FY2018 Annual Report
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2018 ANNUAL REPORT Hermann Park LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Conservancy is a Dear Friends, citizens’ organization Hermann Park Conservancy’s remarkable strides in improving and preserving historic Hermann Park dedicated to the continually inspire me and the Park’s dedicated troop of volunteers, members, partners, and its six million stewardship and annual visitors. improvement of After a trying year in the City of Houston, it has never been more evident that our City’s diverse community Hermann Park — is something to be admired. What has always been so today and for special to me about Hermann Park is that on any given day, you can stroll down the Marvin Taylor Trail, take a generations seat by the Jones Reflection Pool, or climb up to the top of the Mount in the McGovern Centennial Gardens to come. and watch individuals, families, and friends from all Nash Baker walks of life enjoy one communal space. Whether you have been involved with the Conservancy since our founding 26 years ago, or you were first introduced to our organization just this year, I am sure you have seen how important community is to the success of this Park, and how important this Park is to the Houston community. To those who attend our events, get their hands dirty volunteering in the Park, donate, or just enjoy the Park’s serenity, thank you. You are a fundamental part of what makes our work possible and Hermann Park so special. With your support, the Conservancy will continue its work to provide this vibrant greenspace for all to enjoy. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to our enthusiastic board members, dedicated donors, and hard-working staff members, all helmed by Conservancy president, Doreen Stoller. Each and every one of you is an important part of our mission and make up the incredible community that will steadily improve Hermann Park for generations. Thank you again for your commitment to the Conservancy and to our treasured Park. With appreciation, Phoebe Tudor 2018 Board Chair Cover Photo by Nash Baker Scott Adams Nash Baker Enjoying Hermann Park 12 Engineers for the Day From driving the train, setting pedal boats a sail, or hosting events in Lake Plaza, the work of our visitor services team creates special memories for Hermann Park’s six million annual visitors while providing vital income to care for the Park. 22 student 290,000 tickets for the performances Hermann Park Railroad. with over 600 Laid end to end, that would students be over 9 miles of tickets 74 birthday parties at the 284 train laps around the Brown Volunteer Park during Spring Break = Center with over 446 people 568 miles or the distance 1,500 children from Houston, Texas to participated in our Wichita, Kansas special event dinners and breakfasts 18,900 boats were pedaled around McGovern Lake— that is 567,000 minutes or 9,450 hours of pedaling with over 2.5 million calories burned 46,500 orders served at Pinewood Cafe $500,000+ generated for Park stewardship Casey Dunn McGovern 845 feet or Centennial Gardens 282 steps to the top of the Mount The Conservancy has primary responsibility for maintaining the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Our gardeners and maintenance team serve as ambassadors for the Gardens—educating visitors and training volunteers to have a meaningful experience as they provide critical help to keep the Gardens flourishing. Popular free community programming continued in the Gardens including our monthly gardening classes covering topics such as beekeeping, planting fall 1 Snowfall vegetables and fermentation. 1 Hurricane 100,000+ individual shrubs and plants maintained with 8,500 pounds of organic fertilizer organic methods applied 1000 bales of pine straw mulch spread in Tudor Family Pine Hill Walk and Woodland Gardens 490 trees of 50 different species cared for by the gardeners Celebrating in Hermann Park The Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion and the Celebration Garden hosted 279 special events— 88 wedding including weddings, ceremonies and corporate meetings, 65 wedding receptions birthday parties, and community gatherings. Rental income is dedicated to maintaining the McGovern Centennial Gardens and helps to 1 Grand Piano pay for our hard-working delivered for an evening recital gardening team. 22,792 guests 27 Express Weddings in the Celebration Garden 1 Fashion Show Photo credits from top to bottom: Dana Hernandez, Philip Thomas, Mike Charlton, L.J. Cogliando Photo credits from top to bottom: Mustard Seed Photography and Seleni Hernandez Patrick Talley Keeping Community Hermann Park Events Green 1960 gallons of Park to Port Bike Ride The Conservancy raises weeds removed by volunteers in Run in the Park funds to undertake a number the Japanese of critical reforestation and Garden Kite Festival conservation initiatives Go for a run. Ride a bike. throughout the Park working Fly a kite. More fun when in partnership with the you do it together! Houston Parks and 720 cyclists Recreation Department. 