City of Waco, TX

Cameron park Redevelopment

Waco, TX

Collaborating with the City of Waco a detailed masterplan and implementation phases were developed for the renovation of the historic Cameron Park.  This 100-year old, 400-acre 2.5-mile-long linear park is  located adjacent to  downtown Waco, Texas along the limestone cliffs and banks of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers.  The parklands were a gift to the City in 1910 by the Cameron family for the “perpetual enjoyment of the people”.  Built during the height of the City Beautiful movement, it featured looping carriage paths through fields of wildflowers, rustic wooden park shelters, natural springs with winding paths, and rusticated stone walls.  Today it includes 12 separate developed areas and over 20 miles of hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails and the Bosque Bluffs and Brazos River Paddling Trails.  

Through its 100 years of improvements, expansions, and maintenance, the park has evolved without a master plan or consolidated vision. While successful, it lacked a cohesive sense of place, public appreciation and little awareness of the park’s historical significance within the community. 

Since 1910, historic Cameron Park has been the center of events, recreation and relaxation in Waco. The park’s unique context directly adjacent to downtown provides an oasis of towering trees, the Bosque and Brazos River corridors, breathtaking cliffs and a National Recreation Trail system where hikers and bikers share the park with fishermen, disc golfers, picnickers, school groups and families.

A project approach involving City and County representatives, the public, a variety of stakeholder groups, and a local non-profit agency dedicated to the beautification of Waco.  The master planning process consisted of design improvements for developed areas along with thematic interpretive signage and documentation of the historical features.  The master plan was prepared to: enhance and restore deteriorated areas of the park; preserve the historic character and significant history of the park; preserve, restore and enhance the parks natural, cultural and scenic resources; increase visitor safety and visibility; and to encourage new uses while maintaining the intimate historical character. 

Through an extensive outreach process and collaboration with City staff, the renovation design balances historic value and character with updated amenities and facilities. 

The master plan was unanimously approved by City Council and the Historic Commission as well as receiving strong support from the public.  Immediately following the Masterplan, design development and construction documents for over $6 million of Phase One renovations.  The budget was allotted through a City bond issue

FiLL p.l.l.c.  principal Phil Hendricks Jr. ASLA served as the: prime consultant, principal-in-charge, contract manager, lead planner and landscape architect while at EDAW/AECOM.