peter melendy park sits between the main street parkade, 1^st street, and the cedar river on a one-acre, triangle-shaped parcel of land. the park provides direct access to the riverside trail and the cedar valley lakes trail on the other side of the river and is home to the “gateway to the trails” sculpture. the city had recently completed a floodwall and levee improvement project along the riverbank in peter melendy park, and with these recent infrastructure improvements in place, city and community leaders further desired to enhance the park and river area for residents and visitors.

peter melendy renovation efforts drive riverfront upgrades

our team provided a conceptual master plan and final design that guided renovations at peter melendy park. our plans incorporated many of the same streetscape features planned or used along the nearby cedar falls main street parkade project. these renovations included removing nearly 500 square yards of concrete sidewalks and replacing them with a colorful assortment of brick pavers to mimic the parkade sidewalks. the permeable paver design will also help the location with stormwater drainage.

using clay pavers will significantly increase the longevity and durability of the project.

for this project, clay pavers made of natural materials were chosen even though the initial material cost was more than the alternative concrete pavers. the clay pavers have a consistent color throughout and do not fade over time. they resist many environmental factors and have a higher compressive strength than concrete. pavers with chamfered edges were also specified to allow for minor variations in surface elevation. this reduces tripping hazards, helps maintain ada compliance, and makes snow removal easier.

the extensive master plan included numerous new tree plantings and sodding, hardscape amenities, new park wayfinding signage, permanent benches, and convenient bike racks.

river place plaza sidewalk connection

around the bend from peter melendy park, the river place plaza was a private, yet related, project that helped revitalize and redevelop an adjacent portion of the downtown and the river place neighborhood. our team worked with the city and other groups to provide a connection to their river walk system, the downtown businesses, and new development features. we strove to tie the traditional and contemporary blend of hardscape and streetscape components into the east 2^nd street area, from main to state street. the project updates included the replacement of all sidewalks with pavers and ada upgrades. not only are the pedestrian travel paths no longer concrete, but the detectable warnings also utilize clay pavers.

the peter melendy park and the surrounding riverfront area in cedar falls have undergone substantial upgrades to enhance the downtown area’s aesthetic appeal. as the lead design firm for the parkade renovations, our team also upgraded peter melendy park with brick pavers, new trees and sodding, hardscape amenities, park wayfinding signage, permanent benches, and bike racks. the river place plaza project also received upgrades, including replacing all sidewalks with pavers and ada upgrades. clay pavers were chosen for both projects due to their consistent color, environmental resistance, and higher compressive strength than concrete. these renovations provide a revitalized and connected space for residents and visitors.

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attractive signage at the entrance recognizes the numerous donors that made wonder spelen possible.

meaning “miracle play” in dutch, “wonder spelen” is a pella-based nonprofit organization formed to raise money to create an all-inclusive park for children with disabilities. when the idea for creating this outdoor wonderland was proposed in 2018, pella city council members viewed the plan as an opportunity to turn the popular kiwanis park into a regional destination. the local kiwanis club immediately got to work to raise money for the park through fundraisers, private donations, and 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 contributions.

the city of pella hired the team from snyder & associates to develop a comprehensive master plan for the park improvements that would complement the city’s distinct dutch aesthetic while incorporating the necessary amenities for inclusive play. our team also worked with custom building designers from romtec to create a specialized restroom building to match the town’s theme.

importance of inclusive play for all children

several stand-alone play structures can accommodate wheelchairs.

approximately 13% of children in the united states are served by the individuals with disabilities education act (idea). yet, this broad population segment is often lacking regarding safe, sensory-appropriate playground facilities. while ada requirements call for accessible pathways to playground equipment, an appropriate ratio of ground-level play activities versus those higher up on the structure, and transfer platforms for children with mobility devices, inclusive playgrounds go further. these facilities are designed to be welcoming, engaging, and challenging for all children and provide opportunities to develop cognitive, sensory, physical, and social skills.

