There’s a moment in every project when the vision starts to come alive and a plan turns into real paths, spaces and experiences. For Charlie Smith Park, that time has arrived, and the transformation is well underway. 

Situated in the heart of Bridgeport, Alabama, the regional town park features a primary walking loop around its perimeter with passive and active spaces living within. 

Craving a revamp, Goodwyn Mills Cawood’s (GMC) landscape architecture team jumped at the opportunity to be part of the beloved park’s renovation – largely made possible to a nearly half million-dollar grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). 

With the primary entrance serving as a welcoming gateway into the park, the design team placed a strong emphasis on creating a sense of identity and place that reflects the spirit of the town. The revitalized space was thoughtfully planned to offer something for everyone, providing play elements that appeal to kids of all ages while also enhancing the experience for parents, guardians, and other adult visitors. 

The grant will fund the first phase of the revitalization, set to include walking trails, an event pavilion, playground, splash pad and a recreational lawn that will transform the once vibrant, but now vacant park into a key recreational space for the city.  

“One of the most rewarding parts of my career is seeing projects come to life,” said GMC Landscape Architecture Project Manager Jacob Ingram. “From conceptual rendering to installation, it amazes me that in just a few short weeks, this site will be completely transformed into an engaging space with a variety of uses.”