2014: The Centennial Year of Hermann Park. A once in a lifetime opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and secure the Park’s future.

Be a part of the Centennial Campaign for Hermann Park and help complete a treasure 100 years in the making.

What would Houston be without Hermann Park? An oasis of green and blue in District, Rice University, and the heart of Houston, Hermann the Texas Medical Center. Park has provided a respite Here children splash in the for urban dwellers since 1914. fountains around the Pioneer Even with the excitement Monument, students read surrounding its establishment under the shade of tall pines as one of the first city parks in and outstretched oaks, families a growing metropolis, could pedal boats amid the ducks on its planners really have known McGovern Lake, and friends how important their park would gather around picnic tables for become or what it would mean birthday parties. Hermann Park to so many? provides millions of visitors Today, almost 100 years later, from all backgrounds and the Park is surrounded by dense walks of life the opportunity Nash Baker residential neighborhoods as to come together to play, relax, well as the Houston Museum and celebrate every year. front cover photo: Kasey Marsh front The History Hermann Park has had a huge impact (McGovern Lake), music pavilion (Miller new roads and parking lots cut through Park, known today as Hermann Park on the quality of life in Houston since Theatre), paths and carriage trails, and the Park, shifting the Park’s identity Conservancy. With its founding came the 1914 gift of philanthropist George golf course. After Kessler’s death in from a recreational resource to the the renaissance of Hermann Park. Hermann. Designed by renowned 1923, the firm Hare & Hare expanded empty space between institutions. landscape architect George Kessler, the plan, adding the Garden Center As more and more visitors poured the first plan for the Park laid the and Zoo. into the Park to visit these institutions, groundwork for signature elements Due to world events and the scarcity the condition of the Park’s diminishing The Conservancy has admired today: the main entrance at of resources over the following green space worsened. By the early brought Houstonians back Montrose Boulevard decades, aspects of the grand plans 1990s, neighbors decided to take and Main Street, were never completed. As time wore action to save their Park. They came into Hermann Park and reflection pool, on, it was as if there had never been together in 1992 to form the citizens’ restored the community spirit grand basin a plan at all. In the 1970s and ’80s, organization Friends of Hermann and connection to 100 years of Houston history. Kasey Marsh The Centennial Campaign Hermann Park Conservancy set out in Through a public-private partnership 1992 to complete the vision imagined with the City of Houston, the by early planners. Prestigious landscape Conservancy has secured $84 million With many projects in architect Laurie Olin developed a toward a $121 million goal for the master plan to revive the historic Park Centennial Campaign for Hermann the ground or underway, and guide all improvements. Adopted Park. Half of this goal is comprised the Conservancy has in 1995, the new plan aimed to increase of public funds, and the Conservancy already made a visible accessibility, restore the Park’s historical manages all projects (regardless impact on Hermann Park. elements, encourage community of funding source) to ensure activity through new gathering their success. spaces and increased services, and All projects undertaken by the maintain the Park through thoughtful Conservancy have been completed stewardship programs. on time and under budget.

Major Completed Improvements n The nationally recognized renovation of the “Heart of the Park,” including the Jones Reflection Pool and McGovern Lake n The creation of Lake Plaza which includes a cafe, the scenic Tiffany & Co. Foundation Bridge, and Kinder Station for the new and improved Hermann Park train n Improvements along Brays Bayou, including forest trails through the 80-acre Bayou Parkland, bayou trails and a bike bridge for walkers and bicyclists, and a pedestrian underpass under North and South MacGregor n The restoration of the Japanese Garden Overland Partners David J. Schmoll The Final Flourish While many families already enjoy the completed Centennial Campaign improvements, there is still much to be done to finish the restoration.

