With development introducing additional commercial and residential pressure, Coralville needed to develop a new identity for Russell Slade Boulevard, the Iowa Firefighter’s Memorial, and Oak Hill Cemetery. The city also needed a dedicated park space to serve existing and future residents and the overall community.

Bolton & Menk developed a series of improvements to create a unified character for Russell Slade Boulevard, Oak Hill Cemetery, and a future pocket park. The use of locally produced limestone allows the city to expand improvements to Russell Slade and Oak Hill as part of an Oak Hill Memorial District instead of the current collection of adjacent civic amenities. This will allow streetscape improvements along Russell Slade Boulevard to extend into the Bridgewater Development area, new fencing and signage around Oak Hill Cemetery, Columbaria addition within Oak Hill, and future inclusion of a proposed Veteran’s Memorial.

The limestone will serve as a cornerstone for the pocket park and function as an area for reflection and small gatherings. Visual identification, accessibility, and shared amenities serve as the foundation for improvements. Through public and stakeholder discussions, the city has a clear phased strategy for redeveloping this area into a civic district capable of fulfilling community needs.