MD Anderson Park & Healing Garden MD Anderson Prairie is the - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MD Anderson Park & Healing Garden

MD Anderson Prairie is the result of a multi-agency and volunteer effort to: • Provide health benefits and restorative care • Reclaim and restore native prairie areas • Support preservation and expansion of this native landscape

Surrounded by over 50 million developed square feet, this significant green space provides critical benefits to the community and environment surrounding the Texas Medical Center.

Green spaces offer a multitude of environmental and ecological benefits. • Native trees and plants can enhance wildlife habitats: shelter, food, and water • Prairie Grasses provide supporting services for soil formation that have improved the soil conditions and nutrient levels

Green spaces can leverage proximity to local watersheds to improve water quality and stormwater management. • Green infrastructure that works in conjunction with prairie root system to absorb and filter stormwater • Reduce irrigation and maintenance requirements: one mowing per year, no extra watering, and only 4 maintenance events

Green spaces can be designed for holistic treatment to improve mental health and wellness. • Access to fresh air, sunlight, and beautiful plantings in a natural environment • Walking trails that provide opportunities for passive and active recreation • A Healthy Living Garden that provides access to fresh food and educational opportunities for healthy nutrition

Green spaces can play a role in promoting the connection between humans and nature and serve as a rich educational resource. • Research opportunities for conservation biologists interested in biodiversity of the prairie ecosystem • Prairie Restoration Provisioning Services that provide plant material for other local prairie restoration projects • Educational and Interpretive Signage to engage visitors, staff, patients, and families about the endangered prairie ecosystem

As designers, we work at the confluence of people, places, and the environment. Designing successful green spaces is about working collaboratively to create a cohesive vision identifying design opportunities that achieve multiple goals, and leveraging strategic partnerships and resources to transform the design into reality.