To meet the need for public open space in the rapidly growing town center of Williston, Vermont, the developer of The Annex collaborated with TJBA to create a new public park. The project aimed to foster connections between residents and the surrounding environment while celebrating the region’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Situated amid a network of natural areas, the park’s design integrates seamlessly with its landscape. It features a collection of sculptures and interactive play areas, both inspired by the natural materials found in the park’s surroundings. To achieve the project’s goals, the landscape architects collaborated with two local artists--Mike Scott of Restless Native VT, Inc. and Clay Mohrman, sculptor and lighting designer--incorporating their distinct creative visions into the sculptural pieces. This partnership ensured that the sculptures not only enhance the park’s design but also reflect the rich artistic identity of the local community.
The park’s design celebrates art, nature, and play around a walking loop approximately 1,000 feet long. Along the loop, visitors can enjoy natural play elements, benches, picnic tables, a pollinator garden, and monumental sculptures, creating a welcoming and interactive space for all to explore.
ART
Collaborating artists were given a prompt that they were encouraged to interpret with their own license. They were asked to use natural materials that reflected those found in the surrounding landscape, using techniques that honored the region's cultural heritage, and used simple imagery that inspires ideas of universal human experience. An egg-shaped stone cairn sculpture greets visitors at the park entrance near a weathering steel gateway structure. Inspired by similar cairns found around the world and constructed by Scott using traditional, dry-stack masonry techniques, this stone formation symbolizes new beginnings, birth, and the potential for growth and transformation. The next sculpture, titled Woodstack, is described by the artist, Clay Mohrman, as "...a reinterpretation of the traditional wood stack often found outside Vermont homes, transforming a simple and often overlooked arrangement into something unique. It pays homage to the common wood stack while also highlighting the intricate patterns that contribute to its beauty. Through celebrating the everyday of Vermont life, the sculpture blends natural patterns with human design elements." A third sculpture, Wood Egg, combines these archetypes and techniques to anchor the collection and communicate ideas of integration and collaboration. As noted by Mohrman, ‘This piece is a direct response to the landscape in which it lives. Hundreds of slices of [wood] are arranged meticulously to form an egg shape. This shape represents rebirth, echoing the renewal of the land itself. As the park undergoes transformation, it opens up fresh perspectives on interacting the space itself. The sculpture stands as a testament to this transformative journey.”
NATURE
Visitors can also sit under the gateway structure to observe a pollinator garden that teems with life. The planting design incorporates both native plants and pollinator-magnets to create a resilient matrix of compatible perennials that bursts with blooms all season. While pollinator plantings are popular, if improperly planned, they can do harm to insect populations by creating an "oasis in the desert." Surrounding areas within wetland buffers and forest will be left to naturalize, providing important habitat and refuge for fauna beyond the garden's borders. Crafting a system that integrates into the existing environment, preserving the site's natural biodiversity while enhancing its functionality and appeal, ensures a harmonious and lasting balance between the new development and the natural landscape.
PLAY
A series of interactive spaces are thoughtfully distributed around the path loop, each designed to engage visitors of all ages and abilities. The play features are crafted from natural materials such as timber and stone, harmonizing with the elements used in the sculptures. These features are designed to inspire creative and active play, fostering a connection between children and the natural environment while encouraging imaginative exploration.
The Annex Sculpture Park was a recipient of the 2025 VTASLA Public Places Honor Award.