Gate Street Recreation Area Master Plan

What was the challenge?

The Gate Street Recreation Complex Master Plan project involved working with numerous public and private stakeholders to develop a vision for improving the Town’s existing recreational facilities and programming within the park.  The project area consisted of multiple Town-owned properties bisected by a public road and adjacent to a high-volume state highway.  The challenge presented to this project’s design team was to develop a comprehensive master plan that unites these properties, creates a sense of place within this flagship park, and revitalizes the Town’s aging infrastructure.  this plan was developed to include actionable preliminary designs with realistic construction cost estimates so that the Town could use this document as a tool to seek future funding to construct the recommended park improvements.

How did Barton & Loguidice provide a solution?

B&L worked hard to develop this master plan document to include actionable preliminary designs with accurate construction cost estimates to allow the Town to use this document as a tool to seek future construction funding for the recommended park improvements.  Additionally, the design team listened to the Town’s residents and stakeholders to ensure the park’s proposed amenities were sensitively located and contextual to the park’s user group.  These features included community gardens for the Town’s senior population and a bicycle pump track for the enthusiastic young mountain biking crowd.

Why was the project a success?

This project highlighted B&L’s commitment to the local communities we serve.  The Voluntown community and the Gate Street Recreation Committee were very pleased with the outcome of the master plan.  Subsequent to the completion of this plan and with the assistance of B&L’s staff, the Town was awarded a $425,000 grant for a new playscape for the Gate Street Recreation Complex.  We’re hopeful this playscape will be constructed in 2024 and serve as a centerpiece to the revitalization efforts at this park.