Losner Park

A new destination park for South Florida located at the crossroads of the Everglades, Biscayne National Parks, and the Florida Keys

Client: City of Homestead
Location: Homestead, FL
Size: 3 acres

Services: Civil Engineering; Landscape Architecture
Additional Services: Architecture; Interior Design
Status: Completed November 2022

Sasaki expands and transforms a downtown park at the center of Homestead, Florida

Funded entirely through impact fees and grants, the $6M redesign of Losner Park creates a significantly expanded green space at the heart of downtown Homestead. The new design grows the existing park from .68 acres to 3 acres, extending westward from Krome Avenue, the city’s main commercial avenue, to the newly constructed police station. To the south, the park is adjacent to the recently renovated historic Seminole Theater. With the City of Homestead geographically functioning as a gateway to the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, the park offers a new destination for residents and visitors, attracting and introducing them to the region while supporting local economy and downtown businesses.

black and white aerial photograph of losner park's existing conditions featuring a small lawn and paved lot

Before: Losner Park existing conditions featuring a small lawn and large paved lot

After: aerial view of the completed park. The central walking path serves as the axis connecting to the old City Hall on the east and the new police station on the west.

Enhancing a community asset

Formerly a .68 acre park adjacent to a large parking lot, the re-designed Losner Park is now the symbolic center of the community with abundant South Florida native planting, spaces for event programming, and a large children’s play area attracting families across the region. The entrance to the park from Krome Avenue has paths through planting mounds, inspired by the hammocks rising from the Florida Everglades, as well as a series of benches shaded by the tree canopy leading to several small event lawns. At the broadened center of the park to the north, is the adventure-style play area embedded in native vegetation featuring designed climbing structures, slides, swings, and sculptural pieces.

photograph of parent and child on park bench surrounding by dense planting

Hammock Garden at the entry with the Losner signage, seating, and shaded planting

perspective shot of children running on playground path

Picnic area in the playground

perspective photograph of losner park benches with park clock tower in background

A historical connection between the old city hall and the renovated park

To the south of the play area, a covered stage fronting an event lawn with sabal palms at the edges accommodates over 1500 people. At the west end of the park, adjacent to the police station, Sasaki designed a new Veterans’ Memorial. The monument is a table-height granite structure respectfully honoring those who served from Homestead, replacing what was once paving bricks with names in the former park.

adult observing granite veterans memorial at losner park

The redesigned Veterans’ Memorial honors Homestead’s veterans, bringing more visibility to the names from formerly engraved paving bricks to eye level

photograph of park visitors gathering on lawn space during an evening outdoor movie screening

The event lawn serves as a community amenity hosting a variety of events and programming

A design based on Homestead’s unique position between the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

The playground in tropical vegetation is an exciting and accessible space for children of all ages to explore the park by offering distinct zones catered to children across all age groups. The planting and colors used in the paving and play structures are derived from the tropical landscape of the region. Topographical features such as slides and picnic tables on mounds contrast with Florida’s flat landscape, while hues of bright blues and greens relate to Florida’s unique coastal geography.

children playing on bright green sculptural play space

Sculptural climbing structure

photograph of losner park playground with large slide in background

Entry to play area featuring sculptural animals of native Florida species

children going down slide integrated on a park mound

Slides set into mounds

photograph of children playing on vertical rope course

Climbing ropes

photograph of adult sitting on rock features of playground

Stone climber and seating in the play area

Sculptural climbing structure

Entry to play area featuring sculptural animals of native Florida species

Slides set into mounds

Climbing ropes

Stone climber and seating in the play area

Sasaki collaborated with Florida landscape architect Raymond Jungles on the planting design, which offers an abundance of native and regionally beneficial plants from local nurseries. In total, more than 150 unique plant species were installed throughout the park with a design that responds to Homestead’s culture, community, and the South Florida region.

perspective photograph of playground with woman sitting on bench in foreground

Dense planting surrounding play area

father and child resting on park bench under shaded tree

The raised planting bed and the dense planting echoes the hammocks in Everglades

A catalyst for Homestead’s downtown revitalization

The design team worked closely with the City to assure that the park’s design is durable, resilient, universally accessible, and meets the functional needs of the park operators and a variety of users. These efforts are expected to aid the revitalization of downtown and spur new economic investment in the Homestead. The grand opening of the park in November 2022 welcomed over 3,000 visitors celebrating the new space with presentations by public officials on the history of the park, live music, food trucks and fireworks.

aerial photograph of visitors at losner park gathering in front of event stage

A looping path circulates the playground, the main event lawn, and the covered stage

three adults resting in park bench beside native plantings

A new destination for social gathering for the community of Homestead

photograph of people on park's food truck lot

The park offers a space for food trucks and outdoor dining

For more information contact Alan Ward.