Lakebottom Park and Theo McGee Parks Restoration Plans

Columbus, GA

Starr Whitehouse was engaged by Trees Columbus, in collaboration with the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and Columbus Water Works, to reimagine two historic parks in Midtown Columbus, GA. Lakebottom Park is the flagship regional park for the City and surrounding communities, while Theo McGee Park is a community park in one of Columbus’... Continue Reading

Starr Whitehouse was engaged by Trees Columbus, in collaboration with the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and Columbus Water Works, to reimagine two historic parks in Midtown Columbus, GA. Lakebottom Park is the flagship regional park for the City and surrounding communities, while Theo McGee Park is a community park in one of Columbus’ historic African American neighborhoods. Starr Whitehouse conducted a robust community engagement process tailored to each park’s userbase. At Lakebottom Park, an online survey reached nearly 2,500 residents participants and provided valuable input on usership and access, programming, natural resources, and aesthetics. At Theo McGee, community members were given the opportunity to help design their park through hands-on exercises and small-group discussions at multiple in-person charrettes held by the design team.

The resulting Master Plans propose a unified and sustainable approach to canopy preservation, water quality, and park development. Three guiding principles, extrapolated from community feedback, inform the park designs: 1) environmental stewardship, including tree canopy resilience and watershed health; 2) community health and wellness, including equal access to active and passive recreational amenities; and 3) public education, including didactic landscapes that celebrate Columbus’ ecology and provide hands-on engagement with the region’s natural heritage. Establishing a framework for future investment, these plans ensure that development prioritizes ecology and community co-benefits.