Memorial Park Conservancy Inc

THE MISSION OF THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY (MPC) IS TO RESTORE, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, TODAY AND TOMORROW.

SEE SCHEDULE OMASTER PLAN: -CONSTRUCTION OF THE RUNNING COMPLEX BEGAN JUNE 2022. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A NEW PARKING LOT, RUNNING TRACK, RESTROOM, A RALLY PAVILION, AND A CAFE. THE ROY H. CULLEN TIMING TRACK AND EVENT PLAZA WERE OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2023. THE CAFE WILL OPEN IN APRIL 2024. - FEBRUARY 2023 MARKED THE GRAND OPENING FOR THE KINDER LAND BRIDGE AND CYVIA AND MELVYN WOLFF PRAIRIE; MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY WELCOMED MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE TO THE GRAND OPENING. THIS 100-ACRE PROJECT INCLUDES 2 LAND BRIDGES THAT CONNECT THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF MEMORIAL PARK, WHOSE 1,500 ACRES IS BISECTED BY 6-LANE MEMORIAL DRIVE. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE RESTORATION OF NATIVE GULF COAST PRAIRIES NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BRIDGES. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS FOR PARK VISITORS; RESTORES A DISRUPTED WILDLIFE CORRIDOR; BOOSTS BIODIVERSITY; INCREASES ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHALLENGES SUCH AS HURRICANES AND DROUGHTS; ASSISTS WITH STORM WATER MANAGEMENT; AND SEQUESTERS RELATIVELY MORE CO2. THIS PROJECT BRINGS POSITIVE ACCLAIM NOT JUST TO MEMORIAL PARK BUT TO HOUSTON. - IN OCTOBER 2022, MPC COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF THE REALIGNMENT OF THE SEYMOUR LIEBERMAN TRAIL BETWEEN EASTERN GLADES AND THE LAND BRIDGE & PRAIRIE. ONE MILE OF THIS TRAIL PREVIOUSLY SAT PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO MEMORIAL DRIVE. THIS REALIGNMENT MOVED 1 MILE OF THE TRAIL OFF OF MEMORIAL DRIVE, IMPROVING USER SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS WHO USE THIS TRAIL DAILY. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THREE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES OVER RAVINES NORTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE.

SEE SCHEDULE O WELCOMING AND ENGAGING PARK VISITORS: THE CONSERVANCY HAS PLACED A STRONG FOCUS ON ACTIVATING NEW AND EXISTING AREAS OF MEMORIAL PARK FOR CREATIVE AND DIVERSIFIED PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS IN ORDER TO EMBRACE HOUSTON'S VIBRANT ARRAY OF CULTURES. AS AN URBAN PARK IN THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY IS HONORED TO OPERATE AND MANAGE MEMORIAL PARK AS A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. IN 2022, MPC EXPANDED MISSION-BASED PROGRAMMING TO INVITE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO PARTICIPATE AND TO SEE THEMSELVES IN MEMORIAL PARK. 2022 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - SHOWCASED SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY BY HOSTING A PRIDE EVENT. IN COLLABORATION WITH BLANCO ART, PRIDE MURALS WERE CREATED IN THE CLAY FAMILY EASTERN GLADES. - FACILITATED A PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENTS OF 1917, HOUSTON "MUTINY AND RIOTS" THAT OCCURRED 105 YEARS AGO. - HOSTED THE LAND BRIDGE AND PRAIRIE OPENING EVENT THAT WELCOMED 15,000+ VISITORS FROM ALL OVER HOUSTON, MANY OF WHOM HAD NEVER BEFORE VISITED MEMORIAL PARK. - HOSTED CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS FOR MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, DIWALI, AND LUNAR NEW YEAR. - ORGANIZED THE "RUN TO REMEMBER" EVENT ON MEMORIAL DAY TO HONOR AND REMEMBER SERVICE MEMBERS WHO DIED IN, OR AS A RESULT OF, THEIR MILITARY SERVICE. - DYANMO AND DASH CHARITIES FACILIATED A FREE SOCCER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN MEMORIAL PARK, KNOWN AS FUTBOLITO IN THE CITY. - CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR VISITOR SERVICES TEAM TO ANSWER VISITOR QUESTIONS, COLLECT REQUIRED PERMITTING FEES AND ENFORCE PARK REGULATIONS.

SEE SCHEDULE O OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE PARK: THE CONSERVANCY OPERATED AND MAINTAINED 1,100 ACRES OF MEMORIAL PARK'S 1,500 ACRES, EXCEEDING CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FREQUENCY OF CLEANING, MOWING, AND OTHER SERVICES. THE CONSERVANCY ADVANCES ITS MISSION THROUGH IMPROVING PARK AMENITIES, SUPPORTING FORESTRY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES, PLANTING NATIVE TREE VARIETIES, MAINTAINING NATURAL AND SURFACED TRAILS, AND CARING FOR LANDSCAPED AREAS WITHIN THE PARK. 2022 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - THE GRASSLAND DIVISION ADDED 45 ACRES OF GRASSLAND TO MPC'S CARE AND MANAGEMENT. - THE CONSERVATION HORTICULTURE DIVISION GREW AND INSTALLED 25,000 NATIVE PLANTS. - THE GREENHOUSE DIVISION PRODUCED 3,500 CUBIC YARDS OF MULCH AND 200 CUBIC YARDS OF COMPOST ON SITE. - PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOCUSED ON OPERATIONAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTATION, DEVELOPMENT OF SATELLITE WORKSTATIONS, AND GROWING EFFICIENCIES. AT MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY, VOLUNTEERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARK'S RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE EFFORTS. 2022 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - 2,736 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN PROJECTS AROUND THE PARK, CONTRIBUTING 7,624 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS. - CONSERVANCY STAFF LED 70 CORPORATE EVENTS AND 53 GROUP EVENTS INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH SCHOOLS, ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS, AND CLUBS. - REMOVED 727 CUBIC YARDS OF BIOMASS AND SPREAD 317 CUBIC YARDS OF MULCH. - PLANTED 32,000 SEEDS AND ESTABLISHED 10,000 NEW PLANTS WITHIN THE PARK'S ECOSYSTEM.