CHILDREN'S PARK
Isla Vista, California

Client: 
Isla Vista Recreation and Park District>

Project Background:
Children’s Park, in the center of Isla Vista, has watched for almost 70 years as the unincorporated, university adjacent community has grown and evolved around it. The Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD) set out to update the parks aged amenities and infrastructure, teaming with PCLD to conduct a targeted community engagement campaign and conceptual site design effort for a grant application to the California State Parks Statewide Park Program (SPP).

PCLD worked with IVRPD staff to develop a COVID-19 safe community engagement plan that not only met, but exceeded the grant guidelines and offered residents several opportunities and venues to engage the potential for Children’s Park truncated within 6-week window. PCLD designed engagement activities that could be conducted at hybrid socially distanced in-person events and in virtual sessions to answer three basic questions: what, where, and why Children’s Park, and which amenities and programs should be included in the grant application. Qualitative and quantitative data was pulled to answer those questions thoroughly and eventually leading to the 2022 award of $4.2 million in funding for this park. After grant award, IVRPD and PCLD have conducted another 8 public meetings soliticing community feedback, progressing the design development of the park, and solidifying community support for the project.

Design:
The project design is centered on the desire to integrate natural systems and elements into the park with hopes of helping neighborhood Children develop a better understanding and sensitivity for the natural world. The park will feature a renovated community building, designed by project architect RNT Architects, a large nature-themed, Monarch butterfly inspired playground, large group and small group picnic and BBQ areas, a pollinator meadow, and an open field turf area for passive recreation. The project is currently in construction documents and hopes to start construction in early 2026.