In the wake of an F5 tornado that significantly damaged the city, this project explored the possibility for Reading Community Park  to become a catalyst for community growth.  Our design strategy pictured individual planting zones that would afford a variety of activities and interest around the proposed Community Center.  Maintenance and development strategies were devised to provide ways to regenerate the site in ecologically-sound and inexpensive ways. This design for Reading Community Park demonstrates that small, rural communities are prime locations for ecologically-regenerative design strategies.

Reading City Park was devastated in early 2012 by an F4 tornado which destroyed the site's many mature trees.

The wasteland of the park symbolized the city's shattered hopes for the future.

Envisioning how to provoke a fruitful new future while respecting the past involved drawing on the town's heritage

The site plan included a renovated community center designed by Kansas State architecture students and a new ballfield sponsored by the Kansas City Royals.

A circular Memorial garden full of white flowers and surrounded by pines created a meditative atmosphere to remember those lost in the tornado.

A gridded tree plaza adjacent to the Community Center provides an ambiguous space for the citizens to utilize for events.

Indigenous pollinator species, such as swamp milkweed, were incorporated to foster biodiversity.

Multiseason interest was provided through species such as narrow-leaved bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii.

Easy to grow and propagate species ensured that the community would receive maximum value for their dollar.