UT-Austin-led design proposes native ecology, sports fields and phased build for Jones Box Park in Pharr

Maggie Hanson, an assistant professor of landscape architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, presented a community-led master plan for Jones Box Park during the Keep Pharr Beautiful Advisory Committee meeting on Aug. 19, 2025. The plan calls for a mostly sports-focused east side and a heavily vegetated ecological west side joined by a hybrid central gathering space; Hanson said the park covers about 28 acres.

The plan, Hanson said, grew from five years of local engagement and a semester-long studio in which UT-Austin students worked directly with South Pharr youth and community groups. "I bring those experiences to teaching my students to work with communities and to value the voice of residents in thinking about public space," Hanson said.

The proposed design preserves existing active recreation — soccer, baseball, basketball and the splash pad — while adding pedestrian connections, shade structures, an additional bridge over the irrigation canal and an on-site nursery. Hanson described the western portion as an "ecological park" with shaded trails, a boardwalk and an outdoor classroom; the eastern portion would hold consolidated sports fields, an additional basketball court and possible tennis courts. The center would include picnic areas, play features and restrooms.

A central element of the proposal is stormwater management treated as an amenity: paved edges and trails would be accompanied by vegetated swales, rain gardens and planted corridors designed to collect and infiltrate water on site rather than quickly move it away. Hanson said the plan was informed by youth input: about 25 young people, ages 15–17, participated in PhotoVoice and workshops that prioritized intergenerational spaces, shade, and protection of existing recreation areas.

Hanson told the committee the team had applied last year for an EPA grant of approximately $14.6 million that would have funded physical improvements to five schoolyards and Jones Box Park as well as workforce development and nature-based green infrastructure, but that the specific federal program they targeted is no longer operating and the city should not expect that funding. "Under the current federal administration, that program no longer is operating, so we're not expecting to get that funding," she said.

Committee members asked about scale and phasing. Hanson recommended starting with a nursery to grow trees locally and then developing the ecological west first so recreation can continue while planting proceeds. Asked about timing, Hanson said an optimistic timetable could be three years but projects of this scale can take up to a decade. "Rolling things out in phases can also be a really good thing," she said.

Cynthia Castro, assistant director of Pharr Parks and Recreation, introduced Hanson and described the plan as the product of coalition work that includes Arise Adelante, Texas Children and Nature Network and the Youth Eco Alliance. Board members and staff praised the proposal and discussed next steps: Hanson and her UT team plan to return for follow-up visits in November and March to continue engagement.

The presentation prompted committee discussion about finding funding and coordinating with city departments should the city pursue phased implementation. No formal action or funding commitment was taken at the meeting.

Ending: Committee members said the presentation gave the city a community-rooted blueprint to inform future budget and grant work; Hanson and Parks staff said they will continue engagement and return to Pharr for further discussions later in 2025 and in March 2026.