Project Description
RICK assisted the Town of Frederick with a concept plan for Crist Park, a central civic space and cultural gateway at the entrance to Olde Town Frederick in Colorado. The Town of Frederick partnered with RICK to develop a concept plan that honors the park’s historic character while transforming it into an interactive, art-focused destination supporting community events and everyday recreation. The Town’s emphasis on public art established a vision to honor the culture and provide a multi-use community destination at the same time. Art is historically an important aspect of the Town of Frederick’s culture, so space for new sculptures in addition to the traditional chainsaw carvings was essential. As part of the design, the existing play area was upgraded to a nature play area, incorporating a splash pad and shade for families to enjoy. Parking was added to the park, as well as festival space, gathering areas, additional street parking, an interactive garden, and an active plaza area with space for food trucks.
Public Art and Historic Character Integration
RICK collaborated with Town staff to ensure the park’s redevelopment celebrated Frederick’s unique artistic legacy. The concept plan includes designated spaces for new sculptures and carving displays while preserving key historic features.
Community Engagement and Co-Creation
RICK worked closely with Town staff through the community input process to collect input on the concept design. Our team facilitated a robust public engagement process, including in-person presentations and an online survey to gather feedback on key features. The resulting concept reflects direct community input, making the space more active and usable for the modern Frederick residents and their needs and desires.
Multi-Use Community Destination
The Crist Park project provides activities for multiple users of all ages and activity levels, including passive activities like looped trails for walking and connectivity throughout the park and shade areas for sitting and visiting with friends and family. Active uses include play equipment for children, a bandstand/stage for events, and a multipurpose grass area for play.
Stormwater-Responsive Design
The project site faced persistent drainage challenges, which RICK addressed by incorporating green infrastructure, such as bioswales and rain gardens. These low-impact design strategies ensure long-term
resilience and serve as passive educational features for sustainable, maintainable, and high-impact solutions in highly visible public spaces.