Park Design Principles
Provide a multitude of opportunities to strengthen the social fabric of the St . Cloud community by bringing people together for seasonal events and passive engagements . |
Develop a site-specific design that highlights the native ecology using interactive educational user experiences and stormwater management while providing multiple options for nonmotorized park experiences . |
Provide opportunities for multi-generational activities that support connections to community and the environment . |
Exemplify the social , historical , and environmental character specific to the neighborhood . |
The plan also calls for relocating of the community gardens and improving the sports fields to accommodate softball and soccer .
Every meeting was well-attended , with a mix of kids , parents , neighbors , friends , family , and other stakeholders all taking in the information shared and offering input .
“ We had several public workshops with the community throughout the entire process ,” Jenks said . “ They were very vocal . There ’ s a community group that meets once a month already for this area , and a lot of leadership in that group was part of the steering committee for this project as well . That was crucial in making sure we provided what they were looking for .”
Feedback primarily centered around quality of the existing facilities and requests for improved parking space , more vegetation for shade , wider transportation access , more garden space for the community , improved lighting , additional restrooms , accessible outdoor amenities , a designated multiuse recreation center for educational programs , and outdoor space for various community-led activities – all of which was then used to guide the design process .
“ They enjoyed the process ,” Jenks said . “ They were very hands-on , and the team from Ayres was very informative in educating them on the process and what each step was .”
During Phase 2 , the team shared preliminary concept master plans . Four design principles – centering around social , environmental , recreational , and heritage – were identified as “ must-haves ” to incorporate into the park .
Challenges emerge during process
In addition to educating the public on the process – not all were familiar with how long each step would take or what to expect next – another challenge soon surfaced : a desire to relocate a lift station on the site .
10 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .