Community
Responded to an initiative for a local recreational space and integrated public feedback throughout the design process
Organization
Clearly defined the project limits of six separate Capital Improvement Plans and six different construction budgets during design to ensure quantities and cost were properly allocated
Iconic Design
Incorporated innovative design features, such as a multi-tiered art plaza, creating a user experience of continuous discovery
After experiencing major growth over the last decade, the City of Goodyear, Arizona, saw an opportunity for a vibrant community space that encourages people to engage with the outdoors and pursue health and wellness. To help Goodyear achieve this goal, Kimley-Horn worked closely with the city to provide master planning, final design, and construction phase services for the recreation campus located in Phoenix’s West Valley.
Kimley-Horn first partnered with the City of Goodyear to assess community needs and interests. With these elements in mind, we developed a master plan for all 86 acres of the recreation campus based on local feedback. The first constructed phase of the campus, completed in 2021, was 40 acres in total and included the recreation center, aquatics facility, a 30-acre community park, and other visitor amenities.
Streamlined Master Planning and Design
As the primary consultant on the project, Kimley-Horn was responsible for master planning and final design of the Goodyear Recreation Campus, providing the following services:
- Landscape architecture
- Mechanical, electrical, & plumbing
- Site analysis
- Community engagement
- Traffic engineering
- Drainage/hydrology
- Utility infrastructure
- Landscape & irrigation
- Bidding assistance
- Construction administration
- Parking planning
In addition to completing the recreation campus master plan, the project included the preparation of an implementation plan and a final site plan.
Adaptable Multi-use Design
Kimley-Horn designed the Goodyear Recreation Campus with a flexible park layout, creating spaces that can be converted to accommodate different types of community programming and events. For instance, the multi-tiered art plaza can serve as a venue for a smaller, more intimate experience, and the stage can be adapted for larger events that include the lawn or multi-use field areas. The City of Goodyear regularly hosts events of varying sizes and scales in this multi-tiered plaza, and the group ramada provides additional space for both large and small groups to gather.
Community Input and Representation
Kimley-Horn supported quantitative and qualitative research with the general population of Goodyear and key stakeholders in the community to help ensure their voices were heard and their needs were met. In addition to reviewing surveys from past years that indicated strong support of the city providing recreational opportunities, we led a robust community outreach program that included the following activities:
- Interviewed the mayor and city council to get their perspectives on the recreation campus
- Facilitated focus group meetings with user groups, four community workshop meetings, three Parks and Recreation board meetings, and two council meetings
- Met with the Homeowners’ Associations adjacent to the park site, who weighed in on the park amenities and concept designs
- Conducted dot-ocracy exercises, which involved voting with dots to inform park designs
After this comprehensive outreach program, the Goodyear Recreation Campus reflects community and stakeholder ideas. This included the city’s vision of a “kaleidoscope” of color and geometric shapes throughout the recreation campus, as well as “Chasing the Stars”—an interactive kinetic sculpture created by multidisciplinary design and fabrication firm Creative Machines. Standing at 32 feet, this sculpture allows users to stimulate its six arms through ropes and pulleys, providing an ever-changing display of light and motion. Both offer visitors a unique sensory experience when they visit the park and give the campus a dynamic and recognizable style.
The Goodyear Recreation Campus opened to the public in July 2021, attracting over 46,000 visits in the first two weeks. The regional park facility offers visitors access to sports fields and courts, playgrounds, meeting spaces, restroom buildings, a recreation center, an aquatics facility, and a great lawn. Providing something for all ages, interests, and abilities, the Goodyear Recreation Campus serves as the ultimate community gathering place.
Project Recognition
- 2023 American Concrete Institute, Arizona Chapter, Decorative Concrete Award
- 2021 Arizona Parks & Recreation Association Outstanding Facility Award, Populations 10,001 to 100,000
- 2021 American Public Works Association, Arizona Chapter, Public Works Project of the Year ($25-$75M)
- 2021 Associated General Contractors of America, Arizona Chapter, Build Arizona Award for New Construction
- Featured in Landscape Architect and Specifier News