High Desert Living

The High Desert Water Kiva and Water Harvesting Garden is on the corner of Spain and Imperata. It sits astride a side branch of the Bear Canyon Arroyo that cuts through the open space on the north side of Spain from above High Desert Street to Tramway. Completed in 2003, this park is a collaboration between the landscape design architects at Sites Southwest and the hydrologic engineers at Bohannan Huston. 

The kiva is designed to provide the High Desert community with a formal place to view the interaction between a desiltation and detention storm drain facility. ​​​​​Water is harvested from both the adjacent street and from the arroyo watershed that empties directly into the kiva. The “Water Kiva” (ponding area) is defined by stone clad banks in a formal circular pattern with paths, and protected seating areas above. A large grama grass sculpture is in fact an overflow drain inlet into the City’s storm drain system. The Water Harvesting Garden collects the street and site water and provides it to colorful perennial plantings throughout the park.

The walking paths around the kiva connect to a path that proceeds east up the south bank of the arroyo all the way to High Desert Street.
The kiva is designed to provide the High Desert community with a formal place to view the interaction between a desiltation and detention storm drain facility.
Water is harvested from both the adjacent street and from the arroyo watershed that empties directly into the kiva. The “Water Kiva” (ponding area) is defined by stone clad banks in a formal circular pattern with paths, and protected seating areas above. A large grama grass sculpture is in fact an overflow drain inlet into the City’s storm drain system. The Water Harvesting Garden collects the street and site water and provides it to colorful perennial plantings throughout the park.

The walking paths around the kiva connect to a path that proceeds east up the south bank of the arroyo all the way to High Desert Street.
 

The Lauda Miles Medara Memorial is located east of Blue Grama Rd. just north of Pino Canyon Place.

This project encompasses an area of about nine acres of Open Space land, and is centered around a storm water collection pond on the Pino Arroyo. The park is innovative largely because of the way it was designed and constructed. The form of the pond is naturally contoured and included extensive efforts to save existing stands of pinon and juniper communities.

The park was named "Lauda Miles Medara Memorial Park" in November 2006 when the High Desert Board of Directors voted to recognize the significant contributions made by Lauda Miles Medara to High Desert.