Serving Local Community Through Open Space
The project is a result of many years of advocacy and collaboration by the community, public agencies, and a private developer to transform a former street right-of-way into a series of vibrant community spaces. The design process involved significant community engagement to develop the programming for three major park components: a large lawn for general recreation and gathering; a fenced-off dog park; and two features, the Tilted Lawn Sculpture, and the Penta-Step, which double as play and sitting areas. Additional open space on the site includes a landscaped, public mid-block passageway with stormwater treatment gardens; two podium-level interior courtyards which serve individual residential units as well as a visual purpose for the floors above; succulent garden patios on the roof; an olive grove adjacent to a storefront; active streetscape on three sides; and a one-way shared public way which creates a pedestrian-oriented environment while allowing vehicle access.
CMG negotiated the multi-agency process, including transferring the former right-of-way which required the city lifting the State Public Trust from Daggett Street. This high degree of cooperation between several agencies, led to the successful public-private process and identified the necessary funding to transform the street into an open space amenity for a new neighborhood.