From August to December 2023, the Texas Trees Foundation team, our Equitable Engagement Partners at MIG, Inc., and Design Partners at Field Operations executed Phase 2 Equitable Engagement for the Southwestern Medical District (SWMD) Urban Streetscape and Park project.
Equitable Engagement is the cornerstone of the SWMD Urban Streetscape and Park Project. It is defined as cultivating conversations where all people have a direct bridge to express their needs, goals, and desires, and incorporate their voices. The overarching goal of the community engagement process was to provide opportunities for meaningful participation and consensus-building among residents, patients, community members, medical staff and employees, partner agencies, business owners, and other stakeholders to define a shared vision for the SWMD’s future.
Through workshops, surveys, open houses, focus groups, and pop-up events, community members in the Southwestern Medical District were invited to share their perspectives, preferences, and priorities. This report summarizes community voices and insights that have informed the design process. From innovative ideas to heartfelt aspirations, each contribution is a testament to the power of community-driven design in reimagining public spaces that enhance quality of life and foster a sense of belonging.
Please read the summary to learn more about the community's desires and hopes for the Green Spine and Green Park. We eagerly anticipate the community's vision for a safer, pedestrian-friendly, and greener Southwestern Medical District to come to life!
During the Phase 2 Equitable Engagement activities, the SWMD community embraced the opportunity to have a stake in the District's transformation, and the project would not be where it is today without each and every single person's participation. Their willingness to share lived experiences in the District, provide insight on aesthetic, safety, and mobility improvements, engage in meaningful dialogue with the project team, and invest their time, passion, and energy into the future of the District is incredibly appreciated.
Thank you to the countless partners and stakeholders in the Southwestern Medical District who provided their support, resources, expertise, and collaboration to make Phase 2 Equitable Engagement possible!