At the western gateway of the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, where millions of guests begin their experience, a new stage and event lawn emerge as a cultural landscape rooted in place, heritage, and sustainability. More than a performance venue, the Downtown Disney District LIVE! Stage and adjacent lawn create an inclusive gathering space that celebrates history, invites community interaction, and demonstrates the integration of ecological performance within a high-profile commercial environment.

"The project sought to create a strong sense of community within Downtown Disney," said Jonathan Peters, an executive architect at Walt Disney Imagineering. "Now we had an opportunity to create what is essentially a civic center, where guests could come and relax in a beautifully landscaped environment, surrounded by diverse retail and dining offerings."

This two-acre transformation replaces a former movie theater and surrounding plaza with an open, flexible landscape, woven into the pedestrian fabric of the Downtown Disney District. Positioned among resort hotels, retail, and dining destinations, the site serves as both a physical and symbolic threshold between private resort experiences and the public realm. The design vision prioritized generosity and openness, creating a landscape that welcomes guests of all ages while embedding cultural meaning and environmental resilience within its form.

The program for the space included a stage, lawn, circulation space, a new retail building, and a shade canopy. Through design, this brief evolved into a layered landscape where performance, play, art, and infrastructure coexist. At its center, a sculptural performance stage rises as a focal point for concerts, events, and informal gatherings. Framed by sculptural desert planting, the stage reflects Southern California's architectural heritage while maintaining a contemporary presence within the district. The breeze-block design throughout the project was custom-created by Walt Disney Imagineering, including a Mickey Mouse-inspired geometry that is hidden in plain sight.

"Color was especially important to us, although it is used sparingly," Peters said. "Special pops of color pay homage to Mary Blair, a pioneering Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend who was one of the first to use bold color in mid-century design."

 

Opposite the stage stands the Legacy Tower. Peters added, "we partnered with local 'Artivist,' Nikkolas Smith, to create the tower, which includes motifs that are an homage to trailblazing Black architects of the mid-century era, combined with elements evocative of Disney's influence on mid-century design."

Through this collaboration, the project celebrates the diverse voices that shaped the region's architectural legacy. Between these two anchors flows the landscape itself. Sculpted mounds of synthetic turf introduce playful topography across the lawn while concealing underground stormwater infrastructure. These forms invite informal play and relaxation while demonstrating how ecological systems can be integrated seamlessly into public space. A terrazzo-inspired paving pattern moves through the site, abstracting the meandering path of the nearby Santa Ana River and guiding circulation while creating areas for gathering and rest.

Material selection reinforces both environmental performance and regional identity. Light-colored concrete with exposed aggregate evokes the visual character of terrazzo, while minimizing heat absorption in the Southern California climate. Planting is composed primarily of drought-tolerant and climate-adapted species, including barrel cactus, agaves, Mexican fence posts, and aloes, which were selected for their sculptural form and resilience. Together, these plantings function as living architecture, framing the stage and defining the edges of the lawn.

"We challenged ourselves to move beyond the typical theme park palette," said Bryan Garrene, Principal Landscape Architect at Walt Disney Imagineering. "Our team traveled across Southern California and Arizona, visiting specialty growers to find plants with bold, sculptural character. The result is an eclectic desert botanical collection that signals arrival at the resort while capturing the playful, optimistic spirit of mid-century Southern California."

Garrene continued, "taking inspiration from Bill Evans, a Disney Legend and founding father of landscape architecture at Walt Disney Imagineering, we chose the most unique, exotic, and rare cacti, succulents, and desert plants and arranged them in a way that feels natural and inviting at the entrance to Downtown Disney. The goal was to make the experience feel special from the very beginning, so guests start to feel a bit of Disney magic even before they reach the entry."

Beneath the surface, a sophisticated stormwater management system supports the project's environmental goals. Bioretention areas and underground infiltration chambers capture and filter runoff from both the site and adjacent rooftops. This integrated system reduces stormwater discharge while supporting efficient irrigation and long-term landscape health. The project demonstrates how high-performing environmental infrastructure can operate discreetly within a highly programmed public space.

Lighting further enhances the landscape experience while supporting sustainability goals. A custom LED lighting system activates the site after dark, transforming the lawn and stage into a vibrant evening destination. Carefully calibrated lighting levels create a welcoming atmosphere for nighttime events while minimizing energy consumption and light pollution.

Beyond its physical design, the Downtown Disney District LIVE! Stage and lawn function as a civic gathering space within a commercial environment. The landscape is open to all Downtown Disney District guests without the need for an event ticket. Visitors can enjoy concerts, performances, informal recreation, and everyday relaxation. The flexibility of the lawn allows it to adapt throughout the day and across seasons, from lively performances to quiet moments of rest.

Collaboration played a critical role in shaping the project. Landscape architects worked closely with client teams, artists, architects, engineers, horticultural experts, and cultural consultants to integrate technical systems with cultural storytelling and spatial design. Through an interdisciplinary process of workshops and design development, the project maintained both technical rigor and a strong narrative identity.

"Ultimately, we wanted to create something that guests could only experience at the Disneyland Resort," said Peters. "A place where guests could visit amazing retail and dining offerings and experience quality Disney entertainment, surrounded by an environment that feels connective, supportive, and comfortable."

The Downtown Disney District LIVE! Stage and lawn demonstrate how landscape architecture can transform a commercial district into a meaningful public destination. By integrating ecological infrastructure, cultural recognition, and flexible public space, the project creates a landscape that celebrates community, resilience, and the evolving story of Southern California.

As seen in LASN magazine, July 2026.