Eventually, due to the presence of Allen Parkway to the south and Memorial Drive to the north, it became difficult for pedestrians to enter the park.

During the 1950s, consistent flooding issues led the Army Corps of Engineers to strip the banks of vegetation and straighten the Bayou in order to allow floodwaters to easily pass through.

The project failed to improve drainage as the lack of trees caused brush to grow and impede the flow of water.

[9] Located near the skatepark, the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion includes a boulder rock scramble, a stream and waterfall, a sandpit, climbing logs and stones and a slide.

[11] In 2010, Houston architecture and engineering firm, Page, transformed the historic reservoir into an ultra minimalist, safe, and accessible attraction.