Phil Hardberger Park is a learning landscape for conservation practices and sustainable development. Sustainable development aims to meet human needs while supporting the natural systems – such as wildlife diversity, flood mitigation, and cooling effects from shade – that our economy and society depend on. 

The park’s vegetation provides food and shelter for wildlife throughout the year. The Robert. L. B. Tobin Land Bridge has reclaimed habitat over the highway with its native landscaping. The restored Savanna and wetland provide important habitats lost due to urban development. 

Keeping the habitat protected within the city takes constant conservation work. Weed Warrior Volunteers meet almost every Wednesday to remove invasive species. 

Sustainability in Design

Energy 

• The Urban Ecology Center (UEC) has solar panels and generates enough electricity to power three average-sized residences.

• The Salado Outdoor Classroom (SOC) has solar panels that power the building entirely.

• Both sides of the park have solar-powered street lights in the parking areas.

Water

• A cistern collects rainwater runoff from the SOC. The water irrigates establishing vegetation and operates the Bird Water Feature next to the building.

• A bioswale collects and routes stormwater around the UEC and filters it to the water catchment system underneath. 

• All parking lots have permeable surfaces that allow rainwater to filter down and not immediately runoff

• The majority of the trails and pathways are made of permeable, decomposed granite

• The wetland restoration project redesigned low-lying areas and nearby apartment complexes to collect and hold stormwater, allowing it to filter through the ground.

• Native landscaping is used throughout the park. Native plants, once established, do not need irrigation other than natural rainfall, so potable water is not used to keep the vegetation alive. 

• The Land Bridge has a 250,000-gallon water catchment system to store rainwater for irrigation and Wildlife Water Features. 

LEED Gold Certification

The Urban Ecology Center is Certified LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) for meeting 62 out of 110 possible sustainable development goals.

Notable LEED Sustainable Factors used throughout the park are: 

• The materials used in the UEC and SOC were built of limestone and other materials native to the area. The same stone was used on the Land Bridge. 

• More than 10% of the construction materials in the UEC were recycled materials

• The UEC has low-water use toilets and faucets, resulting in a 30% reduction in water use.

• Down-lighting through the park reduces light pollution 

• The roofing materials and solar panels reduce the heat island effect by absorbing, instead of reflecting, solar energy

• Materials used on the interior were low-emitting materials, which provide better-quality air inside the buildings. 

• 75% of the indoor space is provided with daylight and views of the outdoors

• More than 50% of the wood-based materials used are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s principles and criteria for wood-building components.