Discovery Green may be Houston's front lawn, but Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is the cozy neighborhood park that happens to contain one of Houston's few true architectural marvels and, when it's lit up, one of its more spectacular nocturnal vistas. Opened in 1983 and purchased by the city in 2008, the 2.77-acre park is relatively small compared with other Houston public green spaces, but not in the city's collective imagination. More than 60 feet tall, its C-shaped fountain pumps 11,000 gallons of water per second, creating a cooling spray 365 days a year and one of the more picturesque backdrops you'll find anywhere; posing for pre-prom or post-quinceañera pictures at the Waterwall is now a rite of passage for generations of Houston teens. It's dog heaven or a quick picnic getaway for Galleria shoppers, while the nearly 200 live oaks offer glorious shade whether you're lounging under a tree or just trying to corral a runaway toddler. Just make sure to look up every so often — the Waterwall Park has become a top destination for drone-fliers, too.