THE PLOT PROJECT interfaces with the Mill Race [Senior] Center and its surrounding landscapes to place the Center’s diverse activities and the biodiversity of the park into public dialogue.
Columbus, IN
Landmark Columbus Foundation
The Plot Project reimagines public space at the intersection of landscape design, biodiversity, and community engagement. As part of the 2023 Exhibit Columbus “Public by Design” program, the project was awarded the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize for its innovative approach to civic and ecological design. Situated at Mill Race Park, adjacent to the vibrant Mill Race Center, the project transforms approximately one acre into a living rewilding experiment and social gathering space.
Inspired by the vitality of the Mill Race Center, the design extends its architectural geometry into the park, defining a 1,250-foot arc subdivided into 12 testing plots. These plots explore different strategies for urban biodiversity, including no-mow lawns, native grass seeding, and wildflower planting. At three points along the arc, oversized pavilions—dubbed Conservation Outreach Stations—anchor the installation and invite visitors to engage with the space through reflection, learning, and interaction.
A critical goal of the project was to ensure its lasting impact. Unlike typical temporary installations, the planting and pavilions remain as permanent features in Mill Race Park, with local volunteers assisting in their maintenance. Interpretive signage provides educational content, including QR codes linking visitors to a comprehensive website about the plants, natural processes, and rewilding experiment. The project exemplifies how creative public design can bridge ecological stewardship and social engagement, offering a sustainable model for urban landscapes.
SERVICES
Landscape Architecture
Public Engagement
Design-Build
COLLABORATORS
Fabrication: Forms+Surfaces
Installation: Force Construction + Columbus Parks & Rec
AWARDS
2023 Exhibit Columbus J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize
An essential component of the design of the Plot Project was that it would have a lasting impact. Instead of being de-installed after the exhibit was closed, as is typical, PORT collaborated with the Columbus Parks and Recreation staff and the Mill Race Center staff to devise a strategy for the planting and pavilions to remain in the park. Volunteers from the local invasive species management group assisted in clearing the site and will continue to help with the site’s maintenance.
The Plot Project spans over an acre, extending the Mill Race Center’s architectural arc into the park with a 1,250-foot curve. The arc is subdivided into 12 plots that serve as testing beds for landscape rewilding experiments that have been grown over the course of a 9-month growing season. Some plots are left unmown to grow feral, while others are prepped and over-seeded with mixes of native warm-season grasses. Bands of wildflowers highlight the transition between plots.
