When it was proposed to level the historic Fisher Hill Reservoir for use as sports fields, KMDG promoted integrating the earthwork as an important landscape reference for the park. The park design emerged by sculpting the reservoir walls to create an opening in the basin for soccer with spectator seating on the sloped landform, surrounded by a reconstructed woodland, meadow, and nature-playground. Along the formal promenade a series of terraces and ramps retain the historic relationship of the pump house to Fisher Avenue and provide several flexible gathering spaces for picnics, sunsets or viewing the game.
As a legacy project that the entire office helped advance, Michael was fortunate to play a part in the project from design development through construction administration — particularly on grading, planting and green infrastructure design. His past experience in restoration ecology was especially valuable in designing the woodland planting, as well as the meadow mixes for the bioswale, retention pond, and reservoir walls. Distinct plant communities were sited based on topography and aspect, with particular species emphasized in each sub-zone to provide a cinematic experience along the path circuit.