2015 NJASLA Merit Awards for Environmental Enhancement and Landscape Architecture – Site Design

Collaborated with Philadelphia’s Recreation and Public Property Departments to completely redesign the Pleasant Hill Fish Hatchery, a Victorian park that has provided generations of City children with the opportunity to go fishing. Existing conditions at the site were evaluated, including an assessment of the fish populations, the present state of the ponds, and the overall condition of the site and landscape.

Using the results of these evaluations, our professionals worked with scientists from Princeton Hydro to develop a restoration plan for the ponds to provide a healthier environment for the fish by dredging the ponds, adding aeration systems and natural pond plantings, and eliminating off-site run-off. These elements were combined with new walkways, pavilions, lighting, and landscaping, and were complemented by the sculptural fish archways and pervious paved areas at the entry to create a pleasant, bright, and functional new area to teach catch-and-release fishing and to provide urban children with a safe and enjoyable experience of the outdoors.