The Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Erosion Control, Pedestrian Bridge project addresses erosion at two (2) locations in Arbor Hills Nature Preserve located at 6701 West Parker Road. The first location is near the northeastern pedestrian bridge on the main Arbor Hills Loop Trail where ongoing bank erosion has caused the stone retaining walls to fail that protect the pedestrian bridge abutments. Restoration work will include extending and keying in the existing rock walls and rebuilding the adjacent stream banks to promote long-term stability of the stream bed and banks.
The second location is behind the pavilions near the main entrance of the park. In this area, overland erosion has stripped away soil and created small, unvegetated gullies. This portion of the project will restore and replant this highly visible area and will include the installation of water bars to help slow the concentrated flow of water, helping to prevent erosion while reducing maintenance and hazardous conditions following rain events.
The Parks and Recreation Department opened bids on July 8, 2025, for the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Erosion Control, Pedestrian Bridge project. The lowest responsive and responsible bid was submitted by Austin Filter Systems in the amount of $1,209,957.
There were a total of 2,498 vendors notified of this project. Thirty-three (33) vendors viewed the bid, ten (10) companies attended the mandatory site visits, and four (4) complete bids were received for the project as shown in the attached bid recap.
The benefits of this project include protecting the abutments of the pedestrian bridge which serves as the critical access route through Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, abating maintenance and safety concerns, and creating more stable streambanks and hillsides while preserving the natural aesthetic of the park.