Construction is officially underway on a fascinating project in our Houston division. We are proud to be a part of the creation of the Land Bridge and Prairie Project, which itself is a project within a project. Located in Memorial Park Conservancy in Houston, there is what is known as a Master Plan, an overall plan that consists of many different projects that will ultimately preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of Houstonians and its wildlife as well. Below you can find a brief timeline (provided by Memorial Park Conservancy’s website): https://issuu.com/memorialparkhouston/docs/mph_mpbook_final_small_webversion_a_c7f9e7eed3d03c

Creation of the Master Plan

The 2011 drought catalyzed what was to become a renewed future for Memorial Park. In close collaboration, Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Uptown Development Authority developed a bold, visionary Master Plan for Memorial Park that includes capital improvements, long-term conservation, and an operations and maintenance plan. Nelson Byrd Woltz served as the lead designer for the Master Plan, which was informed by an extensive public engagement process. The input of over 3,000 Houstonians announced the Master Plan process, including 25 ecological scientists and 50 additional informants ranging from stormwater management experts to historians to Park stakeholder groups.

Houston City Council unanimously approved this Master Plan in 2015. Guiding principles of the Memorial Park Master Plan include:

• Restoring the Park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency
• Reconnecting the Park’s land, waterways, trails, and people
• Consolidating compatible uses together in appropriate areas
• Tending to the land and the Park’s cultural history, maintaining balance through responsible management
• Enhancing the overall Park experience and amenities

In 2018, the Ten-Year Plan for Memorial Park had created thanks to a catalyst gift from the Kinder Foundation and support from other generous donors, enabling the Conservancy to accelerate significant components of the Memorial Park Master Plan.

As for Argos’ involvement, the Land Bridge and Prairie Project, our contribution to this project will help transform nearly 100 acres that will reunite the north and south sides of Memorial Park by pouring tunnels over major roadways, which will allow for a vital community green space. A new network of trails will provide safe crossing for people and wildlife. Additionally, The prairie, which adjoins the Land Bridge, “reintroduces endangered native Gulf Coast prairie and additional wetlands to areas north and south of Memorial Drive. Both prairie and wetlands serve important habitat and stormwater management functions and are a key part of the Park’s ecological restoration to ensure resiliency.”

 To date, we have poured 7,000cy of 5000 PSI concrete which will support the footings for the tunnels, and we plan to pour an additional 1,300cy before our part of the creation of this park is complete. The completion of bridge and prairie restoration is slated to be complete by the end of 2022.

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