Village Civic Area
The Village Civic Area is a 15 acre linear park within the Village’s TIF District. Features along the park include a plaza, event stage, community fitness pavilion, reading garden, and amphitheater. LAUD led the project team including architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and traffic engineering, and construction estimation services.
The Village TIF Project is focused along Vineyard Boulevard in the northeast corner of The Village at Hefner Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. A reconfigured Vineyard Boulevard from Manchester Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue includes one lane of traffic each way with a dedicated two way turn lane. Parallel spaces distribute parking along the linear park.
A broad entry walk welcomes visitors to the Civic Stage from the City Hall/Police Station. The large protected gathering space is used for festivals and events, smaller party rental, and daily seating.
The Civic Plaza is paved in durable granite and features a dry deck fountain flanked by benches. At the far end of the plaza, the Civic Pavilion book ends the Civic Stage providing more seating for large events.
Cladding on the back of the Civic Pavilion screens views of parking lots to the east and directs focus into the Civic Plaza. Sunlight filters between the boards casting shifting shadows throughout the day. A slope of prairie grasses and perennial flowers softens the angular roof lines in the Civic Plaza.
Food truck parking along Vineyard Drive is connected to a Lower Plaza with picnic tables surrounded by shade trees.
The angled slope defines and surrounds the Lower Plaza. Prairie grasses are arranged in sweeps with pockets of perennial flowers to naturalize over time. Evergreen trees are placed to grow into screening for the adjacent neighborhood.
A tree lined ten foot path forms the spine of the linear park. Custom signage identifies key programs along the length of the park.
A new outdoor community fitness and games area provides accessible exercise equipment and tables for chess and checkers. A central bosque of trees is hugged by the Fitness Pavilion where the community exercises with protection from Oklahoma’s finicky weather and harsh sun. A small play dome sits beyond creating an inclusive community node for users of all ages and abilities.
The Village Green is renovated with benches and shade tolerant planting nestled under the established tree canopy creating a comfortable reading garden outside of the Library. An adjacent small plaza and amphitheater is used for book readings and small events. The original low wall provides a balance of seclusion and observation for guests.
New openings in the brick wall encircling the Village Green establish connections to the linear park. Wayfinding signage reinforces an identity for The Village and its civic amenities. V shaped resin panels light up at night for added interest.
___________________
PHOTOGRAPHY
LAUD Studio
PRESS
Landscape Architecture Magazine, April 2025
From Big Box to Better, p. 22
Written by: James Russell
The Architect’s Newspaper, October/November 2024
Case Study: A Park for the Village, p. 44
Written by: James Russell
RECOGNITION
ULI Oklahoma Impact Awards 2024 Outstanding Public Initiative Winner
Oklahoma Society of Landscape Architects 2019 Planning and Analysis Merit Award
DESIGN TEAM
Civil Engineer: Johnson & Associates
Architect: Common Works Architects
Structural Engineer: 360 Engineering
Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Engineers: CEC
Traffic Engineer: Kimley-Horn
Estimating: Pre-construction Services
CONSTRUCTION TEAM
General Contractor: Wynn Construction Co. Inc.
Landscape Contractor: Greenshade Trees
Electrical Contractor: Messer Electric
MAINTENANCE
Landscape Management: Complete Grounds Care
