Texas ASLA’s 2024 Annual Conference

TBG is thrilled to announce our participation in the 2024 Texas ASLA Annual Conference, taking place in Austin this week! The conference theme, “Pivot,” focuses on climate positivity, a topic we are passionate about. Here’s where you can find TBGers throughout the event:

Wednesday, April 24th

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Tour (Meet at the front of the Convention Center)

Festival Beach Food Forest (Austin’s 2023 Big Give location) with Hythus Hu, Mitch Wright (Vista Planning & Design), and Jodi Lane (Fruitful Commons)

Festival Beach Food Forest is an early adopter of the urban agriculture movement. It has achieved success as an edible forest where visitors can openly forage and enjoy fresh food on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The pilot project is completely fence-less and open to all.

The tour will introduce you to the edible and medicinal plants, the strong community brought together by food sharing, and the effort that makes this urban oasis happen.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Session (Classroom C)

Combining Trees, Soils, Water in the Urban Environment with Austin Hicks, Shawn Freedberg and Clayton Bruner with DeepRoot

This program will discuss the academic research, basic applications, sizing standard, notable Texas projects, Complete Streets applications and storm water mitigation potential for suspended pavement systems. Landscape Architects, recognizing and specifying tree soil volumes statewide, have developed successful details to meet site needs while committing to supporting the long-term health and vitality of urban trees. For years researchers have recognized the suitability of suspended pavement facilities in lowering pollutant concentrations in runoff as well as reducing the peak flow runoff from rainfall. The benefits of these tree-based suspended pavement soil systems are well known: Real estate value enhancement, urban heat island reduction, environmental equity and urban species diversity are but a few

Thursday, April 25th

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Tour (Meet at the front of the Convention Center)

Alliance Children’s Garden: A Guided Tour Exploring Fun and Local Inspiration with Justin Lindabury, Adam Shriver, and Patrick Beyer from the City of Austin Parks and Rec Department

Join TBG Partners and the City of Austin for an enchanting, guided tour of the Alliance Children’s Garden, a captivating play haven nestled in the heart of Austin, adjacent to the Palmer Events Center. This tour invites you to explore an imaginative wonderland where fun knows no age limits.  Inspired by the scenic Texas Hill Country, the garden features abstractions of rolling hills, caves, and limestone basins to foster exploration and imaginative play. It offers distinct yet interconnected outdoor rooms, including the Hill Country Garden, Skyline Garden, Art and Culture Garden, and Rock and Slide Valley Garden. Each space encourages playful interaction, problem-solving, exploration, and an appreciation for local flora and fauna, reflecting Austin’s unique culture and environment.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Session (Classroom A)

Equity and Inclusion: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Play for All Abilities with Ross DeVault, Jodi House, Dr. Taylor Bunn with Hope 4 All, and Steve Plumer with the City of Grand Prairie Parks and Rec Department 

PlayGrand Adventures is a 10-acre, universally inclusive playground, where upon entering, everyone, no matter their life circumstance, feels welcomed, included and accepted. This panel will explore the multi-disciplinary approach the team and City took, ultimately yielding a successful inclusive play environment for any age and all abilities. The process to bring PlayGrand Adventures to life began in 2013 – and has, at every turn, been a true collaborative, community-driven effort between design professionals, City staff, medical professionals, and parents skilled in working with children and adults with special needs. Phase one of PlayGrand Adventures opened in January of 2020, offering a regional draw, free public park access, and inclusive play for any age and ability.

Friday, April 26th

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Session (Classroom A)

Nature Based Solutions for the Leon Creek Watershed in San Antonio with Tiffany Lim, Nick Kearney, and Jordan Clark

San Antonio River Authority and TBG Partners will present the findings of the Leon Creek Watershed Nature-Based Solutions master plan. The session will provide an overview of the modeling efforts completed by SARA and how TBG Partners evaluated priority sub-basins within the watershed for scaled opportunities to locate and design highly impactful strategies to improve sustainable and climate resilient outcomes. The project team will present a collection of the 19 nature-based solutions designs and discuss next steps toward funding, final design, and implementation. The applicability and need for similar watershed level approaches for urban watersheds throughout the State of Texas will also be presented.

We’re looking forward to engaging discussions and the opportunity to learn from and connect with fellow landscape architects and industry professionals at this year’s conference. See you there!