University Park
Landscape design, pool design, and outdoor living in University Park.
University Park sits north of Highland Park. It shares the same commitment to quality but has its own character. Lots run slightly larger on average. The architecture leans toward Tudor and Georgian. The City of University Park runs its own review with its own standards.
What's specific to University Park
City review. The city requires plan review for pools, pavilions, and retaining walls over a certain height. The process is rigorous. We've worked enough projects here to know what's expected and how to submit cleanly.
Lot size. Most University Park lots run from one-third to three-quarter acre. Pool placement works on most. Setbacks constrain more than north Dallas or Westlake.
Architecture. Tudor homes, Georgian estates, English Cotswold, Mediterranean, French eclectic. The vocabulary leans traditional. Formal axes. Clipped boxwood and yaupon. Mediterranean plantings. Stone hardscape. Modern designs can work but need coordination.
Trees. Established canopy. The city protects tightly. Tree protection is a consistent constraint and regular review point.
HPISD context. University Park is in the Park Cities and HPISD. The neighborhood is quiet, family-oriented, architecturally consistent. That's what owners protect when investing in landscape work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you design a back yard here when space is tight?
Priorities first, then proportion. Decide what the family actually uses, then size the pool, terrace, lawn, planting, and circulation to support each other instead of competing.
Can a small pool still feel luxurious?
Yes. A well-proportioned pool with good materials, planting, lighting, and a strong view from the house reads as far more considered than a big pool that swallows the yard.
How do we get privacy without feeling boxed in?
Layered screening, carefully placed trees, evergreen planting, and fencing or trellises where they earn their place. Uniform screening on all four sides is what makes a lot feel small.
What makes a good front landscape in University Park?
A clear relationship to the architecture, a comfortable path to the front door, well-scaled planting, preserved trees, and enough openness that the house still belongs to the street.
Can we add outdoor living without giving up the garden?
Yes. Covered structures, kitchens, fireplaces, and terraces can share functions and align with the house so they read as efficient rather than oversized.
Do you coordinate planting and hardscape together?
Yes. Planting, patios, pools, fences, walls, and outdoor-living construction are designed as one thing. That is what makes a compact property feel cohesive.
Get in Touch
We look forward to discussing the design and build of a project in University Park. Call (972) 380-1659 or send a note below and we'll reply within one business day.
50+ years combined experience · In-house crew with a trusted trade network