The Memorial Park Conservancy will break ground in 2026 on a project that includes transforming 100 acres along West Memorial Loop Drive into a new park that will pay tribute to Houston's World War I history and provide new parking, restrooms, recreational amenities, play areas and green space.

About the project

Known as Memorial Groves, the focal point of the expansion will be a forest of more than 2,000 bald cypress trees that will be planted in a grid around the existing trees to symbolize soldiers standing in formation.

Additionally, on the north end of the forest, trenches inspired by the warfare tactic will be framed on two sides by grassy, 12-foot-tall earthen mounds with a reflective water feature at the center. The entire park will also include interpretive features, signage and exhibits distributed through the landscape, as well as the unearthed foundations of several camp buildings.

The latest updateOn Dec. 11, the project received a $7.5 million donation from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, bringing the total project funds to about $40 million. Other private partners and donors that have contributed to the sum include John L. Nau III, the Kinder Foundation, Brown Foundation and the Katz Foundation.

“We are deeply honored to be a part of this landmark project that will help bring Houston’s extraordinary history to life,” Evan H. Katz, President of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, said in a Dec. 11 news release. “Memorial Groves will offer a powerful place of reflection and learning – one that thoughtfully connects past and present, honoring service and sacrifice while strengthening the Park’s role as a resilient, vibrant public space for generations to come.”

Construction for Memorial Groves is slated to begin in 2026, with a target completion in late 2027.