Your Next Summer Adventure Might Be a Parkhill Project
As you plan your summer adventures, you may be surprised to discover how many destinations have one thing in common: Parkhill. From feeding giraffes and cooling off at water parks to exploring museums, hiking nature trails, and playing pickleball, we’ve helped create places where communities gather, play, and make lasting memories. Here are five destinations to add to your summer plans.
The Abilene Zoo offers families a memorable experience through up-close animal encounters and engaging exhibits designed for all ages. Parkhill designed the giraffe facility for the zoo to give visitors a personal, face-to-face animal encounter, featuring a thoughtfully designed two-level feeding platform that serves both educational sessions and special event rentals.
The lower level houses heated and ventilated holding areas for various species, along with animal food preparation areas, creating a behind-the-scenes learning opportunity for curious spectators. A separate giraffe-holding building and yard provide space for inclement weather and breeding isolation, rounding out a facility that balances animal wellness with an enriching visitor experience.
Parkhill also developed a master plan for the Abilene Zoo focused on strategic planning, animal wellness, and community engagement to support the zoo’s growth as a destination for families across the region. These phases will add even more learning opportunities and reasons to visit!
Ellen Noel Art Museum | Odessa, Texas
The Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin stands as a key cultural institution in Odessa, Texas, dedicated to enriching the community with diverse art experiences for visitors of all ages. Parkhill completed a renovation and expansion of the museum building that created more space for the programs and activities families love, including exhibitions, classes, workshops, and community events.
The expanded facility features state-of-the-art galleries and enlarged studio spaces where children and adults can explore their creativity, along with modern amenities designed to inspire learning at every level. Summer camps offered through the museum give younger visitors a hands-on opportunity to engage with art in a welcoming, inspiring environment.
The renovation also improved accessibility features throughout the building, helping to make the museum a more inclusive destination for families and visitors in the Permian Basin community.
El Paso Water Parks | El Paso, Texas
Lost Kingdom, Camp Cohen, and Chapoteo Water Parks are three signature aquatic parks in El Paso, transforming traditional public pools into resort-style destinations that celebrate the culture and traditions of their surrounding neighborhoods.
Lost Kingdom Water Park brings Mayan history to life with a ceremonial entrance and mosaic Mayan calendar, while Camp Cohen Water Park offers a camp-inspired family experience nestled near the Franklin Mountains in Northeast El Paso. Chapoteo Water Park in East El Paso embraces a vibrant Mexican fiesta theme, complete with a mini-zocalo and beautiful Folklorico “Faldas” sculpture.
Each park is packed with culturally rich summer activities for all ages, including water slides, leisure pools with playground structures and current channels, lap pools with climbing walls, and dedicated toddler pools for the youngest visitors. Families can cool off and relax in resort-style cabanas with lounge furniture, grab a bite from concessions, and enjoy shaded dining areas throughout the parks.
Flower Mound Heritage Park | Flower Mound, Texas
Heritage Park Phase 4 in Flower Mound, Texas, invites residents and visitors to explore the natural beauty of the Cross Timbers ecoregion through a variety of outdoor activities. The one-mile Wildlife Encounter Trail winds through dense woodlands, native gardens, and shaded gathering areas, where sculptures of Texas wildlife, interpretive signage, and animal footprints create an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.
Phase 4 of the park also features an 18-hole disc golf course designed with World Champion Eric McCabe and Dynamic Discs, set among rolling hills, wooded terrain, and a meandering creek. This course is recognized as one of the top disc golf destinations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Southlake Pickleball Complex | Southlake, Texas
The Bicentennial Pickleball Complex in Southlake, Texas, is a 1.25-acre facility designed to be a destination for one of summer’s most popular pastimes. The complex features nine lighted courts, including eight standard courts and one championship court, so players of all skill levels can enjoy friendly matches or competitive games even after the sun goes down. Two pavilions with seating and fans provide shade from the summer heat, and synthetic turf gathering areas and courtside tables create inviting spaces for socializing between games.
The Championship Court supports recreational play, championship-level competition, and group instruction, giving players of every skill level a reason to come out and learn or sharpen their game. Covered bleachers, an air-conditioned restroom, and an on-site office round out the amenities. The project earned the 2024 TRAPS North Recreation Design Excellence Award, a recognition of its thoughtful design and contribution to community health and recreation.
