REIMAGINING HOWARD PARK

THE LAKOTA GROUP TEAM

The

Ambient Energy

Larson Danielson Construction Co.

M/E Design Services

Paul Fujawa Engineers, Inc.

Tango Design

The goal of the Howard Park renovation project was to re-envision the 13-acre park as a premier regional destination, challenging what the design could bring to residents and visitors. The driving forces of stewardship, ecology, inclusivity, and surprise and delight ensured the redevelopment would demonstrate good stewardship of the community’s funds, be ecologically sound, and be equitable and multigenerational by drawing people from all walks of life, ethnicities, income levels, ages, and abilities.

The expansive park features universal access throughout and an ADA-accessible playground. Efforts to introduce state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to sustainability led the design team to research a variety of energy-efficient strategies and ultimately pursue LEED Gold accreditation. The first step in the City’s largescale parks improvement project, Howard Park’s overwhelming success has laid the foundation for reimagining the future of South Bend. Considering the global challenges of the past year, the recent investments in Howard Park have proved invaluable to the City and community at large.