TxTC partnered with H.E. Butt Foundation to develop a conceptual design for a park in Real County, Texas, in June 2020. The community identified this project through an extensive Asset Based Community Development process with Texas Rural Leadership Program (TRLP). In 2017, a group of community members completed the TRLP leadership training and created a local group called Real County Visionaries (RCV). RCV partnered with the Keep it Real-ly Beautiful (KIRB), a local non-profit, to create a unique community space along the Nueces River. Because Texans do not have much access to public lands, this project was envisioned to provide greater access for low-income families, especially the roughly 23% of LatinX residents. The community envisions a space where families and individuals can connect with nature and enjoy safe access to the Nueces River in a 4.9-acre county property currently used for parking and dumping.
Under the guidance of faculty in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, a graduate student in landscape architecture developed a conceptual design for the park, including strategies to restore the Nueces River’s riparian habitats and provide a community space with safe river access for Real County residents. The design offers sustainable ways to stabilize the riverbank and manage waste, to foster passive and active recreational areas, and opportunities to educate the community on riparian ecosystems. The Real County Visionaries and Keep it Real-ly Beautiful provided community feedback to ensure the design aligned with the community-wide discussion, particularly the community vision developed by Real County citizens in the TRLP process.