EHRA was selected by the client to provide engineering design and to serve as District Engineer for the 2,400 acre Towne Lake Development. Our survey department retraced the overall boundary and performed a topographic survey of the site.
The purpose of this project was to convert the existing at-grade crossing of Brazoria County Road 56 (CR 56) and State Highway 288 (SH 288) into a diamond interchange that includes a new overpass bridge and providing access to the newly developed Meridiana Development. Coordination with TXDOT, area landowners, utility companies, and Brazoria County was integral in obtaining approval and acceptance of the project. The main design challenge for this project was to accommodate double intersections on the west side of SH 288 to tie into existing access roads with two-way traffic and a new southbound on-ramp within a close proximity. EHRA coordinated with TxDOT throughout the project from preliminary concepts for the intersection and bridge through final design and construction. Each component of this project was designed in accordance with TxDOT standards and criteria.
This project was the second phase of parks implementation outlined in the District's Parks Master Plan, which was completed by EHRA in 2007. Utilizing the site of a recently demolished former wastewater treatment plant provided an opportunity to create a passive park space for District residents.
In 2006, Caldwell Companies sought to create Towne Lake as a community where residents and services could be connected by water. Their vision included boat docks and marinas augmenting traditional walking trails to navigate a vibrant residential community. EHRA was the perfect partner to take Caldwell Companies’ vision and create this livable suburban oasis.
Identified as a top priority during the development of the District’s Parks Master Plan, this portion of trail was the first phase of over two miles of planned trails to provide connectivity and recreation for District residents.
Memorial Park, encompassing more than 1500 wooded acres near the southeastern intersection of IH-10 and IH-610 and bounded by Buffalo Bayou on its southern edge, is unique among urban parks in its size, location and quality of natural features. Three major themes developed during the planning process to enhance and restore the park and create a master plan:
Stabilize: Existing erosion will be stabilized to limit further damage and the forest will be further evaluated in detail to determine the best long term strategy for forest management to reduce exotic invasive species and ensure a healthy, diverse biological community.
Connect: The Park will be more accessible and better connected by an extended comprehensive trail system and other access improvements that reach beyond the Park. In addition to physical connections, expanded and extended educational programs throughout the park will help to secure the park for future generations by creating a better informed park constituency.
Restore: Areas that are vacated, such as parts of the Maintenance facility and stable areas, and other major areas of the park will be restored and enhanced by actively managing the forest, by reducing erosion, and by managing recreational use.
The Master Plan consists of recommendations for each of several major topics as identified during extensive investigation of the park’s historic and existing conditions. These topics are the basis for the goals and actions in the plan. It is one of the largest and most visionary urban parks projects currently underway in the United States.:
The plan, which was adopted in 2015 is underway as this is written. If you haven't visited the park in a while, it's worth a look as many aspects of the plan have been executed with many more to come!