Common Ground Park

Furr & Wegman Architects and the City of Lakeland selected AMEC-BCI to provide civil engineering services for this award-winning specialty park. The park is specifically designed to accommodate all of the area’s residents and specifically is adapted to those residents with varying disabilities. Working through a series of workshops and design sessions, with multiple interested stakeholders, careful consideration was given to each play area and each element in an effort to develop an understanding of how each affects different disabilities.

The work required a thorough knowledge of ADA requirements as well as the need to provide stormwater management systems that fit the park’s play concepts, landscaping and additional recreational uses. Through meticulous grading design and details, the existing flat site was transformed into a park with hills, cascading streams and rock-climbing areas. The changes in topography allowed park users to explore different landscape environments in addition to play equipment.

The detailed grading design and stormwater system required vigilant coordination with numerous public agencies, the City of Lakeland and a variety of financial supporters.

AMEC-BCI’s scope included the following tasks:

• Permitting with the City of Lakeland & the Southwest Florida Water Management District
• Stormwater management design to allow for use of the stormwater pond within near proximity of playing fields
• Gravity sewer system design in flat terrain with successful avoidance of utility conflicts
• Potable water supply distribution design & layout
• Develop project technical specifications & bid documents for civil works
• Assist during construction
• Provide project closure & certification documents to the agencies