PLAY
CHI CHE WANG PARK
FIRM: Site Design Group, Ltd.
CLIENT: Chicago Park District
DATE: 2009
ROLE: Project Manager
Chi Che Wang Park is a 1.7 acre green oasis built on a previously industrial site. Several public meetings were conducted to arrive at a design that the entire community could stand behind. The playground is nestled into one side of the sweeping entry path while the other side features a community seating area of old world pavers facing the play equipment. Life size play animals stand tall at the edge of the playground, inviting toddlers to climb up. Arching birch trees frame the play area and provide a gateway to the open lawn areas beyond where children play soccer, roll around on the gently sloping berms, or simply enjoy the large amount of greenspace. This centrally located playground provides a fun, unique play experience not only for the adjacent townhomes and single family homes, but for the entire northside neighborhood.
Photos and Drawings by Site Design Group, Ltd.
EGGLESTON PARK
FIRM: Site Design Group, Ltd.
CLIENT: City of Evanston
DATE: 2005
ROLE: Project Manager/Project Designer
An established neighborhood park, Eggleston Park was heavily used, but ready for a facelift. One of the key aspects in its redevelopment was to create ecologically friendly features to complement the adjacent natural areas, such as the Evanston Ecology Center and the Ladd Arboretum. In keeping with the goal of promoting ecology and nature, the playground equipment is naturalistic looking, blending in with the landscape. The innovative boulder climbing wall and rock outcropping harken to the natural landscape. The benches and picnic tables are a subtle addition to the natural landscape, made from recycled plastic. The Chilton Weatheredge drystone retaining wall serves as the backdrop to the sledding hill. The natural cedar and steel post fence along the perimeter blends into the background, complementing the natural theme in the rest of the park. The fence design has since become a standard in the City of Evanston.
Photos and Drawings by Site Design Group, Ltd.
GOUDY SCHOOL CAMPUS PARK
FIRM: Site Design Group, Ltd.
CLIENT: Public Building Commission of Chicago
DATE: 2006
ROLE: Project Manager/Project Designer
This one acre park transforms a vacant lot into a green oasis. Relocating the Winthrop Ave cul-de-sac allows for a multipurpose field bordered by an undulating asphalt running track and playground right outside the school’s front door. The oval playground area, surrounded by seating and landscape areas, embraces the identity of the school’s Cougar mascot with large custom cougar paws inscribed into the rubber surfacing.
Photos and Drawings by Site Design Group, Ltd.
LANGSTON HUGES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DISCOVERY GARDEN
FIRM: Site Design Group, Ltd.
CLIENT: Chicago Public Schools/Public Building Commission of Chicago/SMNG-A
DATE: 2009
ROLE: Project Manager
The intent of the Discovery Garden is to enhance the educational program of the school. As such, the landscape architecture team worked closely with both the client and end user to build a successful project. Showcasing ecological systems by way of the landscape design enriches the education of the community as a whole. Native plantings, permeable pavers, bioswales, and rain gardens are tools used to manage and highlight nature. Learning in an outdoor environment provides the children with a physical frame of reference for their indoor studies. The extensive green roof contributed to the building’s LEED Gold rating. Throughout the project, the challenge was to work within the constraints of the site and budget while still meeting the goals of the users.
Photos and Drawings by Site Design Group, Ltd.
TAYLOR LAURIDSEN FIELDHOUSE AND PLAYGROUND
FIRM: Site Design Group, Ltd.
CLIENT: Public Building Commission of Chicago/Chicago Park District/Booth Hansen
DATE: 2008-2009
ROLE: Project Manager/Project Designer
This project spearheaded the prototype design for new fieldhouses at various Chicago parks. The building design allows for dual entry into the fieldhouse underneath a green roof canopy. The sustainable prairie landscape surrounding the building serves to ground the building in nature. Foundation plantings provide color and texture to the precast concrete building walls. Included in the park complex are sports fields, a parking lot and a playground. The playground features a curvilinear shape with colorful rubber surfacing shapes and patterns. Parkgoers of all ages frequent this multi-use recreational facility anchored by the new fieldhouse building.
Photos and Drawings by Site Design Group, Ltd.
