The renovation of this public park and arboretum, which encompasses one city block and had fallen into disrepair, was intended to bring it back to its original standard of excellence and attract more visitors to the site, which hosts many fundraisers, concerts, art festivals and other events. Photo: Office of James Burnett
The lake area contains the site’s two highest water features, which created difficult grade transitions. The stairs were constructed with 2-ft. by 2-ft. by 10-ft. natural stone blocks, which—along with the accessible paths—encourage visitors to enjoy the water’s edge and the vast array of plants from different microclimates cascading down the slopes.
The largest boulder in this cascade water feature, which is approximately 16 ft. by 30 ft. by 12 ft., is supported by multiple pylons that ended 50 ft. into the ground and was set using a 250-ton crane. The feature is fed by the lake, and has its own pumping equipment vault that enables water to cascade down the rock face into the holding pool, then circulate back to the top.
Inspired by an Oklahoma forest canopy and the accompanying weather cycle, this Interactive Children’s Fountain—a commissioned piece—is by far the most intricate water feature on-site. It was started first and finished last. It cycles through a sequence of mist, rain, thunder, fog and light, and contains 200 LED lights, 12 fog rings (each with 50 nozzles) and more than 8,000 iridescent tiles.
The gently sloped Grand Event Lawn provides 28,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space for impromptu recreation and outdoor concerts. In total on this site, 2.3 acres of sod and a third of an acre of wildflower seeding were installed.
This elliptical-shaped fountain simulates the crashing of ocean waves. A computerized program propels the water across the fountain’s raised surface, creating a cascade effect as it tumbles down a granite weir and crashes into the return trench. Five different granite/finishes were custom cut and shipped in from China.
These water steps are more than 100 ft. long, with more than a 30-ft. elevation change. The sides were clad in granite; the stairs were constructed with 4-n. by 6-in. granite cobbles, which were all laid at multiple elevations and hand-chipped to create the flow pattern the architect desired. The stonework on this feature alone took one month to construct.
These five interconnected runnels were constructed from architecturally colored concrete and granite. Water is supplied by the central vault. Because of their varying distances from the source, each runnel is set at a separate pressure to ensure each is flowing with about a half-inch of water in the flume.
The lake waterfall is 30 ft. tall and made from formed concrete walls, which were lined with 250 tons of boulders. There are two main illuminated falls, with two pedestrian Ipe wood bridges bisected by walkways. The landscape architect was integrally involved with placement of the boulders, which were installed using 250-ton cranes.
The 20-ft. by 80-ft. Reflection Pool features fiber-optic lighting and two vaults. It holds just a half-inch of water, and it required an extremely tight elevation. It was completely clad with a granite floor, with removable trench pieces and joints that allowed water to percolate up through them. A series of nozzles at one end shoots arching streams of water. They are set at specific degrees to create a ladder effect.
In addition to many tree-save areas, there were 429 trees installed on-site. Ninety percent of them were in the 4- to 6-in. caliper range.
THE DETAILS: This project is a renovation of a 1977 installation by I.M. Pei., who modeled it after the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The renovation, designed by the Office of James Burnett and Murase Associates, pays homage to Oklahoma’s rich botanical heritage—while adding the sophistication of new urban park design. It’s a 17-acre site. A&M Hardscapes, Grooms Irrigation and Paverscapes contributed to this project, which won a Grand Award from the Professional Landcare Network in the 2013 National Landscape Awards of Excellence.
