Landscape Architect Articles

A Theme Park in America's Heartland06-19-24 | Feature

A Theme Park in America's Heartland

Waterloo, IA
by Samantha Price, PLA, ASLA, RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects - PHOTO CREDIT: RITLAND+KUIPER (EXCEPT WHERE NOTED)

The project entailed 300,000 sq. ft. of concrete. The design for decorative concrete required intensive attention to detail. Staining operations started as soon as the concrete was fully cured and cleaned. Frequent rain presented a challenge during construction, as it caused muddy conditions and tracks on the concrete, which needed to be cleaned, design drawn, cut with a hand grinder, washed, and stained in between rain events. PHOTO CREDIT: LOST ISLAND THEME PARK

This family-owned amusement park in Waterloo, Iowa opened in 2022 and was built as a complement to the family's water park, which started in 1999. Named Lost Island Theme Park, its overarching fantasy vision, created by BDR Design Group and the Bertch family, encompasses five themes or realms, each with their own back story, color palette, site props, ride mix, cast of characters, and architecture. They are Mura, the fire realm, Yuta (earth), Awa (water), Udara (air), and Tamariki (spirit). RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects was put in charge of creating the design plans and overseeing implementation of landscape plantings, the pond and stream, ornamental fencing, seating walls, faux palm trees, colored concrete, and an irrigation system. PHOTO CREDIT: LOST ISLAND THEME PARK

Within each of the five realms, there is an iconic space showcasing something distinctive and interactive related to that realm. For Udara, its icon incorporates creatively designed, precast concrete undulating benches. While the landscaping around the icon area is currently in its early stages, it is intended to, once matured, evolve into a lush wall of vegetation. PHOTO CREDIT: LANDMARK CONTRACTORS

BASED OFF A CONCEPT DRAWING BY BDR DESIGN GROUP, RKLA WORKED WITH JEFF GRAMLING OF WAUSAU TILE TO FASHION CUSTOM BENCH PIECES THAT COULD BE FIT TOGETHER TO CREATE THE UNDULATING BENCHES LOCATED IN THE UDARA REALM. THE TOP OF THE BENCH WAS DESIGNED WITH A RECESS TO ALLOW FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF TO BE ADDED.

To create the swirl design at the front entrance, Brightview used a total station with control points set by licensed surveyors and shot points for layout and elevation verification. The concrete designs required all radii, points of curvature, and vertices to be marked on the finished concrete. Each mark was GPS located and hand drawn on the concrete using a wax crayon. Landmark Contractors, Inc. was responsible for hand grinding the concrete design prior to applying the concrete stain. Surrounding much of the perimeter of the park is a blend of short prairie forbs, legumes, and grasses. Within the park's interior, 450 trees were planted. The concrete parking lot was designed by the project's architect, Bleck and Bleck. On the other side of the 30-acre lake, less than a mile away from Lost Island Theme Park and partially hidden by mature trees, is Lost Island Waterpark, which was established in 1999 by the Bertch Family. PHOTO CREDIT: LOST ISLAND THEME PARK

COST of Wisconsin provided all Realm Wayfinder statues and many buildings in the park, like this Mura (fire) Realm entrance sign (left), the steel frame and exterior of the 40' tall volcano, and the Totara Market in the Yuta (earth) Realm (right).

The transition from one realm to another is indicated visually with the use of specialty pavement designs on the concrete pathway showcasing the different icons that represent each realm. Here, the water drops signifying the Awa (water) Realm led to the icon of the Udara (air) Realm. The planting plan consisted of over 30,000 plants. Each realm had its own mix of daylily blends of three cultivars of similar height in the color palette of that realm. There are 40 cultivars of daylilies used throughout the park, resulting in about 1,200 daylilies planted in each realm. The Bertch Family was heavily involved in the planting palette of the park. The Awa realm (left) features Hemerocallis x 'Summer Wine', Hemerocallis x 'Pink Playmate', and Hemerocallis x 'Final Touch' for one of its three unique daylily plant palettes. PHOTO CREDIT: LANDMARK CONTRACTORS

Midland Concrete Products provided custom-colored outcropping stone, which was installed by Maloney Landscapes. This versatile stone serves a dual purpose, functioning not only as a retaining wall for a planter but also as a wide and appropriately positioned seat wall.

