Lions Park Playscape

In 2004 the Lions Club, the City of Greensboro, Hale County, the Riding Club and the Greensboro Baseball Association formed a joint committee to manage and care for the future of Lions Park, the largest park in Hale County. They soon approached Auburn University’s Rural Studio about revitalizing the park. Rural Studio agreed to assist. Since then, students of Rural Studio have totally transformed the character of Lions Park.

Their first project involved redesigning four baseball fields and two softball fields. Next, they revamped the entrance to the park and landscaped the park grounds. This included the installation of entrance gates to keep cars at bay. One of the gates has large bright yellow steel letters that spell “Lions Park”. Concrete and rock pathways were added to the park. They not only guide visitors; they also hide buried utilities. The Rural Studio students designed and built new toilet rooms. The toilet stalls are flanked by a row of large shiny culverts that capture rainwater runoff from the roof. The water collects at the base (where all of the culverts are connected) and the pressure of the water flushes the toilets. On the other side of the culverts, the students created a platform that serves as a lounging area for visitors or a stage for entertainers. Rural Studio students then designed and constructed an elaborate skateboarding park, complete with half-pipes, jumps, and other obstacles. Funding was donated by the Tony Hawk Foundation, and the end result is probably the most amazing skatepark that has ever been constructed for $25,000. There is also a mobile concession stand that the Rural Studio students designed. It is mounted on a trailer chassis, which allows it to be moved around. The concession stand has a shiny outer shell. It resembles the head of a barracuda. The mouth opens and that is where you get your food.

Rural Studio continues to be deeply involved with the development of Lions Park. They are currently designing and building a playground (made with 55-gal drums) and adding a 1/2 mile walking trail to the existing 1/2 mile track.