I want to start this segment with a look at what it used to look like across
from the Georgia Brown Convention Center. Look at that. It’s a parking lot.
That’s what it looked like in 2002 before.
A number of people, in organizations, came up with the idea for Discovery
Green, then
because of ideas and Ingenuity. And of course, the next few years
and tons of dirt being moved around the amazing idea, began
taking shape,
and you fast forward to April
2008 and Beyond as Discovery Green, then opened
and they became a magnet
for what have now been
I daresay millions of people who made the park a stopping point
here in Houston since 2010.
Barry Mendel has been president of Discovery Green but not so
as July first he’s a former president. Now Catherine light has taken
over as president great to have you both here to talk about what’s next?
Great, to be here, why did you decide to step down?
You know, it had been and the fact that you’re both here means it was not a cool.
No, it was not,
it was not a cooing Katherine and I have known each other for over 20 years.
She was part of a leadership training program that I had at the Theater District
when I was the director.
Ha there.
So as I say often to be able to turn over something,
you love to someone you love
has been one of the great joys of my life, ma’am.
And what do you look back on as being some of the things that were highlights of what’s happened
because
so much has happened at Discovery Green in a
relatively short period of time. Yeah, I think it is the juxtaposition
of what happens in that small. 12 acres one is the
enormous impact its had on the economy and the structures
around it
to its the the difference.
And
the quiet Solitude moments of folks in the park with
kids
and then these huge events like NCAA and super
the Super Bowl and things like that and so
that it can all happen in this small. 12 acres is amazing. It is
amazing. So Catherine, what are you? What is has your background?
Been that prepares you for this kind of position
it is. So uniquely
perfect for this exact position actually
it’s a very unique position that requires a very unique
Round. So I have a background in the Performing Arts. I worked for
Performing Arts Houston
as the Director of operations and Houston grand opera and the Children’s
Museum of Houston.
And then I went into Chris Shepherd’s,
Southern Smoke foundation.
So
it’s also a very unique point of view in the
sense of Storytelling
to really get a whole overview
of our city. And so I’m really excited about implementing all of those things.
And now you’ve been able to see and what’s been happening at Discover getting all this
time. Now, what do you do now is you
Come in. What are some of the first things you’ll do
as the present as you take over? Well, one, I really
do want to continue the Legacy that Barry has already established.
The park is so successful in, and of itself.
He along with Suzanne Tyson, the rest of the team are brilliant.
But
in order to keep the park as relevant as it currently
is, I do think that we’re looking at more technology and
Innovation
as far as as programming,
especially as AI comes more into our world
and, and
Knology really takes hold Houston’s, just a perfect
backdrop for that. Kind of
I have some video of
when I think of Discovery Green and how it is. Just been
a chameleon like as a park and you’ve talked about some of
the things that you can go, you can see as you talk about music,
all that kind of stuff.
And then you see what has been a stage. You see where kids can
run through water and you see what it was a lake that then becomes
a skating rink both for ice and for not, I stand for
for
the final for all those kinds of things going on.
On
to always be the center of attention, that kind of way.
What has been the joy that you’ve been able to do and we’ll talk about some of
the hard work that’s gone behind. Trying to make sure that this park
can be there
for
the people who wanted you kind of to be the place that people want to go to
write. Well and I have to credit this station
and the folks here for a big chunk of that and that. Yeah.
And that you’re one of the first that established a
remote standard camera off site,
and you were able to literally,
Watch the part being built
at each one of the different weather casts over the course of the three
years at the park was under construction
and I think in that
the community started to feel ownership and that’s never left.
And so you can hold events like super bowl or mcaa.
We’re in a weekend will have 100,000 people come
and you walk out Monday morning and there is
virtually not even a blade of grass out of place.
I think about how the parking lot that was there is now become
this parking lot, this underneath
Something right, there is still a parking lot. Is just underneath all that dirt
and writing else, right? So
for considering what’s happened up to this point and considering what
you talk today, I think there really is
a lot of room for growth. Is it not in terms of generations?
I
saw a quote where you said, when you went out, you can recognize some of the artists that
you taught it was time to go now. She’s younger. She can recognize flute,
right? Yeah, absolutely. Just a little. Yeah.
So how excited are you about being able to put your footprint or your
imprint on what’s going to be the next
Glitter ation of what this park will be. Oh,
I’m not making this up. It’s going to sound like I am. But literally,
I had another Mentor. Barry has been my mentor, like you said,
for over 20 years
and then I have another mentor
and she specifically sat me down and said, I want to know
what your dream job is. I want to know the place where you’re
going to want to retire from.
And I said, I want Barry Mandel’s job.
I had actually interviewed for
the programming job, back in 2008
before the park was built.
So I’ve been watching this amazing phenomenon, this Beacon
of Houston
for a very, very long time. And so this is
really going to be where I
put my legacy and my life’s work.
I’m guessing at this point.
You look back and you look ahead and you feeling pretty good about where
you’ve been and where it’s going with. I do I really do.
I said to be able to turn something you love over to someone
you love
with people you love
is a great joy.
The whole process now. What’s the next big event? And
Green. What’s on the calendar for big event? Is there something
there and other? Well, you know, we’re going to be getting for World getting ready for World
Cup.
We don’t know how many games will have yet. We don’t know, what are the ancillary
events that will be taking place around the park, and then we’re
going to have our usual of, you know, the movies and concerts will
get ready for for Halloween and for the
holiday season. And then we’ll convert an ice skating
rink to a roller rink. And it’s just, it’s part of the joy
of being able to be there every day.
It’s been a joy to watch it happening and I, you raise,
Reminded me that we did have that Discovery Green Camera that we did all our
weather
today one. Yeah, absolutely.
Very Mendel. Former president good to see you. Thank you,
Catherine.
Congratulations, thank you so much. This is day three, so
we
try to get on that. We had to get on the ground. I love it. Thank you so much for having
me. I really appreciate it.
Good luck in the future, for both of you. Thank you. You’re rocking chair.