In the Awa Realm, encircling a central globe feature, is a splash pad labyrinth that demanded precision design and construction to efficiently drain. The challenge for visitors is to make it to the center without getting wet by triggering the hidden spray jets. So, if the splash pad did not drain efficiently, the path with the sprays would be revealed, negating the challenge. Extra-large, curved, precast concrete benches surround the splash pad. PHOTO CREDIT: LANDMARK CONTRACTORS

The Tamariki (spirit) Realm highlights the use of vibrant colors and interesting textures. Stained concrete was employed throughout the park in turquoise, gold, eggplant, burnt sienna, grey, midnight black, green, and sand. Also, 3-in-1 Prep and Smart Seal were applied to the colored concrete as a finishing touch.

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In 2019 in Waterloo, Iowa, the owners of Lost Island Water Park, the Bertch family, started planning a major expansion to make Waterloo a vacation destination. The result is Lost Island Theme Park.

It comprises five distinct realms, envisioned by BDR Design Group and the Bertch family. Each realm features a specific back story, color palette, site props, ride mix, cast of characters, and architecture.

The family members were hands-on during the process: designing thematic elements, hand-stamping concrete impressions, planting trees, painting, lashing rope fencing, building site props, and selecting specific landscaping materials.

Design Development
RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects (RKLA) was hired by the Weber Group to create the design plans and guide implementation of landscape plantings and other features, such as the colored concrete, pond and stream details, ornamental fencing, seating walls, faux palm trees, and an irrigation system, while assisting Bleck and Bleck Architects with grading design.

RKLA worked directly with project managers, Jerome Jacobi, Greg Bytner, and Dan Rudyk of Weber Group, and the Bertch family on this $125 million development.

RKLA faced the distinctive challenge of crafting a unified palette of materials and plants for the entire park while preserving the individual identities of each realm. The outcome is a fusion of vibrant colors, different fencing styles, light fixtures, signage, building architecture, and stamped concrete patterns.

The individuality of each comes to life through a meticulous selection of plants -- over 30,000 of them -- ranging from majestic, spaded oak trees from the Bertch family farm to expansive swaths of shrubs and perennials.

Surrounding the 90-acre park and its 30-acre lake are vast stretches of short grass prairie plantings and other "no mow" areas of short fescue grass.

Custom-colored precast concrete serves as a unifying thread that intricately weaves the tapestry of the Lost Island world together.

Tamariki Realm
Bursting with vibrant colors and captivating textures, the Tamariki (spirit) realm exudes a playful ambiance. Tailored with rides that cater to children or those young at heart, the entrance to the realm is marked by a threshold showcasing a mosaic of pavement colors.

The incorporation of plants such as Allium, Daylily (Hemerocallis), Hibiscus, Coneflower (Echinacea), and Weigela infused vibrant splashes of color across the entire realm. Nuton benches from Wausau Tile were used as seating around the centrally located play space, featuring equipment representing each realm.

Udara Realm
Characterized by its striking white props and structures resembling clouds, the Udara (air) realm is full of complex contraptions designed to harness the power of the wind. Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) establish the thematic rhythm for the plant palette, featuring plants that gently rustle in the faintest breeze.

With blues, purples, and pinks, the landscape design harmonizes with the predominant white and purple aesthetics of the realm. Udara's icon area features undulating benches adorned with artificial turf. These surround an interactive installation of wind instruments and a colossal windmill animated by pedal power.

Awa Realm
Crossing a man-made waterway, the Awa (water) realm transports guests to a man-made island that offers breathtaking views of the park, courtesy of Alzanu's Eye - a 100-foot Ferris wheel.

The banks of the lake are enriched with a cool-season mix designed for mesic slopes. Traditional lawn areas constitute less than half an acre of area within the park. By limiting mowed lawn areas, the park reduced irrigation needs, allowing for denser and more sustainable plantings.

