The Pearl River Delta has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past four decades, evolving from farmland to a global manufacturing and technology powerhouse. Amid the frenetic pulse of this sprawling megalopolis of 86 million people, Sanshan Hillside Park stands as a mountaintop oasis.
Envisioned as New Town’s Central Park, the design embraces the very infrastructure that defines the region’s growth by utilizing Sanshan Mountain’s existing topography and ecosystem to create thematic zones. A wilderness belt encircles the mountain, protecting sensitive natural slopes, while a web of trails provides access to park amenities, including a library, café, elevated canopy walk, and water gardens. The space beneath the high-speed rail bridge has been reclaimed as a public fitness area, and a hilltop observation deck offering visitors the unique experience of “train spotting.” Clever landscaping and strategic vegetation placement mitigate transportation noise.
Aligning with “Sponge City” guidelines, pond drainage swales and rain gardens improve water quality and reduce flood risk. The “Resiliency Edge” connects the park to urban neighborhoods through a system of lakes, waterways, and seasonal rain gardens, doubling as drainage infrastructure.
The park’s commitment to preservation, reuse, and enriching cultural spaces provides a refuge where health and wellness are prioritized. Here, visitors can truly appreciate sweeping views of the region while enjoying a respite from urban life.
Bend of the River Botanic Garden
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 conver...
Tunica River Park
In 1990 the Mississippi Legislature legalized gaming as a job and tax creation strategy. Tunica, located at the northern border of the state near Memphis, Tennessee, was the first county to adopt gaming as an economic development strategy and implemented a program of rapid growth. The first casino was completed in 1992 and eight more were opened during the nex...
San Jacinto Plaza
SWA’s redesign of San Jacinto Plaza, a historic gathering place in El Paso’s downtown business district provides a state-of-the-art urban open space, while protecting and celebrating the history and culture of the site. The project was the result of an intensive community process involving input from a wide range of constituents. Active programming, environmen...
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...