and cruiser boats available starting at 10 a.m.
Sunday evening programming is still on as planned, including:
- 🧘 **International Day of Yoga** at 6 p.m.
- 🎵 A **sound bath** and **Make Music Day** concert beginning at 8 p.m.
An investigation into last weekend’s incident is ongoing.