Rewilding a Slice of H-Town: Incorporating an Ecosystem in Houston's Largest Urban Park
Phillip Todd
Freese & Nichols, Inc
Raleigh, NC
Ian Jewell
Dylan Jammer
Freese & Nichols, Inc
Winston-Salem, NC
Dylan Jammer
Freese & Nichols, Inc
Houston, TX
Authors: Bryan M. Dick, PhD, PE, PH, Ian Jewell, JD, Emily Brown, PhD Candidate, PE, CFM, and Lydia R. Ward, PE
Located in the heart of Houston, Texas, Memorial Park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks and has been an escape into nature for Houstonians for almost a century. Prior to 2023, the northern and southern areas of Memorial Park were cut-off from each other by Memorial Drive, a major road artery that is heavily trafficked and dangerous to cross for people and wildlife. To alleviate this situation, a “land bridge” was planned, designed, and constructed to span Memorial Drive. This land bridge created a wide, landscaped corridor for wildlife and people to move between the two halves of the park while routing Memorial Drive through two large tunnels underneath the bridge. The massive amount of earthwork required to create the earthen mounds of the land bridge resulted in the excavation of a large valley adjacent to the bridge. In the spirit of the ecologically restorative nature of the project, and to provide a natural ecosystem that park users and wildlife could enjoy, a natural channel and wet prairie ecosystem were created in the artificial valley. The design of the wet prairie and headwater stream ecosystem re-introduced endangered Gulf Coast prairie species, created riparian wetlands and a meandering natural channel, and incorporated flood mitigation features, which improve drainage and provide a 100-year level of service for the new park facility and roadway. This presentation highlights the approach taken in the creation of the natural stream, the hydrologic, ecologic, and anthropogenic considerations, and the challenges associated with the design of the stream. Key takeaways for participants include: stream design and construction in an urban setting, challenges associated with stream design, and a practical approach to multi-faceted design within spaces intended for human experience, ecological function, and resilience.
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