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johndaugherty.com l a t i p a C n o t l i h C f o O E C d n a r e d n u o f - o c , p p a n K . L r e h p o t s i r h C Management LLC, is playing his part in the redevelopment of Houston's very own Memorial Park. Knapp led the Memorial Park Conservancy committee tasked with choosing a design team for the park, and he continues to follow through on the project's progress. John Daugher ty, Realtors Chairman and CEO John A. Daugherty, Jr. recently spoke with Knapp about what Houstonians may expect to see in the next chapter of one of the largest urban parks in the United States. J D : A s a m e m b e r o f t h e H e r m a n n Park Conservancy and the Memorial Park Conser vancy, what is your outlook on nature and the environment? CK: beyond whatever importance one might normally assign to nature and the environment. How we how we function as contributing members to the cities we live in and how we interact with one another in what are becoming increasingly densely-developed urban centers around the globe. JD: As an avid swimmer, what changes do you most want to see happen with the Memorial Park swimming pool and adjoining Fitness Center? CK: Swimming is a critical life skill, and everyone should know how to swim. Swimming is also a sport for all ages that requires little equipment and is therefore JD: You are well-traveled. Do you always visit parks in the cities you visit? Which are your favorites and will you be bringing ideas from them to Houston? CK: Parks are a personal obsession, and I always make have so much to learn from one another. Reimagining abandoned or derelict spaces is of particular interest with The High Line in New York City, a personal favorite in this category. The vision and dogged determination of a fellow Texan, Robert Hammond, has resulted in a complete transformation of the west side of Manhattan from 14th Street to Hudson Yards. JD: You have contributed much to Houston's green spaces. Which accomplishment pleases you the most? CK: The fact that we are accomplishing across the city what at one time seemed unimaginable and that citizens of every background and life experience can know the joy and inspiration of natural beauty. For further information about Memorial Park, visit memorialparkconservancy.org JD: Can you tell us a little bit about the fascinating history of Memorial Park, from Camp Logan to the Hogg family? CK: Part of the site which we now know as Memorial Park was a World War I military training camp called Camp Logan. The Hogg family acquired Camp Logan and the acreage surrounding it (approximately 1,500 acres) coincident with their development of River Oaks. They subsequently deeded the land to the City of Houston to establish Memorial Park in a transaction that was part sale and part gift. The park is named in memory of soldiers killed in World War I. We are the JD: What led you to want to become involved with the Memorial Park Conservancy? CK: A longtime conviction that public parks play an incredibly important role in reinforcing the social fabric and economic vitality of this and every community. They deserve our best design talent and all the resources we can apply to them. JD: Tell me about your role in regard to the Master Plan for Memorial Park's revamping. CK: I was honored to be asked to lead the committee charged with selecting a design team to reimagine Memorial Park as one of our city's most important wilderness parks that could also balance the requirements of long-established sports and recreational facilities. The drought and resulting fragility of the site's ecology and habitat prioritized identifying and interviewing landscape design practices with proven depth and expertise in the restoration of damaged ecologies as well as urban parks. Through a process that lasted several months, we selected Nelson Byrd Woltz. JD: What little-known facts about Memorial Park would you like our readers to know? CK: It is easy to draw the conclusion that Memorial Park represents an untouched wilderness. In fact, like most of the region that makes up Houston today, the land was mostly clear-cut for timber in the 19th century. Earliest settlement by Native Americans and later by settlers from both Mexico and the United States resulted in extensive manipulation of the landscape that which appears to be a natural stream, is in fact greatly Dam, several miles to the west. Another little-known fact about Memorial Park and also true of Hermann to the citizens of Houston from families that recognized the essential connection between beautiful landscapes and the well-being of our City. JD: Are plans being coordinated with those of Buffalo Bayou Partnership? CK: We have made a commitment from the outset to coordinate the vision for Memorial Park with park conservancy groups across Park Conservancy and Bayou Greenways. We are living in an inspired 100-year moment with extraordinary talent and leadership being applied to making Houston one of the most livable cities in the United States. JD: What do you think makes Memorial Park CK: are claimed proudly by all Houstonians. Memorial Park, given its size and wilderness composition, plays a special role in complementing the urban density that is becoming more common across the city. JD: How will implementation of the Master Plan be funded? And what roles will the Memorial Park Conservancy and Uptown TIRZ play? CK: As with any project of this scale, pricing is a complicated process with many variables. Like Hermann Park, the proposed plan will likely take 20 years or even more to complete. Ultimately, costs will be determined on a project-by-project basis and implemented as funds are available. The Uptown TIRZ annexation of Memorial Park was a visionary step that brings important, private donations will be essential. The Memorial Park Conservancy will undertake a capital campaign for along with fund-raising for ongoing park maintenance. JD: What's your favorite thing to do in Memorial Park? CK: A favorite recent experience, which was also a huge challenge, was participating in a boot camp for several months. As a longtime runner, I wanted to especially inspiring to see how people of various abilities pushed themselves so hard and beyond their normal comfort zones. It also made me acutely aware of what a craving there is for great outdoor space in Q. John A. Daugherty, Jr. Chairman and CEO, John Daugherty, Realtors A. Christopher L. Knapp Co-Founder and CEO, Chilton Capital Management LLC Reimagining Memorial Park is in his nature Christopher Knapp