Virginia Avenue Park

A landmark project for Spurlock, Virginia Avenue Park was the first park in the United States to gain LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This recognition stemmed from a comprehensive approach to re-use and repurpose an existing park and its adjacent lot, formerly a grocery store and parking lot. The park has become a vital link between two neighborhoods – raising social consciousness within the community of Santa Monica through artful connections and the anchoring of a developing civic corridor. The park exhibits a substantial net reduction in pavement and energy use with 100% on-site stormwater infiltration, drought-tolerant planting, evapotranspiration rate irrigation programming, recycled materials, and simple tree shading to reduce heat islands. Mature existing trees were protected or transplanted. The park program also includes a setting for the weekly farmers market, two play areas, a pedestrian promenade, a learning garden, open lawn areas and a water “sprayground.”