Open Spaces for Unmasked Faces

From Central Park to Presidio National Park, Take a Summer Stroll with Langan

As Americans around the country emerge from their respective COVID tunnels, we thought it would be a good time to visit some of the places that make us appreciate the value of open space. Langan is certainly a consultant known for working in the built environment, but we also have been fortunate to support many iconic destinations that embrace nature and encourage wellness.

Let’s start with the most well-known urban green patch – Central Park. Langan has worked in Central Park for 15 years, including projects such as the Conservatory Garden, FDNY Manhattan Central Office, Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument, and David H. Koch Plaza at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Currently, we’re supporting the rehabilitation of Harlem Meer, a massive undertaking to restore the northern end of the park and provide a scenic, recreational area for the community.

Across the Hudson River in north-central New Jersey is Duke Farms, a 2,800-acre estate donated by the Duke family to be a model of environmental stewardship incorporating sustainable land-use practices. Langan services were key in replacing large parts of the property’s infrastructure, renovating existing buildings, and redesigning existing site features to meet future program needs while displaying sustainable design elements.

Across two more rivers in Philadelphia is a unique waterfront bike trail known as Bartram’s Mile. Langan assisted in the transformation of a one-mile stretch of vacant river frontage along the western banks of the tidal Schuylkill between Grays Ferry Avenue and 58th Street into a new destination, through the extension of the Schuylkill River Trail and an innovative neighborhood stormwater management system.

Across the country in San Francisco is Presidio National Park. Since 2000, Langan has provided as-needed engineering and environmental consulting to this famous former Army base. From environmental remediation to groundwater monitoring to slope stability assessments, Langan services continue to help keep the Presidio a place for people to get away from the city without leaving the city.

“The pandemic has made all of us appreciate the value of sunlight and fresh air, so it’s critical that we continually protect and enhance our parks, waterfronts, shorelines, and nature preserves,” said Gregg Woodruff, Senior Associate, and Director of Natural Resources/Permitting, Langan. “Langan’s services – engineering and environmental sciences, traffic, survey, permitting, and landscape architecture – are indeed technical, but there’s also a great amount of creativity in what we do, and we love applying our skills to sustain our open spaces.”