Commission approves donor-funded replacement playgrounds for Civic Center Plaza

The Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness for replacement of two playgrounds in Civic Center Plaza, allowing new play structures, surfacing, benches, limited perimeter fencing and a projected lighting concept that will be considered separately for projectors mounted on adjacent buildings.

Gretchen Hilliard, department staff, said the playgrounds (installed in 1993 and 1999) are not character-defining features of the Civic Center Landmark District and that the project team’s design is compatible with the plaza’s scale. “The proposal is compatible with and respects the character defining features of the Civic Center landmark district,” Hilliard said.

Emily Rylander of Andrea Cochran landscape architecture described the concept as a pair of symmetrical "cloud forest" play areas inspired by fog, featuring tethered cloud sculptures, slender poles and platforms with a maximum platform height of about 12 feet and pole elements up to about 22 feet; surfacing will include artificial turf and poured-rubber pathways. Rylander said the team met with city agencies and held community meetings over the past 18 months.

Karen (Rec and Parks project manager) noted philanthropic support, saying the Trust for Public Land and the Helen Diller Family Foundation provided funding for the work. Two public speakers — Jim Hass and Don Savoy — voiced support for the design and outreach the team carried out.

Commissioners praised the design and community process; a motion to approve staff’s recommendation with the listed conditions (final materials, plant palette and mounting details submitted to staff prior to construction) passed unanimously, 6 to 0.

Staff and the project team said the playground designs will be reviewed for final materials and details before construction begins; schedule and permit steps were not finalized at the hearing.