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.
Baton Rouge Lakes
The 275-acre Baton Rouges Lakes system is a series of six lakes in central Baton Rouge adjacent to Louisiana State University, three major parks, and a diverse mix of neighborhoods. Recognizing opportunity in crisis, a newly funded master plan provides sound ecological restoration methods that will heal a dying lake system while reconnecting the region to its ...
Ontario Grand Park
Dating back to the late 1800s, Ontario, California, has been an ideal destination for agriculture, boasting orange, peach, lemon, and walnut groves. With an economy now based in manufacturing, access to an international airport, and proximity to Los Angeles, Ontario’s population is predicted to double by 2035. In response to the growing community, Ontario Gran...
Lynwood Mega-Playground
Inspired by the city’s rich history of aerospace research and manufacturing, Lynwood Mega-Playground brings a dynamic space exploration-themed playground to the heart of the Central Los Angeles city.
Completed in Fall 2024, the playground transforms the Northwest corner of Lynwood Park into a colorful spectacle with super-sized play features including a...
Martin Luther King Jr. Square Water Quality Demonstration Park
The City of Conway received local and federal grants to create a water quality demonstration park in a flood-prone, one-block area of its downtown to educate the public about Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) methods and how they can enhance water quality. The project transformed a remediated brownfield site, ...