Creating a park plan to meet community needs

Plymouth Avenue Exchange (PLEX) Neighborhood Park Master Plan

To meet the recreational needs of this largely residential area, we reviewed a potential park site, identified and evaluated program elements, and established three plan concepts, eventually narrowing the choices down to one.

Our challenges? The potential site had significant grade changes that complicated ADA accessibility, and with the linear shape of the parcel, the siting of desired play features would be difficult.

With community engagement, we built consensus on the program elements. We responded to community needs and desires with creativity: using the existing Erie Canal drainage basin as a sledding hill, winding an ADA accessible path through the site to address the grades, and using a game area as an ice skating rink in the winter.

With carefully detailed work phases, each phase could be built and funded separately, so the park, which will include a skateboard area, play equipment, a water spray park, fitness equipment, and raised bed gardens, will meet all community needs—for play and for cost.