Pelican Park

Working with the Isla Vista Recreation and Parks District, we turned this one-acre bluff top site into an inviting space for recreation and relaxation amid the bustle of campus life. Pelicans fly by practically at eye level across views across the water of the Channel Islands.

Plants that are native to the islands, including a meadow of ferny yarrow (instead of lawn), are used throughout the landscape, which also includes drinking fountains, stone couches (gently bermed into the meadow), picnic tables, and even a ping pong table, all constructed from terrazzo. Whether as a place to study, lounge, procrastinate or enjoy the amazing sunsets, this park is truly prized by its community.