Even on a crisp winter day in December, Evanston’s Garden Park was alive with play. Toddlers’ gleeful requests to go “higher” were heard as parents gave pushes at the swing set. Kids zipped up and down play mounds pausing momentarily to announce their summit. Balance-beam logs were danced across and springboard-stumps hopped upon. Parents, grandparents, kids and adults alike, gazed out at beautiful Lake Michigan – a primo backdrop.
While the term “construction” is often met with grimaces, it is a necessary step in the world of placemaking to turn paper visions and community dreams into reality. Jodi Mariano, Principal with Teska, led the placemaking initiative, community engagement, design and construction oversight for Garden Park in Evanston, and we are so very excited to see the fruition of hard work by the community and our designers, come to life! Jodi and fellow Teska placemakers visited the park to take in the scenery and see the space, as described, in use. Back in the warmth of the Teska office, nose still rosy from the site visit, Jodi shared this experience noting, “It just makes me smile.”
And that – simply put, is why we do what we do at Teska. To help “level-up” places and spaces to provide a platform within which to build memories and lasting experiences. Furthermore, this level of play on a winter day brings to light a growing need and movement – to be able to enjoy ourselves outdoors during chilly months. After all, there is no such thing as “place” without the “people” – and we are thrilled to see the vision of what Garden Park “could be” grow into something magical.
