Pinning down the purpose of your structure can help guide important decisions about site location, materials and design.

In addition to ADA requirements for accessibility on paths leading to your structure, site considerations include terrain, scenic (or not-so-scenic) views, nearby water and sunlight.

At Bushnell Park in Hartford, Conn., the performance pavilion benefits from the natural slope it was built on.

"It creates a kind of amphitheater feel," says Sandy Parisky, managing director of the not-for-profit Bushnell Park Foundation.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDERSON PARK DISTRICT

Cincinnati's Clear Creek Park Oasis, a restroom facility and concession trailer, posed a particular design challenge because the park is on a flood plain of the Little Miami and Ohio rivers. While the Oasis needed an upgraded restroom facility, it had to be a structure that could withstand the inevitable flooding.

Sometimes you're stuck dealing with a site that is less than ideal. The site for Cincinnati's Clear Creek Park Oasis, a restroom facility and concession trailer, was a challenge because the park is on a flood plain of the Little Miami and Ohio rivers. The park needed an upgraded restroom facility, but it had to build one that could withstand the inevitable flooding.

"Our community demands flushable facilities, but we needed to protect our investment," says Molly McClure, executive director of the Anderson Park District in Ohio. The solution was a mobile restroom unit that slides into an attractive façade. The wood façade and restroom hookups can handle the water, but if the area is in danger of flooding, the unit can be removed in 10 minutes with a truck, McClure says.

Because dancers would be using Bushnell Park's pavilion, the choice of flooring material was an issue. Parisky says that dance troupe members who offered input on the planning of the pavilion originally requested a wood floor, which would reduce stress on their legs and muscles.

"Because it's an outdoor structure, that wasn't as practical," Parisky says. Offering a compromise, the floor is a concrete slab covered with a thick rubberized vinyl surface.

If your shelter will have performances, you'll need basic lighting and electrical hookups, and your roof should be as acoustically dependable as possible. A sound choice for roofing would be panels that are structurally insulated with foam and wood, then covered with another material such as metal shingles or clay tiles. Some people might worry about outside noises like trains and sirens disturbing a performance, but as Parisky says, "that's part of the charm of going to an outdoor performance."

Design elements can help enhance your park's theme or provide practical applications. One shelter company recently created a custom-made flagpole atop an octagon-shaped structure to match the circus concept at the park.

If your shelter will cover tables and grills, you might add a tiered roof—one, two or three tiers are typical—which provides better ventilation, also a bonus for restroom facilities. Because a tiered roof raises the inside height of your structure, it can also help circulate air to keep your shelter cooler in a hot climate.

In general, restrooms are getting fancier. One project in Davenport, Iowa, started with a standard three-tiered octagon, 44 feet in diameter. Then a local contractor was hired to modify it to accommodate the addition of men's and women's restrooms, as well as tongue-and-groove ceilings at each roof level. Bathroom facilities and a storage area are on one side of the structure, while an open space with picnic tables is on the other.

Choices in design can also aid in personal safety aspects.

For example, if families will mostly use your shelter, include the appropriate considerations.

"You want good site lines, so parents can keep track of their kids," Rojek suggests. "Try to avoid placing walls where people can hide behind them."

Case Study in Cooperation PHOTO COURTESY OF QUENNELL ROTHSCHILD & PARTNERS Performance pavilion at Bushnell Park in Hartford, Conn. When the city of Hartford, Conn., wanted to build a performance pavilion in Bushnell Park, it enlisted the financial and moral support of the Bushnell Park Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that helps enhance, maintain and improve the park. It also invited community professionals and arts groups to participate in the preliminary discussions. "It's challenging because [community members] don't always know what they want," says Sandy Parisky, managing director of the Bushnell Park Foundation. But their input and concerns helped shape the final product. For example, pavilion sponsors wanted a place to exhibit their company logos. "So there's a wall where these banners can be displayed," Parisky says. Bushnell Park had hosted musical performances in temporary shelters or open-air for more than 100 years, so this permanent structure was creating one space for everything and everyone. The 50-foot-by-75-foot pavilion was completed in 1998 with $1.5 million in funds from both the foundation and the city. It accommodates everything from receptions to fundraising events to symphony orchestra productions. PHOTO COURTESY OF QUENNELL ROTHSCHILD & PARTNERS "We wanted it to be a flexible space to be used for live performances and events," Parisky says. The facility has basic lighting and sound, but anyone who performs or rents the space can bring their own equipment to boost both. In terms of materials used for the structure, Parisky says the choice was influenced by Connecticut history more than nature. "Many of our monuments and entranceways are made from brownstone," he says. The materials also honor the state's native materials—cast iron and brownstone. "We used steel, slate and brick to tie it into those colors," he explains. The pavilion sees about 50 events annually and has been a huge success, thanks to a cooperative effort and thoughtful planning.