The Playgrounds Issue of Landscape Architect & Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. This project was not chosen for a Feature in the issue, but we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought the project deserved to be showcased online . . .
Although climate change has been discussed for some time, only in the last 10 years has clear, demonstrable evidence shown that our environment is undergoing significant climatic transformation. In California, the tempest of devastating wildfires, consistent summer heat waves and record high temperatures are an annual occurrence. These changes studied in the scientific world and present in widespread public discussion, have arrived sooner than predicted.
Two parks with playgrounds in northern California illustrate small steps taken to help move towards mitigating greater climate ramifications. While larger global forces and solutions are being studied, landscape architects even in the smallest of projects can help move solutions forward. These two parks seen as a cohesive climate enhancement forward are composed of four functional parts. The California landscape architecture firm of Robert Mowat Associates created four separate park and environmental spaces of shaded play areas, creek habitat enhancement, storm water treatment and ecosystem support.
Initial Planning
The initial planning of these park spaces began 20 years ago. Land planning for this community of 310 homes began in 2000. The park planning was a function of a City requirement for 5 acres of dedicated park land. The initial land plan by a local architect was modified several times over the course of two decades. The park spaces were given identities by the landscape architects for their public use and ecological structure early in the land planning process. The landscape architects identified the nexus of the adjacent Marsh Creek which is closely linked to the San Francisco Bay Delta and the Pacific aviary fly way as significant design influences.
During initial land planning, a movement was underway that the Army Corp of Engineers flood control creek design would become a natural ecosystem enhanced with a two stage channel. The landscape architects quickly seized upon this synergy and chose to align the park spaces with environmental amenities tied to the creek ecosystem. In addition, the landscape architects identified a highly popular regional bike trail which could be a major linkage within these park spaces.

 
Robert Mowat Associates looking for linkages between the creek ecosystem, bike trail and pacific flyway presented a cohesive land plan conjoining four separate park spaces into one interconnected landscape. The concept of providing shade for future climate change was another goal that was originally thought to be impactful to the parks possibly 30 to 50 years in the future. The goals of sun and heat mitigation arrived sooner than expected.
It is expected that shade is not only an important factor in the park design, but inland Bay Area cities warm significantly more and dictate additional shade. The landscape architects anticipating increasing temperatures saw an opportunity to provide as much shade as possible for all the social spaces including the playgrounds. While covering entire play structures is common in the arid Southwest, it is not a common occurrence in northern California. RMA saw the opportunity for shade and sun relief now and well into the foreseeable future to mitigate what at that time seemed to be warming trends.
Specific Site Design
Only one large area was dedicated to active lawn play and social space. All other planted spaces were to be low water consuming landscapes. The landscape architects designed the majority of plantings to be California natives. For a buffer between the play spaces and the more natural creek setting all plantings were to be 100% California natives. Hidden amongst all the native plantings were numerous water retention basins for storm water treatment. The entire site of 310 homes with 2.4 miles of streets drain to these vegetated collectors for cleansing prior to entering Marsh Creek. Marsh Creek has been undergoing salmon spawning habitat restoration for three decades.
The regional bike trails that converge at this site gave the landscape architects an opportunity to provide an amenity specific to that community. Kestrel Park was designed with a bike rest station. Picnic tables, benches, a cooling shower, water bottle filling station, bike tools and bike racks provided bicycle specific site amenities. This unusual and unique park amenity makes a regional bike ride pleasurable with a stopover at Kestrel Park. The bike trail asphalt as specified and installed is permeable to aid with water cleansing adjacent to the creek.
Farm culture was and remains a community and cultural identity. Brentwood summer corn is well known in the area and visitors travel from the entire Bay Area to purchase local corn. The typology of farm buildings were designed into both the play and shade structures. Gable ends and hipped roofs repeat local farm building architecture. Trees were planted to shade social hardscape areas with galvanized livestock watering trough planters as accents. Significant tree planting occurs within the park to provide as much shade as possible. All hardscape areas were designed to be cool and shaded - a primary goal of the landscape architects.
Numerous native plantings to sustain bird and butterfly life were specified for inclusion in the park designs. Large collections of Verbena "De la Mina", California Fuchsia, Coffeeberry, and California Rose are all present in the parks. Large drifts of Narrowleaf Milkweed were planted to support the migration of the majestic Monarch butterfly. Avian cover and berry production were considered when planting the storm water (C-3) basins. A myriad of flowering plants to support local apiarian life were also designed into the plan. Custom pavers in the shape of lizards were installed as homage to the wildlife in the creek.
Unique to this project is the inclusion that excavation spoils be re-used on site. Special instructions in the construction drawings were included to ensure that if excavation spoils were greater than anticipated, they would be used to create additional mounding and play elements. Excess excavation spoils were shaped to create a large play mound serving as both a slide element and look out to Mt. Diablo Peak.
Closing:
The landscape architects brought together site specific land planning concepts to create park amenities and ecological benefits that keep people and ecosystems balanced. The provision of ample shade opportunities, water conservation, ecosystem preservation, habitat creation along with resource management of materials balanced human, flora and fauna needs.
While planning of these mid size parks began years ago, this project embodies vital solutions for longer range global design goals. Small projects and individual design efforts ensure local impact within a larger global contribution. With the hindsight now afforded by time, it is evident that these park and landscape designs foster a testament to global thinking on a small scale for immediate environmental impact. This collection of park and playground spaces, endeavors to make a positive influence on both local site conditions and regional climate change. The landscape architects helped bend the needle ever so gently forward making a helpful impact in climate ompact with the design of these recreational spaces for people and habitat.

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