inclusive playgrounds feature a variety of environments where children can engage at their own pace and sensory input level. they’re also welcoming to parents and caregivers, many of whom may have a disability, as well.

multi-phase plan allows for staged building process

our multi-phase park improvement plan took advantage of the available open space in kiwanis park to create a new parking area, inclusive playground structures, and an eight-foot-wide trail and sidewalk network to provide direct access to the play areas. the addition of interactive playground equipment, accessible restroom building, and sensory play equipment were the main pieces constructed for the project’s first construction phase. because kiwanis park was already home to an open shelter house, tennis and pickleball courts, and a basketball court, the new play area fit seamlessly with the park’s recreational styling.

playground improvements staging plan.

the romtec-supplied restroom building is a unique and attractive structure that stands out in the park yet fits well with the park’s design. the building is composed of two shades of tan and grey blocks arranged in a pattern that continues onto the faux chimney stacks and provides a distinct and uniform appearance. in addition, decorative shutters installed on the face of the building frame the drinking fountains and continue the dutch theme. the structure also contains a large mechanical room with ample space to access plumbing and accommodate equipment storage.

while the phase one upgrades opened to the 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 in october 2021, the enhancements to the park will continue in phases two and three of the project. phase two includes various new landscaping trees and plants, planting beds, two shade structures, and another play zone. phase three will expand the parking lot, create more trails and walkways, and expand the community garden.

as future upgrades continue in kiwanis park, the city leader’s vision of the park becoming a regional destination will quickly come to fruition. the new state-of-the-art “wonder spelen” inclusive playground is positioned to serve children and adults of all ages and abilities for many years, helping people play together and ensuring no one is left out.

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much like the materials used to make tennis rackets have changed over the years from wood to graphite, titanium, and other lightweight materials, so has the playing surface of the court itself. originally, grass and clay were the predominant court materials, but for the majority of recreational courts found in parks and sports complexes, asphalt (and to a lesser extent, concrete) often with an acrylic coating, is the go-to surface for durability and long life.

the landscape team at snyder & associates has been designing stand-alone tennis facilities (and as a piece of a park master plan) for many years. even as the popularity of other outdoor recreational opportunities has grown, tennis courts remain as one of the top draws in many parks, sports complexes, and school districts. and because the surfaces for tennis and its companion sport, pickleball, are similar, communities are increasingly requesting tennis courts with dual markings and adjustable nets to render the courts multi-use.

durable & professional results with seasoned sports field designers

outdoor tennis courts are typically constructed on asphalt surfaces with several surface coatings to choose from. engaging an experienced sports field design team, however, is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when considering adding or upgrading an existing tennis court facility.

achieving a professional result is so much more than simply creating a flat slab and adding nets. at a minimum, courts need to have the proper slope and adequate drainage for proper use. if these two critical components aren’t designed correctly, courts can be too steep, or worse, develop standing water after inclement weather. either of these issues will degrade the user experience.

choosing the best surface coating for your unique situation is another decision that a professional sports field design team can help make. numerous coatings are available depending on the variables of your court’s location. most surface coatings are acrylic-based and designed especially for coating asphalt. for outdoor courts, coatings are textured with a smooth and rounded, non-aggressive silica sand. this provides a slip-free surface in wet and dry conditions. options also exist to regulate the amount of cushion in the surface coating to help reduce player fatigue.

project sampling of snyder & associates-designed courts & sports complexes

doanes park

doanes park complex

in 2013, snyder & associates was approached by leaders from the pleasant hill parks & recreation department to design several new amenities for doanes park, including a new multi-use tennis and pickleball facility. this project called for three regulation tennis courts with markings for pickleball and tennis on each court. the design included all grading work, an asphalt surface and all-weather coating, fences, and dual-purpose nets.

these expansive park improvements added to a robust offering of ball fields, playground areas, and soccer fields that were designed by our landscape architects, as well, and provide first-rate recreational opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods. through various 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 meetings and working with pleasant hill city staff and other stakeholder groups, our designers were able to understand the priorities and budgets of the various groups to accomplish numerous improvements over the past three years.

