CHILDREN'S PARK
Isla Vista, California

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).

Client: 
Isla Vista Recreation & Parks District

Community Engagement &: Design Development
The SPP ‘Parks for All’ program incentivizes new park development and park renovation projects in disadvantaged communities throughout the state. The grant also prioritizes projects that promote equity, inclusion, and diversity in parks through in-depth community outreach efforts. 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. PCLD continues to lead a robust community-driven design process through public meetings, interactive park pop-ups, special stakeholder meetings, and a project website. The team is comprised as PCLD as lead consultants and 9 subconsultant teams. The project is currently in 100% Design Development.