Nestled in an area of tall pine trees between Timbergrove, Shady Acres, and West Heights is a small residential section known as Clark Pines. It consist of the two streets of West 14th and West 14 1/2 bounded on the east by Dian St. and on the west by White Oak Bayou. The land for the subdivision was purchased out of the H. Vollmer Nieman tract by two developers, R.D. Clark and H.H. Clark, in the 1940's. The homes built on the land were typical small wooden framed houses of the early post war era, most having spacious yards. The subdivision is intersected by a small gully which offshoots from White Oak Bayou.

In the 1950's the neighborhood was predominately family-oriented, with an abundance of children playing in the spacious yards. All the neighbors knew each other on the two streets, often attending the same churches and their children attending the same schools. The quickest way for a kid to visit a friend on the next street was to climb the chain link fences that separated the backyards of homes on 14th and 14 1/2. Turkey Gully, which transversed both 14th and 14 1/2 Streets, was a popular playground for children. Swinging on a rope over the banks of the shallow creekbed or crossing the stream on rocks was great fun. They fished for minnows or looked for turtles and frogs, and learned to be wary of snakes and poison ivy. The Heights Little League field was located on Beall and W. 15th St., and served as a focal point of activity for many years. In the 1960's The SPJST Lodge was built on Beall St. across from the ballpark. It had a large swimming pool, a ballroom, and a tennis court available to neighbors who joined. It is still in operation today.

Clark Pines faced its greatest challenge with Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. White Oak Bayou overflowed and flooded most of Clark Pines. Anne Brezik, a resident for over 50 years, says the subdivision had never been flooded before Allison. "The gully had only risen over its banks once, in 1992, and only as far as my lawn," she says. The water that flooded the neighborhood during Allison came from the north, where White Oak Bayou overflowed across 18th St. Most residents blame development along White Oak Bayou as the main factor, and hope that better flood control will reduce the overflow along the bayou. Some residents of Clark Pines repaired the flood damage to their homes, while others moved or rebuilt homes.

Clark Pines today is a changing neighborhood. Many of the small frame houses are being replaced by large two story houses and townhomes. All homes built now must be mitigated to avoid flooding. The location of the neighborhood makes it a convenient place to live. The tall pines and foliage around the gully give the neighborhood a natural look. Clark Pines and the adjacent neighborhoods of West Heights and Shady Acres are in the midst of a building boom. The Clark Pines Civic Association is very active in maintaining a watchful eye on development in the neighborhood to make sure deed restrictions and city codes are observed. Civic Association President Evelyn Shanley is also involved in a project to preserve and improve the gully as a natural habitat for birds. Clark Pines may be a small neighborhood but it has big plans to move forward into the furture and become one of Houston's quality places to live.

(Near Northwest Banner, June/July, 2006)