A replica of the Oak Park trolley (Landscape Structures) awaits passengers at the end of its line on tracks that pass through playfully colored rubber play surfacing (Tot Turf). Nothing will make a toddler sadder than dropping an ice cream cone, box of popcorn or a candy apple, but the oversize replicas here are precast climbers (Cemrock) that are sure to put a smile on the little ones faces. The "Scenic Railway" roller coaster that connects the three play towers references the figure-eight wooden roller coaster at the former Joyland Amusement Park.

Imagine if you could travel 125 years back in time simply by entering a park! As the previous site of Joyland Amusement Park, McClatchy Park in Sacramento has plenty of history to draw from, and the recent renovation brings back the spark from its earlier days. When it was opened in the 1890s, Joyland Park drew in the public from far and wide. They came by train and trolley to enjoy the carousel, roller coaster and zoo attractions. McClatchy Park, reimagined, has brought many of those opportunities back to life. A railbed, reminiscent of the old trolley lines, leads visitors under a historically-inspired entry arch and into the core of the park. The carousel (water play area) roller coaster (play structure) and zoo (life-size critter climbers) are all there! For the ambitious (and energetic) park users the opportunities include a butterfly garden, carefully situated picnic areas, and active recreation in the form of a skate park, jogging trail, fitness stations and sport courts.

Located in the heart of Sacramento's historic Oak Park neighborhood, McClatchy Park is a beloved neighborhood space hosting a farmer's market, little league baseball, disk golf, picnic areas and an amphitheater. Thanks to the recent award of a state grant (Prop 84), the city found itself able to revive several of the park's older, less used facilities, expand the list of park amenities and upgrade many portions of the park's infrastructure to redefine the park as a safe and fun destination location for community residents and visitors.

The landscape architects put a lot of thought into the details of each park feature to convey not only the look, but also the thrill-ride experience to evoke the Joyland Amusement Park that operated on the site from 1895 until 1927. The rolling form of this custom climber (Landscape Structures) is another prime example.

Amusement Park to Playground
Paying homage to the site's history was especially important to the city and the project design team, as McClatchy Park was celebrated its 125th anniversary. The site's historic amusement park features inspired many of the park's improvements. Updating those elements to today's safety and accessibility standards in a community park context proved to be a fun and exciting challenge.

The arched entrance sign to the playground (Icon Shelter Systems) is reminiscent of the original monument sign to the Oak Park neighborhood. Stained concrete (Scofield) "trolley tracks" lead past the butterfly garden, carousel-themed mister area, toddler "zoo" and carnival play areas. The new tree plantings are "Trident' maples.

In the adventure play area, a roller coaster-inspired play structure is named the "Scenic Railway" after its predecessor, the wooden roller coaster that was one of the most memorable attractions in Joyland. Oversized precast concrete climbers shaped like carnival food bring whimsy and added playfulness reminiscent of a day at the fair. The brightly colored rubberized surfacing meets today's rigorous playground safety standards, as well as providing an accessible surface to the play structure transfer stations and other ground-level elements.

Continuing the old Joyland Amusement Park theme, this "midway" tests kids' abilities at games of chance and skill. Several drop shot baskets have been combined on a colored and striped Plexipave court (California Product's Corp.) to allow children to make up their own games.

While concave ladders that mimic a swooping roller coaster provide challenging play appropriate for school age children, a fun house themed play area for toddlers sits just a short walk down the main concrete path. In this area, younger children can be found playing inside and all around the fun house, driving a replica of the original miniature train, and climbing on precast concrete zoo animals. Just a bit further down the path, a carousel-inspired water play area provides cooling mist, a huge hit during the hot summers in Sacramento. On these same hot summer days the butterfly garden and picnic shelter just across the path offer a shady and beautiful spot to relax, gather with neighbors, or watch the young ones play.

 

The tot play area is tucked into a grove of mature oaks. A seating area with benches (Patterson-Williams) provides a comfortable area for parents to sit and socialize while watching their children play in the shade canopy covered (Poligon) "Funhouse" (Little Tikes), and climb aboard the miniature train. A very similar functional miniature train used to transport children throughout Joyland Amusement Park.

