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The TMC Helix Park transforms 14.5 acres of former asphalt parking in downtown Houston into a groundbreaking model for climate-resilient urban parks. As the first phase of a 42-acre master plan along Brays Bayou, the park reimagines traditional infrastructure as a multifunctional landscape that seamlessly integrates stormwater management and ecological restoration. Addressing Houston’s urgent climate challenges, the design elevates the site five feet above the 500-year floodplain, creating a “green sponge” that enhances flood resilience. The park features 650 newly planted trees and cooling water elements that combat the urban heat island effect. Together, these elements create a vibrant community destination that promotes health, wellness, and environmental stewardship.
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The overall vision plan increases mobility throughout the campus with 204,796 SF of enhanced green streets; an 827 LF, two-way, permeable cycle track; 4919 LF of dedicated bike lanes; and an elevated pedestrian and cycle bridge- improving connectivity across the Old Spanish Trail arterial road. Guided by Houston’s Bike Plan, comprehensive mobility infrastructure is a core goal of the park. Streetscapes and mobility routes are designed to be shared, safe, and active- reducing automobile traffic and providing more mobility parking to encourage multi-modal use of the park. An enhanced network of pedestrian and cycle-focused facilities extend beyond the core Helix Gardens to encourage active mobility and connect to the city’s complete street plan.
Ecological strategies in the TMC Helix Park combine stormwater management with biodiverse planting. As part of a 42-acre master plan, this first phase redefines resiliency at the urban scale, transforming a series of asphalt parking lots into a vegetated neighborhood park. Biophilia shapes the design with attention to texture, natural materials, and immersive experiences in natural systems. The planting strategy is based on five Texas ecoregions, featuring over 300 plant species and 650 new trees. The permeability of the space, along with increased water retention provided by the new trees, allows the site to retain up to 3.2M gallons of stormwater. Designed to withstand a 500-year storm, the elevated site is conceived of as a living sponge that stores, filters, and repurposes rainwater.
TMC Helix Park celebrates human and ecological resiliency. Walkways and extensive shade canopies are layered with comfortable furnishings. Accompanying mobility strands intertwine with water and biodiverse systems to create an oasis of play and restoration. The design is guided by a pioneering Neurodiversity Toolkit to create places that welcome visitors of all ages and neurological and physical abilities. The extensive plant palette creates a year-round experience of color, texture, and sound. Water play creates health and wellness benefits by providing noise mitigation from the adjacent street traffic. In response to Houston's average temperature of 92 degrees, over 4600 SF of shade canopies supplement the new tree coverage to offer heat mitigation, while cooling water features and 380,000 SF of cool pavement extend comfort throughout the site. District-wide water play extends the language of Houston’s Brays Bayou Gardens while providing a cooling amenity during the summer. The Helix Park is designed to accommodate flexible programming and pedestrian-focused experiences with central greens, active biodiverse native gardens, diverse water play, and contemplative gardens. Biodiverse ecoregions enable the introduction of butterfly and bee habitats and integrate trees and plants that provide safe havens for birds. Plant communities based on historic Houston ecoregions work to create a dynamic and comfortable habitat for both human and non-human visitors alike.
The TMC Park is the new city center within this 37 acre campus and its DNA for growth and innovation. This begins with the TMC Helix Park as the stimulative core of this development project.
Mikyoung Kim is an award-winning international Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Studio in Boston, Massachusetts. Their studio is a collaborative think tank researching the science of human health and well-being bringing people closer to nature and art. As designers of restorative landscapes, we address some of the most pressing public health related issues through our research in human cognition. Our evidence-based design work engages communities and landscapes across the spectrum, bringing restoration and wonder to the everyday experience.
