CREATIVE SITE AND RETAINING WALL DESIGN CREATE EXCITING SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX

WILLIAM L. WELCH COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL

The ELA designed facility invites patrons to the main entrance with reaching fingers of washed concrete exposing multi-colored earth toned pebbles. The first view of the facility is the active spray ground featuring various vibrant colored spray structures gently misting and blanketing 1,650 s.f. of interactive play area.

Beyond the spray ground are endless joys in the 7,750 s.f. recreation pool which provides an interactive play structure, a current channel for floating and aerobic workout, a water vortex, and two water slides.

Adjacent to the recreation pool is the 8-lane, 25 yard competition pool with two 1-meter diving boards for competitive swim meets and exercise and instructional programs.

ELA Group integrated colors, textures, materials and shapes into the site design to enhance the experience of patrons and compliment the shapes and forms of the pools. The slopes of the site enabled the use of retaining walls from 2’ height to 8’ height to be used as seat walls and as backdrops for lounge chairs. Pockets of synthetic turf are provided throughout the pool deck to provide clean alternative surfaces for patrons to relax around the pools. Beyond the retaining walls the gentle sloping site was formed to create a terraced area for viewing the competition pool during swim meets and functions while the sloped areas beyond provide open grass areas for patrons to sunbathe and overlook the entire facility.

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FROM MASTER PLAN TO CONSTRUCTION, TOWNSHIP OPENS NEW PARK WITH AIRPORT THEMED PLAYGROUND

BERNEL ROAD PARK

ELA Group was selected by Patton Township to implement the Master Plan for Bernel Road Park from design and regulatory approvals through construction documents. The Master Plan contemplated a variety of athletic and recreational facilities throughout the 75-acre park parcel which included baseball, softball and multi-use fields, tennis and basketball courts, multi-age group playground, walking trails, pavilions and disc golf. With the park located in close proximity to the University Park Airport, the playground and associated amenities was suggested to have an “airport” design theme. The project had a strict total budget of $2.1 million which included all construction costs and design service fees.

The key element of the Park is the airport themed playground. Working directly with a play structure manufacturer and Township Staff, ELA Group designed the playground as a small scale airport with two separate age group specific play structures flanking a two level “control tower” play structure. The play structures were custom fabricated with each piece being incorporated in the airport theme. Adjacent to the paved “runways”, an arch roofed “hanger” pavilion and retaining wall supported “overlook plaza” were incorporated into the design and completed the “airport”. The safety surfaces around each play structure consisted of a poured in place rubber with various airplane silhouettes under each piece of play equipment. The result is the most creative and unique playground in the entire Centre Region.

ELA Group’s services included refinement and design of the amenities proposed on the Master Plan. Through the design process, ELA Group suggested several modifications of the Master Plan which were sensitive to existing site and regulatory constraints and the project budget. ELA Group performed design and engineering and received municipal approvals for the entire project. Through continual project cost estimating, ELA Group recommended a phased construction approach since constructing the entire proposed project was far in excess of the Township’s budget.

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FLOOD STUDY AND RIPARIAN DESIGN IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA FOR ENJOYMENT

LONG’S PARK

Several acres of land were donated to Long’s Park and it had been a desire of the Sertoma Club of Lancaster to improve this land in a way that would benefit the recreational facilities at the park.

A ring trail, nearly one mile in length that included three wooden bridges, stream bank and riparian area restoration, selective clearing, trimming and debris removal was envisioned and later constructed.

ELA Group provided design coordination and construction documents as well as permitting that included a flood study and joint permit through the Lancaster County Conservation District and PADEP.

Notable features are the created wetlands which use a simple gravity fed intake system and new sections of limestone wall that connect and blend into existing walls that channelize a portion of the stream.

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