Parks & Open Space

In meeting the recreational needs of neighborhoods, preserving unique landscapes, memorializing historic sites or simply protecting the land, Design Workshop has crafted exceptional parks and open spaces for people around the world. Since our inception in 1969, we have been committed to protecting and restoring natural environments, conserving ecosystems, redeveloping abandoned, idled or under-utilized properties and creating beautiful parks for residents and visitors. Our experience allows us to balance environmental principles, the needs of local communities and economic realities in order to turn the most challenging sites into vibrant places. We are accustomed to creating places that are not only appropriate, compelling and sustainable but which appeal to the heart.

Our work with municipalities, land trusts, national parks, neighborhood groups and developers of new communities gives us the experience necessary to reconcile diverse priorities, achieve timely approvals, set standards for long-term stewardship of the land and maximize benefits within a set budget. We have led complex negotiations with government, attorneys, environmentalists, corporate interests and the surrounding communities to achieve parity of interests. Our vision is to match the capacities of the land with the intended uses, whether recreationdriven or preservation-designated. We strive for the distinctive qualities that create a sense of place. Design Workshop's master plans and construction documents for parks, historic sites, trail systems, national park sites, open spaces and river corridors have been recognized nationally for their excellence.