I worked with the Village of Elwood to prepare a Preliminary Park Plan for Deer Run Park. The challenge of this 37-acre linear park was to transform the space from industrial buffer to a neighborhood park.
This presentation illustrates three plan alternatives and programming for Deer Run Park - The Deer Run Concept, The Mississippi Concept and The Neighborhood Concept.
3. What we heard
Current park design doesn’t work
Active recreational uses
Slow‐pitch adult softball fields
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Parking
Junior High soccer fields
Bike/Pedestrian trails
/
Improve pedestrian safety along Deer Run and around
playing fields, including lighting
Improve drainage between residential area and ball fields
p g
Screening between park and residential area
Incorporate a fitness trail and interpretive trail
Provide for picnic shelters and storage space for maintenance
p g p
equipment
4. The Vision for CenterPoint Park
Improve the quality and vitality of the park
Enhance the larger park system
g p y
Improve multi‐modal access and safety
Capitalize on previous investment
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Provide flexibility in park spaces
Balance today’s needs and tomorrow’s
opportunities
5. The Vision for CenterPoint Park
Design themes
Flexibility = activity
Make interesting “places” within the park
Make interesting places within the park
Build a park that works within existing
properties, and…
Plan for potential expansion opportunities
Appropriately relate program elements
Manage parking access and layout
Establish a design theme/identity
6. Th P k S
The Park System
Local Connections :
Lloyd Erickson Park
El ood Communit School
Elwood Community School
Little Park/Downtown
7. The Park System
Local Connections :
Lloyd Erickson Park
El
Elwood Community School
d C i S h l
Little Park/Downtown
Regional Connections :
Midewin National
Tallgrass Praire
Abraham Lincoln
National Cemetery
8. C k i
Common park program items
Definable spaces
Connections to regional open space
Lighting/safety infrastructure
Fitness stations
Interpretive trail
Prairie landscaping and/or preserve
Picnic facilities
Entry feature and park theme
Example of a defined space
Concessions Fitness Stations Interpretive Trail
9. C t li i
Conceptualizing
the Park
the Park
Northern Extension
Central Area
Southern Area
25. Di i f t
Discussion of concepts
Key questions
1. What specific design concepts or elements do you find
desirable?
2. What general orientation should the park have?
3. How active/passive should various parts of the park be?
4. What is the relative importance of various program
elements?
5. What potential long‐range opportunities seem appropriate?
29. Deer Run Concept
Deer Run Concept
New Park Features:
Existing Park Features to Remain: Park entry feature from Deer Run
Maintains two existing softball __’ of new pedestrian trail
fields
e ds Contoured park landscape
Jr. High soccer fields Performance space
Picnic areas and play area
Parking (reduced and
Storage/concessions
integrated into plan)
Lighting
Pedestrian trail Landscape improvements along
Preserves woodland area north Deer Run Rd.
of the fire station Integrates parking into park
design
Maintains bermed screening of Interpretive trail
Hoff Rd. Fitness stations
Prairie Restoration
P i i R i
Landscape and screening
30. Mississippi Ave. Concept
Existing Park Features to Remain: New Park Features:
Park entry feature from Mississippi
Maintains one existing softball Ave.
field
ed Contoured park landscape
Jr. High soccer fields __’ of new pedestrian trail
Relocates one softball field
Flexible open space Performance space
Pedestrian trail Pi i
Picnic areas and play area
d l
Storage/concessions
Preserves woodland area north
Lighting
of the fire station Landscape improvements along Deer
M i i b
Maintains bermed screening of
d i f Run Rd.
R Rd
Integrates parking into park design
Hoff Rd.
Interpretive trail
Fitness stations
Prairie Restoration
Landscape and screening
31. Neighborhood Concept
Existing Park Features to Remain: New Park Features:
Park entry feature from Mississippi
Maintains both existing Ave.
So tba e ds
Softball fields Contoured park landscape
Jr. High soccer fields __’ of new pedestrian trail
Relocates one softball field
Flexible open space Performance space
Pedestrian trail Pi i
Picnic areas and play area
d l
Storage/concessions
Preserves woodland area north
Lighting
of the fire station Landscape improvements along Deer
M i i b
Maintains bermed screening of
d i f Run Rd.
R Rd
Integrates parking into park design
Hoff Rd.
Interpretive trail
Fitness stations
Prairie Restoration
Landscape and screening