With its semicircular low brick wall, bright red circular pod-style tables and chairs, and radially-scored concrete paving, the entry plaza for JohnRuiz Park in Chelsea, Mass., provides a gathering and social space under the shade of two autumn-flowering Higan cherry trees. Massings of "Cheyenne Spirit" Echinacea, Russian sage, daylilies, and other hardy perennials provide seasonal color.

When the city of Chelsea obtained a 7,315 square-foot parcel in the heart of a densely-populated, urban neighborhood, the space was home to a dilapidated former repair garage for a taxi company, which was soon demolished, leaving a brownfield site. Various uses for the parcel were considered, such as a housing development, but with open space at a premium and opportunities to create new public parks rare, the city administration settled on a new park as the highest and best use of the property. The Department of Planning & Development selected CBA Landscape Architects LLC to work with the neighborhood to determine a program for the space, and develop the park's design through a series of public meetings while the site's contaminated soils were remediated.

The sculptured portrait of John "The Quietman" Ruiz, the first Latino heavyweight boxing champion, two-time WBA Heavyweight Champion, and former Chelsea resident, Ruiz, is by local illustrator Dirk Tiede. The commissioned artwork is fabricated with 3/8-inch laser-cut and etched stainless steel with a black paint fill.

CBA's initial design concepts developed into a series of connected, circular areas defined by surrounding plantings. A double gate from the sidewalk opens onto a plaza space in one corner with several tables, partly enclosed by a low brick seat wall with a precast concrete cap. From there, a path leads to the central feature of the park, where a circular concrete walk surrounds rubber surfacing under a striking centerpiece – a large Bloqx climber. The community had agreed that it was appropriate to provide a space for play, particularly older kids, but along with that they expressed a strong desire to have that play feature be sculptural, visually engaging, and unusual. With its challenging climbing features and its bold colors, the climber definitely met those goals.

Behind the ornamental fence, an entry plaza welcomes you into the space and leads to the central climbing sculpture. The tribute to boxer John Ruiz, seen at the rear, draws visitors further in to explore.

From that central nexus, three more areas radiate out to the other corners of the park, all surrounded by colorful perennials and shrubs along with curving panels of lawn. Toward the street side of the space, a small plaza provides a splash pad, with two sets of flush-mounted jets and battery-operated activator bollards to meet the city's goal of a low-maintenance system. In the far corner from the entry plaza, another low wall surrounds outdoor fitness equipment, selected for its clean lines, durable design, and minimal moving parts to avoid concerns about vandalism. The exercise area has proven to be popular, and it's not uncommon to see teens and young adults getting in a casual workout while they "hang" with their friends in the space. Lastly, the final pod of the design provides a space for quieter activities and more flexible uses, with a sizeable open lawn area ringed by brick paving, benches, and plantings.

With the brick wall lit by i2Systems "microwashers" mounted in the precast cap, and the steel portrait uplit by a Phenix LED from Targetti Poulsen, the steel boxing ring becomes a dramatic feature of the park at night. Enough light is provided that the fiberglass-embedded graphics panel is still readable.

After the city successfully applied for a matching grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' PARC program, CBA's contract was extended to produce complete construction documents and provide construction administration services. In addition, the city had settled on an additional component to be added to the park, with details and artwork developed by CBA and their consultants: the park would be dedicated to John "The Quietman" Ruiz, the first-ever Latino heavyweight boxing champion, two-time WBA Heavyweight Champion, and former Chelsea resident.

Appropriately for a park dedicated to an athlete, the park's features encourage physical fitness. A dedicated exercise area features equipment by Xccent, Inc., with clean details and contemporary curves that mesh well with the project's aesthetics, and in the park's center is a vibrant Bloqx climbing structure that brings the challenge of rock climbing to an urban setting and serves as a strong sculptural element as well.

Ruiz was raised in both Chelsea and Puerto Rico. He was a graduate of Chelsea High School, and at the time of his rise to the championship lived only a few blocks from the park that now bears his name. The city requested that CBA add a sculptural element and information about the champ's career and Chelsea roots to the already-planned active recreation and fitness elements in the park. CBA chose to design a metal likeness of Ruiz set in a "boxing ring," and placed them in front of the seven-foot-high brick wall at the back of the open lawn area, where they would be set slightly apart from the hustle and bustle of the other areas and allow visitors a chance to engage with the art elements. In addition, their presence activates that corner of the park, and provides a visual cue to draw people in to explore the space.

