Park on First was originally introduced to MJS Landscape Architecture in the summer of 2016. It is a unique development of mixed-use, multi-family residences with a large central park and gateway to the existing Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Santa Ana, California.

Planning Process
The design objective was to celebrate the zoo's history and unique flora. The developer, city, and zoo staff collaborated to ensure this vision was brought to life. The city of Santa Ana was a great ally in facilitating the multiple departments needed to produce a non-standard streetscape and zoo entry. The landscape architecture team was involved throughout the project, from initial concepts through entitlements and construction documents through completion.

 
Site History
The site was originally the Santa Ana Elks Lodge No. 794, but the facilities have since been relocated. However, the design team wanted to pay homage to the mid-century architecture of the original Elks Lodge. It was decided to protect a bespoke concrete screen originally located on the front elevation of the building and adaptively reused within the project's central park. Although demolition was cautious when removing the concrete screen pieces, the 50-year-old material was too fragile and most crumbled upon removal. Yet, the design team saved roughly 20 pieces and staged them in front of the property during construction. Unfortunately, a homeless encampment took root on the vacant land, and the screen pieces were used to make shelters and eventually destroyed. Saddened by this chain of events but still wanting to recognize the history, a newly curated exhibition telling the history of the site was purposefully situated near a main pedestrian thoroughfare.

Locational Improvement
The Santa Ana Zoo, located adjacent to major freeways, lacked a sense of arrival from First Street. The goal was to create a sense of arrival connecting First Street to the zoo's entry, which is located at the back of the property. TCA Architects - based in Los Angeles with offices in Oakland, Irvine, and Honolulu, Hawaii - created an illuminated tower design with project signage mirroring the existing zoo sign, balancing the entry to the zoo. To help blend the original and proposed landscape, the developer worked with the zoo to rehabilitate the landscape and provide updated signage, including Corten steel retaining walls and cut metal "monkeys" that were sprinkled within the landscape. The streetscape was envisioned to appear like the entry road meandering through a forest of trees. This was executed with the use of non-symmetrical planting fingers and randomly placed trees to not only provide a natural edge to the road but also slow oncoming vehicular traffic. The tree palette, including the African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) and Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora), were pulled from much of the exotic flora found at the zoo. Pedestrians navigate the zoo side of the project via a wide, decomposed granite path to allow for a better connection to First Street. The sidewalk configuration along the project used a tapestry of angled paver bands with concrete connections that weaved through the trees. In addition to the street trees, the building was setback, allowing for a double row of trees to shade the pedestrian path and showcase eclectic understory planting.

The project also includes a one-acre public park that was designed as an extension of the zoo and Prentice Park into the mixed-use development of Park on First. The park provides a great lawn and plaza space for community events, including farmers markets, craft fairs, food trucks, and communal gatherings. As the design team sees on most projects, residents with dogs make up a large percentage of the population. The central park provides a fenced-in dog park with shade trees, allowing it to become the social hub of the development.

Residential Development and the Future
The site is divided into two buildings with podium-level amenities for the residents. Some amenities include outdoor dining areas, game spaces, and fireside lounges. Each building has a large lap pool with a mix of concrete and clay-enhanced paving decks. The spacious pool terraces provide residents ample room to enjoy the California lifestyle.

The planting palette flows seamlessly from the streetscape and ground level up to the podium decks. The design team looked to create a "California Lush" environment that furthered the reach of the zoo experience. The natural forms of landscape elements are juxtaposed with modern, angular planters to create meandering paths and small "found" seating areas nestled within the flora. The elevated planter walls located on the podium were constructed of exposed CMU block to provide adequate soil depth while simultaneously providing a different perspective and experience as you march through the landscape. To mitigate the height of the planters, BBQ counters and firepits were purposefully placed throughout to disguise the extensive planter walls. The design team also incorporated lower board-form planters with "jewel box" planting of succulents and sculptural shrubs.

The project was completed at the end of 2023, with much of the landscape having been installed for over a year, enabling the plant material to mature and fill in. Lush landscapes provide a connective environment between people visiting the zoo and the residents of Park on First. The design team looks forward to the continued evolution of this space for years to come.