Having a Dedicated Landscape Architect Liaison Makes All the Difference
In the world of playground design and construction, landscape architects bring incredible vision, creativity, and site planning experience to every project. When they pair their design skills with our team’s specialized playground knowledge, the result is something truly exceptional. We sat down with Vanessa Zelaya, Business Development- Architecture with Lone Star Recreation, to learn more about her unique partnership with Landscape Architects in building destination playgrounds.
Breaking Down the Misconception
People often assume that landscape architects handle every aspect of park projects. In reality, the best results happen when landscape architects provide overall site design and vision, while partnering with playground specialists like Lone Star Recreation for technical expertise. This collaborative approach is what sets our team apart. We serve as a bridge between the design vision of the architect and equipment expertise. We speak their language, understand specifications, manage the documentation, know the manufacturer’s capabilities, and navigate the entire process to help things go smoothly.
Why Early Involvement Matters
When our team gets included in a project early on, the benefits are immediate and measurable. Revisions cost time and money for everyone involved in a project. Our early involvement significantly reduces the number of revisions when we can advise on surrounding areas, fall zones, safety requirements, equipment selection, and inclusivity. We also provide a selection of CAD ideas, 3D Designs, or SketchUp Models to help get the design process started.
The results speak for themselves: projects run smoother, follow tighter deadlines, and have fewer revisions, giving all entities involved a significant advantage. This early collaboration prevents costly mistakes and redesigns that can derail both budgets and timelines.
Resources at our Finger Tips
Doing something once teaches you. Repeating it thousands of times makes you skilled. But being part of a network that’s completed it hundreds of thousands of times? That’s how you become an expert. At Lone Star Recreation, we bring that level of expertise to every project, no matter how simple or complex. Our partnerships from equipment, installation, and surface are there to support both our team and our customers.
There are times when we are brought into projects early on by an owner. As the playground specialists we can help, but we also have a keen sense of recognizing when a project need an architect. Some of these factors include when the project goes beyond the play elements in areas such as sports fields, drainage plans, irrigation, landscaping, and parking lots. To make these collaborations successful, the Lone Star Recreation team maintains strong relationships with architects throughout the industry. Sometimes they bring us in; sometimes we bring them in. Either way, we believe great outcomes are the result of strong partnerships and shared expertise.
Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Our team is always happy to help. Whether the project includes all of our equipment or just a single component, our goal is to help avoid common mistakes that can lead to costly setbacks.
One common example is drainage beneath safety surfacing. This technical detail must be discussed and properly specified early in the design phase. When drainage is overlooked or not properly coordinated, it can result in major issues. On one recent project, the contractor had to completely remove and replace the poured-in-place surfacing, subgrade, and drainage system which was an avoidable and costly mistake.
Staying Current and Connected: A Trusted Resource
What makes our team particularly effective is our commitment to staying current with landscape architecture trends and maintaining industry relationships. Our team frequently attends events and education sessions to ensure we are keeping up with new industry trends and terminology. We also frequently host continuing education sessions specific to landscape architect community, helping foster knowledge-sharing and professional growth.
Most importantly, our team’s main goal extends beyond current projects. We want to be the trusted, go-to resource for our landscape architect partners. Be the first call they make when they need guidance, answers, or support. Whether it’s navigating design challenges or exploring new ideas, they know they can count on us to help bring their project visions to life!
The Lone Star Recreation Difference
Lone Star Recreation works closely with landscape architects, city park and recreation departments, municipal entities, and contractors. For anyone tackling large-scale projects, our specialized coordination helps ensure projects exceed expectations, stay on schedule, and meet all the requirements. In an industry where excellence matters both financially and in terms of child safety, having the Lone Star Recreation team who understands both worlds creates exceptional value for everyone involved.
If you are starting a new project our team is here to help make it a success. Connect with our team and discover how this collaborative approach can elevate your next project!
