Client: La Grand School District
Project: Central Elementary School and Island City Elementary School, La Grande, OR
In November 2014, residents of La Grande voted to approve a capital improvement bond for district-wide school improvements to their public schools. Working with DECA Architects, MZLA provided landscape architecture services for the design of two schools: the new Central Elementary School, including new playground and outdoor play areas; and the existing Island City Elementary School, to provide the design of a new kindergarten play area and revisions to the existing playground. MZLA collaborated with the school district, faculty, and parents to select play equipment that meets the needs of the students. For both schools, MZLA designed sensory-inspired playgrounds for the kindergarten classrooms that included opportunities for gardening and nature play. Both projects are under construction and will open in Fall 2017.
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Marianne Zarkin and her staff at MZLA on the La Grande School District projects. Marianne was very responsive and knowledgeable to our clients primary concerns: appropriate design and selection of play equipment and playground design, plant selection appropriate to their colder climate with shortened growing season, and worked well with District maintenance staff to make the project successful. Marianne’s design skill and passion for detail is much appreciated. I highly recommend the MZLA team and look forward to working with them again soon.” – Jim Henry | DECA Architecture, Inc.
