Best Landscape/Urban Development, Award of Merit - Sustainability: Memorial Park Central Connector
In addition to adding two land bridges over Memorial Drive that connect the north and south sides of Houston’s largest park, this project added acreage of green space back into the park and heals the divide that Memorial Drive previously created by cutting the urban wilderness park in half for generations. This effort is an early part of the park’s 10-year master plan, which focuses on restoring the park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency.
Completed in March 2023, the project encompassed more than 96 acres and included establishment of new Gulf Coast prairie and wetlands, reforestation of selected areas and the construction of four 30-ft radius arches spanning Memorial Drive. The arches create a land bridge connecting the southern and northern portions of the park for park visitors and wildlife alike.