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March-April, 2010
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When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
--John Muir
Rodeo Arrives
The customarily festive rodeo flagging may have taken a recessionary turn this year when HPARD opted for cost-effective caution taping, but nevertheless, Houston's Livestock Show and Rodeo celebrates its 58th year. Trail riders converge in Memorial Park throughout Friday morning. Those who need to move quickly through the park had best enter from the eastern edge.
Fun Facts or why to show your civic pride in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for weeks to come:
- The total amount of money brought into the city from the rodeo is $345 million.
- Funds contributed to Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence: $1.6 million
- Money spent on Youth and Educational Programs: $16 million
- 2009 Attendance: 1,890,332, topping the Texas State Fair
- 22,000 volunteers make it happen for YOU!
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Tennis Plaza Renovation Nears Completion
Memorial Memorial Park Conservancy continued to improve another area in Memorial Park quietly throughout the winter chill. Gulf Coast Landscaping worked through December, January and February on plans completed by Lauren Griffith Associates to beautify and renew the plaza in front of the Tennis Center. Beneath the freshly planted Mexican Sycamore trees lie pavers purchased by donors in support of Memorial Park improvement. We thank all those who stepped in immediately to help our park to help raise over $140,000 to complete these cosmetic changes. Those who may feel they missed the first round still have a chance to purchase 12" x12" pavers for $1,000 each - available through our website on the home page under the Tennis Plaza Renovation button on the right. Please be aware that pavers donated now will be placed after the end of the year. Our sincere thanks to the many donors who helped this happen in Memorial Park. Jog, walk or ride by to see the new beautiful installation! While you're there, play a round of tennis or relax in the new setting before it becomes the most popular spot to peoplewatch in spring.
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Memorial Park Conservancy's Second "4 the Park" Fun Run - Ready, Set, ...!
 
Memorial Park Conservancy's "4 the Park" Fun Run, presented by North Post Oak Lofts, a development of SEUBA and KBR, is just a month away, and registration is available on-line at www.memorialparkconservancy.org. The event is Saturday, April 3, 2010 in Memorial Park with Luke's Locker returning as race director. The starting line is in front of the Tennis Center, and the certified course will wind through Memorial Park and adjacent neighborhood, down Memorial Drive and back into the Park. It certainly took "a village" to put on a first-ever fun run for Memorial Park Conservancy. Conservancy Board Member Blaine Adams chairs this year's even more spectacularly planned event. Matt Lucas and Suraiya Gerrie, Marketing Director, of Luke's Locker
The Kids' K, sponsored by the Houston Marathon Foundation, start is at 8 a.m. followed by the four mile run/walk at 8:30 a.m. The post-race party, sponsored by Silver Eagle Distributors, will have numerous food and beverage vendors, including Latin Specialties, who last year gave away whole pineapples, mangoes, papayas and peppers! Additional vendors include Los Cucos, Tintos, Freebirds World Burritos, Sushi Raku, My Fit Foods, Hot Bagel Shop, Smoothie King, El Rey, Sicillian Village, Fins Seafood & Sushi, Hungry's Café, VitaminWater, California Pizza Kitchen, The Fruit Palette, Candelari's, Rawfully Organic and Michelob Ultra, just to name a few. We will again have live music during the party and a Kid's Activity area for those children participating in the Kids' K, with a special visit from the Easter Bunny.
On-line registration cost is $28 for adults and $10 for children. Brochures for the event are available at venues in the park, by contacting 713-863-8403, as well as at various businesses throughout the city. On-line registration will close Tuesday, March 30 at midnight, and all mailed registrations must be postmarked by Saturday, March 27.
Free parking is available in the park (limited availability) with shuttle service provided by the Washington Wave. Free off-site parking is available at North Post Oak Lofts at 1255 North Post Oak Road and 4801 Woodway at RM Crowe - thanks to both of those groups. Both off-site lots will offer shuttles to and from the event. The first shuttle will depart at 6 a.m. and the last shuttle from both off-site locations will leave at 7:15 a.m.
Packet pick-up is March 31 - April 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Luke's Locker, 1953 W. Gray, Houston, TX. Additionally, on Friday, April 2, California Pizza Kitchen on W. Gray, will be donating 20% of their proceeds to Memorial Park Conservancy for those who bring in a "4 the Park" invitation. Invitations will be available at packet pick-up and will be emailed closer to the event.
Special thanks to our continuing and new sponsors, including KBR, CenterPoint Energy, Koala Health & Fitness, Beck & Masten GMC-Buick, Impressions Bridal, Tailoring by Nick, Moss Landscaping and Tommie Vaughn Ford. We are also grateful for the cooperative efforts of the Mayor's Office of Special Events, the Houston Parks & Recreation Department, Memorial Park Golf Course, and the Memorial Park Tennis Center. We cannot do this without support from our oustanding media sponsors KHOU-11, 002 Magazine and Health & Fitness Magazine - Thank You!
For more information regarding the "4 the Park" Fun Run, please contact Carol Watson at carol@memorialparkconservancy.org or 713.863.8403.
 
