When you manage large municipal landscaping, you face many challenges, including keeping the property safe for the many people who visit your site regularly.
When creating beautiful landscaping for parks doesn’t just happen, especially the impressive manicured planting areas, walkways, and colorful, cooling retreats that grace Chicagoland’s best public parks. The playgrounds at these sites encourage artistry and originality in efforts to promote physical activity and exercise in natural surroundings.
It is important to support the creation of green spaces in municipalities. Plants help maintain air quality and lower ambient temperatures by dissipating the heat of paved streets and parking lots.
And remember those simple parks with a couple of swings, a slide, and sometimes a fountain? Well, they’ve had a makeover. As communities grow and become more tech-savvy and environmentally conscious, their parks are evolving.
Revitalizing a park is what KD Landscape did for McCollum Parks in the Downers Grove Park District. The municipal landscape installation was completed in 2023.
Let’s dive into the goals and objectives of this landscaping for parks project and how KD Landscape made the park improvements a reality.
About McCollum Park
The Downers Grove Park District began major park improvement projects to update and expand recreation amenities at McCollum Park, located in Downers Grove.
McCollum Park features ball fields, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, a playground, a walking path, and Miner Mike’s Adventure Golf.
The park focused on these improvements in the summer of 2023:
- A new sprayground featuring three splash areas for tots, families, and teens, as well as seating and shade.
- Addition of new showers within the existing restrooms.
- Renovated tennis/pickleball courts featuring new energy-efficient LED lighting and including eight dedicated pickleball courts and six tennis courts (which can be converted for an additional 16 temporary pickleball courts).
- Renovated plaza area with picnic tables and benches.
- Resurfacing and widening of the existing asphalt perimeter pathway.
KD Landscape’s project included five acres of walking paths (including new installations and restoration of existing trails), 20,000 square feet of a splash pad and playground zones with dedicated spaces for water play and structured play equipment, and commercial landscaping of several thousand square feet of park space with native plants, trees, and ornamental beds.
KD Landscape was awarded the project through public bidding and the preferred vendor credentials for installing park and playground equipment.
The Challenges & Solutions of McCollum’s Landscaping For Parks Project
The client sought to modernize McCollum Park by creating a functional and inviting space for the community.
The work started with a site assessment, during which KD Landscape conducted a detailed site survey to evaluate existing conditions, accessibility, and infrastructure and identified areas requiring restoration and improvements.
Then, collaborating with stakeholders, KD Landscape finalized designs for the splash pad, walking paths, playground, and park landscaping. It also developed a phased project plan to ensure seamless execution and minimize disruptions, which were important to municipal park officials.
Construction Begins
After securing the proper permits for park construction, water features, and landscaping, KD Landscape’s team prepared the site and marked walking paths and zones for landscaping. They also started the restoration work to bring existing damaged trailers up to par with new design plans.
Next was the splash pad construction, which involved installing plumbing, water management systems, and drainage infrastructure and assembling interactive water play equipment – all while ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Construction of walking paths followed, followed by paving new walking paths and improving existing trailers using durable, eco-friendly materials. KD Landscape’s team added edging and signage to enhance usability and aesthetics, which the park officials wanted.
Playground equipment was installed with a focus on safety, durability, and accessibility. Protective surfacing was added to ensure compliance with safety guidelines.
Municipal Landscape Installation
KD Landscape’s team planted native and ornamental species to enhance biodiversity and visual appeal and installed irrigation systems to ensure efficient water use. Benches, trash receptacles, and other park amenities completed the design.
Once everything was finished, the splash pad, playground, and walking paths were inspected for safety, and all landscaping was reviewed to ensure plant health and proper irrigation.
The municipal landscaping walkthrough showcased the final design and functionality for the park officials and stakeholders.
McCollum Parks Project Results
Through proactive communication and a focus on creative, tailored solutions, KD Landscape delivered a modern park that exceeded expectations while staying on schedule and within budget.
Using strategic project planning, the KD Landscape team developed a phased approach to minimize disruption and collaborated with the client to align the design with community needs and goals.
Executing the technical municipal landscape installations and landscape transformation ensured compliance with safety and accessibility standards throughout the project.
KD Landscape continues to support the client with:
- Seasonal municipal landscape maintenance of landscapes, ensuring the park remains pristine year-round.
- Inspection and repair services for features like walking paths and splash pads.
Recommendations for enhancements to keep the park relevant to community needs.
Let KD Landscape Bring Its Innovative Approaches To Your Municipal Landscaping
As you can see, KD Landscape employed several innovative techniques to ensure the success of the McCollum Park municipal landscaping project.
KD Landscape’s team emphasized stakeholder engagement throughout the process, leveraging input from community members and local leaders to shape a design that resonated with user needs and preferences.
This collaborative approach is important for creating a strong sense of ownership and pride among residents, which are the cornerstones of creating lasting community parks.
Want to learn more about our landscaping for parks in Greater Chicago? Schedule an on-site consultation today. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.
