Wetlands Park at Riverstone wins H-GAC Award
We’re excited to share we received a H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Awards for our work on Wetlands Park at Riverstone in the on-the-ground project over $500k category.
Wetlands Park design centers around water. In recreational settings, water should be thought of as a habitat (not something to neutralize and eliminate all living things from) and treated as an amenity that people can engage and explore. Kids should be encouraged to pick up flowers, walk on logs over streams, listen to birds, see new textures, tip rocks over and look at bugs crawling underneath, and wade out into the shallow waters and observe fish and tadpoles swimming around —all forms of unstructured, hands-on nature play that instill a lasting appreciation for the environment.
By prioritizing both environmental and community needs, the Riverstone Wetlands Project demonstrates how to create sustainable, nature-driven parks that benefit people and ecosystems alike. The project also emphasizes experiential learning, making water sources visible and engaging through features like bubbling rocks and small waterfalls, enhancing the auditory landscape and promoting tranquility. The wetland serves as crucial regional habitat, attracting diverse species, including fish, birds, and even alligators, thereby enriching the local ecosystem.
The Riverstone Wetlands Park Project enhances the resiliency and sustainability of the local area by securing 9 acres and transforming 4.5 acres of underutilized land into a thriving native wetland habitat. With 52 native plant species irrigated with gray water reduces water usage, further lowering long-term costs reintroduced to the site, this restoration effort supports local biodiversity and reduces the need for irrigation and chemical fertilizers, resulting in lower maintenance costs. The restored wetland creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that attracts diverse wildlife, including 202 bird species and numerous pollinators and fish. As one of the top ten birding locations in the Fort Bend County, it plays a crucial role in supporting the 5 million migratory birds that pass through the Houston region annually. To put this in perspective, other sites that see this volume of bird species clock in at around 700 acres in size.
This nature-first approach, combined with low-maintenance and cost-efficient design, offers a replicable model for other areas. It successfully mitigates flooding, protects nearby properties, and creates meaningful public spaces blending ecological restoration with recreation. By prioritizing both environmental and community needs, the Riverstone Wetlands Project demonstrates how to create sustainable, nature-driven parks that benefit people and ecosystems alike.
Public input played a key role in shaping Riverstone Wetlands Park, particularly when considering the community’s needs and preferences. Working with a biologist informed plant selections, ensuring ecological authenticity while balancing community expectations. For example, while a biologist might view snakes as important ecological contributors, we recognized the public’s hesitancy towards them in recreational spaces. The design celebrates nature but does so in a refined way, making it accessible, safe, and appealing for families and children.
The broader community’s input also influenced the educational features, such as interpretive signage and interactive elements. The balance between ecological function and recreational use was achieved by focusing on both natural beauty and community engagement. The park reflects a collaborative vision, where nature and play coexist to foster learning and exploration.
Congratulations to everyone on the project team!