This applied design research seeks to contribute to protecting and enhancing Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area's ecological, hydrological, social, and cultural/historic resources, and public open space amenities for the community and future generations of park users. The multi-scalar study and proof-of-concept design conceptualize the innovative reprogramming of Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area (Freshwater Park) and its facilities with a focus on ecological design, resource protection, placemaking, recreational activities, and scenarios for low-impact types of state park and locale-appropriate lodging. The project combines aspects of applied in-depth research, analysis, stakeholder and community involvement, conceptual planning and design inquiry, and initial costs that assist with future capital improvement programming.

 The project investigates connected, ecologically and socially sustainable, resilient, and water-sensitive built environment interventions, additional sites and facilities for recreational activities and lodging, new multi-purpose/pedestrian infrastructure, and ecological priority zones. These proposed process-based design interventions allow for increased biodiversity, contribute to improving water quality, provide ecosystem services, conserve resources, and, at the same time, create livable, usable, and accessible lakefront amenities and activities for all park users.

Client: State of Hawaiʻi Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks
Principal Investigator: Judith Stilgenbauer, ASLA
Project Staff: Hayley McCann, Diane Moore, Ariel Dungca ASLA
Student Project Assistants: Calvin Bulan, Matthew Higa, Michael Honyak, Mark Lombawa, Jonathan Quach, Valerie Ribao
Integrated course: ARCH 415 Fall 2017
Awards & Recognition:
2021 Honor Award (Research & Communication Category), Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, triennial professional awards

Stilgenbauer, Judith, “Public-Interest Design as Applied Research: The Case of Wahiawa Freshwater Park,” peer-reviewed abstract and paper presentation at 2019 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture conference “Engaged Scholarship,” UC Davis, Sacramento, CA