Pioneer Park, a 17.8 acre community park located east of the City of Mesa's reinvigorated downtown, has once again been transformed into an iconic destination. Originally built in 1955, the greenspace was historically the pride and joy of Mesa, Arizona. Unfortunately, like many urban sites, it had fallen into a period of disuse and decay where illegal activities were pushing out appropriate park use. Many learned to avoid the park altogether, until long-time residents and city leaders, fueled by the passing of a city-wide parks bond, decided to reignite the history and beauty that had made Pioneer Park a once-beloved community space. Redesign included a robust community outreach effort that uncovered stories of longtime residents who fondly remembered their childhood park - the heart of the community where they played under trees and climbed on retired locomotive #2355, a revered, historic monument brought by Mesa's founding pioneers.

 

Dig Studio was selected by the City of Mesa to lead the renovation. From the beginning of the project, through discussions with the City, two design goals surfaced: Integrating new, iconic amenities into an existing park while maintaining the historic assets and characteristics that had made it a significant legacy open space, and, rethinking the idea of play to create a multi-generational experience that engages the full park and community. The two goals found harmony in one unified vision. The physical design was influenced substantially by the network of towering shade trees, remarkable in size and maturity, especially within Arizona's desert environment. The design team made decisions specifically to protect and celebrate them. Patterns and functions of historic flood irrigation were maintained to avoid shock by drastic watering changes. New amenities, play elements and bridges were strategically sited to protect and preserve the root zones. The play experience expanded outward and upward throughout the park, featuring an immersive, 500-foot-long elevated walkway to engage with the tree's shady canopies. Intergenerational play and social interaction were encouraged through non-traditional play structures and dispersed spacing of play areas. Accessibility was designed through elevated play elements, wide walkways and play structures. Multiple-level play elements encourage impromptu interactions. Slides emerge from elevated pathways, social swing clusters hang below. The number of traditional play elements was minimized, leaving room for kids to use imaginations and delight in the unique structures.

Dig Studio and the play structure manufacturer collaborated to customize products that effectively executed the original design vision. Each custom structure is designed to reflect the forms and scale of the three structural historic trees found in the park: The Pistache, Pine and Palm. Each of the self-shades extend additional hours of activity into the day and throughout the year. "The project was about highlighting and reinvigorating what was special about this amazing public space, not applying something foreign. Even the new amenities are rooted in the existing character of the park and the community that has loved it for generations," explains Chad Atterbury, Dig Studio Project Manager for Pioneer Park. In addition to the play experience, the design team developed an iconic splash pad and shade element to anchor the reclaimed historic central park axis. The structure's layered canopy acts like a tree, producing open, spotted shade during the sun's low winter angles, and heavy, consistent shade during summer months. Evenings in the park are transformed by glowing lights along the play structures, walkways, and trees.

Without commitment from Mesa to restore the park, neither the community vitality and vibrancy nor the resurgence and reinvestment would have occurred. The community has retaken ownership of the park, and a sense of pride has been restored.

As seen in LASN magazine, March 2019.