EIN 76-0655841

Memorial Park Conservancy

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
89
State
Year formed
2000
Most recent tax filings
2023-05-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
Memorial Park Conservancy restores, preserves and enhances Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow. It is dedicated to public use, enjoyment, and education in accordance with conditions of the conveyance to the City of Houston. The organization has grown to 60 employees from only 16 five years earlier. They have expanded professional training by implementing executive, leadership, and supervisory training. Additionally, they have implemented systems, process, and tools improvements.
Total revenues
$10,371,789
2023
Total expenses
$25,598,271
2023
Total assets
$41,882,048
2023
Num. employees
89
2023

Program areas at Memorial Park Conservancy

See Schedule OMaster Plan: -Construction of the Running Complex began June 2022. The project includes a new parking lot, running track, restroom, a rally pavilion, and a cafe. The Roy H. Cullen Timing Track and Event Plaza were opened in November 2023. The Cafe will open in April 2024. - February 2023 marked the grand opening for the Kinder Land Bridge and Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie; Memorial Park Conservancy welcomed more than 15,000 people to the grand opening. This 100-acre project includes 2 land bridges that connect the north and south sides of Memorial Park, whose 1,500 acres is bisected by 6-lane Memorial Drive. It also includes the restoration of native gulf coast prairies north and south of the bridges. This project provides significantly improved connectivity and access for park visitors; restores a disrupted wildlife corridor; boosts biodiversity; increases ecological resilience in the face of climate challenges such as hurricanes and droughts; assists with storm water management; and sequesters relatively more CO2. This project brings positive acclaim not just to Memorial Park but to Houston. - In October 2022, MPC completed construction of the realignment of the Seymour Lieberman Trail between Eastern Glades and the Land Bridge & Prairie. One mile of this trail previously sat perilously close to Memorial Drive. This realignment moved 1 mile of the trail off of Memorial Drive, improving user safety and enjoyment for the thousands of Houstonians who use this trail daily. The project includes three pedestrian bridges over ravines north of Memorial Drive.
See Schedule O Operating and Maintaining the Park: The Conservancy operated and maintained 1,100 acres of Memorial Park's 1,500 acres, exceeding contractual requirements for frequency of cleaning, mowing, and other services. The Conservancy advances its mission through improving Park amenities, supporting forestry management initiatives, planting native tree varieties, maintaining natural and surfaced trails, and caring for landscaped areas within the Park. 2022 Highlights include: - The Grassland division added 45 acres of grassland to MPC's care and management. - The Conservation Horticulture division grew and installed 25,000 native plants. - The Greenhouse division produced 3,500 cubic yards of mulch and 200 cubic yards of compost on site. - Park Operations and Maintenance focused on operational process improvements including procedure implementation, development of satellite workstations, and growing efficiencies. At Memorial Park Conservancy, volunteers are an integral part of the Park's restoration and maintenance efforts. 2022 Highlights include: - 2,736 individual volunteers participated in projects around the Park, contributing 7,624 total volunteer hours. - Conservancy staff led 70 corporate events and 53 group events including collaborations with schools, alumni associations, and clubs. - Removed 727 cubic yards of biomass and spread 317 cubic yards of mulch. - Planted 32,000 seeds and established 10,000 new plants within the Park's ecosystem.
See Schedule O Welcoming and Engaging Park Visitors: The Conservancy has placed a strong focus on activating new and existing areas of Memorial Park for creative and diversified programmatic offerings in order to embrace Houston's vibrant array of cultures. As an urban park in the most diverse city in the United States, Memorial Park Conservancy is honored to operate and manage Memorial Park as a welcoming space for all Houstonians. In 2022, MPC expanded mission-based programming to invite all Houstonians to participate and to see themselves in Memorial Park. 2022 Highlights include: - Showcased support for the LGBTQ+ community by hosting a Pride event. In collaboration with Blanco Art, Pride murals were created in the Clay Family Eastern Glades. - Facilitated a panel discussion at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum to commemorate the events of 1917, Houston "Mutiny and Riots" that occurred 105 years ago. - Hosted the Land Bridge and Prairie opening event that welcomed 15,000+ visitors from all over Houston, many of whom had never before visited Memorial Park. - Hosted cultural celebrations for Mexican Independence Day, Diwali, and Lunar New Year. - Organized the "Run To Remember" event on Memorial Day to honor and remember service members who died in, or as a result of, their military service. - Dyanmo and Dash Charities faciliated a free soccer training program for children in Memorial Park, known as Futbolito in the City. - Continued to expand our Visitor Services team to answer visitor questions, collect required permitting fees and enforce Park regulations.

Who funds Memorial Park Conservancy

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor Grant Recipient's Exempt Purposes$2,062,550
Greater Houston Community FoundationEnvironmental$601,970
Josephine Hughes Sterling FoundationRunning Complex Cafe Const$500,000
...and 37 more grants received totalling $3,906,650

Personnel at Memorial Park Conservancy

NameTitleCompensation
Shellye ArnoldPresident and Chief Executive Officer$408,461
Cara LambrightVice President and Chief Operating Officer$101,795
Chris BallardChief Operating Officer
Elizabeth TaylorVice President of Human Resources and Administration
Holli ClementsVice President of Engagement$146,977
...and 15 more key personnel

Financials for Memorial Park Conservancy

RevenuesFYE 05/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$9,124,904
Program services$1,074,658
Investment income and dividends$325,369
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$16,665
Net income from fundraising events$-169,807
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$10,371,789

Form 990s for Memorial Park Conservancy

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-052024-04-11990View PDF
2022-052023-04-14990View PDF
2021-052022-04-14990View PDF
2020-052021-04-21990View PDF
2019-052021-01-21990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s

Organizations like Memorial Park Conservancy

OrganizationLocationRevenue
Gateway Arch Park FoundationSaint Louis, MO$41,551,672
Discovery GreenHouston, TX$10,459,340
Parks and Trails New YorkAlbany, NY$3,622,399
River Parks AuthorityTulsa, OK$26,390,744
Hemisfair ConservancySan Antonio, TX$2,784,998
Washington Square Park ConservancyNew York, NY$4,738,736
Fund for Parks and Recreation in BostonBoston, MA$10,649,321
The Bay Park ConservancySarasota, FL$13,615,624
Nathan Benderson Park ConservancySarasota, FL$4,713,388
Crystal Cove Conservancy (CCA)Newport Coast, CA$14,102,544
Data update history
July 17, 2024
Received grants
Identified 7 new grant, including a grant for $100,000 from The Powell Foundation
May 20, 2024
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
May 20, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 8 new personnel
May 18, 2024
Used new vendors
Identified 1 new vendor, including
May 18, 2024
Received grants
Identified 15 new grant, including a grant for $601,970 from Greater Houston Community Foundation
Nonprofit Types
Parks and recreation centersMuseumsHeadquarter / parent organizationsCharities
Issues
Human services
Characteristics
Fundraising eventsReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringGala fundraisersTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
7575 N Picnic LN
Houston, TX 77007
Metro area
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
County
Harris County, TX
Website URL
memorialparkconservancy.org/ 
Phone
(713) 863-8403
Facebook page
MemorialPark 
Twitter profile
@memorialpark 
IRS details
EIN
76-0655841
Fiscal year end
May
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
2000
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
N32: Parks and Playgrounds
NAICS code, primary
7121: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
Parent/child status
Central organization
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