Houston’s East End is a bifurcated community, with heavy industry brushing up against a vibrant and culturally diverse residential area. Answering residents’ call for more park space, SWA created Buffalo Bayou Bend Nature Park by converting a formerly neglected industrial site into a wetland ecosystem and public green space.
Three interconnected ponds, hosting 10,000 carefully chosen native plants, create a natural filtration system for urban runoff. A solar-powered pump draws water from Buffalo Bayou into a repurposed concrete cistern, initiating its journey through these constructed habitats. As it meanders, the water is cleansed of bacteria, excess nutrients, and toxic materials before returning to its source. An interactive “Water Table” allows visitors to compare the quality of incoming and outgoing flows, making this complex ecological process tangible.
ADA-compliant crushed gravel paths wind through the wetlands, while a small hill formed from excavated material adds topographic interest and offers a vantage point for visitors. Recycled elements throughout pay tribute to the site’s industrial past.
As a node on a 10-mile regional trail network, Buffalo Bend Nature Park addresses the need for open space in this historically underserved area and serves as a model for ecological restoration and education.
Tuscany Meadows Park
This neighborhood park renovation was a collaborative effort with the city and neighborhood to create a welcoming space. The new vision sought to make the site more universally accessible and attractive for multi-generational community members. Four new “play rooms” include an outdoor fitness facility, sensory play zones, a n...
Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan
Identified by the City as one of its “Big Five” open space projects, the conceptual master plan for Nelson Mandela Park will create a much-needed central open space for the city’s south district, an industrial area along the waterfront that is home to a growing and increasingly diverse population. Here the city seeks to transcend its current park paradigm of l...
Park 101
The ambitious Park 101 aims to cover part of downtown Los Angeles’ 101 Freeway with a multi-purpose park that will include playgrounds, seating, festival areas, and a plaza. The approximately four-block cap park will reconnect the two sections of Downtown that have long been separated by the freeway, greatly enhancing the currently noisy, with much-needed shad...
Guthrie Green Park
Guthrie Green transforms a 2.6-acre truck yard into a lively urban park in the heart of downtown Tulsa’s emerging arts district. Opened in September 2012, Guthrie Green has become the area’s leading destination, drawing 3,000 plus people weekly to activities that have enriched the urban experience and spurred district-wide revitalization. The high-performance ...