Where Parks Meet Prestige: How Barge Design Is Turning Public Spaces into Resort-Style Escapes

Public parks are not open fields with scattered playgrounds anymore – they are elegant multifunctional places for leisure, luxury and community wellness. The demand for outdoor environments that feel like high-end destinations has grown as cities become more experience-driven and lifestyles increasingly experience-focused. Pioneering this transformation are innovative design firms that are redefining what public parks should look like – feel like – and do.

Such new age parks are experiences, not amenities. From water features comparable to hotel resorts to lush landscapes and inclusive recreation areas, the modern park is being reshaped as a lifestyle escape in neighborhoods.

Public Parks Become Luxurious Retreats

What was once a spot for a casual picnic or jog is now being envisioned as a place for relaxation, wellness and social gathering – designed to elevate everyday moments. Cities and counties are realizing that thoughtful design and refined aesthetics in public spaces add more than visual appeal – they add to a community’s way of life.

Resort-style elements like artfully designed water features, boardwalks, fitness trails and curated garden spaces are being incorporated into public parks to create a year-round destination for all ages. You can have a weekend getaway just steps from home at these parks.

It’s about inclusion – not extravagance for the sake of extravagance – creating environments that promote wellness, quality of life, and community connection.

The Smart Park – Where Luxury Meets Functionality

This movement is redefining what a public space can and should be. It’s about enhancing daily life with better experiences—not replacing community needs with indulgence, but elevating them. That includes shaded pavilions for family gatherings, flexible event lawns for community programming, state-of-the-art aquatic centers, and multi-use trails that encourage both movement and mindfulness.

And beyond their beauty, these spaces are now designed to function with sustainability in mind. Rain gardens, bioswales, native landscaping, and smart stormwater systems make these parks environmentally responsible while still being visually stunning. They’re designed not just to be enjoyed today, but to last for generations.

An Excellent Example: Rhodes Jordan Park

One shining example of this shift is Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This 163-acre park, already beloved by its local community, was reimagined into a premier public destination thanks to the work of Barge Design, a firm known for turning practical spaces into places of prestige.

Centered around a scenic 22-acre lake, the redesigned park features miles of walking trails, revitalized sports fields, lakeside gathering spaces, and a standout aquatic attraction: the Rhodes Jordan Water Park. This resort-like water experience includes a lazy river, water slides, lap lanes, and a zero-depth entry zone, drawing families and fitness enthusiasts all summer long.

What sets the project apart isn’t just the amenities, but the attention to human-centered design. Barge Design considered how each visitor—from kids to grandparents—would experience the space. The result is a park that invites movement, connection, and rest, all in equal measure.

Designing for All Seasons and All People

Today’s top-tier parks are created to meet people where they are—busy, health-conscious, community-minded—and to offer a space that both inspires and soothes. Whether it’s a quiet path for morning walks, an energetic splash pad for kids, or a shaded picnic area for evening conversations, the new park experience is curated with purpose.

In these spaces, accessibility is as important as beauty. Thoughtful layouts, inclusive amenities, and intuitive navigation ensure that every visitor can find their way, feel welcome, and return often. This universal appeal not only strengthens the connection between people and place but fosters deeper civic pride.

When parks look and feel good, people care more about them. They treat them with respect. Communities rally around their upkeep, and shared spaces evolve from passive landscapes into active symbols of identity and belonging.

Beyond Beauty: Real Impact on Communities

The benefits of resort-style park design ripple outward in ways that go well beyond aesthetics. Access to beautifully maintained public space has been shown to increase physical activity, reduce stress, and improve mental health. Social ties deepen as neighbors meet, events unfold, and people make memories outdoors.

In terms of economics, these parks uplift entire neighborhoods. Property values often rise. Local businesses benefit from increased foot traffic. Families choose to stay longer, and new residents are drawn in by the promise of a leisurely lifestyle. 

Barge Design and the Future of Elevated Public Spaces

While many firms contribute to park planning, Barge Design has distinguished itself through a commitment to excellence, sustainability, and community engagement. Their process isn’t just about designing for today—it’s about shaping how public spaces will be used, loved, and remembered tomorrow.

Projects like Rhodes Jordan Park exemplify their ethos: blending elegant aesthetics with functional design and embedding luxury into the everyday.