Exotic offerings framed by natural prairie and forest
The Bend of the River Botanic Garden Master Plan will transform an 88-acre site in Temple, Texas, into a regional destination. Located at the southeast quadrant of the intersection of interstate I35 and the Leon River, the site is composed of two parcels separately donated to the City of Temple and consolidated into a single property for the future botanic garden. The Master Plan will provide Central Texas with a natural space for learning, research, cultural enrichment, and leisure activities. The Garden will offer venues for public and private events, opportunities to improve health and wellness in a natural setting, cultural and educational programming and research, and serve as a destination location for the enjoyment of nature and outdoor recreation.
The Botanic Gardens will promote Temple as a regional destination in a fast-growing area of Texas. Bend of the River will be a contemporary garden that reflects its location along the Leon River, within the City of Temple, within the Texas Triangle, within the Blackland Prairie, and within Texas. The Botanic Gardens strategic location within Temple has the opportunity to offer variety of programs that complement its site features unique to the area and region.
Existing site conditions highlight challenges and opportunities for the master planning process, from flood zones to existing woodlands and lake. One of the main site constraints is contaminated soils on a portion of the site. Recommendations for cleanup are complete removal of the impacted soils or a cap-and-cover mound on site that will require yearly monitoring. Impacted soils exist on site that will either be fully removed or placed in a cap-and-cover mound, depending upon funding.
Additional constraint and opportunity considerations for the layout of the botanic garden site include easements, the proximity to I-35 in terms of both access and noise, the proximity to the Leon River, the overall flat nature of the site with a few plateaus and depressions, and the general lack of vegetative cover except for the river edge and the woodlands on the east parcel. A site strategy is to provide a dedicated Nature Walk zone that extends out from the preserved woodland on the east side, and along the elevated topography of the site to the west. This zone organizes the programs of the site, with trails that provide visitors a quiet and serene experience with a combination of new and existing tree species.
The botanic garden entry offers a beautiful and inviting doorway to a seamless visitor experience that delights the spirit from the highway through the gate to the Garden Collections. Site circulation is composed of primary, secondary, and tertiary pathways that set the pace of how the gardens are discovered, providing unique experiences and chance encounters. Within and along the Nature Walk, conceptual zoning of the site places more active and use-intensive programs closer to the freeway and more passive and quiet programs deeper in the site and farther from the freeway. Contaminated soil zone is planned with more hardscape program such as the Plaza and Parking, where trees will inevitably be removed for the remediation process.
In addition to the plant collections typical of a botanic garden, many activities have been considered for the site to continue its function as a social gathering place and center for learning for the community while creating a regionally prominent botanic garden. The Bend of the River site integrates the functioning of a botanic garden with a larger goal of offering cultural and educational programming, and utilizing regional assets for research and scientific exploration.
Gardens punctuate, lead, and define a unique pace to the experience of the site. The Garden Collections are organized within a framework of species native to the Blackland prairie ecosystem. This framework serves as a scenic backdrop for the gardens, with the garden collections providing the opportunity for rotating color and texture to provide continual visual interest throughout the year, while providing opportunities for visitors to socialize, exercise, relax and learn in a beautiful setting.
The plan emphasizes preservation and ecological restoration of the existing Forest and Lake from which a Native Nature Walk zone extends as a framework for the Master Plan. These key elements nurture local biodiversity, especially as the location is along a bird migratory path; and provide complementary programs, such as Bird Blinds, an Elevated Canopy Walk, and a Native Nature Walk that celebrates native plant/tree species.
Utilizing the strengths of the site, mitigating noise and addressing soil remediation requirements, Phase 1 will establish the garden, provide varied and prolific programming opportunities and rental options, and create sufficient interest and excitement to generate additional funding for future Phases.
The Master Plan enhances the historic communal uses of the former ranch site while expanding the programming opportunities and creating a strong vision for integrating botanic programming with restoration of the native ecosystem and amplifying the cultural milieu of central Texas and the City of Temple.
The Forest and Lake preserve on the east portion of the site emphasizes ecological restoration, preservation of landmarks (the horseshoe), quiet contemplation, strolling, bird watching and artistic interpretation.
Garden Collections create beautiful and colorful settings for people to learn about a variety of species. The collection of gardens are organized within a framework of species native to the Blackland prairie ecosystem.
{"autoplay":"true","autoplay_speed":"8000","speed":"1000","arrows":"true","dots":"false","loop":"true","nav_slide_column":5,"rtl":"false"}
