ATHENS RAIN PARK

The concept behind the Athens Rain Park was to create a place to enjoy the rain rather than avoid it. This site currently receives an enormous amount of water during rain events and is already an exciting place for those interested in stormwater design. However, I wanted to expand the appeal to others who might not yet appreciate the excitement of rainwater.

The first design element for the project was the access points, which shaped the pathways. The Firefly Bike Trail goes through the site, so the main boardwalk was designed to contain no stairs and be a continuous undulating ramp. The main path, constructed out of wood, sits on stilts at various points throughout the site, allowing visitors to experience the water at different heights. The Rain Center is also stilted, hanging over the main water pool with an indoor viewing area. Its roof is made of corrugated transparent material, providing a unique experience of the rain. The main pathway cuts through the building to encourage visitation. Entrances from the north and south of the site begin with sunken pathways, emphasizing a sense of flow into the site. The walls of these paths are sloped and clad with the same wood as the boardwalk. Benches form along some of the edges, using the same wood material to create a continuous circulation network throughout the site.

Throughout the site, yellow viewing umbrellas sit on designated wood viewing platforms. There is large surface signage on the boardwalk directing visitors to different areas. The pools on the north and south ends are permanent, while the other pools are temporary. All the pools are circulated by a water wheel. For educational and aesthetic purposes, an exposed curvilinear red pipe snakes through the site, connecting and circulating water to all the pools. All stormwater engineering features are red and celebrated rather than hidden. An accent material of black playground rubber highlights and identifies easy access points on and off the boardwalk. The largest portion of rubber is around the north pool, where there is interactive water exercise equipment. This equipment is based on the concept of lifting the weight of the water with pulley systems, levers, squat balls, and more. The water exercise equipment was inspired by the need for people to safely interact with the water, not just observe its effects. In addition to the workout equipment, there is a quarter-mile running track that connects Hickory Street and the boardwalk.