Trio of Iowa Projects Earn Landscape Architecture Design Honors
Three Bolton & Menk projects received recognition from the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA IA) in both the Built and Unbuilt Design categories. Indianola’s Downtown City Square project received a Merit Award in the Built Design category and Marshalltown’s Water Plaza at Linn Creek District and Windsor Heights Colby Park Design projects received a Merit Award and an Honor Award, respectively, in the Unbuilt Design category. All awards were presented at the ASLA IA Awards Gala on the evening of September 17th, 2024.
Learn more about the award-winning projects!
Downtown Streetscape Master Plan and Reconstruction, City of Indianola, Iowa
Historically, vehicular circulation in downtown Indianola functioned as a two-lane, one-way, directional square with angled parking on both sides. The interior parking did not meet dimensional standards, and the sidewalk/pedestrian space lacked character and design intent. This vehicle-dominant downtown environment did not complement the historic character and vibrancy of the surrounding architecture and businesses.
After completing a downtown master planning process for the city, Bolton & Menk was hired to complete conceptual development, final design, bidding, and construction administration services of streetscape and infrastructure improvements for downtown Indianola.
Meetings were held with city staff and local steering committees to discuss the area’s historic elements, current challenges, and functionality. Bolton & Menk gathered information and created a variety of viable concepts for the square. The preferred alternative features two-way traffic, parallel parking on the square’s business side, angled parking on the inside of the square, bump-outs with colored concrete crosswalks for pedestrian safety, signage and wayfinding locations, and landscape improvements.
In addition to new utilities, pavements, and aesthetic improvements, the downtown square project includes an extensive green infrastructure strategy. Permeable pavers are used in the on-street parking areas, and bio-retention cells are integrated into intersection bumpouts and pedestrian areas.
Water Plaza at Linn Creek District, City of Marshalltown, Iowa
The City of Marshalltown hired the team of Bolton & Menk, Artist Hilde DeBruyne, and Waters Edge Aquatic Design to lead a design and community engagement effort for new destination urban plaza in the Linn Creek District of Marshalltown. The city recognized the importance of a process focused on quality design and strong community engagement. This has led to an impactful design that is inclusive and reflective of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people of Marshalltown.
Through the engagement process, the team discovered that many people had very fond family memories of time spent on the water; playfulness, relaxation, and summer fun came to mind. The master plan concept developed by the design team captured these feelings in an inclusive design that is accessible and enjoyable to all. The idea of skipping stones unites people from different origins and ages, as they fondly remember this whimsical activity. For some, it is purely for fun, especially for the young; for others, it can be meditation and mindfulness, watching the concentric circles slowly ripple. For parents teaching their kids how to find the perfect stone and the best skipping technique, it is a fun way of bonding and teaching science simultaneously.
The site and sculpture were designed to create a series of “ripples” in a rhythmic pattern with timed fountains strategically placed throughout the plaza to create the effect of a stone being skipped with multiple arches “skipping” toward the center of the water plaza. The skipping fountains culminate in the center near the sculpture as the network of center jets splashes outward.
Bolton & Menk helped the city secure $2 million in funding through Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Destination Iowa Grant towards the implementation of the project and the project was recently selected for a Central States ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) award. The project is currently in final design and construction is anticipated in late 2024 into 2025.
Colby Park Design, City of Windsor Heights, Iowa
Soon after the completion of a community-wide parks master plan, the City of Windsor Heights sought a new vision for Colby Park, the community’s primary public park, that would place it among the top public parks facilities in the Des Moines metro. A uniquely-Windsor Heights vision to include community members of all ages and abilities and to leave a lasting impression in visitors’ minds of a welcoming public place in the middle of the Des Moines metro that people want to revisit again and again.
Bolton & Menk was hired to guide city staff and the parks committee through the master plan visioning process to identify and visualize project priorities to revitalize the aging park and its amenities. The team developed a master plan that can be implemented in manageable phases including the following elements: sport courts, fitness circuit, new parking, pedestrian-oriented food truck promenade and park entry plaza, iconic playground with enhanced play surfacing and custom play equipment, and splashpad. With the results of the master plan effort, Colby Park will continue to enhance livelihoods in Windsor Heights and the surrounding metro for the next several decades.
Construction of the first phase is underway with completion expected in September of 2024. The first phase includes the iconic playground, splashpad, food truck plaza, new parking, and numerous other placemaking features. Future phases are currently in final design with the Bolton & Menk team with hopes of starting construction in 2025.
Landscape architecture combines thoughtful placemaking with the natural and built environment. Learn more about our approach to landscape architecture in communities.
