High Line Park Designer James Corner Unveils New Tongva Park in Santa Monica

<a href="http://www.fieldoperations.net/" target="_blank">James Corner Field Operations</a> is well known for designing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-line/" target="_blank">New York’s High Line</a> - and the firm just unveiled Santa Monica's new Tongva Park. Opened to the public on October 19th, <a href="http://tongvapark.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square</a> bring a green urban landscape to Santa Monica’s Civic Center. The park was inspired by Southern California's native arroyo landscape of washes and ravines, and it features native plantings, a variety of dynamic gardens, water features, and play areas that all work together to create a new civic heart for the city.

<a href="http://tongvapark.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Tongva Park</a>'s site was previously an unused dirt lot that broke the connection between City Hall and the Santa Monica Pier.

The new park is a beautiful, nature-filled space the bridges this gap and serves as the new heart and lungs of the city.

<a href="http://www.fieldoperations.net/" target="_blank">James Corner Field Operations</a> turned the flat dirt lot into a dynamic park with undulating hills, water features and fun play areas.

Four main areas: Garden Hill, Discovery Hill, Observation Hill and Gathering Hill, each provide a different experience for children, residents, and visitors.

Taking inspiration from the Southern California landscape, the park is filled with native and adapted plants.

Irrigation water is provided by the <a href="http://www.smgov.net/Departments/PublicWorks/ContentCivEng.aspx?id=7796" target="_blank">Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) water reclamation facility</a>, while stormwater is processed on-site with the help of bioswales and retention areas. Water features are potable, so children can play in them, and they only loose water from evaporation.

Site location in between City Hall and the Pier.

Overall site plan for Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square.