ARTS Paradise Creek

The Paradise Creek Educational Gathering Place was part of the Creating Vibrant Neighborhoods Initiative spearheaded by A Reason to Survive and the Pomegranate Center. This initiative focused on a community engaged process where local stakeholders that live, play and work in National City were invited to share the values, elements and activities they would like to see implemented in the park design. The gathering place lies within Kimball Park, which is a high-use park in National City. Paradise Creek runs along its edge and receives an intertidal flow at high tide. This portion of the creek was restored with native plantings as we were developing the gathering place, creating even more opportunity to highlight the natural ecosystem that runs through the city.

Studio Nectary’s role as project manager (while a contracted designer and project manager for Rooted In Place), was to work collaboratively with residents, lead artists, city employees and private contractors to fulfill the design generated with the community’s input. After weeks of prep work, we wrapped up the project with a four-day community build. Benches were built with boulders and salvaged wood, a lending library was built, planting and hardscape elements were added, and sidewalk painting created a welcome entry to the park. The final touch was the installation of the bird totems, which were built over several weeks with community members at hosted workshops and assembled on site over the four-day build. The bird totems represented the bird migratory pattern that crosses Paradise Creek, with the overall intent of highlighting the biodiversity that occurs in the small, fertile areas present in the day-lighted portion of the creek.

Paradise Creek Educational Gathering Space is a community creation serving as an artistic gateway to Kimball Park. It expands the ARTS outdoor classroom opportunities and provides an inclusive and enticing gathering place to be present in nature, play and relax.

COLLABORATORS:

A Reason to Survive, City of National City, Pomegranate Center – Client
Vicki Leon – Lead Artist
Brennan Hubbell – Lead Artist

ARTICLES & VIDEOS