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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[EXTERNAL]Perimeter Geography_ RFQ for Contractors - All Trades and Services - Parks and Recreation Dept., Due 8_27_26 at 3pm MTFrom:Andrew Dawson To:Bozeman Procurement Subject:[EXTERNAL]Perimeter Geography: RFQ for Contractors - All Trades and Services - Parks and Recreation Dept., Due 8/27/26 at 3pm MT Date:Thursday, August 27, 2026 11:57:59 AM Attachments:PERIMETER_Bozeman Parks & Recreation.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mike Maas, Please find the attached proposal for on-call Landscape Architectural services. Confirmation of receipt is kindly requested. Thank you, Andy Andrew Dawson PERIMETER GEOGRAPHY 1627 Vine Street, 2nd Fl. Denver, CO 80206 720-910-7457 perimeter-geography.com Contractors — All Trades and Services — Parks and Recreation Department SUBMITTED BY: Perimeter Geography 8/27/26 Request for Qualifications Cover photo courtesy of Rhiannon Sinclair. PERIMETER GEOGRAPHY, INC. is an S-Corporation registered in the State of Colorado, operating since November 2024 and carrying the necessary levels of insurance stated in the City’s Professional Services Agreement. Typical project budgets range from $15,000 to $150,000, with annual revenues under $1m. We are licensed in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and California, and eligible for licensure reciprocity in the State of Montana. Address: 1627 Vine Street, 2nd Floor, Denver, CO 80206 Website: perimeter-geography.com Phone: 720-910-7475 AI STATEMENT: For landscape architects, Generative AI can be useful for iteration or quick mock ups of concepts. However, it is less effective for finished products and technically-accurate representations. For this reason, and depending on the assignment, we are prepared to use Generative AI if desired by project staff but would not use it for final deliverables. Generative AI was not used in the production of this proposal. August 27, 2026 City of Bozeman Parks & Recreation Department 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT 59715 Dear Selection Committee, We are delighted to submit the following proposal for on-call landscape architectural services. We are approaching this assignment as your long-term partner, and we’re committed to helping the Department achieve its goals efficiently and effectively. Perimeter Geography (PERIMETER) is a planning and landscape architecture practice based in Denver and working nationally. The firm tackles wide-ranging assignments focused in gateway communities and global destinations, believing that the changing dynamics and unique context of tourism-driven economies, sensitive regional landscapes, and recreation-based quality of life warrant a specialized approach. We recognize travel as an inherent part of our business, and a joy and privilege that inspires and challenges our design thinking. The opportunity to serve Bozeman is complementary to our work in similar communities in Colorado, California, and the Northeast. While we look forward to being there in person and on site, in order to facilitate this new relationship we will not seek reimbursement for travel expenses and we will not bill time spent traveling to and from Bozeman. As an emerging business we are far more interested in expanding our reach and client base in meaningful places. Thank you for taking the time to review our materials. I look forward to meeting you soon. Sincerely, Andrew Dawson, PLA Founder & Principal andy@perimeter-geography.com 4 City of Bozeman Firm Introduction Perimeter Geography (PERIMETER) is a design firm focused on projects in tourism-driven economies and special places that contribute to our shared heritage. We work with clients to preserve regional character, reinforce recreation economies, and improve outdoor experiences. We serve gateway communities where wildlands interface with development pressure, where minor changes can have outsized impact, and where caring for natural resources requires active management in order to balance increasing recreation demands. From a base in Denver, we work on detailed construction documentation, trail systems, master plans, land management plans, and many other project types, in places of similar geographic and economic context to Bozeman. In each project we strive to maintain local character and reveal the special qualities unique to each site. Understanding the interwoven layers of design, tourism, natural resources, recreation planning, and community well-being is our mission. In each project we strive to foster long-term partnerships with our clients and their communities. We visit often and immerse ourselves in the context, which leads to more authentic and appropriate outcomes. PERIMETER brings depth to assignments through national perspective, thought leadership, and a geographic frame of reference which opens avenues of exploration for possible project outcomes and creative interpretation of planning and design. Through our work, we aspire to protect PEACS (places of ecological, aesthetic, and cultural significance), while at the same time enabling their access and enjoyment and fostering healthy relationships with the people that keep these real communities functioning and intact. Our geographic approach embraces regional phenomena and landscape dynamism to deliver projects that acknowledge their place and time, resonating with local constituents, and reinforcing remarkable experiences. 