WINTER 2012 PARKSIDE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY NEWSLETTER in the park 1 In the Park 2 From the Executive Director 3 Run in the Park 4 Pinewood Cafe is Now Open In Memoriam: Mr. Terunobu Nakai 5 Urban Green Hermann Park Centennial 6 Upcoming Events Happy Trails to You! The Hermann Park pedestrian trail is now open following fantastic improvements completed this fall. The renovation of the two-mile trail, which loops around the Hermann Park Golf Course, was accomplished thanks to a federal grant administered by the Texas Run in the Park participants Department of Transportation. Mayor Annise Parker officiated the were among the first to enjoy the new trail November 5. ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the trail on November 5, 2011. To the delight of neighborhood runners place to another within the Park and by all MISSION and walkers, the trail now features a new who visit early in the morning or in the decomposed granite surface with concrete evening when the new lights keep the path Hermann Park curbs, lighting, and drainage. The trail well lit. New light posts have also been Conservancy is a route was adjusted to avoid close proximity added along the pedestrian trail beside citizens’ organization to roads wherever possible. As a result, Fannin and will be particularly appreciated by runners and walkers can take in scenic Miller Outdoor Theatre patrons who come to dedicated to the views of tranquil park life and enjoy the evening performances by METRORail. stewardship and cooling shade of historic Live Oaks lining This project is just one of many taking place improvement of much of the trail on both sides. The entire to improve connections to neighborhoods two-mile path is uninterrupted by driveways Hermann Park— and accessibility within Hermann Park. The except in two places, both of which are Bill Coats Bike Bridge, which will connect today and for parking lot entrances that do not usually bicycle and walking trails on both sides of generations to experience high traffic. Brays Bayou, and a pedestrian underpass come. Not just beneficial for runners, the amenities under North and South MacGregor, will offered by the renovated trail will be enjoyed further achieve this goal. They are scheduled by all who use it simply to get from one to open this spring. www.hermannpark.org PARKSIDE / WINTER 2012 DONORS from the executive director from Grand Gateway Can you imagine $100,000-$249,999 Hermann Park without The Elkins Foundation $10,000-$24,999 its trees? Hit with the Marvy Finger Family Foundation most devastating drought $1,000-$4,999 Sharon and Cecil Griffin in recorded history this H. Joe Nelson III summer, Hermann Park’s Save Our Stressed Trees Special thanks to Laurie trees, plants, and wildlife and Reed Morian faced an unprecedented $50,000-$99,999 The Baxter Trust challenge. $10,000-$24,999 Volunteers of Shell Oil Company all ages helped plant trees on $5,000-$9,999 Arbor Day! BBVA Compass The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation $1,000-$4,999 Anonymous (2) Anne and John B. Brent Central Houston, Inc. Carolyn and Platt Davis – In honor of Sara and John Lindsey’s 65th wedding anniversary Consuelo Duroc-Danner – In honor of Doreen Stoller Harriet and Joe Foster Annie and Bob Graham Sharon and Cecil Griffin Kathrine G. McGovern Linda and Walter McReynolds Laurie and Reed Morian Warren R. Nicholson The Oshman Foundation In response, neighbors, families, and Vivie and Chris O’Sullivan friends near and far offered their financial Cynthia and Anthony Petrello Conservancy board chair Ann Kennedy, and volunteer support to keep our trees Louis H. Skidmore, Jr. – In honor of Mayor Parker, and Doreen Stoller at Doreen Stoller and in memory of healthy and strong. Many cited their Run in the Park Margaret C. Skidmore grandchildren as inspiration, hoping that Leticia and Stephen M. Trauber they could help keep the trees alive so Kim and Dan Tutcher We are grateful to the community for its future generations would know their Linda and Steve Webster ongoing support. Run in the Park, a civic beauty and be able to sit under their Meg and Dick Weekley celebration of Hermann Park, attracted shade. Self-professed “Live Oak lovers” $500-$999 more than 700 participants on November Anonymous – In memory of Laurie and Reed Morian deserve special 5, while Arbor Day on January 21 drew Patrick Donovan thanks for helping mobilize the critical Janet and Ernest Cockrell more than 100 volunteers who planted fundraising effort. The Conely Foundation 250 new trees. We will continue planting Rod Danielson and Kelly DeHay To date the Park has lost over 400 trees new trees where they are most needed, William F. Donovan – In memory of due to the drought, whose effects will be and will perform deadwood pruning and Patrick Michael Donovan Trish Freeman and Bruce Patterson seen over the next few years. While