Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Trees 1 - 30. Plant Date: ____________ Thank You Trees for Houston.
TREE: 20 DONOR:Brian & Beth Bottorff SPECIES: TBD. Memorial Tree Dr. Melvin Bottorff
🌳 Tree #20 — Memorial Tree 🌳
In memory of our father, Dr. Melvin Kincheloe Bottorff MD FACOG
Tree number 20 is a memorial tree dedicated to our father, Dr. Melvin Bottorff of Lake Village, Arkansas ; Beaumont, Texas; and Sam Rayburn Lake.
Dad was a lover of the woods and the forest, of water and adventure. He loved canoeing, Village Creek, rafting, and sailing, and he believed deeply in experiencing the world fully. When we were just 12 and 13 years old, he took us diving 90 feet down in Cozumel. He and his friends bought the first commercially sold parasail in the United States—and then promptly dragged us through the woods, along the beach, and across the lake on it. Adventure was never optional.
He was an avid sportsman and loved photography. He sailed halfway around the world and served as head of the Power Squadron in Beaumont. As a physician, he delivered nearly 9,000 babies over the course of his career. He was a fierce advocate for women’s health, fertility care, and women’s choice. Dad was prolific, principled, and deeply committed to his patients. He was Chief of Staff at St. Elizabeth and Baptist hospitals in Beaumont and director of the Jasper & Newton Counties Hospital District in retirement.
He was taken from us by a rare cancer, leiomyosarcoma. The final and best part of his life was spent at home—surrounded by his dogs, his woods, and the lake at San River Lake. His home sat at the end of a cul-de-sac, with a third floor that was nothing but a bar overlooking the treetops. The path to the house was winding, because Dad would never cut down a tree.
He also owned a tree farm for years and was the company doctor for Temple-Inland on customer fishing trips. The Melvin Bottorff Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund at Hendrix College has awarded eleven full scholarships to minority, single-parent, LGBTQ+, and/or Pre-med freshmen with financial need.
This tree is dedicated to our dad whose respect for nature, his love of trees, and his sense of wonder live on here. - Brian Bottorff -Beth Bottorff Walker & his five grandchildren.
TREE:22 DONOR:Brian Bottorff SPECIES: TBD. Remembering Buddy and Arny who loved it here.
Hi, my name is Brian Bottorff, and I’m the organizer of the tree efforts for the Friends of Cleveland Park.
We’re partnering with Trees For Houston to plant 60 new trees this year to help replace the 52 large shade trees Cleveland Park has lost over the past few years—trees that once cooled this park and made it such a special place for people and pets alike.
My first donated tree is dedicated to my first two beloved pets: Buddy and Arnie, two white schnauzers, many of you probably remember from the park.
Buddy came to me from friends who were moving to Singapore while I was living in Atlanta. About a year later, while I was driving a bus for the Atlanta Humane Society, another white schnauzer showed up—and I named him Arnie. From that moment on, they were a team.
They loved this park.
They loved running free here, chasing squirrels, and meeting friends—both from the old dog crew and the newer dog crew that formed while we lived here. Before moving to this neighborhood, we lived downtown near the skate park, but Cleveland Park quickly became our favorite place.
Buddy lived to be 18. He was healthy and happy right up until his very last day, and I was grateful to have a full day to say goodbye to him. He’s buried at my family home at Summerbird Lake in East Texas. Buddy was the sweetest, most appreciative, and loving dog—just pure kindness in a small white schnauzer body.
Arnie lived to be 14. He was quirky, funny, and endlessly cute—the kind of dog who made us laugh every single day. Arnie was my roommate Jose’s first dog. The first couple of days were a little rough, but after that, Arnie grew to absolutely worship Jose. Arnie was cremated, and part of his remains are here in the park. He’ll always be remembered as my sweet, joyful little dog who helped welcome Jose into our household.
A part of both of them is still with me—and I like to think they’re running free here again. This park meant a lot to them, and it means a lot to me. I chose this spot because I remember the giant Cottonwood that was here once. It was home to three squirrels who teased my boys endlessly. I'm a tree guy and the son of a tree guy. I took the last photo of the tree right before it came down, The oldest tree in the park - a tree that was here for over 115 years. It was sad to see it go.
This first tree, of several I plan to donate, is planted in loving memory of my babies Buddy and Arnie—two of the four schnauzers I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life. All white, all male, all incredible companions.
🌱 Want to donate a tree?
We need 60 tree donations, and you can donate at
👉 friendsofclevelandpark.net/trees
• Trees are $198
• Each donation includes a brick or memorial paver (placement details coming soon)
• Trees can be dedicated to a person, a pet, or simply to the park
I’ve also opted into our tree upgrade option, where a local business may help sponsor or match my donation. That extra support allows Trees for Houston to upgrade the tree—possibly to a pecan, magnolia, or a larger-gallon, more mature tree.
It’s important to know that $198 covers only a small portion of the true cost. Just the tree itself often costs around $170, before planting, watering, protection, and two full years of care.
By partnering with local businesses, we can bring better trees, bigger trees, and longer-lasting shade into the park—and I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
Thank you for helping Cleveland Park grow again
Dedication: The Bianchi's -Onyx & Nam1
TREE:24 DONOR:The Dog Crew II Members. SPECIES:TBD. A Tree Dedication Sending the Bianchi's Off
Tree Dedication — The Guido Bianchi Family and two daily dog regulars.
This tree is a dedication to Guido and all the Bianchi's As they move on to home ownership and new schools in Spring Branch.
Sometimes you don’t realize how much a part of your daily life people become until you hear they are moving away. You never imagine that two dogs you’ve seen for so long in the park — and their mom and dad — might one day not be part of the rhythm of the place anymore. But life changes, especially for those of us who rent, move, grow, and follow new paths.
Over the years, so many people have passed through Bayou Park, Memorial Hills, and Jackson Hill that the number is impossible to count. People retire to be closer to family, get married, buy their first homes, move for schools, or head to neighborhoods like Spring Branch, the Heights, or farther out. Guido, at all times, has been the nicest guy around, and his presence will certainly linger long after they’ve hit the exits of Bayou Park.
For some, it’s because of their warmth. For others, it’s because of how consistently they showed up.
Guido was here regularly — always with Onyx. Onyx is the big, beautiful black dog with endless personality, who seems to always be keeping the peace. He had a way of calmly, confidently keeping other dogs in check when things got a little out of hand. And then there came the puppy that wandered into their lives and into ours, bringing so much joy -Nami was fun to watch around the other dogs. Endless energy.
Guido was also always there in the ways that matter: helping with park cleanups, pitching in whenever something was needed, and being someone you could count on. We know you will be back to visit because you've been a great part of the fabric of this place.
This tree stands in honor of Guido, the Bianchi family, their dogs Nami and Onxy, and the quiet, steady way they helped make this park feel like home. It was great to have ya'll here for a short time - we're all blessed to be here at the same point in our lives - and we all share a love for this park. Onward and good luck.
Trees are coming
On Saturday February 7 we launched our tree program to raIse a minimum of $5000 for Trees for Houston and a race to get them in the ground before season end (30 before March 25). Help Us Bring Shade Back to Cleveland Park
We’re raising $5,000 to plant at least 30 new trees in Cleveland Park with Trees for Houston. Their team will handle permitting, tree selection, professional planting, and two full years of watering and care—so these trees don’t just get planted, they survive and thrive.
If you love this park like we do, we’re asking you to step up and help restore the canopy we’ve lost. Wit