Accelerated Development: Erie Community Park

For the first time in Design Concepts history a major city park is being completed, from Master Plan to finished project, in less than a year. Usually city park projects like Erie’s take years to complete as public meetings are had, master plans are drawn up and repeatedly revised, city councils debate, contractors are chosen, etc. In the case of Erie Community Park, however, everyone’s ability to work quickly and effectively has lead to a projected completion date in November 2009, just eleven months after work on the master plan began!

There are several factors that contributed to the Erie-DC partnership’s ability to get the park through all the initial steps and under construction so fast. The biggest was the willingness of Erie’s Parks and Recreation department to attend weekly design meetings to answer questions on the spot and allow the plans to move forward. Usually this process takes months as the design team and the client send plans and comments back and forth.

Once ground was broken in Erie things continued to work at an accelerated pace. With the abundance of available workers in the industry construction was underway quickly and the contractor (Turner Construction) and sub-contractors continue to get things done in record time.

Little has slowed construction since it began. The weather has not interfered for the most part and even the encounter of one of the old mineshafts, where a shelter support post was meant to go, did not cause much delay. The problem was quickly solved by changing the post’s location.

The pace of the project has been a pleasant surprise and everyone is looking forward to seeing the completed project in November!

photo courtesy of Ken Obrien

Roxborough Skate Park

 

We've been working with Team Pain on a skate park in Roxborough, CO and it's nearly complete. Wow, it's amazing what those guys can do with concrete. It's not quite open yet, but will be soon. When it is, here's the address:

7673 N Rampart Range Rd

Littleton, CO 80125

You can see more project photos at our project page

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Natural Play

Natural play, what does it mean and how does it effect our playgrounds? As designers, have we really grasped what the concept of natural play means? Is it as simple as adding tree trunks, sand, and boulders to a design? If so, great! We do this in many of our playgrounds here at Design Concepts. But yet, I want to believe that there is more to this notion of natural play than the addition of “natural” elements. Although, as designers, we are trying to incorporate the notion of natural play, we are still faced with the same parameters and restrictions of liability, safety zones, and fall heights.

Natural play is not strictly about using “natural” elements, it is about creating connections, a sense of risk, and a feeling of discovery. Creating connections is about designing spaces, such as playgrounds that allow kids to interact with their natural surroundings. A sense of risk is important for kids to “test their limits” and a sense of discovery can be created by providing opportunities to unearth something new. In the end, no matter how “natural” the space is, it must be well designed.

One of Design Concepts most recent projects, Bear Creek Park, is a great example of a park where formal play elements, such as swings and climbing walls, are combined with natural play elements. And yes, we used tree trunks and boulders! Our clients are asking for natural play and parents are talking about natural play, our challenge as designers is to continue to create connections with nature, “test our limits” and remember our sense of discovery.
-Amanda

Bear Creek Park Renovation Makes the News

Channel 4 News recently reported on the completion of a park that Design Concepts was involved in renovating. See the link to the story on the News 4 website here.

The Denver Post's Popular Front Range Parks

The Denver Post recently published the 11 most visited parks along the Front Range in an article titled "Come Out: Summer's Waiting". Design Concepts was involved with five of the parks mentioned:

• Fossil Creek Park in Ft. Collins
• Louisville Community Park
• Northglenn Sensory Park
• Utah Park in Aurora
• Westlands Park in Greenwood Village.
  

Photo of Westland's play structure courtesy of Denverpost.com