At Crowley Cottrell, we led the community design process for the reinvention of Lafayette Park in Salem. The park previously functioned as a large traffic island surrounded by busy roads, yet possessed the potential to become an important symbolic gateway to downtown Salem. We began with public engagement processes that included an online survey with over 300 respondents, working group meetings and an open house-style public forum. This revealed how the space, often shunned due to its reputation for drug activity, is valued as a green oasis in the city. We then developed a design that rationalizes circulation, improves visibility, and creates a setting that highlights memorials within a layout that leaves plenty of room for programming.