years old and in desperate need of repair . The new four-lane Waldo Boulevard opened completely in September 2020 .
The Mead Public Library and the historic Halprin water fountain are welcoming and prominent features of downtown Sheboygan . The plaza space that connects them underwent a much-needed remodel and improved visitors ’ enjoyment of the space . Downtown Sheboygan has undergone multiple redevelopments in the past few years , adding new condominiums , apartments , and the City Green open space . The City was looking to better integrate the library plaza with the urban fabric and to improve connections between Mead Library and these areas as well as the John Michael Kohler Arts Center .
Ayres assisted the City with master planning through final design for the rapid development of the River Prairie area , including landscape architecture , site civil and roadway design , and traffic engineering . The 40-acre town center property includes new streets , utilities , public spaces , residential developments , and bustling commerce in what was a largely undeveloped highway interchange area in 2014 . Within three years about 95 % of a $ 20 million infrastructure build-out had been completed , and private development had snapped up available space about as quickly as it became available .
The new plaza and walkway provide improved safety and comfortable gathering spaces that unify the site internally and externally . Walls that block views into the fountain have been removed , and design elements from the fountain appear in the plaza . The once concrete-dominated plaza and fountain now contain natural plantings and trees for shade , improved seating areas for outdoor gatherings , and opportunities for visitors to appreciate art works .
WPRA honors River Prairie Project
The Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association awarded the City of Altoona ’ s River Prairie Park project a Park Design Award of Merit as part of its 2020 Park Design Awards program .
In 2015 the City of Altoona approached Ayres with a dream to create an iconic development that would help launch economic and community growth . The development ’ s success was contingent upon gracefully merging mixed-use , high-density residential , and commercial spaces surrounding a well-designed public park . The resulting River Prairie development used community-driven placemaking to create a physical park identity that is specific to Altoona ’ s culture and history .
A guiding principle from the start was the placemaking concept of the “ Power of 10 ,” which states that people are more likely to spend time in a space if it provides at least 10 things for them to do . Innovation was embraced at every turn as trees were preserved ; an artificial stream was created ; and electrical power , Wi-Fi , and audio were made widely accessible in public spaces .
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin gave Ayres an Engineering Excellence Best of State Award for the project in 2019 . Regional economic development organization Momentum West gave River Prairie its Project / Development Award , and the Wisconsin Economic Development Association presented its Economic Development Initiative Award to the project .
Geologist rejoins Ayres as business development specialist
Keely Campbell has returned to Ayres in a new role . As a business development strategist , Campbell is focusing on grant writing ; identifying opportunities for our landscape architecture , urban planning , and brownfield redevelopment experts ; and finding new markets for those experts to serve .
38 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .