Historic Landscape Design Context
- In the early twentieth century, developers from the east coast to the west built garden suburbs, a new kind of residential community that united curvilinear roads and landscape designs as striking elements in a neighborhood. River Oaks developers Will and Mike Hogg along with their business partner Hugh Potter set out in 1924 to create one of the finest examples of garden suburban communities. Beverly Hills, Highland Park, the Country Club District in Kansas City and Roland Park (just outside of Baltimore) are other exemplary communities that were built at this time.
- Potter and the Hogg Brothers hired nationally recognized landscape designers and engineers to create a comprehensive development plan for the new subdivision.
- Landscape design was of utmost importance as a top marketing priority for the River Oaks Estates as it would become the perfect compliment to the already established River Oaks Country Club.
- Beautiful wide esplanades were planned as signature design elements for the center of River Oaks Boulevard and Kirby Drive. As the main thoroughfares, the historic landscape composition called for boxwood hedges and roses on a carpet of green.
- Prominent oval-shaped parks were installed on Chevy Chase, Del Monte, Stanmore and Pine Valley Drives. Oak trees and crepe mrytles lined residential streets as well.
- Today, we strive to have our historic landscape restored.
Improving Our Parks and Green Spaces
Parks, Esplanades and Green Spaces
Locations throughout River Oaks