West Lewis Mini-Park Wins Award

The San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects announced the winners of their 2012 design awards, recognizing professional excellence for outstanding works of landscape architecture and environmental planning that promote an enhanced quality of life in San Diego County and beyond.

Of 49 submissions, awards were given to 12 projects/landscape architects, including the West Lewis Mini-Park in Mission Hills, which won a Merit Award for Parks. The park was designed by Schmidt Design Group, Inc. for the City of San Diego.

Neighborhood residents came to the city of San Diego with an idea for a public pocket park at the edge of Dove Canyon. Schmidt Design Group was hired by the City of San Diego to facilitate a design with the community for this park.

The neighbors envisioned a conventional park with turf, seating and interpretive education. The poor soil compaction, lack of water for irrigation and limited city maintenance called for a very different kind of park.

The design solution was to connect the grid street-pattern of the neighborhood to the park with sidewalks and mow curbs and then transition to a natural landscape of decomposed granite and seat-height boulders.

A canyon-edge view-point includes an exhibit about local birdlife.

The jury commented, “This is an excellent integration of a natural space in the city.” “It shows that San Diego can have mini parks that require minimal or no water and maintenance.”

Tags: Dove Canyon, Mission Hills Pocket Park, Schmidt Design Group, The San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Category: Local News