Last year, over 1,000 runners participated in the first four mile run, which began at the Memorial Park Tennis Center and routed around the regular Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail, west to Westcott, east to Schuler St., south on Tagget St., east on Arnott St., south on Crestwood drive, east on Blossom St., south on Terrace Drive back to Memorial Drive to finish on Memorial Loop West. Same course will be followed this year.
 
 
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Bush Grove Gets a Facelift
Thanks to Moss Landcaping, Bush Grove is getting a much-needed refurbishment. The lovely, landscaped area to the south of the Golf Clubhouse on Memorial Loop East was designed by Lauren Griffith & Associates in 1996 in honor of President George H. W. Bush. The grove includes a moss rock waterfall and burbling fountain, (or soon to burble thanks to personnel from Texas Pools) numerous teak memorial benches, surrounded by seasonal native plantings. Special thanks to HPARD crews who helped clean out the sludge in preparation for the next stage of improvement to the area. An illuminated flagpole in commemoration of President George H. W. Bush allows a U.S. flag to be flown 24/7. The flags to be placed are a gift from the Conservancy - one once flown over the U.S. Capitol courtesy of U.S Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, and a Texas flag flown over the State Capital, courtesy of U.S. State Representative Ellen Cohen. This work in progress is a joint effort between Houston Parks & Recreation Department and Memorial Park Conservancy and combines the talents of many professionals. More photos coming soon!
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Memorial Park Conservancy Volunteer Opportunities
March/April 2010
Table in Park
Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Weekly volunteers are needed to help Memorial Park Conservancy educate the public about the Conservancy and how we help the park. Our ongoing efforts to remove invasive species, improve trails and gardens and complete the tenets of the Conservation Master Plan serve the community of users and aid the Houston Parks & Recreation Department in their under-funded work. Help us gather support and new ideas! We will have a tent and table on the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail by the "Stretching Station" (next to the Tennis Center) every Wednesday and Saturday! Join us to talk about the park we love and meet some new people!
Great American Clean Up
Saturday, March 6, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Memorial Park Conservancy in partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful will sponsor a huge clean up effort in Memorial Park. We will remove invasive species (Chinese Tallow, Ligustrum, and Chinese Privet). This is a great opportunity for groups and students to learn more about the environmental health of our urban forest while sharing time together helping our great park.
Bayou City Classic
Saturday, March 13, 2010
6:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Memorial Park Conservancy will host an information tent at the Bayou City Classic. Our goal is to promote our Fun Run, and to share information about membership and volunteer opportunities and changes coming to Memorial Park.
Bayou City Arts Festival, Memorial Park
Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Every year artists from all over the country come to Memorial Park's Picnic Loop Lane for one of the best art galleries in the country. Memorial Park Conservancy is proud to be a part of this effort. To volunteer or for more information, please contact us.
4 The Park Fun Run
Saturday, April 3, 2010
5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This is Memorial Park Conservancy's second annual 4 The Park Fun Run! Volunteers will help with the food court, mileage calling, baggage drop, registration, and clean up. We also need volunteers to help with Packet Pick up March 30 to April 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
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Thank you!
We would like to thank our generous donors for supporting our efforts in community building and preserving Houston's premier green space. Thank you for your generous contributions to Memorial Park Conservancy. Please note that gifts received between January 15-February 22, 2010 are noted below. Those received after that date will be acknowledged in the May/June, 2010 issue.*
$10,000-24,999
Mr. David Grimes, II*
U.S. Pipeline*
$5,000-9,999
Council Member and Mrs. Stephen C. Costello*
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Murray
Peterson Charitable Lead Trust
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Mavis P. Kelsey
$2,500-4,999
Garver Real Estate
$1,500-2,499
Beck and Masten Buick-GMC
Tailoring by Nick, Inc.
$1,000-1,499
Ballard Exploration Comany, Inc.
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Mr. John Wilson Kelsey
Mr. and Mrs. Randall B. Lake
Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
Mr. Bruce Lurie*
Ms. Mary Markantonis*
Moss Landscaping
Ms. Shannon Oliver*
$500-999
Mr. Daniel G. McQuillen
Mr. Charles L. Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. Don Gray
Ms. Elizabeth Pipkin*
NOTE: Due to space/time consideration, we have limited those listed to gifts of $500 or more.
**Capital Campaign gift
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