Bicentennial Park

 Bicentennial Park is a neighborhood park located on the north side of Valparaiso, Indiana. The established park contains facilities for softball and basketball, a playground and support facilities such as restrooms and parking.
Lehman & Lehman was originally commissioned in 2009 to assist the Valparaiso Parks Department in a feasibility study on how the current park infrastructure and facilities could be renovated into a new master plan vision. Neighborhood surveys and stakeholder meetings were conducted and data collected, with the result of the study producing five conceptual schemes for consideration.
Funding was secured in late 2012 for the implementation of the master plan and Lehman & Lehman was once again engaged by the City of Valparaiso to develop construction documents for the first two phases of construction.
The first phase of construction consisted of extending utility infrastructure for the future restroom and concession building, reducing the size of the existing softball field, installing new softball fencing and constructing compacted aggregate pathways. The second phase of construction began in the spring of 2013 with major earthwork to help with drainage and overall stormwater retention within the park and adjacent neighborhood in addition to establishing the base elevations for a future softball diamond.
Lehman & Lehman worked closely with the Valparaiso Park Department as well as the City's Engineering and Stormwater Departments. deBoer Egolf Corporation of Portage, Indiana was the contractor for the project workscope, which was completed in June, 2013.
Below are photos of the construction process showing most recent first and going to pre-construction.

6.28.13 New culvert under park entry drive.

6.28.13 New roadside swale.

6.28.13 New swale draining north side of the park to the main retention area.

6.28.13 Future softball field.

6.28.13 Intersection of drainage swales directing runoff to the main retention area.

6.28.13 Overflow structure allowing a controlled release of stormwater after a 3+ inch rain event in less than 24 hours.

6.28.13 Main retention area and berm shortly after large rain event. Seed just beginning to germinate.

6.6.13 New north retention area.

6.6.13 East end of new main retention area behind existing softball field.

6.6.13 New (buried) overflow pipe in drainage easement.

6.6.13 New overflow control structure in main retention area.

6.6.13 Construction of berm along the west property line of park.

6.6.13 Fill/grading of low area for future softball field.

5.15.13 Scraping of topsoil on future softball field area.

5.15.13 Early excavation of north retention area.

5.15.13 Clearing of overflow drainage easement.

5.15.13 Staking of main (southwest) retention area.

5.15.13 Staking of main (southwest) retention area.

10.12.12 Future location of swale to drain the roadside ditch to the new retention area.

10.12.12 Existing culvert under park entry drive to be replaced.

10.12.12 Existing road side swale/ditch to be reconstructed and routed through the park.

7.29.09 Existing low spot that will be filled and graded for future softball field.

7.29.09 Location of future small north retention area that will drain the adjacent residential properties.

7.29.09 Future intersection of drainage swales.

7.29.09 Location of new retention area as it wraps around the existing softball field.

7.29.09 Location of new main southwest retention area. Existing softball fence to be relocated and lights to be removed.

7.29.09 Existing drainage swale and willow tree. Runoff tends to flood this area.

7.29.09 Open lawn on northwest corner of park where new drainage swale is to be constructed.

Storm Strikes Lehman & Lehman Office Building

While the worst of the storm was south of us, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 our office sustained a hit - by a large tree, causing damage to the clay tile roof. Fortunately, no one was hurt and power was not interrupted. The tenant in the apartment at the rear of the top floor actually slept through it!
Photos of the damage and clean-up operation are below.

 

The New Golden Age in Landscape Architecture

The past few years have brought changes to Landscape Architecture that promise to reinvent planned outdoor spaces over the next few decades - with developments like the QR code.
Recreation Management's article titled Set Your Sights on Sites explores the Golden Age in Landscape Architecture. Read about it here.

Green Cities

Economic Outlook, a program on WNIT Public Television recently aired a segment discussing "Green Initiatives and Sustainability" with Host, Phil D'Amico. The panel consisted of Mike Keen, Director of Center for a Sustainable Future - IUSB; Gary Gilot, City of South Bend Director of Public Works; J.J. Kanczuzewski, President of Inovateus Solar, LLC; and our own Chuck Lehman, President of Lehman & Lehman, Inc.
"Green Initiatives and Sustainability" can be viewed by following this link to Economic Outlook.

Placemaking in Northern Michigan

Congratulations to Northwest Michigan Council of Governments for producing this nice video about Placemaking - the act of creating great places - and for transforming these beautiful communities of northern Michigan, a favorite destination of many.

Hansel Center Readies for Open House

"For decades the red brick building on West Washington Street dispensed health care services and free milk to poor families.
When its halls went silent a decade ago, the building fell into disrepair. Some people wondered if it would be torn down or fall victim to fire or vandals.
The former Hansel Neighborhood Service Center on West Washington Street in South Bend has found a new life as the University of Notre Dame's Center for Arts & Culture. It's being readied for its new role providing artistic and cultural experiences for community residents. 
children's voices again are heard in the hallways, thanks to a pilot after-school tutoring and arts education program that launched this month.
When it officially opens in March, the two-story building will contain:
The Notre Dame Crossroads Gallery for Contemporary Art, featuring changing exhibits; Segura Fine Arts Studio, a commercial print studio led by artist Joseph Segura; Notre Dame's community relations office; programming, including tutoring, art education, public lectures, a summer youth innovation camp and other events.
There will be a community open house March 27 to mark the opening." (You can read the full article in the South Bend Tribune.)

Lehman & Lehman is proud to have been part of the team that helped Hansel Center find its new life. See our blog entry in March, 2012 that chronicles the process and changes made.

Hansel Center - November 2011

Hansel Center - February 2013

Hansel Center Entrance

Hansel Center Art Gallery

Landscape Architecture and Sustainability

Sustainability...The Path To Profitability, an article in Landscape Architect Business magazine's January/February 2013 issue, discusses the commitment of the federal government to sustainable energy and green technology in the overall economic infrastructure. One of the most important drivers of sustainability is landscape architecture. Read more by following this link.