Market Street at The Woodlands

As the centerpiece and heart of the town center, Market Street’s Central Park is the main gathering space for the community. However, poor drainage caused by a combination of compaction and increased rainfall made the lawn space unusable for protracted periods of time throughout the year. To increase the usability of the space and elevate the brand of the development, the design team made several improvements to the park, including replacing the natural grass with durable synthetic turf, constructing a wood deck and pergola to allocate specific space for The Woodlands’ outdoor concert series, and updating the existing kids splash pad for a contemporary pop of color. These improvements, along with the help of renovated seating areas and new landscaping, create a flexible setting suitable for year-round festivals, concerts, and families alike. Other property-wide improvements include enhanced landscaping, contemporary lighting, paving accents, and new site furniture, modernizing the town center to reflect the development’s sophisticated style and align with the new logo and signage.

One challenge the design team faced was the preservation of a large existing Live Oak tree. Careful consideration had to be taken in the design and construction process to retain the signature tree. An elevated wood deck was selected to protect tree roots, while a landscaped plant bed further prevents soil compaction along the base of the tree. Through the use of these design elements, along with tree protection measures during construction, the Live Oak remains a place for visitors to relax beneath its branches.