RDG in the Media: Comfort Zone

March 11, 2025
Landscape Architecture Parks & Open Space

Recreation Management Magazine speaks with Scott Crawford to gain insights on how planning and design prioritize comfort for recreation facilities.

Various places to sit, relax and congregate are essential for attracting visitors to outdoor spaces. Whether it's a community park, an urban sitting area along a streetscape or a large state park offering trail networks and campsites, furnishings are a vital part of the design. Recreation Management Magazine spoke to several designers, furniture representatives and planners, including RDG's Landscape Architect and Principal Scott Crawford, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, to discuss how furnishings impact design considerations of new and existing sites.

Crawford shared that master plans often include an overall aesthetic guidelines section that informs the architectural style of site furnishings, lighting, signage and more. These guidelines note how these elements are cohesive with the park's overall intended aesthetics.

Other contributors discuss trends such as adaptable spaces, improved HVAC systems for air quality and energy-efficient materials. 

Click to read the full Recreation Management article on how prioritizing comfort creates inclusive environments that enhance the user experience.

Written by Erin Van Zee, Communications Director