LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/274582
112 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Veterans' Park (Continued from page 72) The Pride and Purpose Sentry is a 35-ft. tower of steel clad in granite, arising from a granite pool basin with fountain jets. PhoTo: Mark herboTh PhoTograPhy edge of the Service Plaza are five Service Arches, one for each military branch. These provide a "visual and physical gateway from life in the service to life after." The Reflection Garden is on the creek side of the Service Plaza. It's a contemplative space buffered from adjacent streets with walls, and landscaping. A curvilinear creek side boardwalk mimics the nearby stream. Native plantings and the rain gardens collect stormwater. Water in this space takes the form of a bubbling springhead to repeat its companion feature in the community plaza, suggesting a return to home. A second water feature is a stoic, calm and reflective pool of water over black granite. Camaraderie Plaza, a group setting for programmed presentations, is framed by water and gardens. Natural Creekside Zone At the northern edge of the park the structured plaza geometry dissolves into lawn and native plant zones toward the banks of Cross Creek. This zone also denotes important environmentally regulated and zones to protect water resources. Rehabilitated landscapes is part of the project vision. The site was derelict land adjacent to Cross Creek, a narrow, urbanized stream with some sections of hardened channel. The project coaxed the land back to health and community service. A relocated streambed, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands were some of the means used to achieve this goal. Stream Banks and Water Quality The design of the site addressed protection of the stream banks and water quality: double rows of silt protection fencing; establishment and preservation of stream buffers; design of grading plans to protect the flood plain and enhance flood storage volume by selected excavation and reshaping contours; design of constructed wetlands to receive stormwater runoff and filter it prior to release into the stream; relocation of a side-feeder ditch to create a longer, naturalized stream channel to improve water quality and stream habitat, reduce flow rates and introduce more native vegetation species; integration of rain gardens and bioretention areas into the site design to enhance treatment of stormwater runoff and provide a public commitment to environmental stewardship. I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 7 3 1 112-113.indd 112 2/28/14 5:22 PM