2023 Class of Fellows, Nancy Owens, Texas Chapter

Nancy Owens Studio, New York City
by Staff

Texas Chapter - Category: Works

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Texas Chapter - Category: Works

With a background in art, activism, and public agency work, Nancy Owens has created a unique practice that melds conceptual art sensibility with pragmatism and technical expertise. Her diverse experiences have strengthened her commitment to transforming neglected urban areas into beautiful, restorative, and resilient spaces beloved by their communities. Nancy and her award-winning firm have designed and implemented many public projects on challenging sites in underserved neighborhoods, bringing a fresh perspective to historic preservation, public housing, and community park and green infrastructure design. Nancy's commitment to advocacy and stakeholder engagement in site design, policy development, and urban planning has been unwavering. Among her many projects are: Astoria Park, Queens, NY, a 60-acre waterfront park brought back to life with a dynamic new playground and water play spaces in the historic Works Progress Administration (WPA) pool complex, as well as site drainage and grading improvements, including rain gardens that collect and treat stormwater; Berriman Playground, Gateway Estates, East New York, Brooklyn, NY, a one-acre barren landfill site remade into a vibrant park within a dense affordable housing community, with walking paths, seating areas, and lush plantings that create "rooms" and define spaces; and Estella Diggs Park (Rocks and Roots), Bronx, NY, a rubble-filled lot redeveloped into a much-needed neighborhood oasis, weaving historic and contextual referents into her lushly planted design.