DesignWorks received awards for two projects entered in the 2008 Tri-State ASLA competition.

The Ponds, a 1,950-acre master-planned community set between the town of Summerville and the Ashley River Historic District, received a Merit Award in the category of Analysis and Planning. The Ponds, a fully integrated, mixed-use conservation community is designed to respect the natural beauty of the land and its cultural resources. The Ponds boasts an 1,100-acre nature preserve, a 60-plus mile sidewalk and trail system, Summerville Family YMCA, village center with retail and shopping, amenity complex with outdoor pool and pavilion, 11-acre multi-purpose field, as well as a public waterfront edge featuring an amphitheatre, esplanade and playground.

Cattle Trough Park located on Daniel Island, a mixed-use community within the city limits of Charleston, SC, received a Merit Award in the Design category. The unique .8-acre neighborhood park is designed to give a playful nod to the cattle-farming history of the island, while at the same time offering a stimulating environment for users of all ages. The centerpiece of the park is a fountain created from two salvaged cattle troughs featuring an oversized cast iron pump and smaller hand pumps for children’s amusement. Together, the sculpting of the land, a full sized topiary cow, teak benches and gas lanterns create a public place that is beautiful, usable and educational.

The main criteria for judging projects submitted to the Tri-State ASLA competition include: quality of design, functionality, relationship to context, environmental responsibility, impact on environmental decision making, and overall relevance to landscape architecture, the public and the environment. The ‘Tri-State’ title includes the South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia chapters of ASLA.