The splash pad features spray jets and activators by Waterplay Solutions Corp., encouraging outdoor activity in this densely-populated urban area.

The heart of the art element is the life-size portrait of John Ruiz at the time of his titles, created in ink on paper by a local artist, Dirk Tiede. For the park's version, the artist created a digital copy, the outline was laser-cut from a 3/8-inch brushed stainless steel plate, and the portrait's details were etched and filled with black. The final portrait is set slightly off-center in a sculptural piece, designed by CBA, which echoes the dimensions and features of one side of a regulation boxing ring, fabricated of powdercoated steel. From the corner turnbuckles, ring ropes project forward and dive into the ground, embracing the curve of the walk and leaving the viewer standing in the ring with Ruiz. To the other side of the piece, a fiberglass-embedded graphics panel in a powdercoated frame mixes award-winning photography of Ruiz and bilingual text to inform park visitors about his career and his connection to the city.

CBA's design for the art element dedicated to Ruiz includes a powdercoated steel replica of a boxing ring, and a bilingual informational panel in striking red, white, and black with award-winning photos by photographer Kerry Brett.

Around the perimeter of the space, hedges of Inkberry, columnar yew, "Endless Summer' hydrangea, and "Summersweet' define the edges, and a wide mix of hardy perennials adds color, richness and texture. London plane trees provide shade and winter interest, and autumn-flowering cherries add a splash of color in both spring and fall. Black vinyl-clad chain link fence surrounds the back and sides. Along the street, an ornamental steel fence sets the park off from the sidewalk, bowing inward in the center to create a street-side seating area with a curved ribbon bench from DuMor that matches the style of the benches within the park.

Viewed from above, the park's overall design is clear. In the foreground, an exercise area with fitness equipment is enclosed by a low seatwall and plantings. The drinking fountain by Murdock is carefully located close to the park's most active areas. The Waterplay splash pad and the quieter lawn-and-benches area with the art element flank the climber, and in the far corner is the park's entry plaza with its brightly-colored tables.

At night, the park's usability extends into the evening, with durable concrete lighted bollards, casting a soft glow across the site's features, while at the rear the art element is brought to life by dramatic light. Bars of lights set in a recess in the wall cap, cast a wash down the face of the wall, behind the silhouette of the boxing ring, and a single Phenix uplight highlights the steel portrait of Ruiz. All of the lighting is LED, as part of the city's mandate that the project be as "green" as was feasible. To that end, the park's drainage system was designed to recharge as much stormwater and runoff from the splash pad as possible, with a pair of leaching drainage structures helping to minimize the amount sent into the city's storm sewers.

1. Hedge-screen
2. Metal bench
3. Informational panel
4. Screening wall
5. Poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing
6. Climable structure
7. Drinking fountain
8. Fitness equipment
9. Water play area
10. Bus stop seating
11. Ornamental fence and gate
12. Pod seating
13. Water cabinet
14. Electrical cabinet
15. Seat wall
Photo Credit: CBA Landscape Architects LLC

The circular motif of the park is carried through to the details, as well as the overall plan. From the tree grates and the pattern on the drain covers to the customized tables-and-chairs and the concentric circular scoring in the concrete plazas, circles abound, tying the design together. At the park's grand opening, "the Quietman" said a few words to the gathered neighbors, city staff, and elected officials: "I'm honored for myself and my family. Winning the championship is one thing, but the support from the city itself is even better and I will never forget that." With a park in his honor, Chelsea will never forget Ruiz, either.

Design Team
D.J. Chagnon, RLA, CPSI, CBA Landscape Architects LLC

Construction Team
General Contractor: UEL Contractors Inc.
Portrait Artist: Dirk Tiede Illustration
Surveyors: Everett M. Brooks, Inc.
Environmental Engineers: Environmental Compliance Services, Inc.
Benches and Tables: DuMor
Climbing Structure: Kompan
Splashpad: WaterPlay
Ornamental fence: Ameristar
Bollard Lights: Wayne-Tyler
Wall Lighting: I2 Systems
Uplighting: Targetti Poulsen USA

Vendors
Rubber surfacing: Vitriturf
Signage: Pannier Graphics (design by CBA)
Trash receptacles: BigBelly Solar
Drain Grates: Iron Age Designs
Bricks: Morin Brick
Drinking fountain: Murdock