Centennial Park Expansion

Centennial Park Expansion is a compact but powerful example of how thoughtful design can knit a downtown civic core around a public space that celebrates local identity and ecology. Completed in 2019, the 1.2‑acre park expansion transformed a neglected block into a flexible civic heart that feels unmistakably like Redmond’s own.​
 

The project team was commissioned by the City of Redmond Urban Renewal Agency to complete the second phase of Centennial Park, connecting the new City Hall to the original Centennial Plaza and the historic commercial core. From the outset, the goal was to create a multi-functional green space that could support everyday use as well as large community events, while reinforcing Redmond’s small-town character and growing urban energy.​

The design process was anchored by a city-appointed stakeholder team comprised of residents, city staff, and local business owners. The team engaged in extensive public outreach, including workshops, open houses, and surveys, in order to reach as many community members as possible. Through this engagement, a clear program emerged: an adaptable civic plaza with a small stage, open lawns for play and events, a city Christmas tree plaza, diverse seating, a children’s reading nook and memorial, a bike repair station, and a chronological History Walk that threads Redmond’s story through the site.​

 

The design organizes the expansion around a strong circulation framework that aligns with the geometry of the original park and the main entry axis of City Hall. A central east–west promenade now links City Hall to the historic downtown plaza—home to a seasonal ice rink—while the History Walk along this spine uses stone plinths and paving accents to mark key moments in Redmond’s past.​

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At the park’s north edge, a quiet reading nook adjacent to the public library was introduced, featuring a memorial to children’s advocate Kaye Eberhard that invites reflection for all ages. Curated pads for public art, a community kiosk, a Christmas tree plaza, and furnishings coordinated with downtown streetscapes ensure the park feels seamlessly integrated into Redmond’s broader civic realm.​

 

Before construction, the site required significant remediation, including decommissioning underground oil tanks, abating hazardous materials, and removing compacted, impervious surfaces. The project team rebuilt the ground as a regenerative landscape with amended soils, high-efficiency irrigation, and a palette of high-desert-adapted, pollinator-supporting plant species that reduce water use while enhancing habitat.​

 

Today, Centennial Park Expansion hosts farmers markets, festivals, and performances, but is equally successful as an everyday destination for lunch breaks, informal gatherings, and quiet respite. By combining civic programming, cultural storytelling, and ecological repair, the project helps the city realize a long-held vision: a downtown park system that embodies Redmond’s pride as “The Hub” of Central Oregon and strengthens its evolving urban core.​