5Perimeter Geography RECENT PRESENTATIONS APA UT Spring Conference, Bryce Canon City, UT Univ. of Utah BASECAMP: Outdoor Recreation & Gateway Communities, Moab, UT California Trails & Greenways, Olympic Valley, CA Mountain & Resort Town Planners Summit, Snowmass, CO FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL, PLA ANDREW (ANDY) DAWSON BIO With a background in physical geography, Andy holds Masters Degrees in City Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and his work navigates the range of opportunities between these complementary disciplines. From an office in Denver, he works with diverse teams and on wide- ranging projects across the country with an emphasis on landscape identity, place, and authenticity. Andy founded PERIMETER to focus his practice on places he cares deeply about, leading planning and design efforts in gateway communities and destination towns. Current engagements are focused around visitor experiences, workforce housing, and balancing recreational access and resource protection. Andy has experience working with cultural landscapes, National Parks, resort towns, and the communities and people that enable their function in the face of intense tourism pressures. Through this effort, we hope to bring our niche expertise, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness to Bozeman, and to build a long-term relationship with you and your community. EDUCATION + AFFILIATIONS University of Pennsylvania, Master of Landscape Architecture, 2012 University of Pennsylvania, Master of City Planning, 2010 State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo, Bachelor of Arts, Geography, 2004 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) Licensed Landscape Architect (PA, CO, CA) EXPERIENCE WRT, Senior Associate | Landscape Architect, 2013 - 2024 Lecturer: CU Denver, Department of Landscape Architecture; University of Pennsylvania, Department of City Planning Guest Lectures: UC San Diego, UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO, CU Denver, UPenn Competition Finalist: National Parks Now (Van Alen Institute), Parks for the People (NPS), Reimagine the Canals (NYPA) Author: Fresh Water: Design Thinking for Inland Water Territories - Between Wildness and Utility: Interpreting Geography Through Fresh Water Infrastructure Routledge Handbook of Urban Design (2026) - Landing in a Region: A Geographic Approach to Urban Design RECENT EXPERIENCE Canon City Riverfront Initiative Canon City, CO On-Call Landscape Architecture Services Durango, CO Boulder Outdoor Recreation Park Planning Boulder, CO Stockton Creek Preserve Trailhead Mariposa, CA Bent’s Old Fort NHS Visitor Use Planning La Junta, CO Hetch Hetchy Railroad Trail Master Plan Groveland, CA West Vail Workforce Housing Vail, CO San Joaquin River Access & Activation Plan* Fresno, CA Ford Park Master Plan* Vail, CO Groveland Parks & Trails Master Plan* Groveland, CA Mariposa Creek Parkway Master Plan* Mariposa, CA Boulder Pickleball and Tennis Study* Boulder, CO (*w/ former firm, WRT) 6 City of Bozeman other i n f o a b o u t t h e f i rm and ev e r y t h i n g t o d a r k green Bozeman Parks & Recreation Context Rivers & Creeks Roads City Limits Trails Parks (Community Parks labeled) 1 MI N M 7Perimeter Geography Lay of the Land Parks and waterways. Parks and topography. Parks and trails. We’re drawn to this assignment for on-call services with Bozeman for many reasons, but primarily because it’s a smaller (but rapidly growing) city, set in a sensitive regional landscape with a legacy of outdoor recreation and a deep sense of cultural heritage. At the northern edge of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and a major gateway for tourists heading to the Park, the city punches above its weight class, anchored by Montana State University, its proximity to the Custer Gallatin National Forest, and destination skiing at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky. These are assets that draw visitors and fuel the economy, but they are also reasons people stay in Bozeman. And to support the