Elkhart, Indiana
Project Detail Information
McNaughton Park is located in Elkhart, Indiana, between Elkhart General Hospital and the St. Joseph River. The park encompasses diverse activity areas from active athletics (baseball diamond, tennis courts, basketball courts, and horseshoe pits) and a playground, to boat launches and a seasonal amphitheater. The Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department sought to add a zero-depth water sprayground to the park and offer other site improvements (additional parking, improved vehicular circulation, new playground with resilient surfacing, and new basketball courts) in order to create a more enjoyable experience for all park users.
The parks department commissioned Lehman & Lehman to prepare a master plan and construction documents for the aquatics facility, as well as to design general site improvements. To gain adequate space for the aquatics facility, the existing basketball courts were removed and relocated to an adjacent area of the park near the shelter house. A new 7,000 square-foot playground offers challenges for children of all ages with the safety of resilient rubber surfacing below.
The new aquatics facility, along with a concession stand and restroom, are located beside an expanded parking area near the existing tennis courts. The water sprayground area features a large spray structure and smaller, age-appropriate water jets and spray structures. Lounging, picnic, and shaded areas are located nearby for those wanting to watch the activities.
Parking improvements will adequately serve the additional patrons the new park activities bring and improve the vehicular circulation.
