Anaheim, California, USA, 2010

Colony Park is a public park built as part of a private housing development. Its central “watercourt” is inspired by the original agricultural plat of Anaheim. Paving colors depict irrigated fields (green), non-irrigated land (sand), water canals (blue), and streets (gray). In the center of the court, sixty-four concrete blocks represent the houses and public buildings of the town center. Water runs through the court in various playful ways, including through etched stainless steel “water canals” embedded in the paving. One of these channels feeds a wading pool and one releases a thin sheet of water across a section of paving. Grass and orange tree plantings in and around the watercourt compliment the agricultural motif. Two cedar picnic shelters are inspired by farm structures and historic displays from Anaheim’s Valencia Orange Shows. Orange acrylic spheres are “strung” on overhead stainless steel rods, creating a color and shadow play on the cedar plank table below. 

Colony Park was commissioned by the City of Anaheim with construction coordination by Brookfield Homes. The metal runnels were fabricated by Atomic Fabrications and glass lithocrete paving installed by Shaw & Sons.