Bane Park is located on the northwest side of Houston, east of Highway 290 and south of Beltway 8. Talley Landscape Architects, Inc. was chosen to implement a park renovation compliant with the stringent requirements of funding through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoors Grant Program. A private donor provided 3 acres of land adjacent to the park allowing a shallow retention “referred to as mud pit by locals” area to be transformed into a popular neighborhood fishing hole.
Talley Landscape Architects provided full design services from conceptual design through construction phase services all which were within the appropriate reviews provided by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). Park improvements include construction of a bulk-headed peninsula for fishing activities, two pavilions, a gazebo, water play area, horseshoe and volleyball courts, bird watching outlook in wooded areas and a perimeter walking/jogging trail constructed of decomposed granite that is approximately 1 mile in length.
The project entailed a transformation of the shallow mud hole through deep excavation and shaping into a facility with a central peninsula for fishing, a perimeter trail with fringed wetlands plantings for insect and bird habitats along with improved water quality. Another component was bird observation areas between the trail edge and the lake.
A challenge of the project was a lack of water source and drainage area. This necessitated design and installation of an underwater aeration system to maintain the health of the lake and aquatic flora and fauna.
This park, adjacent to multi-family public housing, continues to be heavily used by the community but its Catch and Release Program is particularly popular for veterans and after school neighborhood kids.