Ed Barsis Park at Four Hills Village

About

Located in a part of Albuquerque, NM that previously lacked public parks, the Ed Barsis neighborhood park is an inviting ecosystem of play that provides children and adults with limitless sense of connection and exploration.

Categories Place Botanic & Arboretum Parks & Play Spaces Recreation

Project Details

Overview

This project is a neighborhood park that is approximately 1 acre. It is in a part of town that did not have any public parks and was designed to be a different kind of space. The distinct feature of the park is that the entire space is designed to be a complex ecosystem of play that fosters a limitless sense of connection and exploration. Dense tree plantings, natural boulder edgers, loose materials, such as small stones to decorate, and changes in elevation invite children to creatively go beyond the designated paths and playground equipment.

The City of Albuquerque led the effort to rethink what a park looks like and how it functions, eagerly encouraging a different approach to design. The neighborhood demographics were changing as young families were moving into older houses, so residents embraced a new approach that has become the center of community activity. Children are challenged to find new discoveries in a place that encourages engagement with nature.

The project won a New Mexico ASLA design award in 2018.

Construction Details

Design Firm
Pland Collaborative

Project Managers
Greg Miller

General Contractor
City of Albuquerque

Start Date
July 2014

End Date
June 2015

The park’s pathways, including naturalized paths and a flat, wooden jig--zag foot bridge are lined with dense trees and foliage.

Vibrant plants and trees with fall foliage border a playground. The playground colors are muted in shades of green and browns.

A well-developed concrete path leads to a bench area. Natural materials are incorporated into the construction to create unique experiences.

A playground is nestled in an enclave of plants and vegetation. A bench is located to the left of the playground.

Various sizes and shapes of small rocks are decorated with visitors’ chalk drawings.

A concrete path leads to a playground surrounded by plants. An adult who is sitting and young child who is standing are in the background.

Rendered plan - A colorized drawing of the Ed Baris Park plan. The design features winding paths and play nodes that encourage exploration and discovery

Funders & Supporters:

Owner - City of Albuquerque
David Flores Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Department
Laurie Firor Division Manager Parks and Recreation Department
Dave Simon, Director Parks and Recreation Department

Recent Case Studies

A large group of participants express their excitement at the start of a backpacking trip. Trees and distant mountains fill the horizon behind them.

Program

Wild Hearts Idaho

Wild Hearts Idaho is a non-profit that builds community, confidence, and leadership skills for middle and high school girls through free outdoor adventures.

A close-up shot of Dan riding his trike with a confident grin.

Program

Spokes Fighting Strokes

Spokes Fighting Strokes (Spokes) introduces recovery through exercise and fun by providing recumbent trikes to stroke survivors, amputees, able-bodied humans, and those with or who have had traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck and back injury, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebral palsy (CP).

An aerial image of the playground showing play equipment, gathering spaces, and a painted ground mural looping around the playground.

Place

Louis H. Farrell Elementary School

This project was designed to advance literacy and learning goals while promoting playful learning in public schoolyards. Key features include a Gateway Plaza, a Literacy Art Loop, an Outdoor Classroom & Performance Space, separate play areas for older and younger children, and a Native Pollinator Meadow & Nature Discovery Trail.