Skatepark
For those visitors that want to feel the thrill and speed of a carnival ride and have their own set of wheels, a custom skate park sits just beyond the butterfly garden. This park was built by Spohn Ranch and designed collaboratively with members of the Sacramento skate community. Through a series of workshops and feedback from the heavily trafficked McClatchy Park Skatepark Facebook group, Spohn Ranch developed and installed a plaza-style experience composed of precast custom ramps connected by concrete flatwork. Because the designer, fabricator, and installer were one and the same, transitions between the precast elements and concrete pavement are smoother and safer for skaters, and the quality of construction greatly improved.

Park features have been designed for ADA accessibility, but more importantly designed to promote inclusive play, enabling tots, young people and adults of all abilities to interact and play together.

Implementation of the improvements was not without challenges. Like every great project, the program was ambitious, particularly given the limited space available and the number of large trees found throughout the site. Careful spatial arrangement of these improvements along a central spine created a well-organized central core of activity, while minimizing disruption to the urban forest that gives the park its context.

Out with the Old and in with the New
As the old saying goes, "They don't make things like they used to." Well, sometimes that's a good thing! For example, many municipalities are still wrestling with the challenges associated with older wastewater systems where storm and sanitary discharges are mingled. The Oak Park neighborhood has this type of combined drainage system. The city of Sacramento has determined that any new improvements cannot lead to any increased discharge to these antiquated systems. At McClatchy Park, the absence of any functional drain system meant that the discharge volume "not to exceed" was effectively zero. Through the incorporation of detention basins and the assignment of a reasonable value to the nonfunctioning drainage, the design team was able to demonstrate the completed park would result in no net increase in stormwater discharges.

A skate park serves as a strong entry feature to McClatchy Park and helps make a transition from the urban neighborhood surrounding the park to the park's interior. Cast concrete benches, stairs, ramps and rails all combine for a functional urban plaza that offers thrills and challenges to skaters of all ages and abilities. The skate park ramps and decks are carved into landscape berms. A planter in the middle of the skate plaza serves as stormwater detention.

any new improvements cannot lead to any increased discharge to these antiquated systems. At McClatchy Park, the absence of any functional drain system meant that the discharge volume "not to exceed" was effectively zero. Through the incorporation of detention basins and the assignment of a reasonable value to the nonfunctioning drainage, the design team was able to demonstrate the completed park would result in no net increase in stormwater discharges.

The Landscape
In addition to looking the part of a fun amusement park, McClatchy Park's landscape also had to function in today's urban context. California's prolonged drought, combined with dwindling city resources to maintain parks, necessitated the creation of a low-water use and low-maintenance landscape. Upgrades were made to the park's irrigation system to improve efficiency, and careful plant choices have reduced water use. To increase safety and security, existing park pathway lights were replaced with solar powered LEDs, and a solar powered security camera prevents vandalism after hours.

This large picnic shelter (Poligon) includes a roof-mounted solar panel to power the structure's lights. The picnic area tables and trash receptacles are centrally located in the playground to facilitate views and access to the amenities, including the interpretive butterfly garden in the foreground. The butterfly garden is planted with drought-tolerant species carefully selected for their butterfly attracting characteristics: "Blue Chip' dwarf butterfly bush, blue fescue, "Hidcote' English lavender, "Margarita BOP' blue bedder and creeping Rosemary. Three custom-built low-flow water misting carousel horses (Water Odyssey) form a ring around the water play area, a sentimental link to Joyland's old merry-go-round.

As a part of the general park improvements, several amenities were upgraded and relocated to improve usability and be a better fit within the park context. Improved tennis courts, a basketball court, and a basketball shooting game provide active recreation opportunities. Similarly, a decomposed granite jogging path runs continuously around the perimeter of the park and is punctuated by outdoor fitness stations for public use.

Design Team
Prime Consultant: Callander Associates Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: Barrish Pelham & Associates
Civil/Survey Engineer: Mark Thomas & Company
Skate Park Designer/Contractor: Spohn Ranch Skateparks
Electrical Engineer: Zeiger Engineers, Inc.
Contractor: Goodland Landscape Construction, Inc.

Vendors
Shade Shelter, Shade Canopy, Play Equipment: All About Play
Precast Climbers: Cemrock
Entry Signage: Icon Shelter Systems
Playground Equipment: Landscape Structures
Funhouse Play Structure: Little Tikes
Custom Precast Play Equipment/Theming: Miracle Play Systems
Benches, Tables & Receptacles: Patterson-Williams
Shade Canopy: Poligon
Stained Concrete: Scofield
Rubber Play Surfacing: Tot Turf
Misting Carousel Horses: Water Odyssey