10 miles to the B.J. Hodges Houston Ship Channel by bike 106 new trees planted 1 Water Boat at the Turn-Around Party 12,000 trees sponsored by catalogued by our Port Houston summer interns 5,315 individuals contributed 17,740 volunteer hours at a value 110 new of $500,000 trash cans thanks to a generous grant from 750 runners Phillips 66 John Chandler The Conservancy completed a major reforestation project for select live oaks lining the Conservancy offices along the Marvin Taylor Trail in fiscal year 2018. The trees showing signs of stress received extensive soil, mulch, and compost tea treatments to improve the nutrients surrounding their root systems and have begun to recover. 5,000 kites in the air 19 tons of leaf litter raked and recycled as mulch by volunteers Jenny Antill Leah Wilson Jenny Antill Supporting Hermann Park Hats in the Park 362 hats of various colors at Evening in the Park Hats in The Park Urban Green Membership Membership and fundraising events provide over $1 million of vital funding for our operations Over 2,000 and stewardship initiatives. attended Hats in the Park Co-Chair Francine Ballard, November 2017 Urban Green event chairs Stacy Leonard, supporters the Conservancy’s Honoree Diana Hawkins, and Co-Chair Greggory Burk Mitch Zlotnik, Emily Anderson and Nick Scurfield special events Jenny Antill Daniel Ortiz Evening in the Park co-chairs George and Bonner Ball, May 2018 Urban Green chair Jon Sanfelippo and event chairs Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, and Dancie and Jim Ware Nik Kapetanakis, Ashley and Jonathan Crouse, and Chelsea Padon Jenny Antill 1,300 households 1 Gala offering a provide membership ride to the tent on support the Hermann Park Railroad Conservancy President Doreen Stoller, and Soraya and Conservancy members gather for the annual Sip and Stroll in the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Scott McClelland accepting Evening in the Park honors for H-E-B HPC members also receive free train rides the second Saturday of each month and access to a member express line. DONORS Hermann Park Japanese Garden In memory of General Endowment Planning for Hermann Park Conservancy is $10,000–$24,999 Carolyn Ott Fund grateful to all Japan Festival of Houston, Robertson $500–$999 Inc. Mark Abernathy Michol and Michael Ecklund – who generously Patti and Bob Allen In honor of Janet Clark $5,000–$9,999 The Conservancy selects best in class designers, but the key to a beautiful and contributed to Anonymous (2) Doreen Stoller and $100–$499 well-loved project is getting ideas from the community. We host public meetings the beautification, Dan Piette Heather and Stephen Rhonda and Byron Barclay Bertrand restoration, and and encourage people to send their thoughts to [email protected] but we $1,000–$4,999 Lori Bigler and Luis Orozco Habitat Conservancy think some of the best ideas come directly from visitors in the Park. improvement of Japan Business Association Estate of Peter H. Brown Fund Hermann Park of Houston The Contemporaries The Kim and Chris Reichert $500–$999 Book Club Lana Billeaud and during fiscal year Family Kimberly and Daniel Cooper John McGinnis Drawing by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates 2018. $100–$499 Anna Cortinas Douglas Lawing and Darlene and George Susie and Sanford Criner Master Plan Guy Hagstette – In honor Hirasaki Carolyn and Platt Davis of Marley Lott Improvements Jodi and Matthew Padon – Jonica and Johnnie Davis $500,000–$999,999 In memory of LaVerl and Rockie and Jack Deboben $100–$499 Clay Allison – In honor of Houston Endowment Louis Daily Linda and Martin Debrovner Mitch Zlotnik $5,000–$9,999 Janet Rarick and Judy and Edward Earle Nancy Manderson Benjamin Kamins Amy Floyd Plant a Tree Allison and Thomas Rachel and O. Howard Hermann Park Stovall – In honor of Frazier $500–$999 Cece and Mack Fowler – Family Commons John E. Walsh Jr. Lynn and Jary Glazer In honor of Geoffrey Joy Yang Lainie Gordon and $250,000–$499,999 Walker’s Birthday and John P. McGovern David Mincberg In Kind Bettie and Dale Hager Christina Van Dyke and Foundation Betty and Jim Key Dorene and Frank Herzog Jeff Fort’s Marriage Marley Lott $10,000–$24,999 Jennifer and Virgil Hydes Cece and Mack Fowler – Mary and Paul Nugent The Robert and Janice Jody and Willie Jordan In memory of Lamar Cato McNair Foundation Wayne C. Lapham and in honor of the birth McGovern of Ford Thompson $100–$499 Centennial Gardens Nancy and Robert Levinthal E D Bartell Franna and Ted Litton A.Z. – In memory and in $25,000–$49,999 Colby Martin honor of Naeem Choudhri The Garden Club of Lott Hall: Historic Jackie and Malcolm Mazow Houston – In memory of $100–$499 Research conducted by Rice University students revealed that Texas Medical Center employees and patient families Clubhouse Carole Monday Anonymous Suzanne Kibler Morris would enjoy healthy food options and shady places to connect with nature such as this early idea for a dining bosque.