Capital School Park Reconstruction


MRV Architects is working with Anderson Land Planning, PND and Gorman Engineers for long-planned upgrades to the Capital School Park.  The neighborhood park fills many roles as both a cultural and recreational asset, with links to the history of downtown Juneau.  The process included an update the master plan with public outreach including a survey, community meeting and interviews with various stakeholders to understand needs and uses of the park. Using the input from the community, the master plan was developed into construction drawings.

The park is a historic landscape; portions of this area were used as a school from 1887 to 1997. The adjacent Terry Mill Building served as a high school and elementary school from 1928 to 1997. It is located in a residential neighborhood, adjacent to the Capitol Building, and a few block from Juneau’s Downtown business district. Tourists often come to this park as it is the closest playground to the waterfront.  It also serves as a school play area for a nearby childcare center and preschool.

The park currently has cultural features including totems and the Empty Chair Memorial. It also includes a tot lot, swings, playground structure, open play area, picnic area, sledding hill, and landscaping beds. Much of the infrastructure including the play equipment, tables, benches, retaining wall, drainage system and landscaping are in need of repair.

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