haines park & village park

the two new courts in this altoona park are marked for tennis and pickleball use.

a similar project in altoona saw the removal and replacement of two tennis courts in village park and two courts in haines park. dual markings for tennis and pickleball were added to the courts in both parks, as well. the altoona parks & recreation department commissioned our team to design and oversee this project which included four regulation tennis courts, a new asphalt surface and all-weather coating, nets, and 10’ tall black vinyl coated fencing. site adjustments were necessary to accommodate the regulation size courts.

at one location, buried foundations discovered during construction posed a unique challenge to the plan. our design team immediately stepped in to create a fair solution between the contractor and the city to keep this project moving forward.

north polk community school district

when the north polk community school district’s new high school opened in 2013, a tennis court facility was not allowed for in the building funds. unfortunately, this prevented the district from being able to host home tennis meets for their student-athletes. when the funds became available, the school district turned to snyder & associates to design an athletic facility that not only provided first-class amenities but also included ample and comfortable accommodations for spectators.

this project included the construction and installation of six brand new, regulation tennis courts, complete with concrete walkways and expansive bleacher pads. the courts are an asphalt surface with an all-weather coating and included posts, nets, fencing, and perimeter gating. stormwater detention was also created and additional electrical service and site restoration were completed after the courts were constructed.

mercer park

dedicated tennis and pickleball courts are the highlights of iowa city’s mercer park.

the iowa city parks & recreation department went in a different direction for their project in mercer park. an existing six tennis court complex was converted to retain three full-size tennis courts and add eight pickleball courts. snyder & associates professionals evaluated the current athletic courts for resurfacing and expansion needs. our sports field design team then developed a plan that included new asphalt, partial fencing, posts, nets, resurfacing, and striping.

the demand in the iowa city area for amenities like this had been strong for many years and mimics a nationwide popularity trend for the sport of tennis. whether you’re community or organization is looking to convert existing tennis courts, or design a new sports facility from scratch, snyder & associates has years of experience designing tennis and pickleball facilities that meet our client’s customized needs.

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due to its central location in knoxville, young’s park is heavily used by residents. however, a lack of modern facilities and amenities kept the park from realizing its full potential. knoxville city leaders selected snyder & associates to create a master plan for renovating the 11-acre community park and adding numerous new facilities. this plan developed multiple design element improvements, as well as creating a park theme that reflects knoxville’s relationship with their sister city of warrnambool, australia.

the master plan developed by the snyder & associates team created a vision for the north side of the park, as well as the south. on the north side, the construction of an all-inclusive, ada accessible “miracle field” playground was the first phase of the plan to improve the usability of young’s park. additionally, the north side improvements include a splash park, shade structure, and a large shelter house and concession stand. in a nod to knoxville’s sister city, a large didgeridoo was included in the plans.

due to the land-locked nature of the park and the lack of significant storm sewer in the area, our team also prepared a detailed grading design and stormwater management plan that included a bioretention pond on the northeast corner of the park. this pond will greatly reduce the impact of localized flooding regularly experienced in the park, as well as maximizing open space areas.

skatepark creates regional recreation draw

on the south end of the park, the city coordinated with the knoxville school district to move the tennis courts out of young’s park to make room for a new, 8,000 sq. ft. skatepark. designed in coordination with spohn ranch, the skatepark is thoughtfully laid out to accommodate both skateboards and bmx bikes and includes a wide variety of terrain for all skill levels and riding styles.

the west end of the skatepark is anchored by a concrete “bowl,” which then flows into a modern street section with rollers, stairs, rails, and ledges. sections with colored concrete add a modern aesthetic. the new skatepark replaced the city’s ad hoc collection of wood and metal ramps located at the knoxville recreation center a few blocks away.

just a short distance away from the skatepark, a large rope-climbing structure is available for younger park users. a picnic shelter pavilion with spacious restrooms, new sidewalks connecting the amenities, and updated lighting and utilities were also part of the south end improvements. expanded parking was created on both sides of the park to accommodate the anticipated increased use. to keep the city’s maintenance equipment close to where it’s needed, the project also included a park maintenance facility.

the master plan and construction coordination efforts spread the park improvements over multiple phases. in addition to the plan, snyder & associates also performed all survey, site drainage reviews, and all utility coordination for this expansive park project. numerous aspects of the master plan have already been constructed while other pieces are continuing during the next project phase.

