Memorial Park, Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Memorial Park |
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Memorial Park
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Memorial, Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Area | 1,466 acres (5.9 km2) |
| Created | 1924, 101 years ago |
| Operated by | Memorial Park Conservancy |
Memorial Park in Houston, Texas, is one of America's biggest city parks. It opened in 1924 and covers about 1,466 acres (5.93 km²). Most of the park is inside the 610 Loop, across from the Memorial neighborhood. Memorial Drive goes through the park, connecting to downtown Houston.
A small part of the park is west of the 610 Loop, near Woodway Drive and Buffalo Bayou. I-10/U.S. 90 runs along the park's northern edge. The park was first designed by landscape experts Hare & Hare. Since 2016, a group called the Memorial Park Conservancy has managed the park. Their goal is to "restore, preserve and enhance" this important green space.
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History of Memorial Park
From 1917 to 1923, the land where Memorial Park now stands was a U.S. Army training camp. It was called Camp Logan, named after a Civil War general. This camp was used to train soldiers during World War I. It was on the far western edge of Houston at that time.
After the war, in early 1924, two brothers named Will and Mike Hogg bought the land. They bought about 1,503 acres (6.08 km²) of the former Camp Logan. They then sold this land to the City of Houston for the same price they paid. In May 1924, the city officially took over the land. They decided to use it as a "memorial" park. It was dedicated to honor the soldiers who died in World War I.
The park is next to several Houston neighborhoods. These include Camp Logan, Crestwood, and Rice Military. In 2018, a generous gift helped the park even more. Rich and Nancy Kinder, through their foundation, gave $70 million. This money helps speed up the park's improvement and restoration work.
What Can You Do at Memorial Park?
Memorial Park offers many fun activities for visitors of all ages. It has a mix of sports facilities and natural areas.
Sports and Activities
The park is home to the 18-hole Memorial Park Golf Course. This is Texas's best-rated city golf course. It was first a nine-hole course in 1912. Then, it was completely redesigned and reopened in 1936. The course has hosted the Houston Open golf tournament many times. It was renovated in 1995 and will host the tournament again in 2020. A famous golfer named Dave Marr learned to play here. His ashes were spread over the course after he passed away.
Besides golf, you can find many other sports here:
- Tennis courts
- Softball fields
- Swimming pool
- Track for running
- Croquet
- Volleyball courts
- Skating areas
- Cycling paths
The park also has a very popular running course. It's called the Seymour Lieberman Exercise Trail. This trail is made of crushed granite and is about 2.93 miles (4.72 km) long. Almost 3 million people use it every year! It's a favorite spot for Houston joggers.
On the south side of Memorial Drive, there are miles of trails through the woods. There's also a "picnic" loop popular with road cyclists. You can find more softball fields, sand volleyball courts, and fields for rugby or soccer. The softball fields are where the Texas Southern Tigers softball team plays their home games.
Nature and Learning
Inside Memorial Park, you'll find the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. This is a special place with an arboretum (a collection of trees) and a botanical garden (a collection of plants). It covers about 155 acres (0.63 km²). The Nature Center building was built in 1967. It's a great spot to learn about local plants and animals.
Places to Eat
If you get hungry, there are places to grab a bite. Becks Prime has a restaurant right on the golf course grounds. You can also find a Smoothie King nearby. The restaurant is inside the clubhouse, giving you a great view of the golf course.
