Edgewood Park Community Center

Before design began, the team documented the existing community center to understand its layout, condition, and role within the park. Floor plans, photographs, and site observations helped identify how the building had served the neighborhood and where new opportunities could emerge. Through coordination with City staff, the program for the new facility was confirmed to carry forward its community purpose in a more flexible and welcoming way.

The existing building will be removed in its entirety to make room for the new center. However, the 2004 community mural—a beloved artwork celebrating the neighborhood’s history—will be carefully protected and preserved throughout construction.

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Every project starts with a few quick strokes on paper. For Edgewood, those sketches explored how to work with the site’s required manufactured grades for an efficient layout that blends into the landscape. They also tackled the challenge of shaping a large community building so it feels comfortable within the scale of a neighborhood park. From those early doodles grew a design that is both practical and welcoming.

The project team has worked to keep the community informed and involved throughout design, recognizing the deep connection neighbors have to this park and facility. While the majority of the program and budget were established during a previous master plan exercise, each engagement meeting provides an opportunity to share updates and gather feedback to ensure the new center continues to reflect the community’s identity and history. Three touchpoints are planned—introducing programming and schedule, visualizing the building’s form and materials, and sharing progress as construction nears—so that, in the end, the project can be turned over with care to the community it belongs to.

How can a large community building feel at home in a neighborhood park when it must be raised above the floodplain? Our solution was to turn this challenge into an opportunity—using the manufactured grades not only to lift the building, but also to shape new features around the park. Gentle slopes, berms, and transitions help the center feel rooted in its setting while adding variety to the landscape. Generous windows frame views to the park, and a shaded patio extends activity outdoors, connecting the gym and multipurpose rooms to the green space. Durable yet welcoming finishes give the building warmth without unnecessary frills. Overall, the Edgewood Community Center enhances both the functionality and character of the park, offering neighbors a comfortable and approachable place to gather year-round.