Mason Park, located at the confluence of two bayous, has served as an urban oasis since 1928. Despite a century of improvements to amenities, user access was significantly compromised by the wide expanse of Brays Bayou, which bisected the 104-acre green space into distinct northern and southern sections. Adjacent road and rail infrastructure further exacerbated accessibility issues for surrounding neighborhoods.
The Mason Park Bridge, a 485-foot cable-stayed, truss-decked structure spanning the bayou, now connects the two park areas and provides an iconic destination for cyclists and pedestrians utilizing the lower Brays Bayou trail system. The bridge also unites the Magnolia Park, Lawndale, Wayside, Pecan Park, Harrisburg, and Manchester communities, serving as a focal point for the neighborhood.
The design strikes a delicate balance between park aesthetics and bayou health. The team considered factors such as bridge height, span, bayou width, and pylon placement to minimize the impact on the area’s hydrology, creating a harmonious blend of engineering and nature. The result is a landmark crossing that grants park-goers access to community amenities while establishing a vital connection between two revitalized park areas.
Mason Park Bridge is a component of a broader initiative aimed at rejuvenating the ecology of Houston’s 4,000-acre Bayou Greenway arterial park system through the addition of trails, seating plazas, and lighting. As Houston grows, Mason Park Bridge serves as a catalyst for equity, promoting access to green spaces and fostering a sense of connection between the neighborhood’s surrounding Mason Park.
Katy Trail
Katy Trail represents a remarkable resource for the residents of the Dallas Fort Worth region. This project enlivens and makes accessible right-of-way established by the storied, but later abandoned, Missouri-Kansas-Texas (better known as the “Katy”) line, and serves as a unifying element for the surrounding neighborhoods. Katy Trail provides appro...
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...
Bray's Bayou
Stretching 35 miles from the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel westward through residential, commercial and institutional developments, Brays Bayou is one of the most important waterways in Harris County, and a critical link in the area’s watershed. The $450-million project was first established in the early 2000s, with the goal of mitigatin...
Shunde New City
The Pearl River Delta is the second largest bird migration delta and estuary in Southeast Asia. Preserving and restoring bird and wildlife corridors while also providing regional connectivity, transportation, and development options is at the pinnacle of today’s development challenges. In the Shunde New City Plan, urban development and nature are integra...