LRGV Colonia Neighborhood Plan

The Colonia Neighborhood Plan Implementation Strategies are part of a larger effort to establish a community-based planning framework in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). Plans for eight colonias, six in Hidalgo County and two in Cameron County, were developed between September 2011 and April 2012 through a participatory process involving colonia residents, community organizers, community-based organizations, planners, and designers. In a departure from previous planning work in the region, this process was organized around a series of meetings in each colonia, inviting community members to contribute and self-appoint neighborhood leaders.  These plans are in part a response to frequent hurricanes and offer recommendations that address issues stemming from geographic isolation, poor physical infrastructure, and limited access to services and resources. Ultimately, this process advances the role of participatory planning and design in improving the quality of life in the LRGV.  

*SEED Honorable Mention, bcWORKSHOP, 2013

bcWORKSHOP,  2011

Role: Community Designer

Partners:  Equal Voice Network, Ford Foundation