Parks are landscapes reflect the public's cultural values and appreciation of nature. As the public becomes more involved in the park planning process, citizen representatives demand a balance between active and passive recreational use in a natural setting. Software automation tools now exist for virtually every aspect of land design-- surveying, civil engineering, landscape design, hydrology, imaging and multimedia for presentations. This technology has proved to be the great equalizer for small to medium-sized businesses vying for projects traditionally sought after by large firms. Atlanta-based Cerulea, Inc., specializing in parks and recreation design, is a good example. As a small practice, Cerulea's challenge has been to cost-justify the efficiency and expertise of specialization, required levels of service, and to maintain profitability from park design fees which have been historically limited. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) has allowed Cerulea to incorporate state-of-the-art approaches to the more mundane aspects of design, such as surveying, graphics, and site engineering. The resulting efficiencies help leverage professional time into the study of natural systems. This leads to more free time for exploring multiple concepts and technical information, helping to ensure the successful construction of design objectives. Drainage pipes for Bunten Road Park were reduced in size or eliminated entirely, with an estimated cost savings of $175,000. Because no land was lost to the traditional larger and much deeper single-use detention ponds, over two acres of valuable parkland were retained in their forested condition. Cerulea also modeled irrigation storage ponds to capture run-off in two of the basins, which translated into a significant annual savings of water and funds. The stream and trail crossing along the main thoroughfare of Hembree Park (top) in Roswell/ Georgia is another example. City residents have voiced immense pleasure with the underpass. Trail use is on the rise, signaling to recreation providers the value of incorporating an attractive trail system design in the master plan. Even providers in adjacent cities and counties are adopting this approach to precise roadway design. With each passing year, Cerulea's commitment to computer-aided design technology increases, fostering greater efficiency in design and creativity. Competitors now call us inquiring how we produced our graphic presentations. Copying is, after all the most sincere form of flattery. And our public clients, last but certainly not least, are excited about the cost-effective design and better treatment of natural resources our process affords. USING THE GYDROLOGY SOFTWARE TOOLSET, CERULEA WAS ABLE TO PRESERVE MORE NATURAL TERRAIN, PROVIDE IRRIGATION PONDS, AND CREATE AN OPEN CHANNEL NATURAL LANDSCAPE TO HANDLE STORM-WATER RUNOFF FOR BUNTEN ROAD PARK IN DULUTH, GA. All illustrations provided courtesy of Softdesk, Inc. LASN