The community development organization Eastside Neighbors in Partnership (ENIP) requested assistance from the CCDR for the preparation of a master plan for the redesign of Lexington Park.  The park was identified as a priority project by a coalition of east side community partners in 2002.  Based on previous planning studies prepared by FLA faculty and students, redevelopment of the park was recognized as an important first step in revitalization and reinvestment in the neighborhood.  Located along East Genesee Street, the existing features of the triangular shaped park are in deteriorating condition.  In meetings with ENIP personnel, it was determined that community participation was essential in the design process.  Community members needed to believe that their participation would lead to tangible change. 

The project was assigned to the Advanced Site Design Studio, a class composed of 4th and 5th year undergraduates and second year graduate students.  The students were introduced to the project, meeting with ENIP personnel and visiting the site to conduct an inventory of existing conditions.  The first set of community meetings was organized to present the inventory findings to neighborhood residents and to discuss residents' thoughts about the park - both positive and negative.  Using the information gathered at the workshop and their own site analysis, each student prepared a program and conceptual design study of the park.  Once the students had developed a plan for the park, another workshop was organized to present these ideas to the community.  Neighborhood residents identified what they believed to be the strengths and weaknesses of the students' designs.

The information gathered by the students and the community responses to the student designs was used by the CCDR to further develop a master plan design during the summer of 2003.