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A family?EUR??,,????'???s passion for tennis and a vision allowed an unoccupied, overgrown wooded section of the property to be transformed into a full-size court that can be utilized for recreational entertaining day and evening. Gary Larson, president of Larson Associates, Inc., Landscape Architects was selected to take an area plagued by flooding and design it into an attractive expansion of the property.
The project included acquiring a second parcel of property, modifying legal lot lines and placing the court in a way to take advantage of the grades, contours, orientation and existing vegetation. The placement of the court was selected to minimize the removal of significant trees while taking advantage of the surrounding tree cover. Extensive plantings were part of the project. The end result is a beautiful tree-encased court that is especially a showplace during the New England fall foliage period.
Key design challenges included placement, shape, significant retaining walls required for level changes, ensuring logical divisions between two residential properties, and integrating the plantings back into the natural environment. The project required the management of storm water runoff for various storm events up to a 100 year storm so that the rate or volume of runoff generated by the project did not increase over the original conditions.
?EUR??,,????'??Placement of the court was considered in relation to the significant property grade changes including a 20-foot drop from the back of the residence to the court level,?EUR??,,????'?? Larson said. ?EUR??,,????'??It needed to respect the traditional north-south orientation of tennis courts while taking advantage of the grades, contours and existing vegetation to enhance the overall property.
?EUR??,,????'??The desired shape was an enlarged single court structure that included court-side viewing areas,?EUR??,,????'?? Larson continued. ?EUR??,,????'??This was accomplished by providing an 8 foot extended area beyond the normal fence line, which linked the main formal stairwell to the court level. Additionally, the surface was integrated into the area for the storage shed providing easy access for refreshments, as well as tennis and other sports equipment.?EUR??,,????'??
The retaining walls required 250 linear feet of wall material. Natural fieldstone was a key consideration. However the 3-stone Anchor Highland stone in the fieldstone color was the product selected, primarily for the visually aesthetic value, comfort in the predictability of the overall quality and look of the finished product.
?EUR??,,????'??The diverse colors in the manufactured fieldstone color, combined with the slightly different shapes of each stone, gave a natural feel to the walls,?EUR??,,????'?? Larson said. ?EUR??,,????'??The color was natural, with enough depth and variety to be interesting and complementary with the color scheme of the entire project.?EUR??,,????'??
?EUR??,,????'??The Anchor Highland stone has the flexibility to include design features, (curves and minimal footprints), installation efficiency and significant cost-savings over natural fieldstone,?EUR??,,????'?? said Carlos Medeiros, a project foreman for ValleyCrest Landscape Development. ?EUR??,,????'??Significant excavation and fill was required in order to establish a large flat area at the proper elevation, and allow for the significant drainage system under the court. In addition, old stone and cement walls had to be removed.?EUR??,,????'??
Prior to the retaining wall installation, a substantial grade build-up was required. The level of build-up mandated significant and continuous compaction to assure site stability. The development team needed to manage the access paths into the court to assure future ease of use, as well as to support the construction activities and future maintenance. Grading was critical to assure the overall site met all of the diverse requirements.
The new court was designed to be an architectural centerpiece to the property while providing a beautiful outdoor recreational area for the family. A path from the main house cascades down the sloping terrain into the tree-encased court. Surrounded by beds on both sides, the path stones have been laid on level sections of the walkway creating a natural traffic flow to the court. The landings along the path provide balcony-like viewing. The surrounding walls capped with Anchor Highland Cap were moved at least three feet beyond the standard court design and provide more than 120 linear feet of comfortable sitting areas.
?EUR??,,????'??Along the southeastern side of the court, a 25x15 foot irregular shaped patio was placed abutting the court and fencing. This patio, which includes the barbecue area, tables and chairs, provides excellent viewing of the court?EUR??,,????'???s playing area,?EUR??,,????'?? Medeiros said. ?EUR??,,????'??Granette Setts, a seven-stone paver system, also in the fieldstone color, were selected for their ability to deliver a natural path-like look as well as to integrate the patio setting into the overall design.?EUR??,,????'??
?EUR??,,????'??The segmental retaining walls and paving stones lends an overall sense of character and scale to the project that is consistent with the design intent of the project?EUR??,,????'?? Larson said. ?EUR??,,????'??The sheer size of the walls and importance of the walls to the overall functionality and beauty of the project makes this installation noteworthy.?EUR??,,????'??
Total linear feet of walls, on this, a residential project exceeds 250 feet. Diverse wall types are used including low level walls, parallel walls, and an almost nine foot curving wall that looks like an old fort. The walls are used to hold back the earth in many areas, and in some to allow the significant build-up of level required to arrive at the large flat court surface. The goal was to assure the walls looked natural and considering the size, a complete repetition of same material would have looked artificial.
According to the homeowner, ?EUR??,,????'??The walls look better than the natural fieldstone look often used in site development in the Lexington area. The unique shapes of each stone, combined with the multi-piece pattern, and the curves implemented results in a look that augments the entire project and is actually a key definer of the overall beauty.?EUR??,,????'??
Functionally, the walls also meet the needs of holding up and back the significant amount of land not at the appropriate grade, and served the schedule well in the ability to quickly implement the product. In addition, the caps were used as pavers in many areas to continue the continuity of the look.
Accomplishing a project of this scale in a residential community posed several regulatory challenges:
Water captured by the Cultec system under the court and from the drains on top of the court were carried via pipes (with and without perforations) and connected into the town storm sewer system. This resolved a problem with the property that had existed for 100 years.
The project, completed in September 2003, extended the family?EUR??,,????'???s outdoor living and entertaining areas while increasing the value. Slopes were stabilized and storm water runoff was harnessed to decrease flooding. And an area that was formerly an unused wooded area has now been transformed into a natural and beautiful setting that belies its urban location.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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