Since developing the master plan for George Wyth Memorial State Park in the early 1970s, RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects (RKLA) has participated in many of the important public improvements that have added to the quantity and quality of open space in Iowa. RKLA has provided master planning and detailed design and construction services for a diverse range of projects and clients for over 50 years. We enjoy utilizing a highly interactive process with our clients, often through the facilitation of comprehensive public input. Our award-winning firm works interactively with clients in providing design solutions that are innovative, cost effective, site-specific, and environmentally responsible.

Place to Play Playground, Cedar Falls, Iowa

 
Place to Play Park is an innovative, inclusive playground experience that serves users with a wide range of mental, physical, and social abilities and ages. In contrast to the common "cookie-cutter" play spaces on flat rectangular play surfaces, this playground is purposefully integrated into a rolling landscape and evokes a natural and interactive play experience using natural materials, diverse plantings, grass berms and boulders.

River Place Plaza, Cedar Falls, Iowa

RKLA was hired early in the master plan process and was the prime consultant for the site design for the mixed-use development including paving, retaining walls, lighting, site furniture, and plantings. The focal point of the development is a large public plaza containing synthetic turf that connects the downtown to the Cedar River with a grand staircase, performance stage and lighting, outdoor dining, public art, and multipurpose space that hosts many different events for the community.

Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

RITLAND+KUIPER was hired by Weber Group to create the design plans and guide implementation of landscape plantings and features, colored concrete, ornamental fencing, seating walls, and irrigation system for this $125 million dollar theme park. Lost Island consists of five realms that each have a distinct color palette, architecture, and theme that is part of a larger overall story. This created a unique design challenge for RKLA to create a cohesive palette of materials and plants for the entire park while also maintaining individual identities for each of the five realms. The result is a stunning mix of bold colors first experienced in pavement design welcoming you into the park and each of the realms. Unique fencing styles, light fixtures, signage, building architecture, stamp patterns in the concrete, and pops of color are present as you explore the Tamariki, Udara, Awa, Yuta and Mura realms. The uniqueness of the realms is also shown in the plants chosen for that area based on their color, texture, size and even their ability to flutter in the breeze. The planting plan consisted of over 30,000 plants ranging from large, spaded oak trees from local sources to sweeping swaths of shrubs and perennial plantings. The 90-acre park and 30-acre lake is surrounded and connected by acres of prairie grasses and short grass "no mow" areas to help reduce maintenance and to enhance the feeling of being in a lost world where native plantings are plentiful. Custom colored precast concrete stone weaves its way throughout each realm as a common thread that ties the Lost Island world together.

Waterloo River Lights Experience, Waterloo, Iowa

Designed by renowned architectural lighting artist, Rob Shakespeare, the Waterloo River Lights Experience comes to life at sunset. Colored light flows from plazas with lighted totem towers, across the canopy of the 4th Street bridge, and spills dramatically over the water cascading over the adjacent Cedar River dam. Inspired by the spirit of Waterloo and the beauty of the river, light bridges connect the two halves of the city in arrays of seasonal, holiday and special celebration colors. At the top of most hours, a colorful tribute to Veterans flourishes in red, white and blue, celebrating this segment of a larger Veterans Way corridor along 4th Street and connecting adjacent memorial parks. RITLAND+KUIPER was hired to assemble a multi-disciplinary team to assist Shakespeare Lighting and Design in the implementation of the artist's vision. The team designed two curved, colored-concrete plazas on either end of the bridge that each host three light "totem" tower sculptures loaded with colored LED fixtures. These systems are combined with the bridge canopy lights with an innovative control system that can be operated and maintained remotely using web-based software.