Landscape Architect & Specifier News

MAR 2018

LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.

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The main play area features rubber play mounds and innovative play equipment designed for ages 2 through 12. One play piece that attracts special attention is a tall tree house with a slide. It's a challenging feature for the younger set, while an igloo-like house fosters imaginative play for the little ones, ages two through five. With the tall play components and the upright stems of aspens throughout, the 'treehouse' nature of the play area provides a welcome contrast within this urban environment. The separated dog-friendly area includes an artificial turf mound and concrete seat wall that makes for a durable, utilitarian play surface for dogs and seating area for owners. To assist with maintenance, the hardscape palette was simplified to concrete and canine artificial turf with an automatic wash-down system. There are two stainless steel dog water bowls to meet the hydrating needs of different sized canines. The custom dog fountain is on a timer to continuously fill and release so that it can be used as a fountain and 'bath' for smaller dogs. Interspersed throughout the space are rounded ceramic stones to engage the dogs for sitting, climbing and jumping. Connecting the children's play area and dog-friendly area is a plaza gathering space and seating area for visitors. The seating area is intended to offer a space of refuge for community residents and to accommodate people out and about from the adjacent hotel and event center. The unit paver plaza is permeable and serves as the main water storage for the site. Prior to construction of the park, environmental contamination was found, which necessitated the removal of 3 feet of soil in all the planting areas and a concrete capping layer beneath the play area and dog park. In keeping with the historic context of the surrounding 'Prairie District' neighborhood, masonry piers with a limestone capstone and base and ornamental metal panels provide the perimeter fencing along Prairie Avenue. Marking the corner of the site at Prairie Avenue and 21st street a 4' x 4' x 5' entry pillar contains March 2018 53

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