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richard burck associates + alistair mcintosh + david greenwold +
tree specialists
RIVER PARKPROJECT DESCRIPTION
Village Green The Village Green is the key feature of the
developed part of the project. It is designed having two parts: the
Green,an unprogrammed, oval-shaped lawn elevated slightly above the
adjacent roadways. Four feet above the Green is the Garden
a smaller, more intimately scaled setting edged with ornamental
plantings and featuring a small fountain. This elevated garden
is
screened and more removed from the surrounding context. The
Green would be designed with a high activity lawn capable of
supporting uses including farmers markets, informal sports
activities, a winter skating rink and concerts. A loggia structure
servesas a gateway that both separates and connects these two
landscapes becoming a key seating location for viewing into both
open
spaces, a role similar to that of the Shadow House at Bishops
Garden at the National Cathedral, Washington, DC. The loggia
decking is at the Garden level and is therefore elevated above
the Green. As such it provides a shaded overview of the Green
and
its activities and can be used as a stage for more concert-type
events.
Allee The allee is the key integrating element of the developed
part of River Park. A generous width pedestrian / bicycle path
anked by sugar maples and oaks, it assumes the role of connector
and organizer, subordinating the vehicular roadway. The
allee begins at the entry sign and constitutes one of the key
linear open spaces of the project.
Entry Sign The entry sign is the key identier of the project
while also being an important part of the pedestrian allee. In
the
latter role, it becomes the threshold that signals the beginning
of the project. In all, it combines a modern statement of
place,
internally illuminated, sitting partially in a small pond with a
misting cloud at its base. A bridge crossing the pond makes this
a
pedestrian experience as well as a vehicular one and initiates
the design vocabulary of the rest of the development.
Escarpment Path The high path of the river setting, this path
offers the most dramatic experiences within River Park.
Overlooking
the steep escarpment, grassy meadow below and Connecticut River
beyond, it connects to steeply descending stairs, crosses
bridges and affords suspended walks out to tree house overlooks
within the canopies of the forested slope.
Ravine Path The low path of the parcel, this path connects the
Village Green to the Connecticut River in a dramatic way,
wandering down within the steep walled ravine among ferns,
carpinus, witch hazel and rising tree trunks in a quiet and
deeply
shaded corridor.
Lower Meadow and Path The ultimate destination of River, meadow
and corridor. As part of the larger network of paths,
the grasses in the lower meadow are maintained at a taller
height towards the north as animal habitat and shorter towards
the south to accommodate play.
Built Structures The proposed park structures are intended to
amplify ones experience of the park the Green, paths,escarpment,
ravine, and lower meadow. This family of related structures, both
in materials and engineering, along with a
consistent planting approach, help create a sense of place
forming a strong and consistent identity for River Park.
Planting Three distinct kinds of planting are proposed for River
Park. The rst is the Village Green garden, a richlyplanted intimate
garden space. The second is the allee, a corridor of closely spaced
sugar maples and oaks. The last is
the existing Semi-rich Oak - Sugar Maple Forest Association and
the same rich plant association used for all other newly
planted areas including the Village Green, street edges and
interstitial spaces between buildings.
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8
6
5
1
2
4
3
7
Village Green
Village Garden
Loggia
Picnic
Shelters
Swimming
Area
Tree House
Cafe
LowerMeadow Path
Lower Play
Meadow
Upper Play
Meadow
Connecticut River
Play
Structure
Entry Sign
Allee
Escarpment Path
Clear Sight Line
Clear Sight Line
Suspended
Stairway
Small Tree
House OverlookPedestrian
Bridge
PedestrianBridge
Large TreeHouse Overlook
Connection to
Crafts Avenue
ElevatorAccess
Elevator
Access
Ravine Path
Fishing Dock
Boat Launch
1 ALLEE
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RIVER PARK
PROGRAMMING
ALLEE
Sugaring maples
SIGN
Large, double sided internally lit blade sign
Frog pond with bridge crossing and spraymist jets at base of
sign
VILLAGE GREEN PROGRAM
Loggia caf chairs and tables for lunch,lap tops, chess
Loggia as stage for movies and concerts(power points
provided)Waynding map for park and regional trail
systemBicycle station (drinking fountain)Croquet, ping pong
Farmers market, ea market, food trucksFire ring
Seasonal skating rink
PHASING STRATEGY
Phasing of site construction should be scheduled in
directrelationship to building projects to consolidate
projectmanagement efforts and as a strategy of dividing the site
work
in discreet parts and tying the construction cost of those
partsdirectly to larger building projects. Such a phased
approachmay look like this:
Phase I
Entry Sign
Village Green Allee Phase I
Phase II
Ravine Walk
Boat Launch Allee Phase II
Phase III
Escarpment Walk
Escarpment Bridges (3) and Staircases (2) Allee Phase III
Phase IV
All Tree Houses (3) Allee Phase IV
Phase V
River Walk
Play Structure Picnic Shelters (3)
Phase VI
Cafe
6 PICNIC SHELTER
8 VILLAGE GARDEN AND LOGGIA
9 VILLAGE GREEN
5 PLAY STRUCTURE 3 BRIDGE SECTION
PARK PROGRAM
Childrens play structure (zip line)Tot lot (next to childrens
play structure)
Boat launch canoes, kayaks, sculls, sailingFishing dock and sh
cleaning stationSwimming at rock outcrop
Play eldsPicnic area, structures, bbq grillsRegional pedestrian
/ bicycle path and RiverPark walking loop paths
Interpretive trail plant ID and bird watchingCross country ski
trailPollinator eld
Composting area
VILLAGE GARDEN
PROGRAM
Loggia - rocking chairs and sidetables
Garden enclosure / plantingbedsFountain
PARK STREET
Fitness course 7 stations atsidewalk along side of
streetopposite allee
richard burck associates + alistair mcintosh + david greenwold +
tree specialistsRIVER PARK
