Smart material choices and interventions preserve Austin’s oldest public park
by arslan_ahmed | November 14, 2023 3:25 pm
Pease Park, Austin’s oldest public park, underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation, focusing on the southernmost tip, Kingsbury Commons. The project prioritized adaptive reuse of park structures, preservation of plants and trees, and the use of flood-resistant materials in line with regional history.
This comprehensive rehabilitation—focused on built elements, historic features, and cultural resources—was guided by the Pease Park Vision Plan adopted by the City of Austin in 2014, designed by Wallace, Roberts & Todd; and Clayton Korte.
The initial phase, executed collaboratively by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Clayton Korte, and Mell Lawrence Architects, concentrated on revitalizing Kingsbury Commons, which is celebrated as the park’s “recreational heart and cultural soul.”
The park’s entrance was redesigned, replacing telephone poles and outdated structures with a limestone sign and historic stone archways, creating a gateway flanked by live oak trees.
This rejuvenation seamlessly integrated mature vegetation with modern facilities, such as event spaces, restrooms, a treetop observation pod, natural playgrounds, a basketball court, and a water feature inspired by Texas Hill Country karst limestone aquifers. Notably, existing features such as a wooded hillside, Civilian Conservation Corps-era picnic tables, and the 1920s Tudor Cottage were preserved and enhanced to honor the park’s rich history.
The Tudor Cottage, perched on a bluff at the park’s southern end, underwent a remarkable transformation from a deteriorating restroom into a spacious event venue. The exterior was preserved, a new window connected the interior to the terrace, and the roof structure was updated to enhance the venue’s expansiveness.
Additional support buildings on the park’s western edge were thoughtfully integrated into the hillside, featuring steel mesh walls and a color palette inspired by the landscape. A modern restroom facility, designed with inspiration from traditional dogtrot structures, offers scenic views of the woods.
Throughout the park, a low limestone wall serves multiple purposes, acting as steps, seating, and a water feature. The spring restoration project exemplifies green infrastructure practices, redirecting water into a spring basin to nurture a vibrant ecosystem. Pedestrian bridges and limestone blocks allow visitors to engage with the spring.
Recreational amenities, strategically placed to educate about central Texas geology, include a playground with natural wood structures, a loose parts play area for creative construction, bocce courts, and exercise equipment in riparian zones. To address flood plain challenges, durable materials were chosen, emphasizing architectural elements that complement the natural setting.
The Treescape, a steel observation pod, provides treetop views while respecting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The project prioritized preserving the mature tree canopy, earning a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) SITES gold certification and an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Honor Award in 2022. The Tudor Cottage’s rehabilitation received the 2021 Preservation Austin Merit Award.
Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/smart-material-choices-and-interventions-preserve-austins-oldest-public-park/