These projects include Nash Baker the renovation of the Grand Gateway, the Park’s historic main entrance; the creation of the Centennial Gardens; and reforestation and stewardship initiatives. The Campaign goal also includes funding for a variety of Centennial Scott Adams Celebration events and public art exhibitions throughout 2014 for the community to enjoy. Together we will complete the final flourish for Hermann Park. Not only would it make the Park’s original planners proud, but the success of the Centennial Campaign for Hermann Park will also ensure that this valuable public space continues to thrive for its next 100 years. Linda Oyama Bryan The Grand Gateway The Grand Gateway, the historic offering a proper welcome to main entrance to Hermann one of Houston’s most historic Park, includes the area from the green spaces. Mecom Fountain to the Sam Houston Monument, erected in 1925, and the stretch of parkland along Main Street from the Fountain to the Texas Medical Center. Planned in 1915, the axis of Main and Montrose was punctuated with an elliptical sunken garden (later replaced by the Mecom Fountain), while South Main Street was designed as an oak-lined parkway. Grand Gateway Highlights: The Grand Gateway’s beauty n Extensive landscaping and once marked the area as an seasonal plantings between important cultural hub in the the Sam Houston Monument heart of Houston. While still and Mecom Fountain to home to the iconic landmarks reflect the sunken garden and canopy of trees along Main of the Park’s history Street, the stately presence of the Grand Gateway has all n Improved walkways to increase but vanished with time. Its connectivity to neighborhoods minimal landscaping and lack and METRORail of sidewalks and amenities belie n Pedestrian-scale lighting, the beauty and accessibility benches, and bike racks of the Park’s interior. to provide convenience The Grand Gateway renovation for walkers and bicyclists project will restore the area, n New drainage and irrigation safely connecting surrounding to preserve the Live Oaks communities to the Park and along Main Street Nash Baker The Centennial Gardens The existing 15-acre Garden Center intimate spaces can be a gathering spot The Centennial Gardens will transform site will be reborn as the Centennial for the community, a place for children the current site to capture its potential Gardens in celebration of the Park’s to learn and connect with nature, and as a community resource. Relocated milestone birthday. It will delight a setting to showcase the beauty and parking areas will open up the space, visitors with traditional features like culture of an international city. In the increase accessibility, ease traffic flow, the rose garden, and new areas to case of the Garden Center, heavy use, and preserve the number of parking explore, such as a children’s interactive minimal maintenance, and poorly spaces. New pedestrian and vehicular garden and tremendous, football- planned changes over the decades entrances from Hermann Drive will field-sized event lawn crowned by have left its building and grounds in enhance access from neighboring the Chinese Pavilion. Friends will desperate need of rejuvenation. residential areas and cultural enjoy picnicking on the expansive institutions, including the Children’s lawns, families will learn about urban Museum, the Health Museum, and the gardening in the container garden, Museum of Fine Arts. and tourists will admire the City’s extensive collection of sculptures Centennial Gardens Highlights donated by countries around the n Children’s Garden world along the sculpture walk. n Grand Entry Pavilion Gardens have long been an important n Great Lawn element in Hermann Park. These n Centennial Green n Rose Garden n Sculpture Walk n Woodland Garden Conceptual photos courtesy of Hoerr Schaudt Centennial Celebration One hundred years of Hermann Park— From parents teaching children how what better cause for celebration? to fly kites on Kite Day to couples Since 1914, the Park has been strolling with hot cocoa at dusk part of the family for generations during Holiday Lights, everyone growing up in Houston. Through the will remember the camaraderie festivities of the year-long Centennial and community spirit that captured Centennial Celebration Events Houston during the Centennial n Art Exhibitions n Centennial Gardens Celebration. n Holiday Lights Official Opening An occasion for civic Art in the Park will feature numerous n Multiple celebrations temporary art installations showcasing n Kite Day celebration like this one throughout the year the work of premiere contemporary n Run in the Park only comes along once sponsored by community artists throughout 2014. Placed in and Family Picnic partners, including the every hundred years. a variety of locations, the works will n Port to Park Bike Ride Health Museum, Houston Join the celebration! encourage the community to explore n Grand Opera, Houston their Park. Educational programs will Hats in the Park Luncheon Symphony, and MD highlight the history of the Park and n Evening in the Park Gala Anderson Cancer Center Celebration, everyone in the Houston its design. community will have the chance Hermann Park’s success is a testament to honor the special moments the to the strength of community—the Park has provided to a century’s thousands of volunteers, donors, worth of children and families, and and visitors who love the Park. The commemorate the efforts made to Centennial events will celebrate this preserve it for its next hundred years. shared success. John Everett Hermann Park is home to more than 8,000 trees, many of them close to 100 years old. From Bayou Parkland’s dense urban forest to the magnificent Live Oaks lining the walkways along the Reflection Pool and exercise trail, the Park’s trees are not only breathtaking but they provide cooler temperatures, cleaner air, shade for visitors, and habitat for wildlife.

Providing Shade for the Next 100 Years Without regular monitoring special treatments, monitors and care, many of these the protection of trees in trees would not still be alive construction zones, and plants today. The Conservancy’s new trees to replace those lost reforestation program was to age, drought conditions, or created to protect and preserve natural disasters like Hurricane these valuable trees and Ike. Each summer, reforestation supplement the aging tree interns update the dynamic canopy. To achieve these goals, tree inventory and map the the Conservancy assists the locations of new trees, allowing Houston Parks and Recreation the Conservancy to observe

Patrick Talley Department with tree care and and track changes over time. Sustaining a Treasure for Future Generations Hermann Park Conservancy has Finally, The George Hermann undertaken several initiatives to Society, the Conservancy’s planned ensure that the beauty of the giving program, supports the Park is perpetuated for future long-term health of the Park generations. For every major through bequests or other planned project, the Conservancy sets gifts. Bequests can be directed to aside a significant portion of funds a Conservancy program, or to one raised for long-term maintenance. of four endowment funds whose In addition, the Conservancy income funds care of the trees, has developed stewardship and gardens, and natural habitats volunteer programs to supplement in perpetuity. the care provided by the Parks With your support, Hermann Park Department. As part of these will continue to thrive for its next programs, thousands of volunteers hundred years. annually work in the Park. Neighbors rake the forest trails in Bayou Parkland, corporate groups clear McGovern Lake of debris, and school children plant seeds. Conservancy friends are committed to ensuring the Park is just as beautiful for future visitors as it is today. Kasey Marsh David J. Schmoll Kasey Marsh Bob Wright The Jung Center Contemporary Arts Museum Houston BISSONNET ST. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

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CAMBRIDGE ST. Scott Adams Nash Baker Designed by TPRB Advertising. 713-524-5876 Houston, Texas 77030 Houston, Texas www.hermannpark.org Hermann Park Conservancy 6201-A Hermann Park Drive