God gave us memories that we might have roses in December.
--John M. Barrie
Thank you for your generous support during the past last year. Your contributions protect this vital green space and encourage those who use the park to protect it for the enjoyment of future generations. During this joyous holiday season, we ask you to consider supporting Memorial Park. New and sustaining members, volunteers and cash and in-kind donations are vital to our continued efforts. See our contributions link on the website for more details.
Recently, MPC Board Members shared their thoughts on why they love Memorial Park.
"I love Memorial Park because it reminds me of the "wild Houston" in which I grew up in the 1930s and 40s. We roamed the bayous and woodlots with all the time in the world to sit still in trees and watch caterpillars or spiders or birds; or move slowly along the water’s edge to see turtles, frogs, snakes, and dragonflies; or sit in the warm sun at the top of a bayou bank and watch gars roll at the water’s surface below. We were close to nature then and I remember well saying to myself one day in the woods, "I hope I can always have this feeling [of wonder] that I feel now." In Memorial Park, I have to walk only a short distance from the parking area before that feeling of wonder returns."
--Don Gray, retired geologist
"I love and desire to protect Memorial Park as I feel it is the greatest asset located within the urban core of the City of Houston. There is no other more significant natural habitat to be found within the inner city. If Memorial Park did not exist, Houstonians would not enjoy the same quality of life that we do today."
--Ralph De Leon, City Staff Analyst, City of Houston
"It is a beautiful green gem in the middle of our large city."
--Mindy Hildebrand, Community Volunteer
I love Memorial Park because it has, at least to a degree, preserved the natural beauty of our Houston area, provides a healthy outdoor opportunity for our citizens who now live in the fourth largest city in the United States, particularly the Arboretum area where the natural outdoor advantages are being carefully protected and preserved and where specific programs are offered both for learning about our natural area and its character. It is important that all Houston citizens think of ways to support and preserve this valuable natural asset."
--Sadie Gwin Blackburn, MPC Life Member
Recycling in Memorial Park
Your Holiday Tree can be recycled on December 27 through January 8 at Ballfields 4 and 5, 7300 Memorial Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. This free service is provided by the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department. The trees are ground and re-used for mulch on the city's many gardens and trails.
bridgeBASH
Saturday, January 26, 2008, 7:30-11:00 p.m.
Houston Architecture Center
Get ready to kick off the new year in style and join us for the Memorial Park Conservancy bridgeBASH! Meet the supporters of Memorial Park Conservancy and the winners of the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) Partners Design Charette, Clark Condon Associates. The evening of tempting hors d'oeurves and libations will center around music, creative chat and a proposed pedestrian/bicycle bridge that will provide a measure of safety for pedestrians/runners/bikers crossing the park, and shift pedestrian traffic away from ecologically sensitive areas. Every runner knows that mobility and parking are major issues during peak times; weekday evenings and weekends. Parking facilities located south of Memorial Drive are under-utilized primarily due to inaccessibility and users must cross Memorial Drive at grade to access park facilities on the north side. At grade crossings create safety concerns for pedestrians particulary along Memorial Drive due to travel speeds (40 mph) and site distance at the west entrance where Memorial Drive and Woodway merge traveling eastbound. We welcome your involvement in Memorial Park Conservancy and hope you'll join us for a fun evening. Tickets are available for $50 online through December 31st; after January 1st, $60.
Our thanks to our co-chairs and Memorial Park Conservancy supporters Lisa Lee, Divya Paralkar and Lauren Summerville.
Special thanks to our sponsors and donors:
A&E - The Graphics Complex
Architecture Center Houston
Beaver's
Bike Barn
BlueStar
Bob's Steak & Chop House
Countrywide Loans
DJ Sun
El Meson Restaurant
El Patio
Group 1 Marketing
Houston Magazine
Jackson Place Condominiums
Luke's Locker
Moet Hennessy USA
Moran Direct
Mosaic Houston
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
SoVino Wine Bar & Bistro
Tri on the Run
Turn-Key WebWorks
Please join us on January 26th at the Houston Architecture Center for the bridgeBASH.
(For more info, or to reserve your seat at this fun evening event, go to: www.bridgethepark.org)
Thank you!
We would like to thank our generous donors for supporting our efforts in community building and preserving Houston's premier green space.
$5,000-9,999
Mr. Edward Randall, III
Mr. Richard Weekley
$1,000-4,999
Bettie Cartwright and Colin Kennedy
Mr. Steven Solcher
Clark Condon Associates, Inc.
$1-999
Finish Strong Sports
Lents Foundation
Moran Direct
M Architects
Oshman Foundation
Mr. George Ferguson
Mr. Farshad Barvarz
Mr. Peter Quinn
Mr. Thomas Reidy
(These gifts have been received between November 15-December 15, 2007. Our gratitude to those who have contributed since that date.)
Eyes of Texas: Camp Logan Revisited
On Saturday, December 8, KPRC-TV (Channel Two) shared a vignette of Camp Logan life as told by the family of one of the soldiers.
Our thanks to host Ron Stone, Sr., Producer Pat Schwab, Louis Aulbach, for their knowledge of Memorial Park history and for reminding
the public of how the park came to be. If you are interested in learning more or wish to share this important history with a friend or family
member for the holidays, a copy of Memorial Park - A Priceless Legacy, by Sarah Emmott, can be purchased through Memorial Park
Conservancy, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center or The Park People, $20.
Arbor Day Volunteers Needed
If you enjoy creative crafts and working with children, please join us for the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center's celebration of Arbor
Day on Saturday, January 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please contact Allison Grady at allison@memorialparkconservancy.org.
Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Lecture
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Please join us for the annual lecture in honor of Sadie Gwin Blackburn at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Guest keynote speaker will be
Houston Parks & Recreation Department Director Joe Turner.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for your support of Memorial Park!
