CASE STUDY
WOODSON’S RESERVE: A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN NATURE, FAMILY AND PLAY
CLIENT: Toll Brothers and Montgomery County MUD 105
PROJECT: Lexington Park at Woodson’s Reserve
Where creativity intertwines with the natural scenery to create a distinctive recreational feature nestled in the woods.
The Scene
A natural stream flows through the naturally wooded landscape of this Spring community whose character is defined by a commitment to nature and family. On the north side of Houston, Woodson’s Reserve is a 1400-acre master-planned community where single-family residential homes are accented by amenities that connect residents to nature. The recreational options at Woodson’s Reserve were predominantly passive with meandering trails, outdoor seating, and small walkable pocket parks. To diversify the community’s opportunities for play, an active, central park that captured the essence of Woodson’s Reserve was envisioned.
The Project
Lexington Park is a 5-acre maritime-themed park within the Woodson’s Reserve development. The design team had to ensure the community's character and the natural landscape were preserved throughout the design process to create a serene backdrop to the place so many call home. Park features are linked by trails that also connect to neighborhood sections and a nearby elementary school. Residents can rest and relax along the new trail route by stopping at an Adirondack seating area that overlooks an adjacent detention pond or underneath shade pavilions with picnic tables.
For more active recreation, two half-basketball courts and eight pickleball courts were added after previously installed tennis courts became a popular community amenity. A playground for aspiring seafarers features wooden ship play structures of varying sizes that rest on uniquely colored artificial turf to mimic water and land masses. Swings, spinners, and a zip line provide endless amounts of outdoor entertainment.
The process
Many considerations were taken when selecting the ideal location for this destination park. The site needed to be large enough for a parking lot, unlike the community’s pocket parks which are accessed primarily by nearby residents.. The park would also need to be located away from homes to limit noise and light disturbances. A final location was chosen that was central to the development and along a major roadway.
Park and recreation trends evolved as Woodson’s Reserve was developed. Multiple programming options for Lexington Park were explored that would accommodate a variety of users to share the space at the same time. The options ranged from a trail with natural play elements to an array of sports courts. The final design included elements of both passive nature-based spaces and active areas.
The result
Opened in the fall of 2023, Lexington Park has quickly become very popular. Families of all ages are excited about the numerous opportunities for fun at Lexington Park.
