General Park Information

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General Park Information

Memorial Park is currently open, and the Conservancy is closely monitoring operations in response to COVID-19. For the latest Conservancy information, visit our COVID-19 Safety page and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Memorial Park plays an important role in Houston’s public health. Thousands of people come to the Park to run, walk, play, and enjoy the outdoors.

Index

Click on the topic to jump down the list

Alcohol
Balloons
Bicycling
Crawfish Boils
Dogs
Driving

Drones
Events
Firearms
Fires
Food Trucks
Fitness Vendors

Lost and Found
Photography
Reservations
Sales/Vending
Seymour Lieberman Trail

Scooters and Skateboards
Smoking and Tobacco
Trash & Recycling
Other

Additional rules for Kinder Land Bridge & Clay Family Eastern Glades Lawns

Park users must comply with directions from Park personnel. Please obey all posted rules and signs.

General Park Rules

  • Use the Park at your own risk.
  • All efforts must be made to avoid negatively impacting the park or other park users in any way.
  • Park hours are 5 a.m. to 11p.m., 365 days a year.
  • The East-West Trail and the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail are open at all times.
  • The Seymour-Lieberman Exer-Trail is pedestrian only.
  • The sensitive nature of the Park’s ecology may require closures from time to time. Use of closed areas of the park or trail system may be considered criminal trespass or potential destruction of city property.
  • When using the Park’s trail systems, stay on designated trail. Shortcutting the trail and bypassing muddy areas destroys vegetation, leads to erosion, reduces habitat quality, and causes unsightly damage.
  • Parking is for Park users only. Vehicles are prohibited off roadways and beyond parking areas. No parking on grass or unpaved areas.
  • Hunting or use of firearms is prohibited. Unlicensed guns are not allowed in the Park.
  • Pets must remain on leash at all times. Owners must pick up after their pets.
  • Smoking is prohibited.
  • Fires must be contained in grill. Grills are available for use on-site, and personal charcoal grills are allowed (unless a burn ban is in effect). Fires may only be built for the purpose of food preparation and must be contained in grill. Use of propane requires a permit from the fire marshal.
  • Littering and dumping is prohibited.
  • No gambling of any kind is permitted.
  • Vending and commercial activities, including photography, requires a permit.
  • Marketing and advertising is prohibited. No structures, including tents and canopies that exceed 10’x20’ or of any size that advertise a commercial product of any kind, may be erected on park grounds without the permission of MPC.
  • Drone/aerial craft operation and aerial photography is prohibited.
  • Certain areas of the park are available for private rental. Please see the MPC website for details. Groups or gatherings of 75 or more requires a permit.
  • Use of any restrooms is non-exclusive.
  • Be respectful of other park users and neighbors and control noise. Users must adhere to the City of Houston noise ordinance. Amplified sound requires a permit. MPC staff are authorized to lower amplified sound if deemed too loud.
  • Trees, plants and fauna shall not be disturbed or installed.
  • Balloons are not allowed in Memorial Park due to the threat they pose to wildlife. Balloons and balloon fragments – more so than other trash materials – end up in the natural areas of the park and make their way to our waterways, including Hines Lake, the park streams, Buffalo Bayou, and ultimately Galveston Bay.
  • To ensure the health of the Park ecology and the safety of other Park users, the following activities are prohibited:

    < Use of equipment that causes any harm to the Park, such a tire-dragging

    < Water activities such as dunking booths or ‘slip and slides’, water balloons, petting zoos or non-domestic animals, moonwalks or other inflatables

    < Candles, rice, confetti, flower petals, smoke/fog machines, silly string, birdseed, potpourri, glitter or any substance of that nature

    < No attaching anything to the exterior or interior of any Park property which will cause permanent changes or alterations

    < No tape, nails or staples can be used on anything within the Park, including trees.

  • For the comfort of other Park users, generators are not allowed.
  • Use of the following is not allowed without proof of additional permitting or insurance and may require a deposit to at least 14 days prior to the event. Contact reservations@memorialparkconservancy.org for questions.

    < Propane, amplified sound equipment, any structures, and distribution of food or alcohol require a permit from the City of Houston.

    < Canopy/tent exceeding 800 square feet, portable stage, portable toilets, and any event exceeding 250 guests requires advance proof of insurance to MPC.

    < Onsite cooking or service from a commercial vendor requires advance proof of health certificate.

  • Events that practice discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, gender, national origin, age or condition of handicap are not permitted. MPC reserves the right to deny any event, activity or equipment in its sole and absolute discretion.

Alcohol

  • Alcoholic beverage consumption is allowed in Memorial Park. Distribution or sale of beverages is prohibited. Glass containers are not allowed.

Balloons

  • Balloons are not allowed in Memorial Park due to the threat they pose to wildlife.  Balloons and balloon fragments – more so than other trash materials – end up in the natural areas of the park and make their way to our waterways, including Hines Lake, the park streams, Buffalo Bayou, and ultimately Galveston Bay.

Bicycling

  • We encourage biking in the Park, except on the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail.

  • Bikes are not allowed on the Seymour Lieberman Trail.
  • Houston BCycle has two locations in the Park to rent bicycles – at the Cullen Running Trails Center and at Picnic Loop.
  • BCycle bikes are allowed on paved surfaces such as Picnic Loop or the roadways as well as on the Outer Loop Trail.

