Client
City of Lakeland
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Location
Polk County, Florida
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Project Costs
$62,000
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Start Date
January 2001
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Completion Date
July 2003

Scope

Curtis Peterson Park serves as a popular recreational facility for local residents as well as a host for several annual athletic tournaments. The park is located on previously mined phosphate land and fronts on Lake John.  Park design and construction were complicated by adverse conditions, such as peat depths in excess of 60 feet and being the receiving point for runoff of approximately 8,000-acres. 

Because of soil stability conditions, a special geotextile foundation material was incorporated into the design to ensure stability for the entrance park road and parking area. In addition, the site was formerly utilized for sediment dewatering in the Lake Hollingsworth dewatering project which further complicated site development.  Features of the remnant dewatering facility were used in the creation of a screened picnic enclosure. The pronounced topography was used to enhance user interest with the addition of an elevated boardwalk.

Specific design tasks included:

• Master planning to address poor soil conditions
• Design of a two story clubhouse, equipment storage and scorekeeper building
• Site lighting and special foundation design for lighting masts
• Waterfront boardwalk with heights of 30 feet above the existing grade, fishing pier, boat ramp design, ball fields, and soccer fields
• Maintaining existing wetlands and trees
• Lift station designed for low flow/low head application
• Coordination of design team
• Preparation and submittal of all permit documents

The Curtis Peterson Park project illustrates our creative engineering solutions to complex geotechnical situations. It also demonstrates our ability to blend and balance development and nature while making the site accessible to everyone using ADA design.