Discover one of Central Texas’s most remarkable environmental success stories at Circle Acres Nature Preserve. This 14-acre site has undergone an extraordinary transformation—from aggregate mine to municipal landfill to EPA brownfield, and finally to a flourishing nature preserve that showcases the future of sustainable land management.
Ecology Action’s innovative restoration used carbon-negative methods to heal this once-degraded landscape, proving that even the most damaged sites can be brought back to life. Today, Circle Acres stands as a living laboratory demonstrating how former industrial lands can be transformed into vital green infrastructure that serves both people and the planet.
During this tour, you’ll explore critical questions facing parks and recreation professionals today:
Green Infrastructure as Solution: See firsthand how Circle Acres functions as more than just a park—it’s a nature-based solution providing stormwater management, heat mitigation, and biodiversity support. Learn how parks are evolving from purely recreational spaces into essential environmental infrastructure for resilient communities.
Balancing Recreation and Ecology: Discover sustainable management practices that create habitat and support biodiversity while still welcoming visitors. Explore the delicate balance between providing recreational opportunities and building environmental resilience—and how Circle Acres achieves both.
The Path to Net-Zero: Learn about Ecology Action’s carbon-negative restoration techniques and how parks and recreation agencies can shift operations to decarbonize facilities, reduce environmental impact, and work toward net-zero performance.
This is your chance to witness environmental redemption in action and gain practical insights for creating parks that heal the land, support wildlife, and build climate resilience for future generations.
Note: Participants should wear appropriate shoes and clothing for hiking in the heat and for planting.
Support is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
