April: World Landscape Architecture Month
McGill Celebrates Usefulness and Relevance of Outdoor Spaces
What is World Landscape Architecture Month?
The American Society of Landscape Architects designates each April as World Landscape Architecture Month. This month-long, international observance highlights landscape architecture and designed public and private spaces. The connection between people and spaces has always been important, but the COVID-19 pandemic has especially illuminated the importance of outdoor spaces to our physical, mental, and emotional health.
Park Project Examples
McGill has an award-winning land planning and recreation team that has worked on a multitude of projects that create intentional spaces for people. We have detailed a few of our park projects below:
Farragut Outdoor Classroom and Water Quality Demonstration Site, Town of Farragut, Tennessee
The Farragut Outdoor Classroom and Water Quality Demonstration Site, located on a 1.4-acre tract, has an emphasis on water quality and public education regarding sustainability, while also incorporating community-based participation. McGill provided surveying, landscape architecture, and civil engineering services to develop the project from concept level through the construction phase. The Town of Farragut describes the space as being created to “rally the community around a location to do projects that nurture a greater sense of civic engagement, community ownership, and understanding of the natural world.” This project was awarded “Best Outdoor Space” in 2016 by the environmental group, Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
Rocky Face Park, Alexander County, North Carolina
Located in northern Alexander County, Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area was the site of a former rock quarry. The 330-acre passive park is primarily undeveloped and considered environmentally significant with a numerous rare species of flora and fauna. McGill’s design and planning of the park incorporated LEED design principals by providing innovative stormwater features, sustainable building materials, and minimal impact on ecosystems, while also utilizing existing site features for recreational opportunities. Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area boasts various activities, including geocaching, hiking, picnicking, plant and animal life, primitive backpack camping, and rock climbing.
Valdese Family Splash Park, Town of Valdese, North Carolina
The Town of Valdese encourages residents and visitors to “splash through the summer heat at the Valdese Family Splash Park” that provides a splash pad, playground, picnic shelter, multipurpose building, cornhole courts, trails, and parking. Our team developed construction documents for this project. The unique project elements, proper planning with Town staff, and understanding the community’s needs and goals allowed McGill to provide a final product to improve the quality of life of Valdese citizens.
Ocean Isle Beach Town Center Park, Town of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Through community input and close coordination with Town of Ocean Isle Beach staff, McGill created multiple design alternatives for the 1.7-acre Ocean Isle Beach Town Center Park. Our team then worked with the town to prepare a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant application, and provided design, permitting, and construction administration services as well. The Ocean Isle Beach Town Center Park includes a stage venue for concerts, festivals, and movies in the park; interactive fountain; arbor shade structures with benches and bench swings; restroom facility; playground area; walking path; fitness station; bike racks; bocce court; and drive and parking improvements, including golf cart facilities. Find the Town’s park map here.
Master Planning Services
The McGill land planning and recreation team provides master planning services for clients across North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. We offer decades of experience in recreation planning and understand the importance of these master plans that serve as a guiding document for the goals and objectives of our clients’ park systems. Our staff understands that recreation plans are not a one-size-fits-all strategy. A recreation plan must respond and reflect the local community make-up and fulfill its needs. Find out more about our land planning and recreation services and read a case study about how our team redesigned Town Creek Park in Brunswick County.
Get in Touch
If you have a land planning and recreation project you need assistance with, reach out to Mike Norris, PLA, Director of Land Planning and Recreation, by email at mike.norris@mcgillassociates.com or by phone at 828.328.2024. We look forward to helping shape your community together!