Pond Director of Landscape Architecture, Matthew Wilder, and Landscape Architect Brooke Donahue were honored to join State Senator Jesse Stone, State Representative Jon Burns, the Screven County Chamber of Commerce and members of the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution at the dedication ceremony for the Battle of Brier Creek Memorial.
The Battle of Brier Creek memorial is nestled in the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area along the Savannah River, in Screven County Georgia. On this site in 1779, a brief but decisive Revolutionary War battle took place.
After a design plan was crafted by University of Georgia (UGA) Landscape Architecture students, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) engaged the Landscape Architecture Studio at Pond to develop a final design for the memorial.
The process included a summary of the location and the historical significance of the battle, and the development of design concepts that met the interpretive and management goals of the memorial, the DNR and the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
The proposed concept, “The Enclosure” is a landscape narrative journey leading to a permanent end which parallels the brief, but final outcome of the battle. The memorial design includes a meandering path leading the individual through the landscape and a series of six interpretive signs that narrate the Battle of Brier Creek.
The path is meant to create a sense of mystery, leading visitors through the story, and ultimately end in a contemplative space of reflection. The memorial will also be host to the annual flag ceremony commemorating the battle and the fallen.
The memorial wall is a symbol of remembrance of the fallen militia, a dominating anchor for the space and an engaging element for the public. The Memorial was officially dedicated on the 239th anniversary of the battle, March 03, 2018.
“Pond was honored to have this opportunity to design the Battle of Brier Creek Memorial, unique projects like this are not an everyday occurrence,” said Wilder. “We greatly appreciate the trust Georgia DNR and the Historic Preservation Division placed in our team to develop this memorial site, we feel the final result truly blends the natural landscape and historical context into an engaging experience that is well worth the visit.”