Crawfish Boils

  • Crawfish boils are not allowed in Memorial Park.

Dogs

  • Dogs are welcome in the Park but must remain on their leash at all times. Pet owners are required to pick up after their pets (Ordinance 200-1275, Sec. 6-24).

Driving

  • Motorized vehicles are prohibited off roadways and beyond parking areas. Improperly parked vehicles will be towed.
  • Picnic Loop is closed to motorized vehicles (except for Park staff and law enforcement) Monday through Thursday from 7 pm until 9 am the following day. Picnic Loop will remain open during regular Park hours on weekends and holidays. Each year, during June, July and August, Picnic Loop closes at 4 pm on Wednesday evenings due to the Criterion bike races. Additionally, from time to time, the Loop may be closed due to special events. Due to ongoing construction in the Park, gate closures may be subject to change as needed.

Drones

  • The Conservancy follows all FAA rules including:

    · No person may operate a drone at night, 30 minutes before sunrise, or 30 minutes after sunset (§ 107.29)

    · All drones must remain in visual line of sight of pilot in command or a visual observer working as part of the operation (§ 107.31)

    · Yielding the right of way to all other aircraft (§ 107.37(a))

    · Memorial Park is located in ‘G’ Airspace, however drone operations over human beings are restricted unless they are directly participating in the drone operation (§ 107.39)

Events

  • Memorial Park Conservancy is able to accommodate 5k’s and run/walk type events on a limited basis. More information on any required permits and/or reservations is available by contacting the Conservancy at reservations@memorialparkconservancy.org or 713.863.8403 x0. Egg hunt celebrations are not allowed in Memorial Park.

Firearms

  • Hunting or use of firearms is prohibited.

Fires

  • Fires may be built for the purpose of food preparation only and must be contained in a grill. Fires are not permitted if there is a burn ban in effect in Houston or Harris County.

Food Trucks

  • Memorial Park Conservancy is pleased to have a variety of Houston food trucks participating in the food truck program throughout the week and at locations on both the north and southside. The daily food truck schedule is posted on twitter and in the pop out on the right side of the homepage. For information about becoming a sanctioned Memorial Park Food Truck, please email reservations@memorialparkconservancy.org.

Group Fitness Vendors

Lost and Found

  • Items found in Memorial Park can be turned in to the Memorial Park Conservancy front desk located in the Cullen Running Trails Center (7575 North Picnic Lane. Houston, TX 77007). Please call the front desk at 713.863.8403 x0 to inquire about lost items.

Photography

  • Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aerial vehicle within the boundaries of Memorial Park is prohibited. All aerial photography is prohibited.
  • No photography or film props exceeding hand-held size or lighting amendments may be used in the Park for any reason.
  • Film and professional and/or commercial photography requires a Film and Photography Permit issued by Memorial Park Conservancy. For information, please email reservations@memorialparkconservancy.org.

Reservations

  • Reservations can be made online for picnic areas, volleyball courts, sports fields, or croquet courts. Reservations must be made two weeks in advance. A reservation is required for gatherings of 75+ people.

Sales/Vending

  • The sale and/or marketing of goods and services are not permitted.
  • Vending or commercial sales of any sort, including recreational offerings, are prohibited without permit.
  • Exhibiting or performing to derive revenue is not permitted.

Seymour Lieberman Running Trail

  • The Seymour Lieberman Trail is for pedestrians only. No bikes are allowed on the trail.
  • Runners/walkers should stay to the right.
  • Please do not run or walk more than two abreast to allow for other runners and walkers to pass.

Scooters and Skateboards

  • Scooters and skateboards are prohibited on natural surface (hike and bike) trails and the Seymour Lieberman Trail.

Smoking and Tobacco

  • Memorial Park strictly adheres to the City of Houston Smoking Ordinance and is smoke-free.

Trash and Recycling

  • Littering is prohibited: please use trash receptacles.
  • You can recycle at the Cullen Running Trails Center, Eastern Glades, the entrance to Picnic Loop, and the Tennis Center. We can accept, plastic bottles and containers, paper, glass, and steel, aluminum, and tin cans.

Other

  • For the comfort of other Park users, generators are prohibited without a special use permit. Only permitted for special events on a case by case basis.
  • Gambling of any kind is prohibited.
  • To ensure the health, the Park ecology, and the safety of other park users, the following activities are prohibited: Water activities such as dunking booths or ‘slip and slides’, water balloons, petting zoos or non-domestic animals, moonwalks, bounce houses, candles, confetti, silly string, and other substances of that nature.
  • Control noise levels – please be respectful of others. A City of Houston Noise and Sound Permit is required if noise levels will exceed 68 decibels at any time.

Additional rules for Kinder Land Bridge & Clay Family Eastern Glades Lawns

To help preserve the health of Eastern Glades Central Lawn, the following are NOT permitted:

  • Volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, or other sports nets/goals
  • Organized events, sport games or practices
  • Cleated shoes
  • Golfing/chipping
  • Staking, drilling, or hammering into the ground
  • Bicycles and skateboards must be walked on grass

Looking to Make a Reservation? Visit our Reservation Page

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