Major improvements greet visitors to Memorial Park

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Visitors to Memorial Park now have a new place to cool off in the Memorial Park Running Trails Center.

The new $2.4 million building includes lockers and showers for runners and other visitors. The facility also features restrooms, vending machines and a multi-purpose room.

The opening of this center concludes the $10 million Memorial Park Capital Campaign that began in 2008. That campaign included the Memorial Park Living Bridge, the Alkek Tennis Center Plaza and the Outer Loop Trail.

Mindy Hildebrand coordinates private donations through the Memorial Park Campaign.

"I'm excited for Memorial Park. I'm excited for the users," Hildebrand said. "I'm excited that the capital campaign phase one is over."

Joggers are happy to see the improvements. Nick Rockecharlie has been running at Memorial Park for decades.

"It's marvelous," Rockecharlie said. "We're grateful to the people who put it all together here."