Honoring History, Enhancing Community, and Redefining Green Space
Nestled in the heart of Bryan Place, Exall Park has long been a cherished retreat for the community—a place where neighbors gather, children play, and nature thrives in an urban setting. Over time, however, the park’s landscaping became overgrown, making upkeep difficult and impacting both safety and visual appeal.
Recognizing the need for a thoughtful and sustainable redesign, Friends of Exall Park, a nonprofit dedicated to the park’s preservation, partnered with Avesso Studio, a leading name in landscape design in Dallas, to reimagine its four main flower beds.
The goal was not just to introduce new plantings but to breathe life back into the space—to create a modern, inviting landscape that:
Embraces native and adaptable plants for resilience and sustainability.
Follows xeriscaping principles to minimize water usage and long-term maintenance.
Improves sightlines and security by replacing dense, overgrown shrubs with low-profile plantings.
Preserves and reintegrates existing boulders and mature Texas Yuccas to honor the park’s natural character.
For Avesso Studio’s Lead Principal Landscape Designer, Daniel Stanley, this project was profoundly personal.
“This park is full of life—from people exercising to children learning to ride their bikes. I wanted these flower beds to reflect that energy—to be a welcoming embrace at every entrance, seamlessly woven into the rhythm of the park.”
A Design Rooted in Experience & Purpose
As both a designer and a frequent parkgoer, Stanley understood the park’s subtleties and shortcomings better than most. Having spent countless hours walking its paths, he became intimately familiar with how people interact with the space. “When I walked into the park, the flower beds didn’t inspire me. Even after an energizing 45-minute walk, they felt stagnant. I wanted them to greet visitors with the same sense of energy and renewal that the park itself provides.” Daniel says in his first meeting with his team.
A key observation was that the overgrown shrubs obstructed views, making certain areas feel uninviting and even unsafe. The new design aimed to restore a sense of openness and movement, allowing visitors to feel more connected to the space and each other.
Rather than taking a demolition-first approach, Avesso Studio focused on preserving and enhancing what was already there.
A Thoughtful Approach to Reuse & Renewal
Many landscape projects start with a blank slate, but great design respects what already exists. Instead of removing established natural elements, Avesso Studio embraced a strategy of adaptive reuse, ensuring a seamless blending of past and present. “The Texas Yuccas and landscape boulders hold a familiarity for park patrons. Keeping them in the design was a way to honor what was already there—to respect the region while breathing new life into the space.” Daniel Stanley talks about the concept design for the park.
Mature Texas Yuccas were repositioned to act as sculptural focal points, their bold, architectural forms standing out among the new plantings.
Boulders scattered throughout the park were repurposed as border accents, and anchor points, ensuring a sense of permanence and cohesion.
This approach not only reduced waste but also ensured that the redesign felt like an evolution rather than a replacement.
Texas Yucas from existing flower beds.
A Sustainable Vision for Landscape Design in Dallas
Dallas presents unique environmental challenges for landscape design—from scorching summers to occasional winter freezes. To create a thriving, low-maintenance park landscape, Avesso Studio followed core xeriscaping principles:
1. Native & Adaptable Plants for Resilience
Selecting the right plants was essential for ensuring beauty, durability, and ecological benefits. The plant palette featured:
Mexican Feather Grass – Adds movement and soft texture.
Agastache & Purple Coneflower – Seasonal color with pollinator appeal.
Autumn Sage – A hardy, drought-resistant bloomer.
Twisted Leaf Yucca & Color Guard Yucca – Bold sculptural forms.
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass – An ornamental grass with dynamic seed heads.
These plants enhance biodiversity and require minimal watering, making them perfect for sustainable landscape design in Dallas.
2. A Ground Cover Strategy for Beauty & Function
Instead of traditional mulch alone, the design incorporated a blend of organic mulch and Apache Red Gravel to provide visual contrast and long-term resilience. “A mix of materials creates a sense of depth and richness. More importantly, both the mulch and gravel serve a functional purpose—protecting the root systems from Texas’ extreme weather, from its scorching summers to its rare freezes.” explains Daniel.
This ensures that the landscape remains vibrant and structured throughout the seasons.
A Design That Grows Over Time
A truly successful landscape design isn’t just about the present—it’s about how the space evolves.
“I always tell clients—‘First year, the plants sleep; second year, they creep; third year, they leap.’ In three years, this space will be thriving, fully contributing to its ecosystem, attracting pollinators, and feeling like it has always belonged here.” Daniel says.
This long-term approach ensures that Exall Park continues to flourish, not just immediately after installation, but for years to come.
Community Impact & Reception
Beyond aesthetics, the greatest success of the project has been the community’s response. “The most rewarding part of any project is seeing how people interact with the space once it’s complete. Hearing visitors say they love seeing the park get the care and attention it deserves—that’s everything.” Daniel says.
Feedback from park visitors has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the care and attention given to this beloved public space.
"My hope is that these beds allow everyone to slow down a bit, and feel inspired by seeing these plants grow and develop over time. One of my favorite things about plants is that they have this ability to capture your attention, immediately pulling you into the present moment and breath. I hope these beds do just that for all it’s patrons." - Daniel Stanley
Luxury Landscape Design in Dallas: A Vision Realized
The Exall Park flower bed redesign is more than just aesthetic renewal—it’s a thoughtful reinvention of a space that has long been part of the neighborhood’s fabric. It stands as a model for sustainable, community-driven landscape design in Dallas.
🌿 Looking for high-end landscape design in Dallas? Whether for a public park, private estate, or boutique commercial property, Avesso Studio specializes in luxury, wellness-driven landscape design tailored to your needs.
📩 Contact us today to explore how we can bring a modern, sustainable approach to your next project.
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