Ridgeview Park is located in the center and main core of the proposed Ridgeview Development in Highland, Utah. The 4.8-acre park is just south of and adjacent to Lone Peak High School.

“Ridgeview” is a great name FOCUS land planners and civil engineers could riff on. It conjured visuals and cultural context to help design a unique and meaningful space. “The average park most visitors frequent is flat and doesn’t have much topographic interest,” explains project manager Mat Wangsgaard. “With breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountain range east of the park, we were inspired to bring a mountainous feel to the valley floor.”

FOCUS worked with our client to develop multiple concepts that would incorporate raised berms in key areas along the outer frame of the landscape. The berms would be comprised of native grass and wildflowers, boulders, and a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. Concept plans aided in illustrating what the park could look like to the multiple home builders in the development, and the team came to an agreement on a final design to create a cohesive plan that suits the community.

The raised berms required the team to determine fill dirt calculations and where crews could get the surplus dirt needed. “We calculated the amount of dirt to be removed from adjacent residential developments and were able to pull from those developments,” Mat describes. It took several design iterations to make certain the civil grading plan worked successfully with planned amenities and site elements, but through it all FOCUS ensured the client and city were well informed on the design intent.

The team helped with the selection of site furnishings, plant material, and playground equipment. In addition to beautiful views, residents will enjoy a large playground, sport courts, a large picnic pavilion, small picnic pavilion, large open lawn space, and unique paths throughout the park.

When construction of the park is finished, Mat hopes that a sense of enclosure is achieved when a park visitor is in the internal core of the open lawn looking out each direction. Introducing rocky mountain west native wildflowers and grasses aims to create more biodiversity in plant material and aid in the reduction of water consumption in the park.

By creating distinctive spaces that respond to the land and people who use them, we help bring communities to life and help them thrive.