March 6, 2026
Memorial Park Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization that operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres.
Dawn to Dusk
Sun–Sat: 6am–7pm
Dawn to Dusk
9-1-1
3-1-1
The Conservancy’s mission is to restore, preserve, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow. We rely on the generosity of our park users to support the day-to-day care and operation of Memorial Park.
The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
Memorial Park Conservancy advances our mission through the following areas of focus:
Conservation
Including restoration of native ecosystems, stormwater management, cultivating native plant species in our Greenhouse, reforestation and tree care, watering and irrigation, invasive species control, wildlife conservation and fire protection zones.
Amenity
Design, Construction and Maintenance
Including new and existing trails, new buildings and construction, and existing facility maintenance.
Community
Involvement and Education
Including volunteer conservation and forestry work, community events, newsletters and social media, and advocating for Park needs.
Leading an Informed Master Plan
In collaboration with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Uptown Development Authority, built on the guiding principles of restoring the Park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency; reconnecting the Park’s land, waterways, trails, and people; consolidating compatible uses together in appropriate areas; tending to the land and the Park’s cultural history, maintaining balance through responsible management; and enhancing the overall Park experience and amenities.
Designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, The Memorial Park Master Plan was approved by Houston City Council in 2015. The Ten-Year Plan, which enables Memorial Park Conservancy to design and construct significant components of the Master Plan, was made possible by a catalyst gift from Kinder Foundation, which leveraged funding through the Uptown Development Authority and by the generosity of other donors.
Memorial Park’s size (1,500 acres, nearly twice the size of Central Park) and central location—in the heart of Houston—make it distinctive nationally. Further distinguishing Memorial Park is its cultural history as a former WWI training camp—Camp Logan—where 70,000 soldiers trained for battle. It is the only such camp remaining in the United States that has not been developed and is an archeologically protected site because of its role in WWI and the archeological features that remain. Memorial Park is where the sport of jogging was popularized nationally by Seymour Lieberman, the namesake for the Park’s locally-popular and nationally-acclaimed jogging trail.
Founded in 2000, Memorial Park Conservancy aspires to implement principles of
exceptional park management and stewardship in a successful public-private partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). In 2015, Memorial Park Conservancy took over the day-to-day operations and maintenance of 1,100 of the 1,500
acres of Memorial Park.
Memorial Park Conservancy is the non-profit organization responsible for the day-to-day operation of 1,100 acres of Memorial Park. The Conservancy raises public and private funds to successfully care for the Park, maintain Park amenities, and implement the projects of the Memorial Park Master Plan.
Memorial Park Conservancy relies on public and private funds to operate Memorial Park and deliver Master Plan projects.
According to financial data from the past three years, approximately 92% of every dollar received by Memorial Park Conservancy (“MPC”) is invested into park enhancements and programming, advancing MPC’s mission to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
Memorial Park Conservancy’s Reach
The Memorial Park Conservancy operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres on behalf of the City of Houston and welcomes 4 million visitors per year from 170 zip codes across the region.
Working alongside our project partners at the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (“HPARD”), Uptown Houston and Kinder Foundation, the MPC delivered the 2018 Memorial Park Ten-Year Plan, accelerating the implementation of $200M worth of Master Plan Projects. Completed projects since 2020 represent over $135M in capital improvements.
Memorial Park Conservancy spends 5% of its funds to raise funds to provide for the capital improvements, operations, maintenance, and programming. This includes engaging individuals, foundations, and organizations in support of MPC’s mission through partnerships and events, philanthropy, membership, legacy giving and other advancement efforts.
Management and General Operations funds provide for strategic management of Memorial Park and the Conservancy. This includes finance functions, information technology, legal operations, staff management and development, along with strategy and research.
The Conservancy is committed to open and transparent reporting, and is audited annually by an independent accounting firm, Blazek & Vetterling. In business since 1991, Blazek & Vetterling is responsible for the audits and tax requirements of over 700 regional non-profit organizations. Audited financials are then reviewed and approved by the Conservancy’s Finance Committee and Board of Directors, made up of approximately 20 independent board members. The Conservancy’s annual report is posted on their website. the Conservancy’s tax return (IRS Form 990) and audited financials are also publicly available. Memorial Park Conservancy received the top score from Charity Navigator.
Chair
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski
Vice Chair
Lissa Gangjee
Treasurer
Bob McDowell
Secretary
George Johnston
President & CEO
Chris Ballard
Vice President of Engagement
Holli Clements
Directors
Rogene Gee Calvert
Kalinda Campbell
Claire Caudill
Philip Croker
Sarah Flournoy
Jennifer Hazelton
Janet Hobby
Elizabeth Howley
Jill Jewett
Nelson Jones
Sabrina Kirwin
Louie Layrisson
Kimberly Lubel
Jorge Munoz
Linda Padon
Tanya Pal
Anna Peikert
Townes Pressler
Jessica Rawson
Rob Saltiel
Dhiren Shethia
Skip Wagner
Executive Committee
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski, Chair
Chris Ballard
Claire Caudill
Lissa Gangjee
George Johnston
Bob McDowell
Rob Saltiel
Master Plan Implementation Committee
Philip Croker, Chair
Steve Done
Claire Caudill
Gonzalo Echeverria
Sarah Flournoy
Nelson Jones
Jorge Munoz
Sarah Newbery*
Governance Committee
Louie Layrisson, Chair
Chris Ballard
Sarah Flournoy
Rogene Gee Calvert
Nelson Jones
Bob Mcdowell
Compensation Committee
Lissa Gangjee, Chair
Chris Ballard
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski
Tanya Pal
*Denotes Non-Board Member
Engagement Committee
Kalinda Campbell, Chair
Holli Clements
Sarah Flournoy
Rogene Gee Calvert
Anne Hamman Brollier*
Janet Hobby
Jill Jewett
Kim Lubel
Linda Padon
Anna Peikert
Townes Pressler
Jessica Rawson
Beverly Rideaux*
Carl Salazar*
Park Operations Commitee
Elizabeth Howley, Chair
Suzanne Formanek
Claire Caudill
George Johnston
Sarah Newbery*
Rob Saltiel
Dhiren Shethia
Skip Wagner
Finance Committee
Jennifer Hazelton, Chair
Rocio Feusier
Bill Butzner*
Lissa Gangjee
Sabrina Kirwin
Bob McDowell
Tanya Pal
LOCAL
REGIONAL/NATIONAL
Visit the Memorial Park map to explore all the Park has to offer: trails, recreation facilities, historic sites, and more!
Visit the calendar to see our upcoming events and plan your next visit!
March 6, 2026
February 27, 2026