The Olmsted Brothers, Fredrick Law Jr. and John Charles, designed the original Kelsey Park in 1923. The Town of Lake Park commissioned WGI to develop a master plan creating a more active urban and waterfront park setting as part of the town’s centennial celebration.

The team carefully analyzed the existing conditions of the site and were careful to respect and preserve the historic elements. WGI conducted a robust public engagement process that included multi-linguistic outreach to local schools and churches. This allowed the team to identify the public desires for their most prominent public space and established the priorities for its future design. The public prioritized park aesthetics, maintenance, and upkeep as well as improved safety and programming as opposed to major shifts in infrastructure or amenities.

Our master plan organized the park into five distinctive zones: the waterfront, great lawn, gateway plaza, children’s area, and sports center. This strategy allowed us to design the park as a cohesive and unified space while establishing each sector’s unique identity, complete with amenities targeted at different users. The different zones ensure that the park serves all members of the community by offering something for everyone, creating a flexible, multi-generational, and multi-use space for the people of Lake Park.

Rebuilding the deteriorated intercoastal seawall was an integral design element. WGI designed a dynamic seawall that will become the focal point of the new Kelsey Park. A monumental staircase and fishing platforms allow park patrons easy access to the water, while a living shoreline creates a new habitat for fish and wildlife. The new seawall design improves the park’s resiliency to sea level rise and storm surge while providing residents with a unique way to enjoy the intercoastal waterway.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Multi-Lingual Public Outreach
• Historic Preservation