Riverfront Park & Korean War Memorial
As part of Troy’s Comprehensive Plan, LaBella prepared a napkin sketch followed by a successful Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) submission to assist the City with reinventing Riverfront Park. LaBella provided design phase services for the park improvements, which are being implemented in three phases.
- Phase I included the relocation and reimagining of the existing Korean War Memorial, completed in 2022.
- Phase II involves the construction of a geothermal system with 200 wells to heat and cool Troy’s downtown businesses and residences, with construction slated for 2026. Reconfiguration of the access drive and parking areas in this phase will lay the groundwork for Phase III.
- Phase III will include a destination playground, public restrooms, an urban plaza, a reflection pool, dynamic pedestrian circulation, and landscaping.
Canal Avenue Park
Following completion of a Citywide Parks Master Plan, LaBella’s landscape architects re-envisioned Troy’s Canal Avenue Park as an urban oasis. The existing park was overly shaded and closed off from the neighborhood with fencing and play equipment that had fallen into disrepair.
The park now includes a meandering circulation network that draws residents into the space while connecting colorful, poured-in-place play areas, modern playground equipment, site furnishings, landscape beds, and a future splash pad. The new elements were designed around two beautiful mature, native trees, while other trees were selectively removed to allow more sunlight into the park. An underutilized one-lane drive connecting the park to the adjacent Poesten Kill creek was converted into a striped bike lane with a planted verge and fishing area—a popular pastime for residents.
Beman Park
This 144-year-old historic park, located in the heart of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s campus, needed path improvements, as much of the asphalt was crumbling.
LaBella assisted the City with reshaping the park’s circulation system. Additional improvements included a new accessible playground with porous rubber surfacing, a memorial ring at the highest point in the park, a fenced dog run, drainage improvements, selective clearing, native shade and flowering trees, and a picnic area with tables and grills.
Supported by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, construction was completed in 2023.
112th Street Park
Located in the heart of Lansingburgh, this full-block park was under-programmed with only two basketball courts and a scattering of small play elements. LaBella worked with the City to craft multiple concepts to provide additional community amenities.
The selected plan included formal circulation paths, two pickleball courts, a modern playground with poured-in-place rubber surfacing, a splash pad, a shade pavilion, a picnic area, an active recreation area for soccer and kickball, an outdoor fitness pad, decorative fencing, lighting, and landscaping.
Also a recipient of ARPA funding, construction was completed in 2023.
