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.
Tianjin Eco-City
The vision for Tianjin Eco-City is of a socially harmonious, environmentally friendly, and resource-efficient model for sustainable development. The new city encompasses two flagship civic projects: the National Maritime Museum and the surrounding South Bay Park. South Bay Park is the project’s central green infrastructure, but also provides a significant outd...
Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge and Trails
The Rosemont Bridge and connecting trails layer pedestrian infrastructure onto the Buffalo Bayou corridor in Houston, Texas and is a significant step in realizing the larger vision of a more accessible Houston. Running through downtown Houston, Buffalo Bayou is one of the significant natural bayou corridors in the City, but is cut off from adjacent neighborhoo...
Jeffrey Open Space Park
The Jeffrey Open Space Park represents approximately 96 acres of park and trails, with an average width of 265 ft. The three-mile long spine is designed for passive uses with a network of trails that connect to residential neighborhoods and active recreation parks.
The design process included a series of community workshops to solicit community’s commen...
Guangming OCT Trail
With its grand landscape views, Guangming Trail is both a green, healthy “slow circulation” system in an urban area, and an exemplar of innovation and sustainability. The trail’s topography changes as it progresses through mountains, valleys, hills, and farms. By considering vegetation, habitats, hydrology, and topography, sites with high value and potential w...