Park 365
SOAR 365 (formerly The Greater Richmond ARC) provides infant and child development services, after school care, adult day support programs as well as administrative offices. In a continued effort to serve the community, the ARC set out on a mission to create an inclusive and universally accessible park on their 4.7 acre site.
LPDA was hired to lead the programming design and construction documentation process for this one of a kind public park. LPDA and SOAR 365 staff engaged individuals with disabilities, families, staff and other community stakeholders in an intensive planning process to determine their needs for programs, amenities and activities which would cater to all abilities and ages.
LPDA prepared a detailed feasibility study which defined form, function, materials, cost and phasing. The park design accommodates a variety of activities, events and features. The focus is on inclusive play, learning and skill development. A variety of elements support the parks programming, including play areas, kids stage, tunnels, misting stations, sensory walls, sensory gardens, greenhouse, tree house, swings, and athletic areas. Extensive native landscaping, natural play elements and sustainable features are integrated into the design. Environmental stewardship, interaction, and sensory engagement are core themes of the park.
The ARC executed a successful fundraising campaign using LPDA’s design and visualization tools. Construction was completed in the Fall of 2015.
PROJECT PARTICULARS
- Location:
- Richmond, VA
- Client:
- SOAR 365
- Scope:
- Site Planning, Graphics, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Lighting Design, Custom Amenity Design, Landscape Architecture
- Scale:
- 2.4 Acres