Memorial Park, an iconic urban greenspace in Houston, Texas, has long been valued for its vast trails, rich biodiversity, and serene landscapes. Recent developments led by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) have introduced two significant enhancements to this urban oasis: the Kind Land Bridge and the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie. These additions are transforming the park, reinforcing its role as a sanctuary for people and wildlife amidst the bustling cityscape.
At 1,464 acres, Memorial Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and Houston’s largest wilderness area. In 1955, the six-lane Memorial Drive was built, dissecting the park into two parts, disrupting the existing ecosystem and making it difficult, if not impossible, for pedestrians to traverse the park.
67 years later, the Land Bridge and Prairie project reconnects and mends this divide. The project comprises four spacious tunnels, two in each direction of traffic measuring 300 and 460 feet long, respectively. Together, they enable over 55,00 cars each day to pass below the massive Land Bridge.
The four tunnels are constructed of 620 separate prefabricated concrete panel arches that resolve at each end with geometrically pure cast-in-place elliptical headwalls. Drivers enter and leave the well-lit tunnels through these framed openings, which frame striking views of the Houston skyline and sweeping vistas of the Prairie.
The four tunnels are blanketed with layers of soil, plantings, and hardscape to create new Kinder Land Bridge that rises over the noisy roadway, reconnecting the north and south halves of the park. The earthen blanket of this land bridge effectively diminishes traffic noise, improving pedestrian experiences.
Adjacent to Kinder Land Bridge lies the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie, a restored prairie landscape that exemplifies the beauty and ecological significance of native Gulf Coast prairie landscapes. Coastal Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America, with less than 1% of its historic range remaining today. The Land Bridge and Prairie project will add over 45 acres of Coastal Prairie in the center of Memorial Park, helping to strengthen the surrounding ecologies and bring Houstonians an immersive opportunity to experience and appreciate this critical native ecology.
The Land Bridge and Prairie is further designed to withstand storms and process stormwater while providing a healthy environment for people and animals. Soils and over 200 native species of trees, shrubs, and deep-rooted Coastal Prairie plants have been selected for resiliency and their ability to slow and store stormwater in carefully calibrated channels and wetlands. This soil-deep rehabilitated ecology will sequester atmospheric carbon, provide cleaner air, and improve animal and insect habitats.
