The Backyard Project
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a tight-knit, artistic community tucked into the Mule Mountains of southeastern Arizona, just a few miles from the Naco border crossing. A decommissioned middle school represents a potential resource for the neighborhood of San Jose, which has no existing parks or community centers.
In partnership with the local community, SALT reimagined the 8-acre campus as an outdoor learning lab.
Nurturing the Sky Island Ecosystem
Southeast Arizona is dotted with “sky islands”—isolated mountain ranges surrounded by lowland habitat. In and around Bisbee, a unique geography of ridges, gorges, woodlands, and desert scrub results in an exceptionally diverse ecosystem of oak, juniper, agave, yucca, manzanita, and many more species.
Guided by regenerative landscape designpermaculture principles, the concept design celebrates this landscape to spark curiosity and environmental stewardship. Proposed stations include a mobile lab, an edible garden with composting, cultural arts and crafts, an amphitheater, sports and playground areas, and habitat gardens that mimic a desert wash and grassland meadow.
Designing for Education and Environment
In partnership with the Bisbee Unified School District and the Copper Queen Library, The Backyard Project reimagines eight acres of a decommissioned middle school property in the San Jose area of Bisbee, Arizona, into a community-designed outdoor learning lab. Planned in four phases, the project transforms the Bisbee Science Lab site into a shared educational and recreational space withSTEM field stations and facilities that promote Education, Engagement, Environment, and Exercise.
Learning from Nature
As the only park or community center in the San Jose area and the only outdoor education facility in Cochise County, The Backyard Project introduces a new model for community-informed STEAM education. The design creates an outdoor learning ecosystem that fosters curiosity and stewardship. Learning gardens throughout the site demonstrate wildlife habitat, food cultivation, water capture techniques, soil regeneration, and providing a rich outdoor curriculum and gathering place for the community and regional vistors.
Conceptual Planning Process
Community Partnership
In partnership with the BSERC Team, SALT was responsible for leading a series of community engagement workshops and meetings designed to gather feedback from community members about how this future space could be designed to meet their needs and expectations. Community events include stakeholder meetings, public presentations and community festivals with performances and scavenger hunts.
Community Engagement
Projects
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