Memorial Park in Houston

Memorial Park is located near the heart of downtown and is a favorite outdoor venue of many local Houston residents. The park is one of the largest urban getaways and offers many recreational opportunities. The park is rich in history and considered a lush urban gem by many. The majority of Memorial Park is located on the former grounds of a World War I facility called Camp Logan. The camp was used to train thousands of soldiers in the early 1900's. Eventually the camp was purchased by a family named the Hoggs, and in 1925, the City of Houston purchased the land from the family, transforming the space into a park. To honor the park's original history, the park was dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and named Memorial Park. Today, the park is over 1500 acres of wooded land, and is unique due is its location, size, and preservation of natural features. It is the 55th largest city park in the United States and in 2009, the park was said to have an estimate value of one billion dollars.

The city of Houston is so enamored with Memorial Park that millions of dollars have been poured into upkeep and improvements to the park over the years. In early 2008, the mayor of Houston pledged to give the park an additional ten million dollars in funding to add even more amenities to Memorial Park over the upcoming years. Some of the amenities that the park currently has includes a fitness center, swimming pool, tennis center, infantry woods, picnic loop, baseball fields, soccer fields, and acres of beautiful gardens for nature or people-watching. The Memorial Park Picnic Loop is a multi-purpose trail that is open to roller skaters and road bikers. Mountain bikers have their own off-road trails that offer challenging terrain with ravines and slopes for an exciting ride. Most of the trails for mountain bikers are located in the southwest portion of Memorial Park. An advanced trail for mountain bikers is called the Infantry Woods and is designed for those with advanced bike handling skills and strength.

An indoor gym is also located on park premises. The Memorial Park Fitness Center is situated in the middle of the park and open year round to the public. Daily or monthly use of the fitness gym requires a small fee. The gym is equipped with free-weight and resistance equipment and has shower facilities as well.

There are a few educational facilities located on the premises of Memorial Park. The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is located in the western portion of the park and was the first nature education facility in Texas. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, which is owned by the Museum of fine arts can also be found on the grounds of the park, and the Hogg Bird Sanctuary is also technically a part of Memorial Park.

In order to preserve the integrity and beauty of Memorial Park, the Memorial Park Conservancy organization was formed. The Conservatory consists of 35 members who work with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and other organizations to offer a wide range of activities at the park as well as preserve the natural habitat of Memorial Park. Four million locals and tourists visit Memorial Park every year and play a part in the recreational, fitness, and nature communities within the park.