December 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 19

An ad-hoc citizens' committee and
group of landscape architects framed
a master plan for the development of
the nature park in 2010, and within
months of the plan's completion, significant private donations and state
grants allowed the project to move
from a 10-year development schedule
to a two-year construction and completion plan. The Brookings citizenry
participated widely in the formulation
of the vision and embraced the wellness and economic advantages that an
urban nature retreat could bring to the
city. A 5,300-square-foot educational
center, containing a classroom, large
atrium and a four-season porch, serves
as the welcome center for the park. The
center resembles a mountain lodge
with its Douglas fir, timber-frame construction and cedar-shake shingles; the
sustainable design utilizes geothermal
heating and cooling to maintain the
interior environment, and large windows throughout the facility allow for
abundant natural lighting.
Designed specifically to encourage people to be active, park patrons
must park in one of the two parking
lots on opposite ends of the park and
explore the interior landscapes by
foot or bicycle; the park, center and
fishing docks are all ADA-accessible.
Summertime offers fishing, hiking,
bird-watching, geocaching, kayaking and biking opportunities. In the
near future, a mountain biking flow
track and skills park will be featured
in the north end of the park. During
the winter, the park is populated by
ice fisherman, snowshoe-clad hikers
and cross-country skiers navigating
groomed trails. Future development
plans for the park include prairie restoration projects, wildlife food plots
and extensive nature-based programming including astronomy, aquatics
and ornithology classes.

Communities often ponder what to
do with a landfill after it has served its
purpose. With all of the knowledge,
technology and equipment available today, these properties can be returned to
sustainable spaces that draw people out

of their homes and cars and invite them
to play and explore in the outdoors.
Chase Ellis, CPRP, is the Recreation
Superintendent for the City of Brookings,
South Dakota (cellis@cityofbrookings.org).

W W W. N R PA . O R G | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 |

Parks & Recreation

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December 2013 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2013 - Parks & Recreation

December 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 1
December 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 2
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