Guided Tour Childrens Park: The Realization of a Community Vision
Guided Tour Childrens Park: The Realization of a Community Vision
Join the design team behind the transformation of Downtown San Diego’s Children’s Park and explore how thoughtful design can create vibrant, inclusive public spaces for people of all ages and abilities. Through a behind-the-scenes tour and discussion, attendees will learn how extensive community engagement helped shape the park’s evolution from an iconic but underutilized urban space into a welcoming destination for play, gathering, recreation, and connection. Discover how the design balances respect for the park’s celebrated legacy with the needs of a growing downtown population through innovative features, accessible amenities, and nature-based experiences. Whether you’re a design professional, community advocate, student, or simply curious about the power of public space, this session offers valuable insights into how design can strengthen the social fabric of our communities.
About the Host
JT Barr, Schmidt Design Group & Brad Lents, Spurlock Landscape Architects
Jeffrey T. (JT) Barr is the President of Schmidt Design Group with 24 years of experience in landscape architecture and planning. His expertise includes the design and implementation of dynamic spaces including award-winning urban, neighborhood, community, and regional parks, riverfront/coastal parks and developments, civic campuses and educational institutions. He is inspired by creating signature spaces informed by an intimate understanding of context with each project presenting a new opportunity to build community, celebrate culture and create sustainable systems.
Brad Lents is a Principal-in-Charge at Spurlock Landscape Architects with 25 years of experience in landscape architecture and urban planning, including 18 years leading transformative projects across Southern California. As a licensed landscape architect and certified planner, Brad brings a unique interdisciplinary skill set to complex site planning and design challenges. Brad has led the design and implementation of major civic, institutional, and campus projects throughout California and the western United States for a wide array of federal, state, and local agencies, as well as for K-12, Community College and Higher Educational Campuses.
