The project: The Seaside State Park Passive Recreation Development project is centered on shaping the future of the park through community and stakeholder engagement, while honoring and preserving its historical significance. IMEG is leading this collaborative effort.

The goal: To develop a passive recreation concept for Seaside State Park that reflects the community’s vision and appropriately integrates historical interpretation, ensuring the site’s past is respected while meeting current and future recreational needs.

Design approach: The project involves close coordination with various stakeholders including Waterford town officials, Friends of Seaside State Park, historic preservation advocates, local residents, and the State Historic Preservation Office. Engagement activities include an initial virtual kickoff meeting, ten stakeholder meetings, a public survey, and a comprehensive public workshop. These efforts are designed to gather broad input and perspectives to shape the park’s future direction.

Project outcome: The input gathered through meetings and outreach is compiled into a detailed final report outlining community priorities, historic preservation considerations, and design concepts for the park. Deliverables include meeting agendas, materials, summaries, survey questions, and a final report presented during summary meetings. The outcome is a concept plan that balances passive recreational opportunities with meaningful historical interpretation, built through a transparent and inclusive public process.