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