As the design team for the Capital Cascades Trail (CCT) Segment 4 Master Plan, TSW worked in partnership with George & Associates and Jones Edmunds to complete the final 1.7-mile segment of Tallahassee’s 4.25-mile urban greenway. Our charge was to deliver a design that balances stormwater functionality, recreational access, and ecological stewardship, while responding directly to the goals of the original 2005 Master Plan.

Our approach centered on five core objectives: improving water quality, flood mitigation, sediment reduction, greenway connectivity, and neighborhood-focused park development. We engaged extensively with residents, neighborhood associations, civic leaders, and local agencies to ensure the plan addressed real community needs—particularly within the historically underserved Southside neighborhoods of Liberty Park, Callen, Bond, and Jake Gaither.

TSW led efforts to identify and evaluate alignment options, utilizing GIS data, environmental studies, and stakeholder feedback to refine trail routing that minimizes environmental impacts while enhancing walkability and multimodal connections. Our design introduces key stormwater improvements such as gabion walls and two-tier ditches to mitigate flooding, particularly in Liberty Park. At the same time, we integrated green infrastructure elements to enhance water quality and reduce sediment flow into Munson Slough.

Recognizing the importance of public space, we developed two park concepts—at Lake Bradford Road and Springhill Road Trail Connection—that emphasize passive recreation, interpretive education, and ecological restoration. These sites were selected for their direct access to the new trail and their potential to serve as community hubs.

With this master plan, TSW helped lay the foundation for the final phase of a transformational greenway system that promotes resilience, equity, and public health. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, culminating two decades of investment and collaborative planning across Tallahassee.