McGovern Lake is at the heart
of Hermann Park. The historic ‘paddle
boat lake’ was renovated by the Friends
of Hermann Park as part of their renovation
of the park, based on the 1994 master plan
by Hanna/Olin. The lake was enlarged to
almost twice its original size, with an
extensive portion of the lake dedicated
to wildlife habitat – islands, wetland
plantings and native meadow. A new aeration
system and a hard edge with a shallow safety
shelf help address the realities of this
highly-used urban park. Thousands of visitors
enjoy the lake surroundings, situated between
the Houston Zoo and a major children’s
playground and water play areas. Paths
provide pedestrian access around the lake,
including wetland boardwalks and a fishing
pier. A new boathouse and paddleboat dock
provide an attractive venue and landmark
on the east side of the lake. The miniature
train, a much -loved fixture in the park,
was re-routed and integrated into the lake
plan, adding excitement to the surroundings
and a fun way to explore the park.
White Oak Studio collaborated with SLA
Studio Land on this project – WOS
role was project manager for the multi-discipline
design team, liaison with the client and
public groups and design for habitat planting
areas. Naturalists from the Houston Zoo
and the Texas Parks and Wildlife and a respected
child-safety expert were resources for the
design team.
Mr. Patterson completed this project in
2000 while principal at Knudson & Associates. |
