Fifteen years ago, the Cosumnes Community Services District (CCSD) and the City of Elk Grove, California set out on a journey to redefine the standards of community parks through meticulous planning and unwavering dedication. Their park design principles were more than a blueprint-they established a commitment to crafting future spaces that resonated with the pulse and needs of each neighborhood they served. This vision found its manifestation in Oasis Park, a sprawling, 20-acre testament to community collaboration, creativity, and connecting communities to the outdoors.
The journey from concept to reality began with extensive community outreach in 2015, which included workshops with hands-on interaction where the community could draw their ideas on the site plan. These workshops revealed a desire for features like a perimeter walking loop, active sports, active court areas, water play, a dog park, picnic areas, sand play, and playgrounds. Construction broke ground in 2018, culminating in the unveiling of the amenities in 2020 and marking a milestone as Elk Grove's 99th park. Today, it is a vibrant, cohesive community space that provides its residents and visitors better access to nature, a public space for local vendors and food trucks to do business, and a community hub for those within the broader Elk Grove area.

A Testament to Modern Park Design
What truly sets Oasis Park apart is its seamless integration into the fabric of the community. To do so, landscape architecture firm Stantec created two different play areas to cater to the curiosities and abilities of different age groups. The designers wanted to maximize play value and provide for a variety of experiences, which they did by including playground equipment from several different manufacturers, like Berliner and Landscape Structures, Inc.

The six pickleball courts, two tennis courts, two soccer fields, two basketball courts, and water play park are all illuminated with energy-efficient LED lighting. The flora was specifically chosen to create a refreshing and immersive experience, featuring palm trees and papyrus-themed structures. Additionally, a Poligon hexagon shelter creates a meeting space with picnic tables, large barbecue grills, and serving tables adjacent to a large dog park with a variety of training features and Bermuda grass to reduce future park maintenance.

 

Trails intricately weave through the space, connecting the park to schools and neighboring parks and fostering a pedestrian-friendly environment that encourages exploration and social interaction. Most notably, a 4,300-square-foot recreational center and new public preschool were built on site to serve the surrounding community. The western edge also features public seating for community events and space for local vendors and food trucks to set up.

The park's design takes a creative approach to storm-water management solutions and aesthetics. The design team incorporated a meandering biofiltration swale along the residential frontage street to visibly showcase the sustainability feature to the community. The landscape design blended rock mulch and biofiltration grasses that seamlessly weaves into the landscape. This aspect was critical, as it allowed the team to address the need to better support the plant life in the area in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Challenges Along the Way
While the completed park exceeds its vision for a new, vibrant community space, the path to get there was not without challenges. Most notably, existing flora were in decline, like the oak trees at the southern end. Ensuring the natural flora and fauna had a space to thrive in the new park was a top priority for both the city and the Landscape Architects. Initially, the arborist recommended removing the trees due to poor health, but efforts were made during reconstruction to upgrade and redesign water circulation throughout the area to better accommodate the existing native trees living within. Once these efforts were underway and the park had seen two wet winters, the plants and trees began to thrive once more.

Additionally, this project was delivered during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating numerous challenges for construction and design. This impacted the ability for construction teams to source materials and labor, requiring creative thinking to keep the project both on time and on budget. Construction sequencing was modified based on available labor, and there were supply chain shortages for materials and park elements. The schedule had to be amended slightly, which included postponing the grand open until the pandemic had calmed down.

Bringing Oasis Park to Life
Stantec has a long-standing relationship with Elk Grove and has delivered over 12 park projects for the community since 2001. In supporting the city in its vision for Oasis Park, they took an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach, delivering the project with an all-in-house team of Landscape Architects and civil, electrical, and structural engineers. They also collaborated with the CCSD to bring the Oasis theme to life. The theme arose through the public workshops, where it was realized that vibrant villages were often connected to an oasis because of its resources and large role in the community's welfare. This park has a similar significance to the surrounding community, who wanted a special place to connect with nature and their neighbors.

As with all of the firm's park projects, the team leading the development of Oasis Park was dedicated to supporting and protecting the existing flora and fauna. Throughout the Oasis Park development, the team worked diligently to ensure that all construction and design efforts enhanced the existing wildlife in the area while incorporating new native species into the park to support its longevity. This included the introduction of new pollinators, plants, and trees, and an extensive overhaul of the current irrigation and water conservation systems. The team's efforts paid off, as many of the oaks that were in bad decline during the design phase were thriving by the time construction was slated to begin. There was even evidence of nesting birds. To adjust for this discovery, the affected area was redesigned to highlight the trees and provide a large buffer between them and construction activity, which did not occur in areas adjacent to these trees during nesting season.

Long-Lasting Community Impact
Oasis Community Park is a great example of how parks can improve people's lives, promote a sense of community, and contribute to a healthier and happier future. It's not just a park, but a shining example of what a community can achieve by working together to achieve a common vision. The success of the park stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of various partners, whose shared vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have resulted in the creation of a community space that embodies the spirit of Elk Grove.