September 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 19

were deeply involved in this process.
Creating experiences that recalled
distinct habitat zones within
the park's existing ecology was not
without its challenges. Aspen trees,
while emblematic of the montane
landscape, are difficult to maintain
at Denver's elevation, for example,
so the design team instead used Tulip
Poplar trees to create the feeling
of being in an aspen grove. In other
areas, accuracy was critically important
to the curatorial team. Great
care went into choosing specific
rock and plant materials, including
acquiring the whitest marble on
earth from Marble, Colorado, for
the experience. The sloping site was
further leveraged to showcase the
alpine-to-grasslands concept.
In keeping with the museum's goal
of inspiring a sense of discovery and
creating interactive moments of delight,
Dig worked with local artist
Chainsaw Mama to highlight the
iconic animal species found in each
habitat zone. Benches along the path
are carved into a beaver family or a
butterfly emerging, creating joyful
route-markers that ideally will serve
as memory points for visitors.
Leveraging the Waterway
as a Teaching Tool
Perhaps the most important change
to the site was the restoration of
the historic waterway. Public feedback
had indicated a strong desire
for
irrigation to determine what form
that would take. The decision was
made to ensure water was always
visible
and audible, sustaining
incorporation of water into
the design, but stringent Colorado
water laws necessitated close
collaboration with the Denver Department
of Public Health, Denver
Water, and DPR maintenance and
plant life along the corridor, but not
directly interactive. Water is drawn
up from the city ditch and joined
by flow from the storm drain at
the head of the historic waterway.
The new continuous water flow
from the ditch supports the existing
tree canopy and new riparian
plantings - in addition to restoring
a waterfall and creating a richer
habitat with playful boulder, log
and bridge crossings. The restored
waterway will serve as both an educational
tool and a celebration of
Colorado's diverse habitats.
Laurel Raines is Founding Principal and President at Dig
Studio. Gretchen Wilson is Founding Principal and Partner
at Dig Studio.
Member Benefit: How ePACT Transformed
San Francisco's Approach to Administration
T
he San Francisco Recreation
and Park Department
(SFRPD) is dedicated to serving
more than 12,000 children in a
wide range of programs across 25
recreation centers. However, the
department faced significant challenges
with its outdated system for
collecting medical data, contact details,
waivers and consents. ePACT
swiftly transformed SFRPD's operations,
streamlining processes and
enhancing the overall experience
for families and staff through its:
Offline access - Families fill out
their information, such as waivers
and emergency information,
shortly after registering. Staff also
can use automated reminders to
prompt families who have yet to
submit their information to do so.
Returning
families
quickly scan
and reconfirm their information.
The system ensures SFRPD always
has the most accurate and up-todate
data available anywhere at any
time with ePACT offline access.
Enhanced security - The implementation
of a centralized, highly
secure system addressed the department's
concerns about data access
and privacy. Only authorized
staff members have access to the
records, maintaining strict compliance
with HIPAA regulations.
Standardized and streamlined
approach - SFRPD standardized
and simplified its medical forms,
waivers and consents, allowing
staff to gain a comprehensive unthe
derstanding
of each child's health
and support needs. This approach
facilitated better preparation for potential
issues. Staff can access any
child's data quickly in one centralized
location and easily share pertinent
details across programs.
Since
implementation
of
ePACT in 2016, the system's ease
of use, convenience and accessibility
have made a significant impact
on program operations with overwhelmingly
positive feedback.
For more information on how
you can use your NRPA member
discount for ePACT and how it
can transform your organization,
contact sales@epactnetwork.com,
visit epactnetwork.com or call
1.855.773.7228, ext. 103.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
19
http://www.epactnetwork.com
September 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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