Parks Plan & North San Gabriel River Trail
Creating Enduring Community Connections
As a rapidly growing community, Georgetown engaged RVi to guide development of their park system through 2012. The Parks System Master Plan addressed the goals for development of a greenbelt trail system along the forks of the San Gabriel River, acquiring parkland in underserved areas, and developing regional-scale parks as joint-use projects with the County and USACE.
Following completion of the Master Plan, RVi went on to design multiple park and trail projects for the City. The largest of these projects was the North San Gabriel River Trail and additions to Rivery Park. RVi provided individual park and trail planning, park and trail design, as well as successful TPWD and LCRA grant applications and coordination.
The North San Gabriel River Trail travels three miles along the San Gabriel River, connecting the City of Georgetown to Lake Georgetown. It includes two river crossings, a star gazing plaza, a bird watching station, and a nature trail that winds through a spring and sensitive wetland area. The additions to Rivery Park included playscapes, a picnic pavilion, and stretching/exercise stations.
In order to make the best use of financial resources, RVi worked with the City to create a phased construction plan that utilized City crews for portions of the construction. More complicated sections of the project such as bridges and paved paths were implemented by a general contractor. The result was a very high quality amenity that has been embraced by the community and visitors alike.
Team
Chris Lalich