A Day in the Life of Park Planners: Designing Spaces That Bring Communities Together
Written By: Ken Jaworski
Post Date: 08-28-2025
A Day in the Life of Park Planners: Designing Spaces That Bring Communities Together
At Cedar Corporation, we believe parks are more than just green spaces…they are the heartbeat of a neighborhood. They are where families gather, kids explore, and communities thrive. Behind every well-loved park is a team of dedicated contributors who blend creativity, technical expertise, and community insight to bring these spaces to life.
With offices in Green Bay, Cedarburg, New Berlin, Madison, and Menomonie, Wisconsin, Cedar Corporation offers comprehensive architecture, community infrastructure, and environmental services, including park master planning. But what does the work of a park planner look like? Let’s take a walk through it.
From Vision to Reality
Every park begins with a vision to serve residents and visitors. Whether it is a new green space in a growing suburb or the revitalization of a historic site, our planners start by immersing themselves in the character of the neighborhood. What does the neighborhood need? What role should the park play? What opportunities exist to enhance the park’s quality?
We do not believe in cookie-cutter parks. Our planners dive deep into the demographic makeup, accessibility concerns, and emerging recreational trends of each area. These shifts guide our early design thinking.
*For example, who saw the national pickle ball or challenge course craze coming? Or the rise of trail use emerged during and after the pandemic?
Cedar Corporation’s basic “start-up” process includes:
- Reviewing previous planning documents
- Conducting and accurate inventory and assessment of existing facilities
- Studying environmental constraints and opportunities
- Sketching initial concepts and layouts
- Coordinating with landscape architects, the local park committee, civil engineers, and ecologists
This is where the magic begins—where ideas start to take
shape and the blueprint for a vibrant community space is born.
Listening to the Neighborhood
At Cedar Corporation, we don’t just design parks, we co-create them with the community. That means our planners spend a significant portion of their time engaging with residents, local officials, and stakeholders to ensure the park reflects both the neighborhood’s and community’s needs and aspirations.
We host public workshops at each park, attend park committee meetings, and conduct on-site walk-throughs with stakeholders. These sessions are more than just formalities, they are opportunities to listen, learn, and build trust.
Some of our favorite moments happen during these interactions:
- A child suggesting a splash pad “because it gets really hot in the summer”
- A senior advocating for shaded benches to watch their grandchildren play
- Local artists proposing a bandshell to showcase community talent
- Residents needing a location for a community garden
These voices shape our designs. We use interactive tools like visual preference surveys, mapping exercises, and even pop-up park prototypes to gather feedback. Our planners are trained not just in design, but in facilitation…ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
Design Development and Collaboration
Once the vision is clear and community input is gathered, our planners work closely with Cedar Corporation’s multidisciplinary teams to refine designs, address technical challenges, and ensure regulatory compliance.
This phase involves:
- Developing detailed site plans and renderings (often used to generate fundraising campaigns)
- Coordinating stormwater management and environmental assessments
- Ensuring ADA compliance
- Budgeting and phasing strategies for implementation
Because we offer architecture, infrastructure, and environmental services under one roof, our planners can seamlessly discuss all aspects of the project with other technical experts. Need to reroute a trail to protect a wetland? Our environmental team is on it. Want to incorporate solar lighting or permeable pavement? Our infrastructure experts have the specs.
This collaborative approach ensures that every park is not only beautiful but also functional, sustainable, resilient, and built to last.
Innovation throughout the planning process
No two days are the same for our Park Planners. Some days are spent in the field…walking existing and potential park sites, researching new and exciting products/equipment, or meeting with other park planning professionals.
They allow our planners to:
- Maximize park opportunities
- Integrate new concepts
- Verify design feasibility
- Monitor construction progress and quality
- Troubleshoot unexpected challenges (like a surprise underground utility)
- Capture photos and notes for documentation to use in future planning
There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a park come to life, from the first shovel in the ground to the final swing set installation. Our planners and technical staff are there every step of the way, ensuring the vision stays intact and the community’s needs are met.
Why Cedar Corporation?
So why choose Cedar Corporation for your park master planning needs?
- WPRA Sponsor: Cedar Corporation is an active member and sponsor of the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association. We are always on the cutting edge of the industry.
- Local Expertise: With offices across Wisconsin, we understand the unique character and needs of each community we serve based on their geographic location.
- Integrated Services: Our architecture, infrastructure, and environmental teams work together to deliver holistic, efficient solutions.
- Community-Centered Approach: We prioritize public engagement and ensure that every park reflects the voices of its users.
- Sustainability Focus: From native landscaping to green infrastructure, we design parks that respect and enhance the natural environment. Pollinator garden anyone?
- SHOW ME THE MONEY!! From grant writing to developing a detailed fundraising strategy, Cedar Corporation can help “show you the money”.
If your community is looking to create a new vision for an under utilized or outdated park, call our Cedar Corporation Park Planners. We will help create a park for your residents and guests they will truly enjoy!
Final Thoughts
The work of a Park Planner is filled with creativity, collaboration, and care. It’s about more than designing spaces - it’s about shaping experiences and strengthening communities. At Cedar Corporation, we’re proud to offer Park Planning as a service that brings people together and builds lasting connections.
If your community is ready to reimagine its outdoor spaces, let’s talk. Together, we can create parks that inspire, engage, and endure. Explore more about our Planning and Grants services and get in touch with us at: www.cedarcorp.com
