HINESAD Commissioned to Lead Design of New Cultural Landmark

African American Memorial and Park – Fort Bend County, Texas

HINESAD has been commissioned to design a new African American Memorial and Park in Fort Bend County, Texas—an area with deep historical ties to one of the state’s first freedmen’s towns. Announced at a recent county press conference, the project is part of a broader commitment to honor the lives, labor, and legacy of African American communities who have shaped the region for generations.

The design envisions a monumental memorial anchored within a thoughtfully integrated landscape that connects past and present. At the heart of the park is a Juneteenth Plaza, joined by a central water feature and a memorial garden commemorating those lost to the brutal convict labor and leasing system. The site will also include a restored path through historic Black cemeteries, creating opportunities for reflection and recognition across the 14-acre campus. Connecting trails will guide visitors through a series of narrative and ceremonial spaces that foster reverence, storytelling, and community gathering.

More than a park, this project is a space of healing and historic reckoning. It affirms Fort Bend County’s role in preserving cultural memory while advancing public understanding of racial injustice and resilience. For HINESAD, the commission represents an opportunity to give form to legacy—and to design with reverence, care, and intention.

“This memorial will commemorate the Black experience not only here in Fort Bend County, but in Texas, and really be reflective of the stories from Kendleton all the way all the way to Congress and beyond,” Commissioner Dexter McCoy

Read more via Houston Public Media
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