If you spend time at Discovery Green, you’ve probably seen the Conservancy Board Chair Andrew Abendshein. He’s tall, lanky and you will likely find him practicing yoga, examining the gardens or watching for signs of erosion.
Abendshein has served on the board since 2016, but his roots at Discovery Green stretch deeper. His grandmother, Maconda Brown O’Connor, was instrumental to the creation of Discovery Green along with Nancy Kinder. Brown O’Connor’s love for the 100-year-old oak trees sparked the desire to turn the area into a preserved green space for all to enjoy. Thanks to her work, a statue of her father, George R. Brown, now permanently stands in the shade of those trees along the Brown Promenade.
Discovery Green’s iconic reputation as a place for families extends beyond its borders as a 12-acre oasis, to the volunteers like Abendshein who donates his time, money and expertise.
In honor of Abendshein’s one-year anniversary as board chair, and with an eye toward the future of Discovery Green that his generation represents, we took a stroll with him through the park. As we talked, we learned a little more about what it takes to keep the park running and what the greenspace could be in the future.
What follows is our conversation. It has been edited for length and clarity:
Discovery Green: When you come to the park, what is it you like to do and what do you think about?
Andrew Abendshein: What I’m thinking about is just how happy it makes everybody to have this space. Just now, these little girls were underneath the fountain saying they’re having the best day ever, right when I walked by. I like to see how people utilize the park. How they’re touching it and experiencing it. Just to see the joy that it brings everybody… That’s what gives me excitement.
DG: You spend a good amount of time working at the park – or for the park. Why do you spend your time this way?
AA: Time is now almost an illusion of how long I’ve actually been here. [Laughs.] I can’t even remember now… In the beginning it was to continue that connection with my grandmother who was one of the original founders.
I see it as an opportunity / responsibility, to keep that momentum going and to give something back to the city of Houston. So many people put in effort and love and passion (to create Discovery Green.) I want to do the best I can to give that back to the park.
I don’t think about it a lot in terms of why I’m doing it or what is my purpose or anything. It’s something I just I enjoy doing, and it’s not work to me. It’s just part of who I am, especially just growing up in Houston. I’m always just trying to take what we have here – which is so great – and make it better and then grow it in a way that people can keep enjoying it.
When I come down here, I’m more involved thinking about: How’s everyone else enjoying this park? Not so much what I’m going to be doing.
DG: You’re very active on the board – how was that sense of responsibility instilled in you when you were younger? Do you remember?
AA: Nothing really clicked when we were younger. I always kind of knew that big things were happening under my grandmother, but I didn’t really know about it. We were too young. It wasn’t until I got into my late 20s got more involved in community and philanthropy that I started to see the reach it has with the arts institutions that my grandparents and my great-grandparents had such a connection to. I see the power of what they did, what they changed, and want to take that and carry it further.
DG: Look, we’re in Maconda’s Grove right now. It’s named after your grandmother, and that’s her Jim Dine heart statue.
AA: That’s funny because it used to be at her house. It was in a fountain and when we were little, we would climb up to the top of it, then jump off into the water.
DG: That’s interesting that you have those kinds of memories and connections to things that are in the park now.
AA: It does bring back a lot of memories. She was always such a big presence in my life, so I hope to keep doing the things that she loved to do, that happen to be the same things that I enjoy doing now as I’ve gotten older.
I have those specific memories of horsing around in her place and how she really didn’t take some things so seriously. Who would let you just climb over art like that and screw around? She didn’t care. She enjoyed watching us do that. I think it’s the same with the park. She would love all the kids running on everything and having fun, that’s what she wanted to make sure all these children were doing.
DG: How has this first year as the Discovery Green Conservancy board chair gone for you?
AA: The first six months, you know, we had Kathryn taking over and we were both of us still getting our feet wet and seeing what needed to be done. Now, as we’ve begun the strategic plan and finalizing it, you start to really see all the work that needs to be done. There’s a lot more involvement. I just try and help where I can give guidance and let Discovery Green staff continue the great work you’ve been doing.
Then hopefully setting up the park for the next five, 10, 20 years of improvement. It’s hard to keep stuff running in such a busy, tight knit, urban environment. Lots is going on and lots of different entities are trying to do the same thing we’ve done, so it’s making sure we keep ourselves at the forefront.
DG: What would you like to see at Discovery Green in the future?
AA: I’d like to see us continuing what we’re doing, shoring up our finances and really being recognized and rewarded for what we contribute to the city of Houston – more so than we already do.
Over the next 10 or 20 years, the challenge is understanding how the development of Houston is going to change with all the new construction that’s coming. When I’m in my 60s and the East End of Houston is now booming and changed, how is Discovery Green going to be a part of that conversation? We can contribute the knowledge that Discovery Green has gained in implementing such an urban park in this way.
DG: Not to mention making sure we’re still connecting with those communities…
AA: Exactly! And that’s what’s so important, at least in my head. It’s always in looking at the communities that come here and how they can utilize the park. Today for example, people of all different backgrounds are playing in the water and kayaking. We need to make sure everyone gets to have these events and hopefully as free as possible.
DG: What is one thing about Houston you wish more people knew?
AA: You come to Houston, and it has vast opportunities to grow, to develop, earn money, do business. And it’s a place that’s so welcoming, right? There are so many events and so many places to go. People come here and no one really cares where you’re from, or how long you’ve been here. You’re a Houstonian when you get here, and people have open arms. It’s a really nice thing. If you can just get past the four months of ungodly hot weather, you’ll be okay.
DG: What’s one thing about Discovery Green you wish people know?
AA: I wish people understood there’s a nonprofit group that runs this park and that the events the nonprofit puts on are a major part of what makes this park so great.
It’s a tough message. The reason I say that is because I don’t think everyone realizes all the work that goes into making the park the way it is. When they see it, it looks seamless. It’d be nice if they could understand how it all works.
The more people learn about how park systems in Houston, I think the better they’ll appreciate them because most of them are run by nonprofits or some sort of conservancy. That’s what makes this place so special.
Art Lab is just one of the hundred of events and attractions that Discovery Green produces year round. Free events that showcase diversity, culture, music, art and so much more, reflecting the values of our city. These events are made possible by the generous donations of of people like you. Through your efforts Discovery Green can continue to provide a beautiful oasis in the heart of downtown Houston where memories are made.
