Jury comment
This project develops a climate adaptation strategy for an urban creek in South San Francisco that expands the creek’s hydrological capacity, its environmental role and its system of access. The project’s acknowledgement of the local community’s active role in the site’s ecology, and the way it has developed engagement strategies to build stronger, ongoing ties between the community and the creek, set it apart from other projects of a similar nature. Over an 18-month period, the designers developed innovative engagement approaches that responded to the diversity of cultures, languages and ages within the community. These ranged from organizing walks along the creek and other public events, to the development of educational resources and the creation of a multilingual children’s book about the site that was widely distributed. These initiatives were seen as an opportunity to form a community of stewards that might play a more active role in the creek’s ecology into the future. Although it is still in the planning stages, the project’s impact is already evident in its reception by the community and the momentum that has been generated around securing funding to advance the work.
Colma Creek Climate Adaptation Planning applies to Colma Creek, South San Francisco, USA, the land of the Ohlone Ramaytush people.
Project credits
Design practice Hassell Transport consultant CHS Consulting Group Community engagement consultant Civic Edge Consulting Civil engineering consultant Lotus Water Hydrology and ecology consultant E2 Design Lab Imagery Hassell
To view all the winners of the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards, go here.
