Memorial Park

To accelerate implementation of the visionary Memorial Park Master Plan, the Kinder Foundation offered a grant of $70 million to Memorial Park Conservancy in April 2018. Houston’s largest single parks grant, this gift became the catalyst for a public-private partnership with the City of Houston. The resulting “Ten-Year Plan” provides capital funds for many of the Master Plan signature projects and critical connections over the next 10 years along with committed resources for their long-term care.

A unique nature bridge will connect the park’s north and south sides, providing safe crossing for all people and wildlife.
Underway now, the Eastern Glades expand picnicking in the park, establishes a 5-acre lake and wetland, and provides trails and boardwalks.
The Memorial Groves will serve as a living memorial in the form of a hardwood forest commemorating Camp Logan soldiers and will be an ideal space for field trips, family gatherings and community education.
Memorial Park is Houston’s largest urban park with 4 million visitors per year from 170 zip codes across the greater Houston region.

The grant to Memorial Park is evidence of the Kinder Foundation’s belief that a transformational gift can be the catalyst for additional public-private partnership and funding.

The partnership includes: a commitment of this lead gift toward $125 million in funding to be raised by the conservancy; $50 million investment by Uptown Development Authority for infrastructure improvements; and leverages the potential for $30 million in federal support.

The foundation’s grant supports connectivity to and within the park including a land bridge over Memorial Drive; destination projects Eastern Glades, Memorial Groves, and the Running Complex; and ecological restoration. Other plan additions include a trail/bridge system north over I-10, linking the White Oak Bayou Greenway trail system, and south over Buffalo Bayou; a 1.5-mile accessibility trail through the 600-acre wilderness, and other trails and crossings. See the full Memorial Park Master Plan approved by Houston City Council in 2015.

In January 2019, Houston City Council voted to approve plans to renovate Memorial Park’s golf course through private funding from the Astros Golf Foundation. Kinder Foundation, Memorial Park Conservancy, and the City of Houston are working collaboratively with the group to welcome the Houston Open to Memorial Park in 2020.

memorialparkconservancy.org

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