Summary

Size:

42,000 sf

Type:

Parks & Recreation

Budget:

1.4 Million

Date Completed:

10/01/2009

Description

Just under an acre in size, the historic hilltop city park now affords a nice spot of hillside greenery next to Van Andel Institute and the Grand Rapids “Medical Mile.” Working with the City of Grand Rapids, URS and Van Andel Institute, which flanks Crescent Park, our team revived the park in 2009.

With its aging trees, the park had endeared itself to the growing urbanized environment which had sprung up around it. However, during this same period of time, age and neglect were obvious. Van Andel Institute Adopted Crescent Park and provided all funding for design and construction of the $1.4 million park rejuvenation park.

The new park is dedicated to cancer survivors and features concrete pavers, stone slabs and granite benches purchased by donors and engraved with the names of cancer survivors. New plantings revitalize the hillside and include approximately 3,000 new shrubs and ground cover. A central feature is a new circular plaza atop the hillside.

This project won a Merit Award from The American Society of Landscape Architects. The awards jury noted: “Crescent Park’s scale and function work nicely, a naturalized urban park within such a dense urban neighborhood is truly unique. Good work in and around existing trees, great use of materials and detailing.”