we fertilization of the Live Oaks throughout Ann and Henry Hamman are deeply saddened by the loss, we are the Park thanks to the Save Our Stressed Lynn and Bill Herbert – In honor of thankful to have been able to limit the Trees Fund. Because of your help, our Will Fleming devastation to 4% of the Park’s tree count, grandchildren will grow up to know and Rosalie and William Hitchcock a low number by comparison in the region. love Hermann Park as we have. Thank you. Kay and Ned Holmes Steppie and Robert Holsclaw This is due to our conservation team, See you in the Park, Josephine and Philip John which went on alert starting in April; our Ann and Tom Kelsey dedicated volunteers who helped hand Butch and Carmen Mach water trees all summer; and of course Nancy Manderson – In memory of our Save Our Stressed Trees donors who Bill Coats Gary Mercer funded additional water tanks when they Doreen Stoller Denise Monteleone were most critical. Executive Director Barbara E. Murray 2 DONORS HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY Terrylin G. Neale – In memory of Erin Gregory Neale Ralph S. O’Connor Run in the Park The Chris Reichert Family – In memory of Rev. David M. Reichert Johnny Steele Rachael and Jason Volz – In memory of Karen Ivey Volz Randa and K.C. Weiner It must run in the family for speedy kids’ run participants $100-$499 Jared, Maddy, and Thomas Anonymous (4) Garza (with mom Melinda)! Beth Alfredson and Rick Jenkins Stephanie and Isaac Arnold – In memory of Jim Elkins Jim F. Avant Sue Bleakie – In honor of Robert Maxwell Bleakie Linda and Robert Bloss Judy and Elliott Bouillion Sissy and Gene Boyd Kristy and Chris Bradshaw Susan and Major Bradshaw Marsha and Jim Braniff Catherine and Gary Brock – In honor of Nancy Kinder Robin and Richard Brooks Lee and Ted Brown Sharon and Chip Bryan Jenny Calaway Ginny and Bill Camfield Kathleen and Ramsay Camp Marilyn and Larry Chapman, Jr. Susie and Sanford Criner Julie B. Crosswell Claire and John Curtin Sara Dodd-Spickelmier and And they’re off! Mayor Parker Keith Spickelmier shoots the gun to start the race. Colin Patrick Donovan – In memory of Patrick Michael Donovan Frances MacDonald Donovan – In memory of Patrick Michael Donovan Timothy John Donovan – In memory of On Saturday, November 5, 2011, youngsters, families, and serious Patrick Michael Donovan Susan M. Edwards runners took their places in Molly Ann Smith Plaza for Run in the Clayton and Sheldon Erikson Park. For the first time in the Run’s history, the program took place Nanette and Jerry Finger The Fordyce Family entirely in Hermann Park. Morning events included a five-mile run, Helen Winkler Fosdick – In memory of Bill Coats two-mile family walk, 1K kids’ run, and post-race party. Cece and Mack Fowler – In honor of Sanford Criner Mayor Annise Parker kicked off the was packed with Park neighbors and Anne and Robin French morning’s activities by shooting the gun friends cheering for runners at the finish John Friedman Vesta and Pedro Frommer to begin the five-mile run and the family line, families and corporate teams bonding Nancy and Jim Gordon walk. After winding around the Park along in their matching Run t-shirts, and proud Judy and Peter Harding the renovated trail, runners and walkers kids’ run particip ants smiling for their Susan and Robert Hawkins Monica McKnight Heal and made their way to the finish line back at parents’ cameras. Steven Heal Molly Ann Smith Plaza between the Jones Julia and Jay Hellums Reflection Pool and McGovern Lake. The Run in the Park is a valuable community William L. Hixon kids’ run followed, taking children by Miller effort that raises funding to keep the Houston Endowment Inc. Conservancy’s efforts going strong. It raised Fredericka Hunter and Ian Glennie Outdoor Theatre and the Jones Reflection Jerry Jeanmard Pool. All together, over 700 participants over $40,000 this year and was a big Jill and Dunham Jewett enjoyed a healthy jaunt around the Park! success thanks to Run coordinator Mindy Sis Johnson – In honor of Marley Lott Campbell, race chair Scott Dorfman, race Marilyn Jones and Brad Morris – The post-race party included tasty treats director Jack McClintic, and the many In memory of Bill Coats Lisa and Sanjay Kalavar – In memory from bagels to beer, massage therapists community sponsors who helped fund the of Robert Hervey, a tree lover for runners, music, and more. The Plaza event and provide for the post-race party. 3 PARKSIDE / WINTER 2012 DONORS Save Our Stressed Trees Pinewood Cafe is Now Open! $100-$499 (cont’d.) Brian J. Kelly Ruth Chow Kneese Anne and Vivek Kushwaha Eden Lacro – In honor of Pogi Lacro Joyce and Larry Lander Harriet and Truett Latimer Maria and Brendan Lee Rich Levy – In memory of Gabriel Landay Hirsh Diann and Mike Lewter Kathy and Tom Lord – In memory of Forrester Lord Ghent Lummis Heide Mairs and Chippy Slater Mary Lynn and Steve Marks Justin R.