Lowry Redevelopment Parks and Open Space, Denver

Closure of the 1,900-acre Lowry Air Force Base afforded Denver and Aurora the opportunity to redevelop 230 acres into three parks, with a broad range of recreational and open spaces. Wenk Associates was responsible for master planning, and final design for the phased build-out of the community's primary park and open spaces. The site is designed around a restored and daylighted creek, an integral part of regional stormwater flood detention, conveyance and water quality treatment. The Great Lawn is a community park reminiscent of many of Denver's City Beautiful-era parks. Half of the park is native, nonirrigated landscape, with natural areas, wetlands and prairie landscapes on the perimeter.

Menomonee River Valley Redevelopment, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Menomonee River Valley was once Milwaukee's industrial and rail transportation hub. Over the last several decades, railroad operations were greatly reduced and industry moved away, leaving a polluted, flood-prone valley unfit for redevelopment. Wenk Associates was selected through a multi-phase national design competition to develop a master plan for removing a 140-acre area from the floodplain to allow for one million sq. ft. of office/light industrial development, and establishing parks and open spaces. The site's stormwater infrastructure, designed to create ecologically diverse wetland meadows and forested floodplains, is integrated into a network of parks and playfields. Since 2003, over $24 million of infrastructure and park improvements have been completed. Most of the building sites have been developed, and the Hank Aaron State Trail now connects the site to the city. The final stage of river edge restoration and natural area development is currently being completed in partnership with the Urban Ecology Center, a nonprofit organization focused on educating inner-city residents and youth about the area's environment.

Steamboat Promenade and Burgess Creek, Steamboat Springs, Colo.

The base of the Steamboat Springs Ski area has suffered from a lack of pedestrian gathering places, and a welcoming and vital retail and restaurant environment. The Burgess Creek Promenade project created a snow melting walkway, and daylights the buried creek to link major destinations and businesses. The promenade has become popular for concerts, weddings and sporting events, and has brought new vitality to the shops and restaurants. Prior to construction a parking garage rose 20 feet above the surrounding area, creating a significant barrier. Now a monumental stairway connects the promenade to the commercial and residential destinations. A small amphitheater and an upper-level terrace were added. Thermal hot springs and the granite and sandstone geology were inspirations for fire features and the restoration of Burgess Creek.

Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan

As part of the consulting team responsible for preparation of the Los Angeles River revitalization master plan, Wenk Associates led conceptual design elements along the river's edge for the 32-mile river corridor. The plan is to make the river corridor a green amenity, preserve or enhance flood control functions and natural elements, provide additional parks and open spaces, create a continuous greenway trail and provide opportunities for development to orient toward the river. The plan is a 25-50 year blueprint for comprehensive improvements. Most river reaches exhibit flow velocities too high to sustain vegetation. Maintaining flood capacity and slowing flows are necessary for ecosystem restoration and safe public access. Terraces, ramps, small pocket parks and ponded areas enhance public access. The long-range goal is to reintroduce vegetation to support birds and mammals, and ideally, restore steelhead trout habitat.

Northside Park, Denver

Wenk Associates led master planning through construction for the visionary development of a park from an abandoned sewage treatment plant. The site occupies the center of a developable area along the South Platte River. Because of high demolition costs, no economically feasible use could be identified for the 13-acre plant site. Wenk Associates suggested reuse of plant infrastructure, presenting a viable solution and resulting in a net savings of up to 25 percent of demolition costs. The plan for the park includes multipurpose play fields, adaptive reuse of plant structures for park shelters, and restoration of wildlife habitat. A concrete-lined drainage channel was rerouted to improve water quality and to add to the richness of the park environment. The park has won numerous awards for design and land stewardship. The park is a short distance from downtown Denver and easily accessible by the Platte River Greenway.