Selah Vista Public Park

Yakima, WA

​This park is being developed in conjunction with a new community in Yakima, Washington that will include sixty five net zero homes. The climate is very dry, with only 12 inches of precipitation annually, so the design for this park is oriented towards resilient native landscapes that will thrive in spite of extended draught conditions. These include native lodge pole pines, Mesquite Trees, edible hedges featuring native shrubs, and native grasses. There will also be a walking maze featuring tall native bunch grass clusters. The site design is partly organized by a dryland creek bed that will deliver occasional rains to key elements of the design. A solar energy-generating yoga pavilion is nestled into one corner among a cut flowers garden, adjacent to a public square. Features around the square include low maintenance logs rocks which will act as landscape features and seating surfaces. Also, requiring water, will be a section for local community to share community garden plots. Home designs shown are for context, and have been designed by Terry Phelan in Seattle.