Evanston Independence and Larimer Parks Improvements

David Mason + Associates is providing civil engineering services, in collaboration with landscape designer MKSK, for the City of Evanston Independence and Larimer Parks Improvements. The City has an extensive parks system comprising over 300 acres of land at 97 sites. Independence Park is a 1.4 acre park located in the heart of the Central Street Business District. For the renovation project, the City has budgeted $865,000 for site improvements which include reconstruction of the existing playground, reconstruction of the park’s lighting system, new site furnishings, landscaping, fencing, congregation areas to host outdoor events, outdoor eating areas, and other improvements. Larimer Park is a 1.6 acre park and for the renovation project, the City has budgeted $800,000 for similar site improvements.

DMA’s civil engineering services include design of site and utility demolition, geometric and utility design, ADA accessibility, stormwater drainage in coordination with grading/irrigation layout; erosion control plans, assistance with local permitting, and construction oversight. The park sites are also being improved on design and engineering to use stormwater runoff to irrigate trees and planted individual plants, shrubs, and vines. This system has been integrated into the underground stormwater management system and uses predictive atmospheric software to evacuate stored rainwater from the underground vault in the event of an upcoming storm, thereby allowing the detention system to attenuate the upcoming storm and reduce local flooding.