Breakheart Reservation is one of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s most heavily visited parks, with Pearce Lake serving as a major destination for swimmers, families, and year-round park users. Currently, restroom access at the beach is limited to temporary facilities. A 2014 feasibility study determined that extending utility infrastructure to this area would be cost-prohibitive, prompting DCR to explore innovative, self-contained alternatives.

This project will develop design concepts for a net-zero, self-contained restroom facility, evaluating multiple building typologies and siting options within the established limits of work. The design approach balances visitor comfort, long-term durability, and environmental stewardship while responding to the unique woodland character of Breakheart Reservation.

Our team will provide comprehensive landscape architecture services in support of the facility, including universally accessible routes, clear pedestrian and service circulation, planting design, and site elements such as maintenance access, drop-off areas, erosion control, and stormwater management. The landscape will be carefully integrated to feel natural, resilient, and consistent with the surrounding reservation, minimizing visual and ecological impacts.

Working collaboratively with DCR and the broader consultant team, we will engage in presentations and public review processes with regulatory agencies and community stakeholders. The design process will advance through site analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, and final construction documents and specifications for the preferred alternative.

Project Goals

• Provide a universally accessible, convenient restroom facility for park visitors

• Ensure seamless, accessible connections between drop-off areas, beach access, and the restroom

• Design for climate resilience and long-term performance

• Integrate the facility into the woodland landscape and natural character of the reservation

• Comply with all applicable state building codes and regulatory requirements

• Anticipate maintenance needs of both the building and site

• Emphasize durability, ease of maintenance, and sustainable materials

• Incorporate green infrastructure best management practices for stormwater management

• Align with Executive Order 594 – Leading by Example, supporting decarbonization and the elimination of fossil fuel use in state facilities