Photo Credit: Provided by Talley Landscape Architects, Inc.
The story of Mandolin Gardens Park in Houston, Texas, is one of vision and perseverance. What once was an unsightly, utilitarian detention basin dividing two areas of a suburban community has now become a beautiful, ecologically healthy park that draws residents outdoors, fosters neighborliness, and inspires others in the region to visit. The original basin was minimally maintained, was uninviting due to dense vegetation and unsafe access, and discouraged residents from using the green space. The park now provides recreation while protecting adjacent homes from flood damage. The design also includes wildlife habitat, reclaimed water for lakefill and irrigation (non-potable water use is very important in high drought areas like Texas), and durable native and naturalized plants that withstand inundation during flooding. This is all achieved with a chemical-free landscape and lake installation with ongoing maintenance.
Mandolin Gardens is an 11-acre park in the heart of a 2,000-residence suburban community. The site design retrofitted two existing detention basins and integrated park amenities, including:
- Two miles of ADA-accessible trails