The Gardens at the Ruthe Jackson Center

Steven Plumer, RLA, ASLA, Sr. Parks Project Manager Parks and Recreation Department, City of Grand Prairie, Texas

In the garden, Bob Weaver Pools installed the pond, which is constructed of steel reinforced concrete. The wall width is six inches, with two weirs separating the three pools. Weaver placed the stones on top of the weirs to allow the water to fall between. The pool is reticulated and filtered using one Ultima II Bio Mechanical Filtration System, a Levolor Electric Water Level Control and a Pentair Water Waterfall Specialty Pump. The plants around the ponds consist of River Birch, Weeping Yaupon, Crape Myrtle, Ruellia, Cone Flower, Wood Fern, Autumn Fern, Ophiopogon, Liriope, and Lantana. The City of Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department Maintenance Division maintains the entire garden. The attendants make weekly maintenance checks on the pond, and as needed prior to upcoming events. The Orlando 20 x 20-foot pavilion was built and installed by Classic Recreation Systems, Inc.

The Ruthe Jackson Center was renovated to provide a first class meeting, banquet, and reception space for public and private events. With this project, the Department of Parks & Recreation entered the realm of upscale event planning and hosting a variety of events from wedding receptions, corporate retreats, and banquet dinners and awards ceremonies.

Nabholz Construction installed the colored and stamped concrete surfacing to simulate a fieldstone pattern. Nabholz installed all pavement, constructed the wall, did grading site work, and installed all drainage. Construction lasted six months from start to finish. The electrical contractor, Maxx Power, installed all the lighting, including the Beacon low-voltage bollard lights and the ANP Lighting pole lights. Maxx Power wired all the lights back to an electric panel located on the wall behind the pavilion.

The Parks and Recreation Department Maintenance Division for the City installed all of the irrigation and landscaping within three weeks. The plants shown here include Earth Kind Rose, Ophiopogon, petunias, Liriope, and Ruellia. The rocks around the Garden are native Millsap stone, which were brought in from a local quarry.

Pond maintenance consists of cleaning the surface weekly, emptying the debris out of the basket, and back washing to rinse the filter. There are gold fish in the pond.

Nabholz Construction built a 12-foot masonry wall, and added four feet of fill material, to block the garden from unsightly views of an existing apartment complex and strip mall.

Material, textures, and colors were carefully chosen to maintain the garden's Texas Hill Country theme. The City contracted structural and civil engineering services from JEA Hydrotech Engineering. Nabholz Construction was chosen to construct the project. The Park Planning Division initiated the design process to generate ideas and budgets based on a collaborative effort between city management, city staff, and the staff at the RJC.

Guests to the garden are greeted with natural wildlife elements at every turn. The custom entry gate features hummingbirds and plants. Garden sculptures of native wildlife are integrated around the water feature. A copper sculpture fountain is filled with water lilies, cat-tails, and a blue heron. Visitors enjoy lush landscaping, open lawn, and quiet meditation areas all within the privacy of the natural stone wall.

The plants on the left are Earth Kind Rose, Golden Rain Tree, Dynamite Crape Myrtle, Hibiscus, Potentilla, and Columbine.

Three Pools in One

The Garden's major element is a water feature imitating a natural rock lined creek. Installed by Bob Weaver Pools, the pond is actually three ponds constructed of steel reinforced concrete. Two weirs separate the three pools. Weaver placed stones on top of the weirs to allow the water to fall between. Water plants, fish, and wildlife sculptures adorn the pools, and landscape plants border the pond edge.

Prominently located above the waterfall, is the special events pavilion where wedding ceremonies, important speeches, and quiet meetings take place. A rustic Millsap stone fireplace and stone hearth anchors the back of the pavilion and provides a dramatic backdrop for special events.

A stone bridge over the pond links the pavilion to the Grand Patio. A 4,200 square foot cobblestone deck acts as the main gathering space in the Garden. The Grand Patio can accommodate 200-seated guests. Six large Autumn Blaze Red Maple trees were planted within the patio space to shade visitors. A stone fire pit is situated on the eastern edge of the patio. Sweeping steps from the Grand Patio lead to a 2,500 square foot events lawn area. A slate pathway encircles the lawn area, allows visitors close up views of the lush landscaping, art sculptures, and copper fountain.

80 tons of stone were brought in from a quarry located near Weatherford, Texas. Bob Weaver placed all of the stone around the pools using Caterpillar equipment. All other work was done by hand. The plants shown in this area include Weeping Yaupon, Assorted Ferns, Lanibium, Weeping Crape Myrtle, and Coral Bells. Aqua Group, Inc. installed the gas lines for the gas-fed fireplace. The trees in the background are Autumn Blaze Maples.

The Garden Wall

The wall surrounding the Garden has been designed with care to incorporate the natural wildlife and landscape theme seen throughout the Garden. Inset into the wall are a series of medallions with landscape themed etchings providing an articulated aesthetic element to the interior and exterior of the Garden.

Construction of the Gardens at the Ruthe Jackson Center was completed in approximately five months, with City crews completing the landscape planting in the spring. With the opening of the Garden, the spectacular views and beauty are only a beginning, as plant material will mature, fill in, and explode with color every season.