The American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego chapter (ASLA), recently bestowed Schmidt Design Group (SDG) an Honor Award for Civita Park, a 14.3-acre community park in the heart of Mission Valley. Civita is a 230-acre sustainable urban village being developed on the site of a former sand and gravel quarry.
In this year’s ASLA design awards program, jurors from around the country selected one President’s Award, four Honor Awards and 14 Merit Awards.
In judging Civita Park, the jurors said, “This is a signature project that is very recognizable, tells a story, and is an important community asset. It does an excellent job of taking a large site and breaking it down into defined areas that offer a variety of experiences and a high level of interest.”
Credited as the first big step in what has been coined an “open-space renaissance” in the Mission Valley community, the park features numerous terraced amenity sites including a central plaza with a custom amphitheater, community gardens, two dog runs, two children’s play areas, game areas, and many public-art features. A “Mining Relic Garden” as well as interpretive and educational signage tie visitors to the site’s history as a sand and gravel quarry. This park is a sustainable, engaging, world-class park beloved by its community and visitors alike.
“We were so fortunate to work with incredible clients on the park design-the Sudberry and Grant families-who never wavered from their commitment to excellence and quality,” said Glen Schmidt, FASLA, founder of Schmidt Design Group.
Since the completion of Civita Park, SDG has won eight awards for the park, including:
two Orchids Awards, San Diego Architectural Foundation, 2020 and 2017.
Award of Excellence, California Parks and Recreation Society, 2021
Parks Make Life Better Award, California Parks and Recreation Society-District 12, 2021
Healthy Public Open Space Award, Urban Land Institute, San Diego–Tijuana, 2017
Orchid, Landscape Architecture (Phase II), Orchids and Onions Public Awareness Awards Program, 2020 and 2017
Astounding Urban Forestry Project Award, California Urban Forests Council, 2017
Honor Award (Phase II), American Public Works Association, 2020
Outstanding Award (Phase I), American Public Works Association, 2018
“Civita Park draws inspiration from its history, creating a unique and memorable sense of place,” Schmidt said.
SDG also won an Honors Award for E Street Greenway, a linear park in East Village. Jurors commented: “This linear park has a vibrant downtown feel with an artistic flair that successfully activates the space. The design is thoughtful, providing points of interest that
any business owner would be thrilled to have showcased outside of their shops. More visibility and support should be given to projects like this.“
In addition to Civita Park and E Street Greenway, SDG captured two Merit awards, one for Fox Point Farms Agrihood in Encinitas, and another for Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove Park in Chula Vista.
Based in San Diego, since SDG was established in 1983, it has received 175 awards. To learn more about Schmidt Design Group and the renaissance of Mission Valley visit:
https://www.asla-sandiego.org/schmidt-design-group-designing-mission-valleys-future/
https://test.sdnews.com/schmidt-design-group-keeps-its-focus/
