Turtle Bay Quiet Opening Offers Forest Adventures

With a “quiet” or soft opening of primary play components, Turtle Bay’s Tree Top Forest Adventure features a variety of play activities for older kids and teens, to adults. These activities include a play tower, zip-line, climbing wall, swings, and a massive hammock.

Climbing wall with zip-line at right, slide at left, and adventure going down zip-line

Hundreds of parents and kids had a blast on the new playground, thrilled that it was officially open. After a quick overview of the play rules for parents and children alike, the visitors split up to experience the activities the playground had to offer.

Climbing wall offers tricky climbing with low risk

The zip-line was an especially thrilling feature, allowing for controlled trips that whisk riders past other playground features. It is connected to the climbing wall to allow for independent discovery and play.

Rope bridge from wall to climbing tower

The Adventure Tower offers a rope bridge in addition to multiple levels, a slide, and rope climber that encourages imaginative activity in addition to providing a great view of the surrounding area.

Adventure Tower with bottom of zip-line

Joining the zip-line and Adventure Tower is the climbing wall, engineered to allow for free climbing of varying difficulty and offering two caves for exploration. You won’t want to touch the ground again!

Hammock with swings at right

Swings and giant hammock promote activity in the other corner of the playground, where everyone from adults to teens to older kids can practice their balance and coordination.

Testing Turtle Bay’s Adventure Area Zip Line

To confirm zip line tension as well as position, a construction worker hops on a newly installed zip line, gliding along the ground. This attraction will be part of Turtle Bay’s newest addition, Adventure Area, set to open later this year. We can’t wait to test it out for ourselves!

Patriotic Mural and Memorial Wall Added to Veterans Park in Oroville

Erected Summer of 2017, the MDG-designed veterans memorial wall features a list of veterans from Butte County along with their branch, rank, war, and dates where available. The wall extends over 65 feet in width as well as 7 feet in height.

Granite memorial tiles set in colored concrete wall

On the other side of the wall, visible from the East parking lot and roadway, is a flag design with recessed accents, waved as if blowing in the wind. This is all complemented by railing around the perimeter of the overlook area, which sits above the contemplative and beautiful Feather River.

Flag detail on wall

Starting with a Feasibility Study for Butte County in 2004, the Veterans Memorial Park was placed on three parcels next to the Feather River on Montgomery Street in Oroville.

Closeup of Wall of Honor during construction

In 2010, MDG created a Site Master Plan, 3D Color Renderings, a Marketing Packet to solicit funding, and Construction Documents. This design includes a plaza overlooking the Feather River, trail system, restrooms, parking and a park with memorial monuments. MDG provided Construction Adminstration in 2016 and 2017 for Phase 1 of the overlook.

You can learn more about the Butte County’s Oroville Veterans Memorial Park here.

Updated Orland Streetscapes project will encourage local commerce and create a vibrant atmosphere

MDG recently worked with Caltrans and the City of Orland to study City branding opportunities, gateway design, wayfinding at Interstate 5 and downtown Orland, including streetscape improvements along Highway 32.  The improvements will make downtown an accessible and pedestrian friendly environment, bring continuity to the corridor and create a more vibrant experience that will attract new business, appeal to the existing community and promote tourism.

The design embraces the beekeeping (apiculture) aspects of the region, in addition to rich agricultural traditions.  The City is excited to move forward with the plan and has had great success in their branding efforts by recently becoming the Queen Bee Capitol of North America.

With this plan in place, the City of Orland will pursue funding to execute the vision for this new design.

You can read more at Action News Now or see the Master Plan on the City of Orland website.

SR99 & SR20 Intersection will guide visitors in Yuba City with unifying gateways and wayfinding standards

The intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 99 in Yuba City could receive a design update in the near future. This vital intersection is wide for the City, at seven lanes of travel in each direction, near the edge of the City’s commercial center. MDG led the planning process through the review and input of the City, Caltrans, the County, local business owners and public workshops. The design draws from the history, culture and natural environment of the region; incorporating the surrounding landscape of foothills, rivers, farming and wildlife.

You can read more about this project on the City of Yuba City website.