quality of life for those that stay or are coming, the 2023 Comprehensive Parks Recreation and Active Transportation Plan outlined a set of holistic and achievable goals. We understand that this assignment supports those goals and can help Bozeman’s robust parks and recreation system position to be welcoming and equitable, with strong programs and partnerships, well-connected with an active mobility network that provides access to abundant natural resources, which are in turn stewarded and protected by a knowledgeable staff and supported by special district assessment. We’re also drawn to Bozeman from a fundamental geographic perspective. Parklands appear on the map trending along the many north-flowing creeks. There is a movement (despite the street grid) and a momentum with the rivers and the subtle northward-tilt of the City’s topography. It was the existence of this water that anchored other i n f o a b o u t t h e f i rm and ev e r y t h i n g t o d a r k green 8 City of Bozeman early settlement of the town at the mouth of the mountains spilling out into the valley, leading to the establishment of the University and ensuring continued early growth. Today, the trail network aims to provide east-west connections across the many streams and also reach outward to the mountains and forest surrounding the city, and the previously abundant water is all the more precious. There is a wide range of typologies across the park system, from historic parks in the downtown core, to program-specific destination parks with sports fields or bike trails. Partners like the Gallatin Valley Land Trust further enhance the City’s offerings with open space and trails interwoven through the region, including the Main Street to the Mountains system. The PRAT Plan identifies pocket parks, special use parks, neighborhood parks, natural area parks, community parks, and linear parks, each of which address different functions and provide different activities. In turn, each of these park typologies has associated design standards (along with the trail system), and we’ll look to these guidelines to inform our work, along with the new planting and water conservation requirements. This is especially important as new parks are coming online or are in development stages, and the City tries to keep up with demand while retaining a sense of continuity and identity across the system. We understand that the assignments through this contract may address a wide array of needs and challenges based on the diversity of parks and recreation offerings, and we’re prepared to assist across the spectrum of planning and design services, including those shown in the next column. PERIMETER’S POTENTIAL SERVICE AREAS: • Landscape Architecture & Planning • Land Management & Policy • Parks & Open Space Plans • Community Engagement • Nature & Adventure Play • Trails & Trail Systems • Adaptation Strategies • Strategic Planning • Recreation Planning • Cultural Landscapes • Growth Management • Destination Stewardship • Visitor Use Management • Grant Applications & Administration The 2023 PRAT Plan and Appendices serve as the guiding documents for the parks and recreation system, along with other relevant plans like the 2019 Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan, the 2025 Bozeman Community Plan, and the 2024 Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards, as well as other concurrent planning efforts for Bozeman Creek and the Urban Forestry Management Plan. 9Perimeter Geography PERIMETER WORKS WITH: • PEACS: Places of Ecological, Aesthetic, or Cultural Significance. • Smaller cities with proximity to natural resources, destination features, and sensitive landscapes that are grappling with rapid growth. • Departments trying to balance lowering barriers to entry, providing enjoyment, and conservation. • Communities faced with questions of authenticity or loss of character. • Municipalities that feel overburdened or have under-scaled or an inequitable distribution of public realm infrastructure. • Economies that have a dependency on visitation for growth, but need to more actively plan for visitor use management and stewardship. • Towns that are confronting affordability issues, in particular for the workforce that supports natural resources and community / civic functions. • Environments that are challenged by significant climate-driven events (flood, fire, drought) and facing a need for Adaptation. • Ecosystems that have a massive potential to leave a lasting impression, or to instill values, deepen our understanding of Earth and its processes, sensitivities, variations, interconnectedness, and ultimately its shared fate. We are currently engaged with the City of Durango, Colorado, for on-call Landscape Architecture services. 