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03-24-25 | Feature
Shaping the Vision
Planning for the park began more than a decade before completion and long before the explosion of development in the surrounding area. Once the design stage was underway, LandDesign and Mecklenburg County led a community engagement effort to ensure the space would reflect the desires of its intended users while staying within budget. One particularly engaging workshop introduced "Wilmore Bucks," an exercise where participants were given a set quantity of fictional spending money to allocate toward a menu of potential amenities. Options ranged from cost-effective features, like seating, to higher-budget items, like an interactive splash pad. The more funding a feature received, the higher in value it was to the community and the greater consideration it received in the final design. The results revealed a preference for modest yet impactful amenities that could serve a diverse population. This approach gave the Landscape Architects clear direction on how to maximize the location's versatility and inclusivity in a way that appeals to a wide range of users, from families to professionals.
A Communal Front Porch
In addition to incorporating community input, the park needed to complement its surroundings. The location is used daily by residential and commercial tenants from the adjacent mixed-use site with its modern office tower, a mid-size luxury apartment complex, and retail occupying the ground floors of both. As this development was the primary catalyst for the park's establishment, a move was made to expedite the whole process by designing and constructing the open space in conjunction with the adjacent mixed-use buildings as if it were part of the original plans. To harmonize the park with the neighborhood, the design team specified planting, materials, furniture models, and colors that are consistent throughout the entire block, providing a unified appearance. In addition, terracing required due to the steep grade changes led to a platform that protrudes from the mixed-use portion of the block much like a front porch extends from a home. Designated seating areas near the office tower are positioned at the highest elevation and overlook the platform lawn, emulating a resident's perch-like vantage point of their neighborhood. By preserving a barrier-free, organic transition between the park and the mixed-use site, the park's identity as a true public space is maintained and any feelings of exclusivity are dispelled. The result is a welcoming design that integrates private and public needs, reinforcing the park's role as a community hub and a visual landmark.
Overcoming Site Challenges
The 1.16-acre site presented notable challenges, including its location at the intersection of two major roadways and a 16-foot, site-wide grade change. Though these obstacles complicated accessibility and construction, they also created opportunities for design solutions that put safety and the community first. For example, the small play area near the mixed-use development at the highest elevation is strategically distanced from traffic on the adjacent streets, providing a safe, visible space for families. At the heart of the park, a circular lawn serves as a unifying, central gathering spot that addresses the steep grade change with an amphitheater-like venue created with stepped forms. Surrounding the lawn, terraced gardens and pathways minimize the need for retaining walls while shielding park-goers from vehicular activity. Wide, accessible pathways flank the terraces, providing pedestrian access while creating a sense of flow through the park.
The Benefits of Collaboration
Wilmore Centennial Park is the result of years of planning. Though the park's development was originally being processed through Mecklenburg County, the timing and funding did not align with the plans for the surrounding area. The real estate development firm, not wishing to have a vacant site at the center of new office and residential buildings, offered to build the park under the stipulation that the county reimburse them once funding was secured. In addition to fast-tracking the process, consolidating the two projects meant sharing contractors that would provide quality control across both sites, further enforcing the continuity of the spaces. Mecklenburg County ultimately took on the responsibility of funding and maintaining the location.
The Landscape Architect also worked closely with the developer and the county to maximize resources. Some examples include clarifying community values through engagement exercises, striving towards maximum utility for the area's diverse population, and recycling materials from a nearby project under renovation by the same client and design team. By combining community input with a simple palette of landscaping and construction materials, the team turned a limited budget into an opportunity for ingenuity. The resulting park is an example of using strategic planning and collaboration to overcome financial barriers.
A Vibrant Neighborhood Hub
Today, Wilmore Centennial Park is more than just an open space; it is a vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of South End Charlotte. Its design balances community needs, environmental considerations, and the demands of urban development, creating a place that invites residents, employees, and visitors to connect and unwind. As the historic Wilmore neighborhood continues to evolve, the park stands as a testament to the transformative power of public-private partnerships and inclusive design. By prioritizing community voices and leveraging resources creatively, the project sets a high standard for urban parks, proving that even the most modest spaces can have a profound impact.
A Small Space Making A Profound Impact
Charlotte, North Carolina
Wilmore Centennial Park in Charlotte, North Carolina offers a flexible open space for neighborhood residents, employees of surrounding businesses, and guests of the adjacent hotel. Designed by local landscape architecture firm LandDesign, this 1.16-acre park features monument signage in Corten steel mounted to a board-formed concrete retaining wall. Due to a significant grade change between the pedestrian entrance at the corner and the adjacent buildings, a deep planting bed serves as a buffer between the multi-use lawn and street-side drop-off retaining wall.
The community lawn boasts large, flat areas and terraced seating. The streetscape includes ADA-compliant parking along an eight-foot-wide sidewalk buffered by large planting beds. Plants here include Burgundy Spice Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus var purpureus 'Burgundy Spice'), October Magic Orchid Camellia (Camellia sasanqua), and Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus).
Planting beds contained by board-formed concrete retaining walls create a soft barrier between the park and the right-of-way. The planting palette includes Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'), Prostrate Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata'), and Nuttall Oak (Quercus texana). Pet relief zones use decomposed granite paving to protect plants, with perforated drainpipes directly underneath to direct liquid away from the area.
To accommodate multiple modes of transportation, walkways are a minimum of eight feet wide with a slope limited to 4.5% to offer full access to the park. The custom shade structure was designed by a local sculpture artist. Specified furniture includes Parc Centre Bistro table and chairs by Landscape Forms and black metal benches. At night, the paths are lit by acorn-shaped, LED pole lights.
