In the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018, more than 130 students in six urban planning and landscape architecture classes worked closely with the City of La Grange (pop. 4,700). Hurricane Harvey hit the week of the first community kick-off meeting, postponing the projects and the start of the fall semester. La Grange is 100 miles inland on the edge of the Texas hill country along the Colorado River. As Harvey hovered over the state, La Grange received 26 inches of rainfall, and the river crested to 54 ft. (flood stage is 26 ft.). Nearly 300 homes were flooded, mostly impacting manufactured homes and racial minorities.
Students and faculty developed a comprehensive land use plan, infusing resiliency practices and flood mitigation throughout. The plan includes strategies for future housing, economic development, community facilities, transportation, and parks, and the environment. Additionally, students developed a wayfinding plan, downtown design, and revitalization plan, as well as sustainable strategies to reduce the consumption of natural resources. In total, ten community meetings were held with additional outreach with the long-term disaster recovery group and at the annual Schmecken Fest.
In La Grange, TxTC met with a Planning Ambassador for the American Planning Association, a voluntary educational outreach program that teaches kids about planning. Wilson previously spoke to kids about the community to talk about parks for different ability levels and water conservation. At a public meeting, TxTC worked with the Planning Ambassador Program to garner feedback from youth about their needs and wants for the comprehensive plan.