Sedona AZ (November 16, 2017) – Sedona’s newest completed park, Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park, has received an Award of Merit from Engineering News-Record, a publication considered the bible of the construction industry worldwide.
“This park was almost 20 years in the making, from vision to realization,” says Sedona Public Works Director Andy Dickey. “Which makes this award especially gratifying not only for the city, but for everyone who worked so hard to bring it to fruition – friends of the park, council members, city staff and our contractors.”
The ENR Southwest Best Projects competition recognizes the region’s most outstanding construction and design achievements of the past year. The judges rated projects based on five criteria: overcoming challenges and teamwork; safety; innovation and contribution to the community; construction quality and craftsmanship; and the function and/or aesthetic quality of the design.
In deciding the award, the judges noted that the park and its pavilion’s unique architecture required “a considerable amount of precision and collaboration between all members of the construction and design team.”
The facility’s postmodern design was inspired by the ball court at the Wupatki National Monument near Flagstaff as well Sedona’s red rocks and blue skies.
“It was a real pleasure to manage the construction of Barbara’s Park,” says James Crowley, associate engineer for the Public Works Department. “The pavilion and park design are a perfect complement to the site’s amazing views, and we had a great team to realize the vision.”
The lead design firm for the park was Westlake Reed Leskosky; general contractor was Loven Contracting; civil engineering services were provided by Shephard Wesnitzer; and the landscape consultant was Richard S. Hubbell & Associates
Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park, opened in May 2017, is located on the grounds of greater Posse Grounds Park, located at 525 Posse Ground Rd. In addition to community use, the facility is available for day use rentals for private events. The park features an amphitheater performance area with festival style seating for 300, dressing rooms, restrooms and landscape amenities that include a gabion wall and decomposed rock walkway.
