5 ashland oregon

Ashland Central Plaza

Plaza

Shops and CafesPath

Ashland Creek

Lithia Park, Ashland, OregonSmall-town center meets linear park

Ashland CBD

Lithia Park

Rogue River National Forest

Residential Neighborhood (mostly single family)

Neighborhood City Natural Regionalcommercial park park parkdistrict

History:• Lithiaparkwascreatedin1914onsiteofthe

town’soldcentralflourmilldowntown,atthecentralplaza,andfollowedAshlandCreek

• DesignedandlandscapedbyJohnMcLaren,thedesignerofGoldenGatePark

• LithiaParkisnamedforthelithiumwaterthatwaspumpedinfromacreekseveralmilesaway.Ashlandinstantlybecameahealthtourismspot.

• OvertimeLithiaparkhasnearlydoubledinsize,buttheoriginalpartoftheparkisontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces

• TodaydowntownAshlandandLithiaParkareincrediblypopulardestinationsforsitting,eating,playingbikingandhiking,fortouristsandlocalsalike

Differences• Ashland’spopulationisjust20,000,butithas

alwaysbeenatouristtown.Currently,theyearlyOregonShakespearefestivaldraws400,000visitorsperyearover81/2months

• LithiaparkandtheplazaaredirectlyadjacenttoAshland’sdowntown

• IftheSEcorridoristobesuccessfulasanactivitycenter,whatisitthatwilldrawpeopletoit?

Relevance• ParkhassimilardimensionstotheSEcorridor• Createsasmalltownbutvibrantdynamicthat

combinesasmall-scale,attractiveactivitycenterwithdevelopedandnaturallinearparks

• Acreekunitestheretailandparkelements• Surroundedbyresidentialneighborhoodsof

mostlysingle-familyhousing,andconnectswithregionalparks

• Despitethissmall,walkabletown,parkinglotshelptomaketheparksuccessful.

Restaurants front the plaza with patio seating by the creek in backA pedestrian street runs between the creek and restaurantsA weekly market takes place in the alley

Developed Lithia ParkNarrow & linearPed/bike pathPlaygroundsDuck pondsRose garden

Japanese gardenTennis courtsBandshellAmphitheaterParking

Cafe and Market Area

Natural Lithia ParkMinimally developedLinear parkPedestrian/cycling/creek trailHiking trails

NLithia Park

ShakespeareFestival Theatre

Bike lane

Parking Lot

Outdoor seating & market

Erin Machell CP243, College of Environmental Design, Berkeley, CA, Fall 2010 Precedent Analysis