Accelerated Development: Erie Community Park

For the first time in Design Concepts history a major city park is being completed, from Master Plan to finished project, in less than a year. Usually city park projects like Erie’s take years to complete as public meetings are had, master plans are drawn up and repeatedly revised, city councils debate, contractors are chosen, etc. In the case of Erie Community Park, however, everyone’s ability to work quickly and effectively has lead to a projected completion date in November 2009, just eleven months after work on the master plan began!

There are several factors that contributed to the Erie-DC partnership’s ability to get the park through all the initial steps and under construction so fast. The biggest was the willingness of Erie’s Parks and Recreation department to attend weekly design meetings to answer questions on the spot and allow the plans to move forward. Usually this process takes months as the design team and the client send plans and comments back and forth.

Once ground was broken in Erie things continued to work at an accelerated pace. With the abundance of available workers in the industry construction was underway quickly and the contractor (Turner Construction) and sub-contractors continue to get things done in record time.

Little has slowed construction since it began. The weather has not interfered for the most part and even the encounter of one of the old mineshafts, where a shelter support post was meant to go, did not cause much delay. The problem was quickly solved by changing the post’s location.

The pace of the project has been a pleasant surprise and everyone is looking forward to seeing the completed project in November!

photo courtesy of Ken Obrien

Roxborough Skate Park

We've been working with Team Pain on a skate park in Roxborough, CO and it's nearly complete. Wow, it's amazing what those guys can do with concrete. It's not quite open yet, but will be soon. When it is, here's the address:

7673 N Rampart Range Rd

Littleton, CO 80125

You can see some project photos at our website.

Meet the DC Team: Sarah

Name: Sarah Cieciek

Number of years at DC: 7

Title: Landscape Architect

Where are you from? Protivin, Iowa. Population 317.

Where did you go to school? Iowa State University.

What's one thing you can't live without? My family and friends. Being outdoors.

Where is the farthest you have traveled? Brazil, Europe, and I have a trip planned for Thailand this December.

What's your favorite food? Cereal.

What's your favorite part of working at Design Concepts? The people and office culture. It is also great being able to work on school and park projects where your efforts are being enjoyed by the public.

What would you do with $1 million? Help my parents restore the family farmhouse. Transform the farm to an organic vegetable farm. Buy a place on Hawaii’s big island. Travel.

If you could be a professional athlete, what sport would you play? Six on six women’s basketball.

If you could win any type of award, what award would it be? Most ridiculous excuse for a bowling team.

What is your favorite movie? I prefer episodes of Seinfeld, The Office, or Arrested Development.

What inspires you? Getting away from my regular routine and exploring other cities and landscapes.

What's one totally random fact about yourself? I am a dog stalker. I don’t actually own one, but love them and am constantly admiring them. Have been known to walk my neighbor’s dogs to get my fix.