23 November
7:30 am - 9:30 am
The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
The Conservancy
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.
Memorial Park Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization that operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres. The Conservancy’s mission is to restore, preserve and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
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.
In the last ten years, Memorial Park Conservancy raised over $135M in private funds and help secure another $50M in public funding. This enabled us to delivered five major projects as part of our master plan: Eastern Glades, Land Bridge and Prairie, Sports Complex, SLT, and Running Complex and Café.
Memorial Park Conservancy advances our mission through the following areas of focus:
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 2.4M visitors per year from 170 zip codes across the region.
Park Enhancements and Programming: 92%
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.
Fundraising: 5%
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: 3%
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.
Governance
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.
Our Staff
Administration
Senior Leadership
Administration
Finance
Engagement
Communications
Development
Events and Outreach
Visitor Services
Park Operations Leadership
Forestry & Arboriculture
Grasslands
Horticulture
Nursery
Park Operations
Turf & Grounds
Maintenance & Mechanic Operations
Want to Join Our Team?
Board of Directors
Chair
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski
Vice Chair
Lissa Gangjee
Treasurer
Bob McDowell
Secretary
George Johnston
President & CEO
Shellye Arnold
Directors
Rogene Gee Calvert
Kalinda Campbell
Claire Caudill
Philip Croker
Sarah Flournoy
Jennifer Hazelton
Janet Hobby
Elizabeth Howley
Joshua Ibarra
Jill Jewett
Nelson Jones
Sabrina Kirwin
Louie Layrisson
Kimberly Lubel
Jorge Munoz
Tanya Pal
Anna Peikert
Townes Pressler
Dhiren Shethia
Rob Saltiel
Skip Wagner
Executive Committee
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski – Chair
Kalinda Campbell
Claire Caudill
Philip Croker
Lissa Gangjee
Josh Ibarra
George Johnston
Louie Layrisson
Tanya Pal
Carrie Pepi
Rob Saltiel
Engagement Committee
Kalinda Campbell, Chair
Sarah Flournoy
Rogene Gee Calvert
Anne Hamman Brollier
Janet Hobby
Jill Jewett
Kim Lubel
Anna Peikert
Townes Pressler
Beverly Rideaux
Carl Salazar
Master Plan Implementation Committee
Philip Croker – Chair
Claire Caudill
Sarah Flournoy
Nelson Jones
Jorge Munoz
Sarah Newbery
Park Operations Committee
Joshua Ibarra – Chair
Claire Caudill
Elizabeth Howley
George Johnston
Sarah Newbery
Beth Raza
Rob Saltiel
Dhiren Shethia
Skip Wagner
Compensation Committee
Lissa Gangjee, Chair
Veronica Chapa Gorczynski
Tanya Pal
Governance Committee
Louie Layrisson, Chair
Sarah Flournoy
Rogene Gee Calvert
Joshua Ibarra
Bob McDowell
Finance Committee
Tanya Pal, Chair
Bill Butzner
Lissa Gangjee
Jennifer Hazelton
Sabrina Kirwin
Bob McDowell
Financial & Legal
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2015
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