- May 2, 2024
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A bird's eye view of what Cassen Park is proposed to look like after its redesign. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
A view of what the new bait shop and restroom building will look like at Cassen Park. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
A view of the proposed central green space at Cassen Park. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
The redesigned Cassen Park will feature native plants along with Medjool palms. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
A future phase of the redesign could include the creation of a south plaza. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
A bird's eye view of what Cassen Park is proposed to look like after its redesign. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
Cassen Park's redesign includes more boat trailer parking spaces — 48 of them. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
The potential south plaza area is proposed to have swing benches overlooking the river. Rendering by Marquis Latimer + Halback
When it comes to redesigning Cassen Park, Zev Cohen and Associates focused its concept on what its architectural team coined the "Big Three" — Boaters, walkers and the creation of a front lawn for City Hall.
The proposed design for the park was shown to the City Commission during a workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The concept plans show an increase of parking spaces from the current 39 spots to 53 — with 48 designed for boat trailers — as well as a new bait shop and restroom building, native gardens and a future potential south plaza with picnic tables, swinging benches and a new sculpture, which was recently donated to the city.
"When we began this process with getting consultants, we were given the charge of, 'This is the project that we want. We want to see what Cassen Park is going to look like for the next 50 years," Public Works Director Shawn Finley said.
In December 2022, the Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved a $202,155 contract to Zev Cohen for the design and required permitting for the redevelopment project, which was funded with Community Redevelopment Agency dollars, since the park is located within the CRA district at the southwest corner of the Granada Bridge.
The redesign of the park has been in the works since 2020 when the commission, who acts as the city's CRA, directed staff to pursue the project since the 3-acre park, which includes resident Ike Leary's bait shop, was prone to flooding.
Then in February 2022, the city conducted several public meetings to gather input from the community about what the park should look like. Four concepts were presented, and the commission asked for elements to be combined from each plan.
Landscape architect Jeremy Marquis, of Marquis Latimer + Halback, presented the concept plan to the commission. His firm designed the Riverfront Esplanade in Daytona Beach.
"We want to make a wonderful park," Marquis said. "But ... if we're not taking care of what the primary users are, we haven't done our jobs."
And Cassen Park's primary users are boaters.
The concept plan shows wider turns and a one-way traffic flow that goes into a drop-off area in front of the proposed bait shop and restroom building.
Of the 53 proposed parking spaces, five will be designed for passenger cars. Marquis said this is because, during non-peak hours, a car can park in a trailer spot if needed, but boaters need deeper parking spots for their trailers.
The on-street parking along South Beach Street will remain.
The plans also show a series of walking paths.
Marquis said that the design for the front lawn is something he was particularly excited about. The central green space with the veterans memorial is designed to be a formal, but flexible space, he said.
"I think the formality of it really just makes it feel like just like a beautiful space," Marquis said.
The city will hold another workshop with the commission to finalize design elements before the park's redesign is submitted out for bid. Construction is expected to take about six months.
