Project Description:

a) As Landscape Architect we functioned as master planner for the overall project and as designers for the specific construction phases of the project. The City had received a grant for a compost demonstration center and we were initially approached to locate and develop a site plan for this. As we met with the client to determine their program, a number of ideas and needs that were being discussed in the community began to coalesce around the project. Our role became that of master planners; assisting the client in researching and documenting the various ideas, helping determine which were compatible with each other and with the given site, and developing a concept and organization to govern the development of the project.

b) The site, of approximately 9 acres, is situated at the bottom of an escarpment that runs along the northwest side o f Waco and Woodway. The land sinpes moderately to steeply from east to west where a creek in a deep ravine defines the western boundary. The south side of the site fronts on a major street, the remaining sides are surrounded by residential development. The lower areas and ravines are wooded, with a good variety of native and naturalized species. Much of the upper portion of the site, farm land in the past, has recently been used for dumping old road material. The location, across the street from the City Hall and Community Center. is central and convenient to many existing community activities and functions.

Program functions to he accommodated were: a compost demonstration center, space and seating for classes and demonstrations, a tool and supply storage building, a small informal amphitheater, a building for meetings and displays, a nature center to function as an botanical, wildlife and ecology teaching tool, and provision for a variety of specialty gardens ranging from color, to herbs, to antique roses, to xeriscape. The project also had to function as a neighborhood park and provide facilities for an annual community festival, along with parking and service functions. The building was to evoke the Whitehall Baptist church, tom down in the 1930%, a center ofthe rural enmmunity that grewinto Woodway. The Nature Center, Compost Demonstration park and Visitor's Center were to have controlled access, the park space, parking and specialty gardens were to have controlled vehicle access and uncontrolled pedestrian access.

A deep ravine across the center of the site, and the presence of a considerable amount of miscellaneous fill on the south part of the site were major factors in the site organization. Undeveloped residential lots adjacent to the east side of the site also influenced the layout. The plan recommended that these lots be acquired if possible. (They have subsequently been, and a second phase to master plan uses for the expanded site is projected.)

The organizing concept decided upon placed the Nature Center uses on the less disturbed area north of the central ravine, and the automobile parking and specialty gardens on the fill areas of the south portion of the site. The Visitor's Center with it's indoor and outdoor meeting spaces was located on the southeast side on the site for easy access and to allow future expansion into the adjacent lots.

The central ravine, in addition to providing a natural division between the more structured uses and the less structured Nature Center, permitted the introduction of a water feature and garden.

The compost demonstration park, amphitheater, structured teaching spaces and maintenance facilities were located in the center of the site, immediately to the north of the central ravine. A building, The Founder's Arbor, just to the south of the ravine will serve as the entrance and control point for the teaching areas and the Nature Center. It will also contain the donor recognition displays, offices and restrooms. The architectural style of this building will be compatible with the Whitehall Visitor's Center and will evoke residences from the Whitehall commtmity.

The entrance perimeter along Bosque Blvd. is defined with stone walls, steel fencing and planting.

This organization took maximum advantage of the characteristics of site and permitted the various uses to function together or as independent units.

c) It was decided that the project should be named to honor Carleen Bright, a long-time city council member, civic leader and beautification advocate. The visitor's center was named Whitehall Visitor's Center to commemorate the Whitehall community around which Woodway grew. The Moas family has adopted the Nature Center as their special gilt to the community. The project has generated intense community interest and involved many people and organizations including the Woodway Beautiful Commission, Woodway City Council, "Reddy's Rangers" a Woodway youth program, scout troops, educators, and the general public. The fist phase of the project, the Compost Demonstration Park was constructed using moneys from a TNRCC grant and is used for educational programs for area students and organizations. The first annual Woodfest celebration featuring gardening demoustratiov.% arts & crafts booths, food, and live musical entertainment was held at the site to officially open the Arboretm. The local newspaper has featured the Arboretum in several articles. Construction of the parking lots, entrance development and Whitehall Visitor's Center is imminent.

d) One of the unique solutions in the project is the Moas Nature Center. The master plan objective is to represent the plants of each of the 10 eco-zonas of Texas (as identified by the Texas Agriculture Department). Each eeo-zone is located on the site to correspond with their actual relationship to each other so that a person walking the site can, for example, go from the Blacklands Prairie to the Edwards Plateau area just as if they were traveling through Texas.

The existing creek will be featured as an micro environment with access provided by trails and stairs constructed to make as little impact as possible on the existing ecosystem.

The tool storage building for the central teaching area was constructed using the exterior material and roofing from the last remaining outbuilding from the Bright family homeplace.