Greenleaf Park is a 46-acre public park located in Springfield, MA which hosts an assortment of playing fields, tennis, and basketball courts, parking lots, wooded areas, and wetland resources.  

Challenge


The City of Springfield came to GZA to develop a conceptual master plan to address the lack of play amenities, accessible pedestrian circulation and park amenities, wayfinding, opportunities for seating, and failed stormwater headwall/ culvert.  
 

Solution


GZA’s landscape architects developed a conceptual master plan, which was used for applying for federal funding.  Upon receipt of $2.5M of funding from multiple sources, the City of Springfield contracted GZA for full design of the redevelopment of Greenleaf Park. Site improvements included a new accessible water play “splash pad” area, two new accessible playgrounds with poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing, redeveloped parking lot, culvert head-wall reconstruction, landscaping, and an extensive accessible walking trail system featuring a new pedestrian bridge.  GZA wetland scientists, engineers, and water resource engineers studied the culvert and up-stream and downstream channels and developed a design for a new 10 ft. tall headwall. 
 

Benefit


 GZA’s master plan was successfully used by the City in securing funding for project implementation. GZA’s multidisciplinary team provided a park design that provided valuable recreational resources for the community, repaired and upgraded site infrastructure, and preserved and enhanced the site’s natural resources. The project was completed on schedule and within budget.