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Southern Botanical Receives NALP Decade Award for Urban Landscaping at Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park has officially been recognized as one of the nation’s most successfully maintained public landscapes. In September 2025, Southern Botanical received the prestigious Decade Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) in honor of its long-term stewardship of the 5.4-acre urban deck park.

Only three Decade Awards were presented nationwide this year, placing Klyde Warren Park in rare company and reinforcing its status as one of the most carefully managed green spaces in the United States.

“We are thrilled about the Decade Award and the recognition of our long partnership with Klyde Warren Park,” said Tommy Silvers, Vice President of Operations at Southern Botanical. “This site challenges us daily, but it also represents the very best of what landscape management can be when innovation and partnership come together.”

A Park Built on Innovation

Completed in 2012 atop the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Klyde Warren Park was engineered as “green space built from thin air.” The park rests on a deck structure with just 36 to 42 inches of highly porous soil above solid concrete — a growing environment unlike any traditional park.

Southern Botanical assumed landscape maintenance responsibilities in 2013 and has remained a committed partner to the park’s management team for more than a decade. Rather than simply “upkeep,” the firm treats the site as a living, evolving public venue that must perform under extreme conditions:

  • Over 1 million annual visitors, including major events such as Fourth of July celebrations (30,000+ attendees) and eclipse watch gatherings (10,000+ attendees)
  • Constant sun, wind, and shade shifts due to the elevated structure and surrounding buildings
  • Zero margin for decline, with every square foot visible to the public at all times

High-Performance Landscaping Practices

Southern Botanical treats Klyde Warren Park like a high-performance landscape, ensuring the park looks its best even under extreme use:

  • Annual turf replacement and intensive fertilization cycles to maintain lush, resilient lawns.
  • Strategic tree placement and shade management to protect root systems and enhance visitor comfort.
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that avoids herbicides, using eco-friendly alternatives such as rosemary, lavender, and vanilla oils.
  • Flexible a la carte maintenance to respond to wear and event schedules in real-time. Unlike many public landscapes, Klyde Warren Park operates on a performance-based partnership, not a traditional maintenance contract. This allows Southern Botanical and park management to make real-time decisions, adjust priorities, and invest proactively rather than reactively.

Key enhancements performed by Southern Botanical include:

The result is a park that appears untouched, even when it’s in constant use.

A Decade of Care and a Legacy That Grows

Receiving the Decade Award affirms that high-performance landscapes are possible when design, maintenance, and management work together with a shared vision.

Klyde Warren Park began as one of the most ambitious urban landscape projects in the country. A decade later, thanks to innovation and unwavering care, it stands as a national model for what a public green space can be.

Southern Botanical is honored to have helped shape that legacy and remains committed to its continued excellence for years to come.