HMH Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture staff worked with Steinberg Architects to prepare a construction plan set, including landscape plans, for the City’s construction permit approval for a redesigned and slightly expanded public park.  As part of the City’s “Pavement to Plazas Program,” this area provides a place to sit, relax, and meet others in a dynamic downtown location adjacent to art galleries, restaurants and other venues.   The site is situated on 0.2 acre parcel with public street boundaries of South First Street, William Street, South Market Street, and Reed Street in the downtown area called SoFa (South of First Area).
Newly constructed park improvements included landscape improvements as well as other features to complement the existing granite park signage and public art structures.  A part of this improvement project was the closure of a small portion of South First Street adjacent to the site to expand the park area.  Polished granite benches for seating, on-site lighting upgrades, and new walking surfaces contributed to the pleasant experience of visiting this park and viewing the public art commemorating the founding settlers of the Pueblo San Jose de Guadalupe.
Colorful groundcover, native plantings and a colonade of trees were planted to add color and visual aesthetic to this outdoor place.  Drought tolerant plantings along with and stormwater control improvements make this a project that is efficient in water management and also an interesting destination for downtown residents and visitors.