10 City of Bozeman OUR VALUE STATEMENTS Immerse yourself. Approaching projects in PEACS requires a willingness to become familiar with the sensitive context that surrounds and protects them, and an emphasis on the contextual clues and primordial cues. Be nimble. These projects often require more flexibility, hands-on attention, and extensive collaboration, internally and externally. Capacity for maintenance and management may be seasonal or limited; be ready to work within constraints. Be aspirational to an appropriate level. Basic knowledge of economic development financing (TOT, RETT, STR, BID) for tourism-dependent towns is necessary to understand the challenges these communities face and the potential mechanisms for project funding, which often relies on grants with strict criteria. Get on the ground. Field-based research, design processes, and construction documentation (VIF) can lead to more meaningful and authentic project outcomes. Meet higher expectations. These smaller communities are deserving of the increased level of service, rigor, and creativity typically found on projects in large urban centers. Tune in. While they might face similar challenges, each PEACS community is proudly unique unto itself. Latent community capacity is often ready to be ignited (for better or worse). 11Perimeter Geography We are experienced experts with all types of engagement, but we lean into in-person, on-site, and interactive events that capture insights from a wide cross-section of constituents by meeting people where they are, including kids, as shown below during “Creek Week” a three-day community festival to gather feedback on the Mariposa Creek Parkway, and above at a high school design charrette in Canon City, CO. We value field work as a critical part of our process, using it to ground-truth desktop analysis, gain a perception and feel of a place, plot trail alignments by actually walking them, and to georeference key infrastructure and amenity conditions, accessibility, usage, and quantity. 12 City of Bozeman Firm Experience and References MARIPOSA CREEK PARKWAY RECREATION & RESILIENCY Mariposa, CA Reference: WILL FASSETT, Planner Mariposa County Planning Department 209-347-7173 wfassett@mariposacounty.org Building upon an initial grant-funded master plan for Mariposa Creek, which reinvigorated this rural disadvantaged community’s goals for a trail through town and helped unlock over $10 million in additional state and federal funding, PERIMETER continues to work with Mariposa County and project partners (WRT, Lake Flato, Biohabitats, Provost & Pritchard, Avid Trails, Sierra Foothill Conservancy) on multiple initiatives that intersect recreation, resiliency, and economic development. Each project is driven by extensive community engagement and stakeholder support from the ground up, including youth, artists, the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, and civic leaders, bolstering the sense of stewardship and local identity. Construction of the Creek Parkway is underway, and will serve kids riding to school as well as throngs of tourists visiting Yosemite. This is more than a trail — it is a an economic driver for downtown, connecting the historic core with outlying areas and the wider public land trail network, and it’s designed to serve as an emergency egress route during wildfires. In addition, a trail system is being designed on over 200-acres of County-owned property above the Creek, with a destination mountain biking network, outdoor education loops, an ADA trail, and miles of hiking trails, all of which are assisting fuel mitigation, shaded fuel breaks, and access for invasive species removal. Along the Creek, native riparian and culturally-relevant planting was restored after a controlled burn supervised by the Tribe, and the removal of invasive Himalayan blackberry and Ailanthus. A new trailhead park increases in-town recreation capacity and gives visitors a reason to linger, complementing the Creek Parkway. It was designed with major play features, picnic pavilion, restroom facility, outdoor classroom, viewing deck, and stormwater management features, which will accommodate the expected seasonal flooding and increasingly common major storm events. 