From Utility to Community Asset

Simon Moon Park has long served the surrounding community, though its origins as a former wastewater site shaped it as a more utilitarian landscape. As the Westfield Parks and Recreation Department looked to expand the park from 5.85 acres to 25 acres, there was an opportunity to reimagine it as a more dynamic and engaging destination.

A Site Ready for Transformation

Despite its potential, the existing site lacked the elements needed to fully connect people to the landscape and to one another. The challenge was not just expansion, but transformation, turning a former piece of infrastructure into a place that supports recreation, education, and environmental awareness.

Blending Architecture and Landscape

Working in collaboration with V3 Companies and the parks department, Synthesis helped shape the park’s next phase through architectural design. Building on a concept inspired by the follies of Stourhead Gardens, the design introduces moments of discovery throughout the landscape. At the center, an outdoor classroom pavilion features a tiered butterfly roof that collects rainwater and channels it through rain chains into planted areas, turning the structure into both a gathering space and an educational tool. The Winter Pavilion supports seasonal use, offering shelter near the sledding hill and transforming in warmer months through large operable doors with mosaic wood cladding. Additional elements, including expanded picnic and play areas and a prefabricated shelter, help tie the park together as a cohesive experience.

A Park That Teaches, Connects, and Evolves

The expanded Simon Moon Park becomes more than a recreational space. It is a place where architecture and landscape work together to support community, environmental education, and year-round activity. What was once a utilitarian site is now a destination that invites exploration, reinforces connection to nature, and continues to grow alongside the community it serves.