Our partners at JLG invited us along to design a new downtown destination in Dickinson that was - like most of these types of projects - a long time in coming!
Our role was to work out how to make the site dynamic and fun while providing the template of activities and features the community had put on the wish list during a long planning period that JLG facilitated. We detailed the site and the many various site features: 7 angular pergolas, swing, walls, dinosaur sand dig pit, angular landforms abstracted from the badland landscapes of western North Dakota, the rolling lawn abstracted from the rolling farm landscapes around Dickinson, the fire pit, fire place, plaza, dance floor, entry plaza, screen fencing, and lots of little detailed features.
Sometimes community social capital builds these projects, and sometimes these projects build community social capital. In Dickinson, it felt like it swung back and forth. Changing leadership and City staff required the design team to hold the heart of the project steady while the continuity of decision-making memory shifted over time.
There are so many fun and unique elements created for this space but it is a place that gets better as you add people. The dozens of nooks for hanging out also allow hosting big events. Winter and summer uses are both planned - and we are looking forward to seeing the ice rink installed this winter!
Finished in the Spring of 2023 in Dickinson, ND.