Creating a lasting, positive impact through engineering, surveying, and environmental expertise is at the very core of what we do at Draper Aden Associates. It’s always a fulfilling and enriching feeling to know that our firm and talented team members leave lasting effects in our local communities. This week, we want to highlight a project that perfectly encapsulates that lasting, positive impact: Greenwood Park in Henrico County, one of our most recent projects that will benefit local residents and help boost sports tourism in the Richmond region.
Partnering with CHA Consulting, Inc., which designed Greenwood Park’s master plan, Draper Aden provided construction administration services. The plan for Phase One of the new 90-acre tournament quality sports complex included four lighted multi-purpose athletic fields, sand volleyball courts, a large restroom building, paved parking areas for over 300 vehicles, access road and roadway improvements, utilities, and on-site bio filters for low impact stormwater management.
Henrico County recently unveiled Phase One of Greenwood Park by hosting a regional soccer tournament, the Ultimate Cup, on the new multi-purpose fields. One unique feature of those fields is that the infill is an organic mulch, which provides extra cushioning and doesn’t overheat. There are no other public fields in Henrico County made of organic mulch, further highlighting the cutting-edge and sustainable nature of the park’s design and construction.
Future additions for Phase Two are currently in the works and by mid-2018, a playground and 10K trail will be built. Other plans include eventually doubling the number of multi-purpose fields and building a 3,000-seat stadium that could possibly host NCAA-level or VHSL-level tournaments.
In all, the 200 acres of Greenwood Park bring a much needed one-stop shop for athletic space in Henrico County. According to officials, sports tourism brought in $47 million in annual spending in Henrico in 2017. With the addition of Greenwood Park, the County should see even more sports tourism and, just as important, create new green space for its residents to enjoy!
