Big Sky Community Park

Big Sky, Montana

Recreation under the Big Sky

Introducing one of our most esteemed projects to date: the Big Sky Community Park Playground, meticulously designed for the Big Sky Community Organization in the picturesque town of Big Sky, Montana. This ambitious project embarked on its journey with an extensive community workshop phase, which laid the foundational stones for the creation of the Community Park Master Plan. This plan served as a springboard for the conceptualization and design of the playground, which completed construction and opened to the public in August 2024. The playground stands as a vibrant testament to the power of community engagement, innovative design, and a deep-rooted commitment to environmental stewardship.

At the heart of the playground’s design philosophy is the harmonious integration of native plantings, natural play elements, and classic play structures, all carefully chosen to blend with the local landscape. This strategic integration ensures the playground is not only low maintenance and wildlife-friendly but also adheres to water-wise principles, making it an exemplar of sustainable design in recreational spaces. Among the playground’s standout features are its custom play structures, which include an exhilarating zipline designed to emulate a T-bar ski lift. This thoughtful inclusion pays homage to the area's rich alpine skiing culture, celebrating the legacy of nearby ski havens and ski-in ski-out communities like Big Sky Ski Village, Moonlight Basin, Yellowstone Club, The One and Only, and Spanish Peaks.

More than just a space for play, the Big Sky Community Park Playground embodies the essence of the community's identity, fostering active, imaginative play while promoting an ecological harmony with its environment. It stands as a beacon of sustainability, demonstrating how recreational areas can maintain a low environmental footprint while offering engaging, dynamic spaces for children and families. Through this project, we've aimed to encapsulate the spirit of Big Sky, creating a playground that is as educational as it is entertaining, and as green as it is fun, setting a new standard for community-driven, sustainable playground design.

Services Provided:

Site Analysis, Site Planning, Conceptual Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Cost Estimating, Construction Observation, Grading and Drainage Plans, Landscape Architecture and Design