13Perimeter Geography CAÑON CITY RIVERFRONT INITIATIVE Cañon City, CO PERIMETER is working as part of a team on a design for a new open space along the Arkansas River, along with reprogramming an underutilized Parks Department maintenance facility, and extending the Arkansas River Trail — and stitching it all together into a new riverfront master plan and active recreation and mobility network. The park will act as a trailhead, becoming a basecamp for access to the surrounding trail systems and public lands, and will accommodate increasing pressures from river guides, rafting enthusiasts, and all around in-river recreation. The project site is at the mouth of the Royal Gorge, is a gateway to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, and marks the terminus of the most commercially rafted stretch of water in the country. The team is analyzing opportunities and constraints related to ecological enhancement, in-river recreation, and tourism & visitation. We are working with a diverse stakeholder group, including rafting outfitters and river recreation stewards, the City Economic Development Department, Black Hills Energy, the Oil Creek Irrigation Ditch Company, and Canon City High School students, among others. This has led to a contextually-sensitive design that pays homage to Canon City’s rural legacy, expands river access and recreation capacity, while acknowledging the increasingly volatile conditions (from flood to drought) of the Arkansas River watershed. Reference: PATRICK MULREADY, City Planner City of Canon City psmulready@canoncity.org 719-276-5294 14 City of Bozeman BOULDER PARKS & RECREATION Boulder, CO While working with WRT, Andy was the project manager for the Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan, which performed a needs assessment and made recommendations for Boulder’s tennis and pickleball level of service, in response to community desires for increased facilities for both sports and aging park infrastructure. The plan prioritized four sites across the city, and created site plans and court layouts in addition to supporting infrastructure and program. In addition, PERIMETER is currently engaged with Boulder Parks & Rec on the Outdoor Recreation Activities Approach to Urban Park Planning assignment, which is analyzing visitor use statistics and creating a methodology for delivering levels of service that are more attuned to on-the- ground park realities, providing data for the upcoming park system plan. Reference:CHARLOTTE O’DONNELLCity PlannerBoulder Parks & Rec720-766-5047odonnellc@bouldercolorado.gov 15Perimeter Geography Reference: BRIDGET FITHIAN, Executive Director Sierra Foothill Conservancy 209-769-0467 bridget@sierrafoothill.org STOCKTON CREEK PRESERVE TRAILHEAD Mariposa, CA This ongoing project will create shovel-ready recreation enhancement features on a beloved public property in Mariposa surrounding the town reservoir. Primary partners include the Mariposa Public Utility District, the Mariposa Resource Conservation District, the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. Importantly, the project is about formally planning for, designing, and integrating more accessible, attractive, and cohesive recreation amenities to leverage Yosemite visitation and harness the County’s natural resources for appropriate and authentic tourism. By utilizing the recreation and tourism infrastructure improvements to reduce the risk and impact of wildfire, the project helps ensure that catastrophic wildfire doesn’t shut the community down to visitors during and after wildfire events or impact the town’s water supply. 16 City of Bozeman BENT’S OLD FORT NHS VISITOR USE PLANNING La Junta, CO Reference: ANTHONY GUIDA Project Manager National Park Service anthony.guida@nps.gov 720-908-5263 PERIMETER worked with a team of consultants and the National Park Service to evaluate future visitor experiences at Bent’s Old Fort. The Fort was built on the northern banks of the Arkansas River, which at the time was the border with Mexico. It underwent numerous changes during the 1800s, from trading post, to military garrison, to stage coach stop, until finally falling into disrepair and ultimately being destroyed by a flood in 1921. Efforts were made to reconstruct the Fort with modern materials in 1976, but the building is now suffering structural failures, jeopardizing visitor safety and compromising interpretation efforts. The harsh climate of the High Plains imposes additional challenges to comfort and enjoyment, but visitor interest is growing partly due to the network of destinations in eastern Colorado. Considerations for rehabilitation, access, circulation, site design, landscape restoration, and cultural interpretation were all explored during this first phase of long term planning for the Fort’s future, to build capacity for increased visitation. 