The newly renovated landscape at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center provides much-needed space for the center’s robust calendar of community events and educational programs, while also improving connectivity to the Butler Trail and surrounding neighborhood. The zocalo has expanded into a flexible paved plaza broken up by densely planted vegetation native to both Texas and Mexico, visually pulling the thick landscape buffer of Lady Bird Lake into the building’s central court. Designed to accommodate food trucks and featuring a permanent circular shade structure, the enlarged zocalo addresses security concerns and capacity needs. Existing mature canopy trees anchor the courtyard and create intimate gathering areas; two preserved heritage pecans provide shade for a new event lawn. The enlarged plaza floats above the adjacent trail and wooded hillside, and the head of the milksnake path sculpture by artist Benito Huerta is transformed into a unique overlook, further reinforcing the connection to the landscape below and the city’s most iconic natural feature. Other site elements include a sculptural succulent garden at the auditorium entrance, a nature playground, and a healing garden with raised planters for community members and staff to grow herbs and vegetables for use in the new demonstration kitchen. A shady sculpture walk south of the Center invites neighbors to enjoy the MACC’s art collection and provides a connection from the Butler Trail to the Rainey Street District.