On April 20, 2026, a historic site and a modern investment were in the national spotlight. Sedona’s Ranger Station Park took center stage as the Engineering & Public Works Roadshow stopped in Arizona to showcase how infrastructure projects are strengthening communities while preserving what makes them unique.
Set against Sedona’s iconic landscape, the event highlighted the transformation of Ranger Station Park, a site originally developed in the 1930s, into a modern public space that preserves its heritage while serving today’s residents and visitors.
“Projects like Ranger Station Park don’t happen by accident. They happen because public works professionals, engineers, and community leaders come together with a shared goal: delivering infrastructure that reflects the community it serves while standing the test of time,” said APWA Regional VII Director Kristina Ramirez, PE, CPM, CFM.
The project won a 2025 Project of the Year Award from APWA in the Small Cities/Rural Communities – Historical Restoration/Preservation category, underscoring its significance as a model for communities balancing growth, preservation, and infrastructure needs.
“None of what we celebrated today would be possible without engineers. The grading, the underground utilities, the shared-use pathways that connect this park to the local trail system… all of it is engineering at work. And what the community got in return is extraordinary; a place for families to enjoy a piece of Sedona history for generations to come. This is what good engineering looks like. Not just concrete and steel, but places where people gather, play, and recharge,” said ACEC Chair-elect Derek Clyburn, P.E., and President, ECS Southeast LLP..
“Ranger Station Park stands as a powerful example of how thoughtful design can reconnect people to place while restoring the land itself,” said ASCE Section President Frederick Tack. “Projects like these are a reminder that this profession is evolving. These are not one-size-fits-all projects. They require creativity, collaboration, and deep respect for communities and ecosystems.”
Sedona Mayor Holli Ploog joined the event, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful investment in community spaces.
The Roadshow stop featured remarks from national engineering and public works leaders, as well as local officials and project partners who helped bring Ranger Station Park to life. Speakers highlighted the collaboration required to deliver infrastructure that is both functional and reflective of community identity.
Beyond the project itself, speakers also pointed to a growing challenge: the need for a strong workforce. As communities invest in public works and engineering solutions, demand is rising for the professionals who design, build, and maintain these systems. The Roadshow helps shine a light on the projects, the people behind them, and the need for more.
The Engineering & Public Works Roadshow is a joint initiative of the American Public Works Association (APWA), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
For nearly four years, the Roadshow has traveled to communities across the country to spotlight infrastructure projects and the professionals behind them, demonstrating how investments in public works and engineering improve quality of life, strengthen resilience, and support long-term economic vitality.
In Sedona, that story is visible in Ranger Station Park, a project that connects past and present while creating a space designed to serve the community for decades to come.