The Bend of the River Botanic Garden Master Plan will transform an 88-acre site in Temple, Texas, into a regional destination. Located at the southeast quadrant of the intersection of interstate I35 and the Leon River, the site is composed of two parcels separately donated to the City of Temple and consolidated into a single property for the future botanic garden. The Master Plan will provide Central Texas with a natural space for learning, research, cultural enrichment, and leisure activities. The Garden will offer venues for public and private events, opportunities to improve health and wellness in a natural setting, cultural and educational programming and research, and serve as a destination location for the enjoyment of nature and outdoor recreation.
The Botanic Gardens will promote Temple as a regional destination in a fast-growing area of Texas. Bend of the River will be a contemporary garden that reflects its location along the Leon River, within the City of Temple, within the Texas Triangle, within the Blackland Prairie, and within Texas. The Botanic Gardens strategic location within Temple has the opportunity to offer variety of programs that complement its site features unique to the area and region.
Existing site conditions highlight challenges and opportunities for the master planning process, from flood zones to existing woodlands and lake. One of the main site constraints is contaminated soils on a portion of the site. Recommendations for cleanup are complete removal of the impacted soils or a cap-and-cover mound on site that will require yearly monitoring. Impacted soils exist on site that will either be fully removed or placed in a cap-and-cover mound, depending upon funding.
Additional constraint and opportunity considerations for the layout of the botanic garden site include easements, the proximity to I-35 in terms of both access and noise, the proximity to the Leon River, the overall flat nature of the site with a few plateaus and depressions, and the general lack of vegetative cover except for the river edge and the woodlands on the east parcel. A site strategy is to provide a dedicated Nature Walk zone that extends out from the preserved woodland on the east side, and along the elevated topography of the site to the west. This zone organizes the programs of the site, with trails that provide visitors a quiet and serene experience with a combination of new and existing tree species.
The botanic garden entry offers a beautiful and inviting doorway to a seamless visitor experience that delights the spirit from the highway through the gate to the Garden Collections. Site circulation is composed of primary, secondary, and tertiary pathways that set the pace of how the gardens are discovered, providing unique experiences and chance encounters. Within and along the Nature Walk, conceptual zoning of the site places more active and use-intensive programs closer to the freeway and more passive and quiet programs deeper in the site and farther from the freeway. Contaminated soil zone is planned with more hardscape program such as the Plaza and Parking, where trees will inevitably be removed for the remediation process.
In addition to the plant collections typical of a botanic garden, many activities have been considered for the site to continue its function as a social gathering place and center for learning for the community while creating a regionally prominent botanic garden. The Bend of the River site integrates the functioning of a botanic garden with a larger goal of offering cultural and educational programming, and utilizing regional assets for research and scientific exploration.
Gardens punctuate, lead, and define a unique pace to the experience of the site. The Garden Collections are organized within a framework of species native to the Blackland prairie ecosystem. This framework serves as a scenic backdrop for the gardens, with the garden collections providing the opportunity for rotating color and texture to provide continual visual interest throughout the year, while providing opportunities for visitors to socialize, exercise, relax and learn in a beautiful setting.
The plan emphasizes preservation and ecological restoration of the existing Forest and Lake from which a Native Nature Walk zone extends as a framework for the Master Plan. These key elements nurture local biodiversity, especially as the location is along a bird migratory path; and provide complementary programs, such as Bird Blinds, an Elevated Canopy Walk, and a Native Nature Walk that celebrates native plant/tree species.
Utilizing the strengths of the site, mitigating noise and addressing soil remediation requirements, Phase 1 will establish the garden, provide varied and prolific programming opportunities and rental options, and create sufficient interest and excitement to generate additional funding for future Phases.
The Master Plan enhances the historic communal uses of the former ranch site while expanding the programming opportunities and creating a strong vision for integrating botanic programming with restoration of the native ecosystem and amplifying the cultural milieu of central Texas and the City of Temple.
The Forest and Lake preserve on the east portion of the site emphasizes ecological restoration, preservation of landmarks (the horseshoe), quiet contemplation, strolling, bird watching and artistic interpretation.
Garden Collections create beautiful and colorful settings for people to learn about a variety of species. The collection of gardens are organized within a framework of species native to the Blackland prairie ecosystem.
{"autoplay":"true","autoplay_speed":"8000","speed":"1000","arrows":"true","dots":"false","loop":"true","nav_slide_column":5,"rtl":"false"}