RITLAND+KUIPER curated plant selections that thrive in Iowa's climate while evoking the essence of a tropical beach vacation. This included Hibiscus, with many varieties adaptable to Iowa's growing conditions.

RKLA also incorporated Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), Sem False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'), and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), seamlessly blended with vibrant flowering perennials -- imparting tropical vibes yet ensuring winter hardiness.

Yuta Realm
Another bridge from Awa leads to the Yuta (earth) realm, whose planting strategy focused on captivating textures and a spectrum of green shades.

This includes large sweeps of perennial grasses and mass plantings of evergreens complemented by flowering shrubs and perennials boasting blossoms in white or yellow hues.

To enhance this realm, an intricately detailed sand area was brought to life by COST of Wisconsin. Large, spaded evergreens planted by the Bertch family a decade ago were strategically placed. Samantha Price, PLA, RKLA's senior landscape architect, collaborated closely with the family to relocate and seamlessly integrate the trees from their family farm.

Mura Realm
A central iconic volcano creates the illusion of flowing lava on the Mura (fire) realm pathway, which is crafted from colored concrete and adorned with black, gold, red, and orange glass pebbles.

The planting palette features plants in rich shades of red and purple, including Royal Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'), Black Lace Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo').

Construction
The Bertch Family preferred to use local contractors, but the sheer scale of the project surpassed their capabilities. In the face of the project's scope, timeline constraints, and escalating pressures from the ongoing COVID pandemic disrupting the supply chain, Brightview was contracted to install concrete flat works, hardscapes, landscapes including amended organic soil blending, water features, and irrigation.

Beginning in July of 2021, the high expectations were to meet a summer 2022 opening date. The Brightview management team included executive project manager Ed Mauser, branch manager James Wallace, senior project manager Tanner Volk, and project engineer Alex Montero, alongside the Chicago Brightview Branch for key administrative processing.

With approximately 300,000 square feet of concrete to pour in 8 months, Brightview partnered with Landmark Contractors of Huntley, Illinois. Every two days 6,000 square feet of concrete was poured.

Brightview pulled resources from their state offices to help meet the project schedule. This included foreman Jose Avila; general superintendent Dennis Pfaff, superintendent Rojelio Luna from Illinois; general superintendent Willie Roman from North Carolina; aquatics general superintendent Joe Mallon from Las Vegas; superintendent Ken Earley from Florida; and superintendent Joe Gutierrez from New Mexico.

With falling temperatures, hardscapes slowed down, but didn't stop. Brightview and Landmark continued concrete installation and grading procedures throughout the winter, using ground heaters and concrete blankets.

Landscape operations and tree planting continued into the fall and spring alongside the Brightview irrigation teams. RKLA's diverse plant palette required a national sourcing effort. Brightview's purchasing teams managed to do so.

Maloney Landscapes installed over 5,000 square feet of retaining, seat, and free-standing walls. Their color was custom-designed to match native limestone common to eastern Iowa.

During this time, Midland Concrete Products was experiencing 8 to 10-week lead times due to COVID shutdowns. All the material had to be produced separately because of the custom color, so a second shift was added.

It took them 60 days to produce 5,376 square feet of product. Using the manufacturer's Builders Transportation Fleet and Midland Concrete Products' drivers, 26 loads totaling over 1.2 million pounds were hauled in 10 days to the construction site.

Through the teams collective efforts , this project became a triumphant realization, transforming an artful design into a tangible reality.
(Also contributing to this article were Mark Kuiper, RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects; Eric Bertch, Owner, Lost Island Theme Park; Brightview; Weber Group; Midland Concrete Products.)

TEAM LIST
Landscape Architecture Firm: RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects
Landscape Architect:
Samantha Price, ASLA
Architects:
Bleck and Bleck Architects LLC
Concept Plans Creation:
BDR Design Group
Theme Developers:
COST of Wisconsin
Project Managers: Weber Group
Construction Management:
Brightview Landscape Development
Concrete Work:
Landmark Contractors
Wall Installation: Maloney Landscapes
Site Grading and Seeding: PCI