A new project by the Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) will restore Memorial Groves to new glory, honoring the brave men who fought in the first World War.

Memorial Groves was established as a public space to remember the service of the World War I soldiers who trained on the grounds shortly after the closure of Camp Logan, an army base on the property. The slow encroachment of golf courses, roads, and other park amenities whittled away its original design until it was little more than open greenspace.

Unveiled Tueday, April 22, the new design is part of the Master Plan project that launched in 2012 to recover park spaces from devastating drought. Donors supplied the $42 million needed to start the restoration, including the Kinder Foundation ($10 million), John L. Nau, III ($7.5 million) and the Brown Foundation ($7.5 million).

NBW will be following the basic original design for Memorial Groves as a narrow corridor winding through the highest concentration of Camp Logan archeological remains. However, they have planned significant improvements. Two thousand bald cypress trees will be planted in a grid around the existing foliage, symbolizing soldiers standing at attention on a parade ground. At the north end will be an earthwork inspired by the trenches used in WWI, framed by earthen mounds and a reflective water feature.

Plan includes planting 2,000 bald cypress trees. Rendering courtesy of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects

“The Memorial Groves project fulfills the vision of the park’s founders, who, a century ago, preserved 1,200 acres of Camp Logan as a living memorial to the soldiers who trained there,” said Thomas Woltz, principal and owner of NBW. “This landscape-scale memorial utilizes thousands of newly planted trees and savanna restoration to evoke the immensity of transformation, sacrifice, and bravery of those individuals.”

A new visitor center will welcome parkgoers at the north ends. There will also be a playground and picnic areas.

From 1917 to 1919, Camp Logan trained roughly 70,000 men for service in WWI. Some 200 women were also employed at the camp, mostly as nurses and physical therapists for the wounded. In 1918, Black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan rioted against abuse and unfair incarceration from the all-white Houston Police Department. To this day, there are still stone remnants of Camp Logan scattered throughout the woods along West Memorial Loop Drive.

“We feel truly privileged to be at the forefront of this remarkable project," said Chris Ballard, president and CEO for Memorial Park Conservancy. "Many of our daily park visitors may not be aware of Memorial Park’s rich history. We hope that’s exactly what Memorial Groves will accomplish: to tell the story of Memorial Park, how it came to be, and why it’s crucial to preserve and protect into its second century. The generosity of the Kinder Foundation, the Brown Foundation, and Mr. Nau provide foundational support for this project, and serve as a call to others to support the telling of this important part of Memorial Park’s and Houston’s history.”

Preliminary ecological work on Memorial Groves will begin this month, with full construction starting in 2026. The estimated date of completion is sometime in 2027. Part of the construction involves two new free parking lots with 100 spaces.