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located less than one mile southeast of fort dodge, the gypsum city off-highway vehicle (ohv) park is a premier destination for all-terrain vehicle (atv), dirt bike, and snowmobile riders, as well as other outdoor enthusiasts. situated on 800-acres of land formerly mined for gypsum, it’s the largest 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 riding area in iowa with approximately 70-miles of trails, fully signed and groomed, that covers varying terrain dynamics to provide a unique riding experience.

after being mined, the land was deemed unsuitable for urban development, with few possible alternative uses. the diverse topography and natural landscape of fields, hills, and cliffs made the location ideal for ohv use. 2022世界杯32强预选赛 for the project began almost two decades ago as a collaborative effort between individuals and groups along with united states gypsum corporation representatives and state and local officials. snyder & associates was brought on board to provide 2022世界杯美洲杯预选赛 , landscape development, and master 2022世界杯32强预选赛 guidance for this ongoing and extensive project.

phased construction takes advantage of funding opportunities

the campground currently accommodates 33 sites, with plans for more.

the ohv park project was separated into three distinct construction phases to capitalize on funding opportunities as they became available. during phase one construction, over 15 miles of trails were created through an area of rolling hills and open grasslands. this phase also included the building of a motocross course, a safety training area, two youth riding areas, and a parking lot capable of accommodating 350 vehicles with trailers.

during phase two, an additional 35-miles of trails were added, as well as day-use areas that included fishing ponds, improved trail safety measures, and property fencing. phase three consisted of the construction of an expansive campground with 33 sites, along with modern restroom and shower facilities. most recently, our team helped the organization place an amateur supercross track on the growing list of park amenities.

focused collaboration leads to award recognition

the snyder & associates team collaborated with the iowa department of natural resources (dnr), iowa department of transportation (dot), the city of fort dodge, webster county improvements corporation, and webster county conservation to design and construct this one-of-kind park. our team was also instrumental in developing the design for bringing electrical, a water main, and a force main sanitary sewer service to the park.

representatives from the gypsum city off-highway vehicle park accepted an annual achievement award in recognition of their outstanding use of recreational trails program (rtp) funds. hosted by the coalition for recreation trails, the ceremony was held in washington, d.c. during great outdoors week. at a cost of over $5.5 million, rtf funds were one of more than 27 grants that made the park possible without utilizing tax dollars.

master 2022世界杯32强预选赛 efforts continue park growth

gypsum city off-highway vehicle park map

as the park continues to grow and evolve, the snyder & associates team has remained active to help the organization create a roadmap for future development. this has included the compilation of a master plan that provides guidance for the development of future facilities, improvements to existing facilities, and how to maximize future funding and investment opportunities over the next twenty years.

among the tools used to compile the master plan was an online 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 input survey that collected feedback from the 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 , as well as park users. additionally, the team met with key stakeholders, business owners, and park staff to better understand potential expansion opportunities and service needs. from here, the team developed goals and the necessary components and implementation steps required to meet those goals.

numerous improvement opportunities are detailed in the master plan, including the addition of a playground, observation platforms, picnic shelters, and wash bays, along with a desire for rental storage units, a challenge course, trail expansion, and cottage rentals, to name a few. a further finding of the plan was the benefit of creating an “ohv friendly community” beyond the borders of the park. this would allow off-roaders the opportunity to ride their ohv vehicles around the community on predetermined roads and paths, opening a new door of revenue streams for local retailers, restaurants, and fuel stations.

the gypsum city ohv park has capitalized on the growing popularity of the off-roading lifestyle and community. with expert guidance from the snyder & associates team, the park is well-positioned to continue to grow in the years to come.

