Laurel Park

 

 Designed by Heart Springs Design

Laurel Park
A model for sustainable landscape, design and community involvement

This summer at the intersection of Olney and 8th Street, a new pocket park will break ground.  In line with the Bend 2030 Vision, pocket parks are frequently created on small or irregular pieces of land not otherwise generally suitable for development.  They provide neighborhoods an area of green space and can create a habitat for birds and other wildlife.

This park will be a collaboration of some of Bends finest in the field of landscaping.  Laurel Park, as it will be designated, is a memorial park, built in honor of Laurel Copley.   Laurel passed away tragically at a young age but left a lasting impression of vitality and a passion for learning. This park will be a lasting testament to carry on that passion. Her family’s home was in the middle of what is now Olney Avenue.  They had lived next door to the site of the park, but were forced to re-locate for the expansion of this arterial in 2002.   The area is currently open space with no landscaping or character.

The idea behind the park is to create a place of beauty while inspiring education in the community.  Laurel Park will be built with a sustainable landscape from the ground up.  It will be filled with educational components that will provide insight to local children, neighbors, and the community as a whole.  The landscape will consist of a virtual oasis of native and drought tolerant plants and trees that can readily become established in Central Oregon.  The irrigation will embrace some of the most innovative practices available, including a smart station and on site weather monitoring, an advantage with Bend’s many microclimates.  The park will also feature permeable pavers which allow water to flow directly through them and an attractive storm water management system.

Most notably, Laurel Park is being developed and constructed entirely through donations of time, services and material by many of Bend’s foremost experts.  The intent is that the park will provide a model for the community on conserving and utilizing our natural resources to the best degree possible.    It is our hope that many in our community will reconsider the use water hungry turfs and vegetation and will consider updating their irrigation systems to include the use of smart stations and other water saving technology.  Likewise, we are very excited to introduce permeable pavers that prevent storm water from flowing onto adjoining properties and into streets. 

A small capital campaign has begun to cover the cost of providing the park with electricity, interpretative plaques, a kiosk and other related details.   We welcome your involvement and support.  ODNA is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.  Complete information and details on Laurel Park and our supporting partners will be available on our web site www.laurelpocketpark.org.

Please look for future articles as we follow the park through construction and afterwards as we update readers on the parks maturation process. 

Contributing partnerships as of March 2008:

City of Bend and Public Works
David Evans and Associates
Heart Springs Design
Willamette Graystone
Botanical Developments
Horizon Irrigation
Advanced Irrigation and Hydroseed
4R Equipment
Empire Stone
reSource

Moonfire and Sun Garden Center

Laurel Park Conceptual Plans in pdf