For decades, Gardner has been an advocate for open space and the preservation of historic buildings and places, and works closely with civic groups and legislators in these efforts. The Studio's signature project in Philadelphia is Liberty Lands, a Brownfields to Greenfields project that has won local and national awards, and was key to attracting families with children to the neighborhood.
Neil Kohl's photograph of a wedding at Liberty Lands perfectly captures the transformation of this barren lot into a beloved central commons for the Northern Liberties neighborhood. The transformation began in 1996 when Gardner was hired by the NLNA to lead the design and construction efforts that turned a Brownfield into a public park.
Former site of the Burke Brothers Tannery, this industrial complex was unexpectedly demolished in the midst of the neighborhood's plan to renovate the buildings for residential and commercial use. Local artist and NLNA board member Dennis Haugh worked with NLNA Managing Director Rita Fitzgerald to rally neighbors to build a park on the barren site. The neighbors applied for a Philadelphia Urban Resources grant in 1995, and were awarded a matching grant of $59,000. Gardner's firm won the commission to design and construction manage the two year build, which was constructed with a mix of volunteers and professionals, and leveraged partnerships with dozens of local and national organizations and businesses.
The removal of the Jersey barriers commenced as trees were planted along the perimeter of the site. The trees formed a green edge, and within a few weeks a park was born.
The Park was intentionally designed to evolve over time, as the neighborhood grew and developed. The idea was to leave the space raw and open enough so it could accommodate many different kinds of users. Early on, a farmer's market was established at the lower end of the park.
Completed by the Liberty Lands Committee years after the Studio completed the park, the project was undertaken to mitigate the surface water runoff from the 1.75 acre site and to provide a concert stage with a naturally sloping seating area.
