The upcoming ISSUE Issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. This project was not chosen for a Feature in the issue, but we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought the project deserved to be showcased online . . .

 

Tyler Park is an historic Olmsted Brothers designed park located in the Highlands area of Louisville, KY. Several of the features from the original Olmsted Brothers Master Plan remain in the park, including the oval lawn, tennis courts, and some of the original trails and paths. Over time, additional amenities were installed that provide service to the surrounding community but are not necessarily in keeping with the historic plan.

The project included a review of and update to the most recent master plan, completed in 2009-2010. Through this process decisions were made to restore, and respect historic plan elements and park uses, while providing for modern amenities that serve the public within the context of historic elements of the park. The event lawn from the Olmsted plans was restored by removing amenities that had infringed upon it. The playground and sprayground were relocated outside of the lawn and updated with a new bathroom building, new playground equipment, new sprayground, and incorporation of nature-based play elements.

The new bathroom building reflects the architecture of the historic neighborhood of Tyler Park, drawing on surrounding architectural details, colors, and materials. Playground and sprayground equipment were designed to blend into the natural environment and the historic character of the park. Dramatic improvements were made to accessibility throughout the park, the key feature being a completely redesigned path beneath the historic Baxter Avenue bridge. Old concrete monumental steps were replaced with an accessible path and improved storm drainage, connecting both sides of the park for all people, and providing connection to the restored tennis courts on the opposite side of the bridge. Native limestone blocks, curbing, and flagstone create the edges of the path and line the drainage way.