Zemurray Park Master Plan

Working in collaboration with Holly & Smith Architects of Hammond, our firm was engaged by the City of Hammond to lead a citizen-driven planning initiative aimed at revitalizing and modernizing Zemurray Park, the city’s largest public park. Located near downtown Hammond, the 33-acre park had remained largely unchanged since its original development in the 1950s. The resulting Master Plan establishes a bold vision and a strategic 20-year roadmap for transforming the park into a premier community destination.

A cornerstone of the planning process was extensive public engagement. A week-long community design charrette brought together residents, stakeholder groups, City officials, staff, and community leaders in an intensive series of workshops, discussions, and collaborative design sessions. To inspire ambitious thinking throughout the process, the planning team adopted the motto “Make No Little Plans,” drawing from the famous words of renowned architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham. The phrase encouraged participants to envision a transformative future for the park and the community it serves.

To further broaden public participation, a comprehensive social media outreach program was integrated into the planning effort. Citizens were able to follow the project in real time, access meeting information, provide feedback, and share ideas, concerns, and aspirations directly with the planning team.

The final Master Plan reflects the collective vision developed through public meetings, stakeholder input, and guidance from the Steering Committee. Key recommendations include the strategic placement of new civic and recreational facilities, the removal of vehicular traffic from within the park, enhanced accessibility and connectivity, expanded recreational amenities, improved parking organization, and strengthened safety and security measures.

Today, the Master Plan serves as a transformative blueprint for the future of Zemurray Park—reimagining it as Hammond’s signature public park and creating a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming destination that will serve generations of residents and visitors alike.