Incorporated throughout are semi-secluded seating areas with custom wood benches, hoop-style bicycle racks, and waste receptacles. Paths in the park and along its perimeter are bordered by colorful plantings that provide seasonal interest, like Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'), Little Quick Fire Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Quick Fire'), and EverColor Everillo Japanese Sedge (Carex oshimensis 'Everillo').
A play area with a triple balance beam and balance net by Kompan is corralled by deep planting beds to promote recreation within park boundaries. Recycled and natural materials, like repurposed boulders from a nearby renovation site, allow full accessibility and encourage multigenerational creative play. The artificial turf of the playground and the natural turf of the event lawn indicate distinct uses for these areas.
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Nestled into the growing South End neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilmore Centennial Park testifies to the influence of public-private partnerships in bringing community-oriented projects to life. Completed in 2021 through a collaboration between Mecklenburg County, real estate development firm Beacon Partners, and the Landscape Architects, this urban park provides much-needed, quality open space for a highly developed area. This partnership aligned civic, financial, and community goals to deliver the resulting public spot. Charlotte-based firm LandDesign was contracted to provide master planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, permitting, cost estimating, construction administration, and agency coordination services.
The Neighborhood
The historic Wilmore neighborhood was established well over a century ago; prior to that, the area encompassed two of Charlotte's gold mines. Most recently, the site was home to a handful of single-family residences likely occupied by working families that supported South End's manufacturing industry. While some structures were cleared to make way for Wilmore Centennial Park and the adjacent mixed-use development, the neighborhood contains a mix of historic single-family homes, multifamily homes, and apartment buildings that draw families into the hospitable environment Wilmore has promised since 1914. Installing the deeply desired park in this neighborhood fills a gap in the county's network of open spaces aiming to provide all residents with quality public space within a 10-minute walk of their home.
Shaping the Vision
Planning for the park began more than a decade before completion and long before the explosion of development in the surrounding area. Once the design stage was underway, LandDesign and Mecklenburg County led a community engagement effort to ensure the space would reflect the desires of its intended users while staying within budget. One particularly engaging workshop introduced "Wilmore Bucks," an exercise where participants were given a set quantity of fictional spending money to allocate toward a menu of potential amenities. Options ranged from cost-effective features, like seating, to higher-budget items, like an interactive splash pad. The more funding a feature received, the higher in value it was to the community and the greater consideration it received in the final design. The results revealed a preference for modest yet impactful amenities that could serve a diverse population. This approach gave the Landscape Architects clear direction on how to maximize the location's versatility and inclusivity in a way that appeals to a wide range of users, from families to professionals.
A Communal Front Porch
In addition to incorporating community input, the park needed to complement its surroundings. The location is used daily by residential and commercial tenants from the adjacent mixed-use site with its modern office tower, a mid-size luxury apartment complex, and retail occupying the ground floors of both. As this development was the primary catalyst for the park's establishment, a move was made to expedite the whole process by designing and constructing the open space in conjunction with the adjacent mixed-use buildings as if it were part of the original plans. To harmonize the park with the neighborhood, the design team specified planting, materials, furniture models, and colors that are consistent throughout the entire block, providing a unified appearance. In addition, terracing required due to the steep grade changes led to a platform that protrudes from the mixed-use portion of the block much like a front porch extends from a home. Designated seating areas near the office tower are positioned at the highest elevation and overlook the platform lawn, emulating a resident's perch-like vantage point of their neighborhood. By preserving a barrier-free, organic transition between the park and the mixed-use site, the park's identity as a true public space is maintained and any feelings of exclusivity are dispelled. The result is a welcoming design that integrates private and public needs, reinforcing the park's role as a community hub and a visual landmark.
Overcoming Site Challenges
The 1.16-acre site presented notable challenges, including its location at the intersection of two major roadways and a 16-foot, site-wide grade change. Though these obstacles complicated accessibility and construction, they also created opportunities for design solutions that put safety and the community first. For example, the small play area near the mixed-use development at the highest elevation is strategically distanced from traffic on the adjacent streets, providing a safe, visible space for families. At the heart of the park, a circular lawn serves as a unifying, central gathering spot that addresses the steep grade change with an amphitheater-like venue created with stepped forms. Surrounding the lawn, terraced gardens and pathways minimize the need for retaining walls while shielding park-goers from vehicular activity. Wide, accessible pathways flank the terraces, providing pedestrian access while creating a sense of flow through the park.
The Benefits of Collaboration
Wilmore Centennial Park is the result of years of planning. Though the park's development was originally being processed through Mecklenburg County, the timing and funding did not align with the plans for the surrounding area. The real estate development firm, not wishing to have a vacant site at the center of new office and residential buildings, offered to build the park under the stipulation that the county reimburse them once funding was secured. In addition to fast-tracking the process, consolidating the two projects meant sharing contractors that would provide quality control across both sites, further enforcing the continuity of the spaces. Mecklenburg County ultimately took on the responsibility of funding and maintaining the location.
The Landscape Architect also worked closely with the developer and the county to maximize resources. Some examples include clarifying community values through engagement exercises, striving towards maximum utility for the area's diverse population, and recycling materials from a nearby project under renovation by the same client and design team. By combining community input with a simple palette of landscaping and construction materials, the team turned a limited budget into an opportunity for ingenuity. The resulting park is an example of using strategic planning and collaboration to overcome financial barriers.
A Vibrant Neighborhood Hub
Today, Wilmore Centennial Park is more than just an open space; it is a vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of South End Charlotte. Its design balances community needs, environmental considerations, and the demands of urban development, creating a place that invites residents, employees, and visitors to connect and unwind. As the historic Wilmore neighborhood continues to evolve, the park stands as a testament to the transformative power of public-private partnerships and inclusive design. By prioritizing community voices and leveraging resources creatively, the project sets a high standard for urban parks, proving that even the most modest spaces can have a profound impact.
