Public parks provide much more than outdoor space for recreation. They also offer a place for communities to gather, nature to thrive, kids to play, and pets to socialize. That’s why, if you’re designing a public park, it’s critical to choose features that support the needs of those who will be using it. To help you create an aesthetically-pleasing space that represents your community, here are five features to discuss with your civil engineering team.  

What Your Public Park Should Feature

1. Playground Equipment

A kid-friendly park should include many types of playground equipment that can suit different age groups. To maintain safety, the playground should be in an area where parents can easily supervise. You should also work with your civil engineering firm to make sure the landscape is stable enough to support equipment.

2. Trails & Walkways

Trails and walkways will make the park more accessible and encourage the flow of traffic to various areas. Since over-paving can impact drainage and detract from the appeal of the surrounding nature, create pathways that conform to the landscape.

3. Picnic Areas

Public parks are a popular area for people to enjoy quiet relaxing lunches, share coffee with friends, or host festive birthday barbecues. To make these activities feasible, it’s important to include designated picnic areas with tables. You might also offer areas to prepare food—such as fixed grills. For hygiene, make sure to provide convenient access to trash cans, as well as hand-washing stations or bathrooms.  

4. Seating

While many will enjoy sitting on a blanket in the grass, you should still provide ample seating for park visitors. In addition to picnic tables, it’s common to include benches and small tables throughout the park. Low barrier walls near playgrounds can give families lots of seating options.

5. Lighting

Even if visitors aren’t allowed after dark, you should make sure your public park has enough lighting to illuminate the area. Once the sun goes down, this lighting can help people avoid trip hazards and walk their dogs without fear of danger. It can also support the needs of maintenance crews who may be tending to the park before sunrise or after sunset.

When you want to design a problem-free park, look to the specialists at Mid-Penn Engineering in Lewisburg, PA. Supporting the needs of Central Pennsylvania and the surrounding community for more than 50 years, this experienced civil engineering firm knows how to design functional and eye-catching parks of all sizes. Using top-of-the-line resources—such as aerial imaging and precision surveying—these professionals will provide insight at every step of land planning and development to ensure your project is a success. To learn more about these capabilities, visit this firm online or call (570) 524-2214.