The Village of Calumet Park set out on an ambitious journey to re-imagine the green space surrounding its Parks and Recreation Center—transforming it into a vibrant community destination. The future vision of the Village Green stands as the heart of Calumet Park, offering recreational and cultural experiences that bring residents together throughout the year.

Visitors are greeted by a gateway plaza leading them down a tree lined path to the center of the park.  At the heart of the design is an exciting children’s play environment featuring a dynamic splash pad,  spacious shelter with restroom facilities, and play equipment for ages 5–12, placed adjacent to an existing play area. South of the play destination, a welcoming plaza surrounded by lush plantings opens up to provide a flexible gathering space for farmers markets, holiday celebrations, and community events. Meandering walking paths connect visitors to a tranquil garden with a gazebo and a green space for open play and leisure — creating a seamless blend of active and passive recreation opportunities.

JSD partnered with TRIA Architecture to bring the Village’s vision to life, leading the site planning and landscape architecture design for this transformative community space.