Business Plan for Biocycle and Growout Programs at Memorial Park

Memorial Park Conservancy

Business Plan for the BioCycle and Native Plant Grow Out Programs Anthony Todd Applied Research Intern Memorial Park Conservancy

Business Plan Overview • Goals • Deliverables • Tasks

• • • • •

Costs Schedules Deadlines SWOT Analysis Future Plans

BioCycle Program Background • Memorial Park experienced a loss of over 30,000 trees following Hurricane Ike and the drought of 2011-2012 • About 10,000 cubic yards of tree material was processed and stockpiled for decomposition • In 2014, the pile of decomposing material combusted due to heat generation, and was then spread out over a 1.7 acre area • Large tree material has continued to be stockpiled in that area since the fire

BioCycle Program Goals & Benefits • GOAL: Utilize endemic biology to eliminate the park’s need to purchase compost and mulch material from external sources.

• Ecological benefits: Native input for ecological restoration activities in the park

• Financial benefits: Reduce the need to buy compost from external sources for future restoration projects • Social benefits: Environmental education and interpretation opportunities on the value of reusing waste material to save landfill space and to restore landscapes after natural disasters

BioCycle Program Cost Benefit Analysis • Highest costs are initial expenses for material processing • Potential for cost efficiencies from BioCycle Program activities estimated at $368,000 over the next five years QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 5

TOTAL

$225,480.00

$-

$-

$-

$374,280.00

$-

$-

$60,000.00

$60,000.00

$60,000.00

$180,000.00

$148,800.00

$225,480.00

$60,000.00

$60,000.00

$60,000.00

$554,280.00

NONRECURRING

$112,739.00

$-

$-

$-

$-

$112,739.00

RECURRING

$2,600.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$73,000.00

TOTAL COSTS

$115,339.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$17,600.00

$185,739.00

NET BENEFIT OR COST

$33,461.00

$207,880.00

$42,400.00

$42,400.00

$42,400.00

$368,541.00

BENEFITS COST SAVINGS $148,800.00 COST AVOIDANCE TOTAL BENEFITS COSTS

Native Plant Grow Out Program Background • MPC requires a dependable supply of native plants for the Eastern Glades and future park projects • Non-natives historically used for such projects because of fast growth rates and aesthetics • The Memorial Park Master Plan aims to use native plants for restoration and revegetation projects

Native Plant Grow Out Program Goals & Benefits • GOAL: Increase the biological diversity of the park through the propagation of native plants for restoration and revegetation projects • Develop the program as a regional native plant cooperative through partnership with other local nonprofits and environmental groups • Ecological benefits: Increased plant and wildlife diversity in the park; Increased water retention • Financial benefits: Eliminate need to purchase plants from external sources; reduced native plant maintenance • Social benefits: Educational opportunities for volunteers, recreational value due to native species

Native Plant Grow Out Program Cost Benefit Analysis • Capital costs are high in first year to prepare the greenhouse, lath house, and walk-in cooler for operations • Potential cost savings of over $500,000 over the next five years QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 5

TOTAL

$18,144.00

$135,600.00

$211,200.00

$211,200.00

$211,200.00

$787,344.00

$18,144.00

$135,600.00

$211,200.00

$211,200.00

$211,200.00

$787,344.00

NONRECURRING

$117,738.14

$-

$-

$-

$-

$117,738.14

RECURRING

$8,150.00

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$132,550.00

TOTAL COSTS

$125,888.14

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$31,100.00

$250,288.14

$(107,744.14) $104,500.00

$180,100.00

$180,100.00

$180,100.00

$537,055.86

BENEFITS COST AVOIDANCE TOTAL BENEFITS COSTS

NET BENEFIT OR COST

Conclusions • Although both programs have high initial costs in the first year of implementation, they have the potential to provide a total of over $900,000 in cost avoidance over five years • Ecological and social benefits add increased value to both programs • Long-term programs designed to “preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow”