PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City of Houston owns and operates more than 400 parks across several thousand acres of open space. As severe weather events become more common, the city will face increasing risks from flooding events. With an abundance of green space thorough out the city, local leaders are looking to incorporate stromwater detention strategies that maximize the social and environmental benefits of Houston parks while increasing their resilience to future weather events.  

SERVICE DETAILS

Our team provided the city with a guidebook to help incorporate more flood mitigation strategies within its parks and open spaces. The multi-use guidebook provides multiple mitigation solutions for various park options, their achievable stormwater benefits, low-impact development application techniques, and other mitigation features that provide recreational and aesthetic appeal.  

Our team collected and analyzed data for the city’s existing park properties to develop the guidebook, including drainage information, soils, and park size. Workshops are planned with the Houston Public Works (HPW) and the Houston Parks and Recreations Department (HPARD) to discuss pilot locations, findings, potential park treatments, and other operational impacts associated with each mitigation solution. Our team will also prepare a dashboard that will help the city implement the recommended solutions.  

For the complete guidebook, go to https://www.engagehouston.org/. The guidebook is under the Resources tab.