Turtle Creek Park Now Even Better

Turtle Creek Park, My Favorite Neighborhood

When the late Glenn Mitchell asked me in an interview on KERA Public Radio which neighborhood I would show an out-of-town client first, I replied without hesitation Turtle Creek Park, explaining that to reach this small neighborhood of 37 houses, a person crosses a stone bridge and proceeds up the hill on a winding tree-lined street to explore the architect designed homes framed by the Katy Trail, Rock Creek and Turtle Creek.

Neighborhood of Topography, Trees and Water

Topography, trees and water are the natural attractions of this hidden neighborhood that is walking distance to everyone’s favorite restaurants, parks and cultural attractions.  Now the neighborhood is even better.  The City of Dallas Parks Department participated with the homeowners along Turtle Creek to dredge this wide and now free flowing creek.  Some of the homes are perched high off the creek, others have lawns tapering down to the creek.

Rock Creek descends into Turtle Creek framing home site

One of my favorite homes is sited on two creeks, Rock Creek  as it descends into Turtle Creek.  This English style home with a façade of oversized brick has a strong rustic presence softened by its refined lines and abundance of windows and panoramic views of water, trees, and meandering creeks. 

When Dallas is sometimes confused with endless new homes of the suburbs, it is nice when people new to the city, like the AT&T executives being transferred to Dallas as part of the AT&T corporate headquarters relocation, can see a beautiful example of Dallas a city of distinct neighborhoods, rather than the just viewing the city as an endless, mind numbing tour of houses based on square footage prices.

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Landscape architect Dave Rolston and his wife Julie Cohn, an artist and textile designer, recently renovated their modern home on Tokalon Drive located in Lakewood.  This Texas modern home is on a street of Tudor, Georgian and Spanish Colonial homes.  It is always interesting when a single modern home such as this does not stick out on a street of 1920s and 1930s eclectic homes.  Here, the similar and respectful scale and setback of the home contributes to the streetscape.  The landscaping created by Dave Rolston does not hide the home, it accentuates the home while maintaining the visual rhythm of the street. 

Modern homes often are able to create views of verdant gardens or emphasize features of the natural site by the ample employment of windows and by the configuration of the structure to take advantage of the site.  With two artists orchestrating the design and landscape who have resources like architect Max Levy and other pals like architects Frank Welch, Dan Shipley and Ron Wommack, one would expect something special.  I did and it was a real treat when I visited the home Saturday morning.

Landscape Design

Just as Frank Lloyd Wright consistently fiddled with his Oak Park home, using his own residence as a laboratory, Dave Rolston will rework areas of his garden, a small creek will become a pond, sight lines will be improved.  Dave Rolston has created a garden of paths, ponds, quiet sitting areas, terraces and broad lawns for entertaining.  From every approach, new spaces become evident.  There is no single landscape feature that jumps out at you, but a series of pleasing surprises that leave the visitor exhilarated.

 
I might also note architects often find the best sites.  Who would ever know walking down Tokalon that behind this home is a several acre greenbelt separating this rear garden from White Rock Lake Park.

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