Anne Wilford Memorial Park At 915 North Gessner Rd.

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Houston Business Journal

2:45 PM CDT Friday 4-8-05

MetroNational unveils newest Memorial City pocket park

Allison Wollam

Houston Business Journal

MetroNational has opened the Anne Wilford Memorial Park, marking the third park the Memorial City-based real estate developer has opened in five years.

The newest park, located on the northwest corner of the new Professional Office Building III at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital, is dedicated to the memory of the late Anne Wilford, wife of former Memorial Hermann CEO Dan Wilford.

The Anne Wilford Memorial Park features sculptures and artistic symbols, celebrating the charitable, family-focused lifestyle of its namesake.

To date, MetroNational has developed two Texas-themed pocket parks within the Memorial City community: the Yellow Rose Garden, which was completed in 2000, and Texas Heritage Park, which opened in March 2004.

Wayne Hays, president and chief operating officer of MetroNational, says in addition to developing new office buildings, retail centers and hospitality venues, the company's pocket parks are designed to enhance the overall Memorial City experience and play a significant role in its vision for the community.

Based on the community's response to the parks, MetroNational will continue to look for opportunities to proceed with its beautification initiatives.

"We're taking areas of land which might typically be used for parking lots or similar usage and utilizing the talents of local artists and sculptors to create recreational amenities for the Memorial/Spring Branch community," says Hays. "Our beautification initiatives create a unique atmosphere and assist with distinguishing Memorial City's commercial area from Houston's other business communities."