June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 49

Public engagement events were led by a
ages, symbols and poetry in order to
ects. " It's been a process that has
local artist who focused on community
discover patterns, connections and
involved the community from the
culture to ensure that the park fits the
ideas that one
would otherwise fail
start withand
thewhat
creative
engagement
needs
community.
life, gatherings,
culture, and play
lookof the
The
workshops inspire conversational, visual,
Our Process
in these
and theatrical exercises that invite participants
to see, " according
tocreative
Golson.
The
that
wasspaces.
implemented.
Our team's
process
includesstrategy
research, like
a park as a continuation of their
teamthat
produces
culturally-oriented
documentation,
storytelling.
group worked
with theand
Oak
Grove
We haven'tOur
done
for unique
any othfunctiontoasimagine
a critical
component to
workshops that allow residents to engage and memories.
Through
canvassing
the
community,
we
learn
community to create the park's
er park, but
it's
something
that
we
the
site's
sustainability
and aesthethow residents occupy and activate individual and express their memories and visions of parks and
shared
spaces.
conceptualshared
layout
and
determine
would
like
to
see
if
it
works
here
ically
as
a
natural
water
feature. A
spaces (such as bus stops, restaurants, etc)
desired amenities, all of which are
and how we can utilize that strateconstructed wetland and a series of
LY N N B R O O K O P E N S PA C E
summarized in the design sketchgy again. We like to experiment -
small bridges will create a natural
book. Community events, such
not everything always goes to plan,
space that people of all ages will enas Fiesta Lynnbrook and Design
but we do like to try to be creative
joy, embodying how green stormOver Dinner, offered the commuand find different ways to engage
water infrastructure can be an intenity opportunities to discuss their
with the community because our
gral component of environmentally
needs and aspirations for the space
old ways of having a standard comresilient community parks.
in a comfortable, in-person environmunity meeting are becoming less
The move toward a healthy enment. Community members were
and less effective, " says Cook.
vironment is fast approaching for
involved in determining themes and
the Oak Grove community. Lynndesign elements that are included in
Making Progress
brook Park's planning and concepthe park's creation.
While this project had planned
tual designs are finished, and the
For Golson and his team, their
to move forward with existing reconstruction documents are nearly
participation didn't end with the
sources, NRPA's involvement has
complete with a plan to open the
park design. Involvement with the
made it possible to deliver a more
park in spring 2022.
community continues today and
complete vision of the park to the
Projects like Lynnbrook Park
will be integral in the future as pubcommunity. The park is scheduled
wouldn't be possible without our
lic art is chosen for the site. The reto have traditional park elements,
PBC donors. For more information
sult of the process is a design that is
such as a playground and an open
about the PBC project and how
intentional and not only meets the
lawn area, and more communityyou can be involved, contact Nury
needs of the community, but also is
specific elements, including a paMárquez, NRPA's senior director
driven by the community.
vilion for group gatherings and
of development, at nmarquez@
For Cook, as a park planner, this
an adult gaming area. The oncenrpa.org.
project and relationship with loderelict drainage will be converted
cal residents and business owners
to an ecologically restored stream
Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett is a freelance
writer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
could be a blueprint for other projwith plantings along the banks that

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Parks & Recreation

June 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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