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chichaqua valley trail spans over 30 miles from baxter to just south of the east mixmaster in des moines.

designed to accommodate bicyclists, runners, hikers, and cross-country skiers, the chichaqua valley trail spans over 30 miles from baxter to just south of the east mixmaster in des moines. built almost entirely on a former railroad line, this expansive trail system is jointly managed by the polk county and jasper county conservation departments. the snyder & associates team has worked side-by-side with these organizations, and others, to create new and rehabilitate existing trail components over many years.

major flood event decimates trail sections

in 2011, major floods destroyed twelve different sections along the trail. some of the washed-out areas supporting the trail had been constructed as far back as the 1880s when the original rail line was installed. our team stepped in to orchestrate repair solutions to return the trail to a useable condition. this project was made more complicated by the need for federal emergency management agency (fema) funds to cover the cost of repairs and the challenge of working with two counties.

additionally, the discovery of deeper structural damage required our team to adjust on the fly to develop new solutions. at several locations, metal plates were added to create more secure and safer transitions between the repaired trail section and bridges.

bondurant rail corridor transformed into regional trailhead

the water bottle filling station located by the trailhead shelter provides a much-needed amenity for trail users.

perhaps one of the most rewarding projects our team has tackled around the chichaqua valley trail was the master plan design created to bring a regional trailhead park to the heart of bondurant. the trailhead would be located on an abandoned railroad corridor between main and grant streets on a site that was formerly a part of the historic chicago great western railway operations. city and county officials, and other stakeholders, envisioned the proposed trailhead acting as the centerpiece of the eastern polk county trail system. at the same time, they tasked our team with developing a plan that would pay homage to the rail line’s presence in the area and the history of bondurant.

the snyder & associates team conducted several 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 input meetings to gather feedback about what the residents of the area would like to see in the new location. then, after further meetings with officials, our designers prepared the bondurant trailhead master plan and a comprehensive estimate of construction costs.

the proposed master plan incorporates a 1,440 square foot open-air shelter with restrooms and water bottle fill stations. also, seating areas, a splash ground, trail hub kiosk, and interpretive signage were included. the shelter is a replica of the original bondurant train station that served train passengers from 1883 to 1962. entryway features and screening walls were based on the railroad theme and give the site a unique flare that references the location and bondurant’s past.

based on our team’s master plan, the city of bondurant immediately installed the shelter, trail section, and paved seating areas. the 0.7-acre bondurant regional trailhead park officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2013. in the intervening years, most of the other amenities have been added to the site as funds became available.

two trail extensions pave the way for future trail loop

a “fresh” trail section meanders its way into the des moines metro area.

piggybacking on the success of the bondurant trailhead project, our team was again enlisted by polk county officials to create a plan for extending the chichaqua valley trail from a location west of bondurant, continuing to the southwest where it would intersect with the gay lea wilson trail. this new trail section required the rehabilitation of two former railroad bridges near the community of berwick.

our team then designed a second trail alignment that carried the chichaqua valley trail into the norwoodville neighborhood in the northeast corner of the des moines metro. currently, the trail ends at broadway avenue. however, an extensive reconstruction plan is currently being developed by our team to expand the broadway avenue corridor, including a plan to provide a trail segment that will intersect with the chichaqua valley trail and connect with the gay lea wilson trail to the east, creating an entirely new trail loop for users.

while the chichaqua valley trail has evolved over the past several decades, the snyder & associates-led flood recovery efforts and creation of the bondurant trailhead have been two of the most transformative projects impacting the future of the trail. as trail systems continue to expand to meet the recreational and multimodal needs of communities, our comprehensive team of professionals stands ready to provide our first-rate design and 2022世界杯32强预选赛 services.

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