Houston’s Memorial Park is one of the crown jewels of Houston’s unique culture. Join us on June 25th as we hear from Shellye Arnold, the President & CEO of the Memorial Park Conservancy. The mission of the Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow. Memorial Park Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization that operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres.
Shellye joined Memorial Park Conservancy in 2013. Since then, Shellye and the Conservancy leadership team have grown the organization from 3 employees to over 30 and from a $500,000 annual budget to over $30 million in operating and capital expenses. Working closely with partners, Shellye and the Conservancy developed a long-range Master Plan for Memorial Park in 2015; initiated capital improvements and transitioned management and operations of 1,100 acres of Memorial Park to the Conservancy in 2016; and in 2018 secured approval for a plan to deliver over $200 million of capital improvements in Memorial Park by 2028.
Fundraising is underway for this Ten-Year Plan for the Park, with catalyst funding from the Kinder Foundation. This is one of the largest urban park restoration efforts underway in the U.S. Project Partners in this public-private partnership include the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Park Conservancy, Kinder Foundation, and Uptown Development Authority.
The team is focused on:
- Restoring the Park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency
- Reconnecting the Park’s land, waterways, trails, and people
- Consolidating compatible uses together in appropriate areas
- Tending to the land and the Park’s cultural history, maintaining balance through responsible management
- And enhancing the overall Park experience and amenities
Shellye brings a background in executive leadership and change management from her nearly 20 years at Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq Computer Corporation and McKinsey & Company. Having studied public policy,
Early Career
Shellye spent the first part of her career with the Texas State Legislature, the Texas Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She previously worked as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru delivering public health programs and speaks Spanish fluently.
Shellye holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. As a native Houstonian, Shellye cares deeply about Houston’s parks, bayous, green spaces and the wildlife that inhabit them. Shellye volunteers in animal rescue and from 2011 – 2019 served as a leader for Girl Scout Troop 21, the nation’s only Girl Scout troop composed of women with differing learning abilities.
From the President of Silver Fox Advisors
Silver Fox Advisors’ President Bill Herman stated, “Memorial Park is actually larger than Central Park in New York City and is a Houston gem that is going thru a significant enhancement. Come and learn about Memorial Park’s long-term vision.”
This special presentation will be held via webinar rather than the Silver Fox Advisors normal meeting format at the Houston Racquet Club. You must register for event by clicking here.
