Work

A desert landscape with a large central tree, various cacti, and a pavilion in the background under a clear sky.

Cavalliere Park

The Desert Park, Reimagined

George ‘Doc’ Cavalliere Park is the first phase of a master plan for a 34-acre park nestled in an idyllic desert landscape. Tucked between two significant flood control basins, the site is part of Scottsdale’s regional stormwater management system. Preserving open space, respecting existing neighborhoods, and creating an example of sustainability that bridged Scottsdale’s history with its future were all guiding principles of the project. Taking cues from the mountainous topography encircling the site and existing canopies of mesquite bosque, the design presents an interplay of structure and natural landscape. Weaving together the built and natural environments addresses pragmatic requirements while blending the neighborhood park program into the natural desert landscape.

A desert landscape showing a large cactus in the foreground with a residential area and a building complex surrounded by vegetation in the background.
A rust-colored metal structure with square cutouts frames a desert landscape, including plants and a clear sky visible through the openings.
A desert landscape scene featuring modern architectural structures with large windows, surrounded by various cacti and desert plants; a mountain is visible in the background under a clear sky.
Modern building exterior with a mix of concrete, metal, and stone elements. The structure features an open roofed walkway under clear skies, with desert plants on each side.
Aerial view of a landscape design plan showing various green spaces, pathways, and buildings within a bounded area, surrounded by residential roads and neighborhoods.
A pavilion with a slanted roof structure stands in a desert landscape with rocky hills in the background. People are visible nearby. The sky is clear.
Solar panels installed on a rust-colored roof with desert landscape and a mountain in the background, under clear skies.
A modern structure with a large overhanging roof sits amidst desert vegetation, featuring flowering bushes and a few small trees, with a pathway leading to a wooden door in the background.
A modern architectural structure with a large open canopy covers a playground on a vast green lawn, adjacent to a paved pathway in a desert landscape at dusk.
A modern outdoor pavilion with a metal roof and gabion walls at dusk, surrounded by desert landscaping and equipped with built-in seating areas.

Project Information

Location

Scottsdale, Arizona

Collaborators

Floor Associates, Landscape Architect

Jeff Zischke, Public Art

Awards and Recognition

AIA Western Mountain Region, Honor Award

AIA Arizona, Honor Award

Arizona Forward, Crescordia Award

ASLA Arizona, Award of Excellence

Press and Publications

“George ‘Doc’ Cavalliere Park,” Creating Shade: Design, Construction, Technology, 2013

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