MACE RANCH COMMUNITY PARK WINS STATEWIDE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Mace Ranch Community Park in Davis once stirred
significant community debate and division. Last month, Mace Ranch won a
statewide award for Excellence in Park Planning and Design from the
California Parks and Recreation Society. MIG took over the project when
we acquired Co-Design in the late 1990s, finalized the plan and
completed construction. Reintroducing California native plants and a
habitat preserve will complete the park in Phase 3.
Recognized for excellence in promoting health and wellness, fostering
human development, increasing cultural unity, protecting environmental
resources, and facilitating community problem solving, the jury said
"The development process for Mace Ranch Community Park was marked with
intense community interest in the project based on competing community
needs: the necessary preservation of habitat and the well-documented
need for recreation services. The thorough and inventive citizen-based
development process resulted in a unique and creative solution to
reconciling the need for recreation with environmental protection.”
Take a video tour of Mace Ranch online at the City of Davis website at http://www.city.davis.ca.us/story/?story=mrcp-award
Sparks unveils Golden Eagle Regional Park
Guy Clifton, RENO-GAZETTE JOURNAL
April 14, 2008
Calling it an historic day in his city’s history, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Monday to open Golden Eagle Regional Park.“This is awesome not only for the citizens of Sparks, but for the whole region,” Martini told a crowd of several hundred who assembled in the warm but windy conditions for the grand opening of the $30 million sports complex off Vista Boulevard near Wingfield Springs.
Most had not seen the facility, tucked away in a valley on former BLM land. “I can’t believe it,” said Reno Mayor Bob Cashell. “I pulled up here and it took my breath away. This is beautiful ... first cabin all the way. Now I’ve got to figure out how to put something like this in Reno.”
The 140-acre complex includes six softball, two baseball, two youth baseball/softball and three multi-purpose football/socer fields, all covered with artificial turf. Martini said it is believed to be — with 1.4 million square feet of artificial turf — the largest artificial turf project in the world and the city has asked the Guinness Book of World Records to confirm it.
Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Park
MIG, working closely with Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation (http://www.alwaysdream.org/) and the City of Fremont, is designing an Always Dream Play Area in Fremont’s largest community park, Central Park. The play area will provide creative and active play opportunities for children with and without disabilities.
MIG facilitated meetings with Foundation and City staff to develop a vision for the play area, and determine specific themes and activities. Based on these discussions, MIG developed a conceptual design, as well as a rendering that depicts the potential design features. The rendering was unveiled at a fundraising and dedication ceremony on October 12, 2007.
MIG’s design includes a series of colorful mounds rising out of the field of turf, encircling a plaza with stepped seating, picnic tables and shade umbrellas. The physical activity encouraged by the mounds will be complemented by slides, climbers, swings, and spinning bowls. For quieter, more reflective play, there is a sand and water play area, as well as plants and trees to allow children to connect with natural elements. All of the features are designed to accommodate children with disabilities.
MIG refined the concept through design development, and will prepare construction documents as the project moves forward. Construction is anticipated for August 2008.
An article from ABC 7 online on an interview with Kristi Yamaguchi about her participation on Dancing with the Stars ended with a mention of her devotion to her organization and the completion of the Always Dream Park:
The Olympic champion who realized her American dream will be able to devote more time to her Oakland-based foundation for children called "Always Dream." The foundation is currently building a playground in her hometown of Fremont for children with disabilities (Kristen Sze, ABC 7 News, March 24, 2008). To see the full article please visit: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/entertainment&id=6038531
North Las Vegas Completes a Safer Blvd.
Southern Nevada is poised to get its first stretch of road that separates buses and bicyclists from other traffic with side medians, a concept that is intended to improve pedestrian safety.
This European design, known as a multiway boulevard, has existed in several U.S. cities for at least 20 years, including San Francisco, Santa Monica, Calif., and Seattle.
North Las Vegas could be added to that list if its City Council approves a proposal to convert a portion of North Las Vegas Boulevard from northeast of Bruce Street to Carey Avenue into a multiway route as part of a downtown revitalization project.
2 New Parks Catalysts for San Francisco Neighborhoods
Here's what counts. Two neighborhoods now have common ground, comfortable parks to call their own. Every neighborhood deserves the same, no matter where it may be.