17Perimeter Geography FORD PARK MASTER PLAN Vail, CO Reference:GREGG BARRIESr. Landscape ArchitectTown of Vail Public Worksgbarrie@vail.gov970-479-2337 Andy Dawson was the project manager for this project while a Senior Associate at WRT. Ford Park is a 50-acre property adjacent to Vail Village, and it serves many different audiences. There are four primary organizations involved in the operation of the Park, all of which use the park for different and sometimes conflicting purposes. The Master Plan focused on creating a unified mission for the Park as a whole, eliminating duplicative maintenance needs, and establishing a set of guiding operational principles to accommodate increasing demands from visitors and minimize impacts of overuse. The plan also identifies priority Capital Improvement Studies related to ADA requirements, visitor safety, orientation, and security, vehicular and pedestrian circulation conflicts, new visitor experiences and programming, and maintenance and operations facility renovations. Guiding these recommendations were a deep understanding of site and its historic dual- purpose role in Vail as both a destination for visitors and a community park for locals. Engagement consisted of an online survey, park walk-and-talks, town meetings, stakeholder focus group meetings, regulatory requirements, and budget considerations. 18 City of Bozeman GROVELAND PARKS & RECREATION Groveland, CA 400’ CYCLING / RUNNING / EVENTS Too short for mountain biking (typ 60km or more), but perfect for: Cyclocross • typically on a 1k to 3k circuit • need to consider event logistics • camping on site Trail runs • 5k, 10k • need to consider event logistics• tie into longer HH Rail Trail Pump track, bike skills course• introduce kids to the sport• potential for competitions 1k trail5k trail WASTEWATERINFRASTRUCTURE Reference:PETER KAMPAGeneral ManagerGroveland CommunityServices District209-962-7161pkampa@gcsd.org PERIMETER is engaged with the Groveland Community Services District on multiple projects to build recreational capacity for this gateway to Yosemite National Park. The team is prioritizing how the community can accommodate increased visitation and encourage longer stays, while serving local recreation and resiliency needs. Two ongoing engagements are the renovation of Mary Laveroni Park, which includes a shuttle stop for visitors going to Yosemite, and the repurposing of the Hetch Hetchy Railroad right-of-way into a new regional trail connection. Each project includes historic and cultural interpretive components layered with recreational amenities. For locals, the park is a beloved summertime destination for movies and concerts, while the trail will provide an alternative means of reaching the downtown core, and will act as an emergency egress route if evacuations are required due to wildfire. For visitors, the park and trail offer a break from the road or a reason to re-center trips to Yosemite from a base of operations in Groveland. 19Perimeter Geography TUNITAS CREEK BEACH Half Moon Bay, CA Reference:MARIO NASTARICapital Program ManagerSan Mateo County Public Works650-784-3505mnastari@smcgov.org Tunitas Creek Beach is the newest addition to San Mateo County’s public park and beach system. The formerly private property was purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, who then transferred ownership to the County. In order to open the site for safe public use, the County has invested in visitor accommodations and amenities, including new parking lots, overlooks, picnic areas, play spaces, educational signage, restrooms, and a winding accessible path down the high bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The team used salvaged redwood from recent fires in the County for many of the site features, including benches, steps, and guardrails. An emergency vehicle access drive enables lifeguards and ambulances to reach the beach if needed. The design purposely focuses development on existing disturbed areas (the former house location), and closes and restores the planting of social trails that were causing erosion and impacting habitat. Andy Dawson was the project manager for this project while a Senior Associate at WRT. 20 City of Bozeman Firm Workload Claims Collaborator References CHRIS MARCINKOSKI, Principal PORTmarcinkoski@porturbanism.com 617-966-0081 RHIANNON SINCLAIR, Principal AGENCY LP rhiannon@agencylp.com 410-919-7800 BOB HARRIS, Principal LAKE FLATO rharris@lakeflato.com 210-227-3335 As the owner and sole employee of Perimeter Geography, Andy Dawson intentionally focuses on a manageable number of assignments at any given time. Currently, the firm is engaged on two projects: Stockton Creek Preserve, in Mariposa, California, and the Outdoor Recreation Activity Study for Boulder, Colorado. These two projects account for half of the potential billable hours after considering indirect time for administrative firm and marketing tasks. Looking ahead, anticipated available workload may be impacted by construction documentation phases for both the Canon City Riverfront Initiative in Canon City, Colorado, and the Hetch Hetchy Railroad Trail in Groveland, California, but on each of these assignments PERIMETER will be a subconsultant with less burdensome direct project time. None.