DETAILS

LocationTemple, Texas United States
ClientCity of Temple
SERVICE:
Size88 acres

The Bend of the River Botanic Garden Master Plan reimagines an 88-acre site in Temple, Texas, into a regional attraction. Situated at the intersection of I-35 and the Leon River, the site comprises two donated parcels, consolidated to serve Temple’s growing population of over 96,000.

SWA led a comprehensive public engagement process, facilitating conversations around site remediation, programming possibilities, and garden collections. The community prioritized maintaining the site’s function for large, informal gatherings while expanding its use as a regional event space. They also emphasized restoring the native Blackland Prairie ecosystem, replacing mowed turf and agricultural land with native plantings, and addressing soil contamination.

The master plan strikes a balance between active recreation and nature preservation through several key features. The Forest and Lake Preserve focuses on ecological restoration, offering quiet activities like walking, birdwatching, and art installations. The Main Plaza acts as a welcoming entry, suitable for private events, while the Event Space accommodates festivals and performances, framed by views of the Leon River. A Native Nature Walk connects curated garden spaces with the surrounding natural landscape.

The garden collections highlight both native prairie ecosystems and vibrant exotic plants, with native forests providing habitat and reducing maintenance needs. This approach supports the dual goals of ecological preservation and horticultural diversity.

The Bend of the River Botanic Garden is envisioned as a beloved community resource and regional destination, offering environmental education, cultural events, and social gatherings, all while promoting sustainable landscape design and management.

Related Projects

Fernwood Avenue Park

The Fernwood Avenue Park represents a significant opportunity for the city to enhance the water quality and availability of groundwater for residents, while also offering public amenities. Equipped with four detention basins that capture water onsite and from the street, the project plays an important role in the community as a stormwater infiltration site. Th...

Guiyang Hot Springs

Guiyang Hot Springs, located in Guiyang City, China, brings together the rhythm of the Nanming River, and surrounding trails and trees to create a new urban ‘living room’ in the interstitial space created by new development and roadway infrastructure. Nestled into a mountainous site, the master planning addressed elevation changes of up to 100 meters and the e...

Changchun Tractor Factory Renovation

Once-industrial site re-imagined as a commercial complex with eye-catching public spaces.

For this site, which was once an industrial tractor factory that epitomized Changchun’s thriving industrial past, SWA provided conceptual design through implementation to transform the former of Changchun Tractor Factory into an eye-catching public realm that fulfi...

Tianjin Culture Park

In the strategy for the upcoming integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province, the city of Tianjin has been identified as an advanced national manufacture and research base, as well as a core area of international shipping, a financial innovation demonstration zone, and a pilot region for the overall reformation of the area. The location of the SWA-desig...

Tulsa Riverfront Park

SWA directed conceptual studies for incorporating a landmark residential estate, a multi-family housing complex and a creek corridor into the adjacent Arkansas River waterfront of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Recently acquired by a local community foundation, the total 64-acre area features sweeping lawns and a historic home that provides much-needed space for the city’s ...

Bayou Greenways

As one of the largest U.S. cities, Houston’s sprawling, car-centric infrastructure is underpinned by a vast arterial system of over 2,500 miles of bayous—an untapped ecological feature that could redefine urban life.

Recognizing this potential, the Houston Parks Board worked alongside SWA to develop a visionary plan for nine central bayous as an i...

Polliwog Park

Originally built in the 1970s, Polliwog Park is a high-use neighborhood amenity that provides active recreation and play facilities to local families. The original playground was replaced in 2003 but required a full update in 2020 to account for routine flooding. SWA’s design allows the park to remain an active community feature year-round.

In addition ...

Shenzhen Bay

Situated just across the bay from Hong Kong, the city of Shenzhen has transformed from a small fishing town of 30,000 to a booming city of over 10 million people in 40 years – and has grown over 200 times its original size since 1980. Along the way, the character of Shenzhen’s bayfront was radically altered. Over 65 km2 of marsh and shallow bay were filled to ...