NAWIC Fruition of a Project | Osage Park Tour & Happy Hour

OSAGE PARK

Osage Park is an urban park designed as the recreational destination location in Bentonville, Arkansas. It’s preserved and enhanced wetland system acts as a ‘soft infrastructure’ that soaks up and filters stormwater; slowly releasing it, decreasing flooding downstream, and improving water quality.

The Osage Park design team lead by Martin Smith, (EDG Principal & OK State Alumni) studied in depth the watershed, ecology and natural systems of this site prior to implementing the design strategies. The design was orchestrated in harmonious fashion with the pavilion, natural wetland system along with the passive and active programming for the project.

Existing wetlands created by beavers were already providing habitat for many species on site, including several of conservation concern. These wetlands also slowed stormwater runoff, improved water quality, helped recharge groundwater aquifers, and reduce flooding downstream. There was a conscious effort to expand and integrate the park with the beaver wetlands and create a connection to Lake Bentonville increasing these benefits. The preservation of the flooded beaver wetlands provides a firsthand look at a delicate wetland system and educates visitors on the importance of the wetlands in an urban watershed.

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ECOLOGICAL DESIGN GROUP | EDG | ecologicaldg.com

Ecological Design Group, Inc. is a small business by choice, recognizing our passion and commitment to the re-connectivity of our community to the landscape. Over the past century, our natural ecological systems have been fragmented due to development and the introduction of industrial agriculture. The seamless connectivity from one system to another no longer exists and has been replaced by sterile environments requiring an abundance of energy and natural resources to maintain.

_________________ : : HAPPY HOUR AT BENTONVILLE BREWING CO FOLLOWING THE TOUR : : _________________