Hensel Park Revitalization

Proposal

Rebecca Cipriano

Daniella Hiche

Lance Permenter

Dori Meredith

Stephanie McMeans

Stacey Alexander

Planning Process

• Visitation of the park and

surrounding areas

• Hensel Park Committee

interview

• Site Inventory

• Alternative design plans

• Final conceptual plan

• Hensel Park Revitalization

Proposal

Positive Features

• Ecological value of Post Oak Savanna

• Location of the park

• Existing trails and paths

• Willingness of major stakeholders to work

together to redevelop Hensel Park

Negative Features

• Poorly maintained facilities

• Inadequate landscape

maintenance

• Lack of management authority

• Littering and vandalism

• Lack of safety/security

• Insufficient promotion

• Inadequate access

Hensel Park Mission

To provide a unique park to the Bryan and

College Station community that welcomes

a variety of users to enjoy the natural

environment through recreational and

educational experiences.

Hensel Park is intended to serve as an

identity icon symbolizing the combined

efforts from its main supporters: TAMU,

College Station, and Bryan.

Goals and Objectives

• To promote the interaction

between the park’s

environment and its users.

• To enhance the

connectivity between the

surrounding land uses and

the park.

• To create non-motorized

accessibility to the park

from different entrances.

• To provide multiple-use

trails for recreation and

educational interpretation.

• To define different types

of uses by design.

• To serve as an educational

resource explaining the

ecological and human

built-history of the area.

Overview of Proposal

A. Take advantage of

existing positive

features

B. Overcome or

minimize negative

features

C. Design of conceptual

plan

D. Presentation of the

outcome of five

features

1. Trail entrance

2. Interpretive

Tower

3. Playgrounds

4. Trail System

5. Water Feature

Major Targets for

Revitalization

• Redevelop facilities

– Restrooms

– Picnic tables

– Open fields

– Playgrounds

– Dome

• Create accessibility

– Trail system

– New entrances

– New parking lot

– Sidewalks

Major Targets Continued

• Create recreational and educational opportunities

– Interpretive trail signage

– Water Feature

– Outlook Tower

– Well defined activity zone

• Promote multiple uses through zoning

– Group Picnic Facilities/Open Playfield

– Exploration Trails/Tower

– Park Connection

– Bark Park/Small Group Playground

– Post Oak Savanna Interpretive Trails

Conceptual Plan

Group Picnic Area/

Open Playfield

Exploration Trails and

Tower

Park Connection

Bark Park and Playground

Post Oak Savanna

Interpretive Trails

Feature 1: Trail Entrance

Existing Entrance

Feature 1: Trail Entrance

Proposed Entrance

Feature 2: Hensel Tower

Interpretive

Outlook Tower

New Playground

Existing Area

Proposed

Feature 4: Trail System

Existing

Desirable Signage

Feature 5: Water Feature

Existing

Water Feature

Proposed Water Feature

Recommendations

(Sustainability Statement)

• Work on stakeholder participation and input

from community

• Integrated plan (consider social,

environmental, economic)

• Long-term planning