Splash Park wins state design award

The new Van Buren Township Quirk Park
Splash Pad & Playground will be awarded the
 2020 Park Design Award from the
Michigan Recreation & Park Association.

The new Van Buren Township Quirk Park Splash Pad & Playground will be awarded the 2020 Park Design Award from the Michigan Recreation & Park Association (mParks).
The award honors exemplary park and recreation professionals and citizen advocates and is presented to mParks agency members in honor of outstanding landscape design, facility or architectural design and park design. The mParks awards program encompasses five award categories - Design, Organization, Marketing, Individual and Therapeutic Recreation. 

A collaborative effort between the Van Buren Civic Fund, the township and the Downtown Development Authority, the Quirk Park Splash Pad & Playground project, which was completed in 70 working days, has become an area destination and gathering place for the community, cultivating an environment that promotes inclusive play, motor skill improvement, cognitive development and socialization for residents and visitors of all ages, according to an official statement from the township.
“As part of an ongoing dedication to responsible growth and improvement, other notable enhancement opportunities throughout Quirk Park were identified and completed during the construction window,” the statement continued. The final design included way-finding signage, removal of old play equipment and installation of new play equipment (ADA compliant play structure and traditional, toddler and buddy swings), a new pavilion, additional seating options (benches, traditional and accessible picnic tables), redesigned ADA compliant pathways, improved and accessible ADA parking, new changing rooms, a memorial garden and a number of infrastructure improvements to meet and exceed utility demands.
The Design Award will be presented on Friday, Jan. 13, during the mParks Conference & Trade Show at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
For more information, contact the Van Buren Township DDA at (734) 699-8941 or visit VanBurenDDA.com.