Grorudparken (Grorud Park) is one of four new neighbourhood parks in Groruddalen. The park introduces facilities for athletics, play, recreation, youth programmes, social interaction, and cultural activities for the diverse local population. LINK Landskap was the project Landscape Architect, under commission from Oslo Municipality’s Department of Water and Sewage. However, several other municipal departments were also involved in the project – The Department of Recreation, The Planning Office, The Office of Cultural Heritage Management, and the District of Grorud. Planning and design work for the park began in the autumn of 2009, based on recommendations contained within the Development Control Plan for Alna Reserve (KDP Alna Miljøpark).

The project establishes a continuous landscape and recreation corridor from Lillomarka, via Grorudparken, through to Leirfossen (waterfall) and Hølakøkka. The River Alna is the central element of the landscape master plan, which integrates existing cultural and historical artefacts with new landscape experiences, while also facilitating greater visual and physical access to the river itself.

The project was technically challenging. Issues relating to flood mitigation, stormwater management and cleansing of runoff from Kalbakkveien, together with cleansing polluted sub-surface materials adjacent to Groruddammen (Grorud Dam) were critical throughout the design process.

LINK Landskap cooperated with Multiconsult regarding stormwater management, hydrology, electrics, and geology.

Accessibility and population safety placed significant demands on outdoor lighting within the project. LINK Landskap, in cooperation with ÅF Lighting, played a central role in the development of a site-specific lighting concept, which has created an exciting spatial dimension and identity for the park. Cooperation with the various municipal offices and city district was a significant part of the design and construction process, and the cooperation has yielded exciting results.

Improvement of water quality in Groruddammen through various soil cleansing techniques, was also a central part of LINK Landscape’s role. The project is a pilot project in Norway and incorporates phytoremediation (a 2 to 3 year process by which soil pollutants are bound to vegetation), reducing carbon emissions associated with transporting soil for off-site remediation. Stormwater from Trondheimsveien and surrounding areas is cleaned within bioremediation ponds before it is released into the River Alna and Groruddammen. Water quality has improved significantly, as a direct result of the project’s completion.