Parks Master Plan:

Developing Design Guidelines

December 5, 2017

Parks and Natural

Resources

Operations Building

Basis and StructureDesign Vision

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsUnique Design Elements

Parks Master Plan2Design Guidelines

What are Park Design Guidelines?

ROSSLYN HIGHLANDS PARK +

LONG BRIDGE PARK

FOUR MILE RUN

Parks Master Plan3Design Guidelines

Basis for Park Design Guidelines

• Working Group

• Public Input

• Regulatory Guidance and Policy

• Research

Parks Master Plan4Design Guidelines

Structure for Park Design Guidelines

• Design Context

• Unifying Parks-wide Design Concepts

• Unique Design Elements Guidelines are focused on the Parks planning area while being mindful of the larger 4MRV Area Plan and 4MR river system context.

Parks Master Plan5Design Guidelines

Design Vision

4MRV Parks will

Respect natural environment of 4MR …

Respond to community park and recreation needs …

Reflect industrial and recreational context…

Parks Master Plan6Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design Concepts

• Design Character• Universal Design• Safety and Comfort• Stormwater Management• Tree Canopy and Shade

Improvement• Riparian Restoration

(Coordinated w/Area Plan)• Access and Connectivity

(Coordinated w/Area Plan)• Wayfinding and Placemaking

(Coordinated w/Area Plan)• Design Catalog• Art and Culture

Parks Master Plan7Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsDESIGN CHARACTER

• Contextual Design Language: Nature and Industry• Industrial and recreational character• Connection to nature – 4MR• Designer/artist collaboration encouraged• Design creativity encouraged

PARK STRUCTURES: Rusting Steel and Glass CASUAL OPEN SPACE WOODLAND PATH

BET

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ffic

eINDUSTRIAL CHARACTER

RECREATIONAL HERITAGE

Parks Master Plan8Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsUNIVERSAL DESIGN

Applies to:• Court Sports• Fields• Pathways and

Trails• Pavilions and

Restrooms• Picnic • Site Amenities• … everything

http://www.fujixerox.com/eng/company/technology/design/universal.html

MAKING IT EASIER TO USE FOR MORE PEOPLE

Parks Master Plan9Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsSAFETY AND COMFORT

Applies to:• Court Sports• Fields• Pathways and

Trails• Pavilions and

Restrooms• Picnic • Site Amenities• … everything

…. there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street.

Jane Jacobs

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)

Parks Master Plan10Design Guidelines

• Decrease runoff where possible• Seek innovative solutions • Balance the needs for protecting the RPA of the 4MR with the

desires for human access adjacent to the stream

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsSTORMWATER MANAGEMENT

green blue urban

Parks Master Plan11Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsTREE CANOPY AND SHADE IMPROVEMENT

AMERICAN BEECH

RED MAPLE RIVER BIRCHBLACK GUMSWAMP WHITE OAK

REDBUD PAW-PAW CINNAMON FERN

Parks Master Plan12Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsRIPARIAN RESTORATION

SOFT RUSH

BLACK HAW

RED SWITCH GRASS SWEET PEPPERBUSH

CUTLEAF CONEFLOWER SPARKLEBERRYSWAMP MILKWEED

Parks Master Plan13Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY

Parks Master Plan14Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsWAYFINDING

Direct bicyclists to W&OD trail

Entry to Shirlington Park

Entry to Shirlington Park

Direct bicyclists to W&OD trail

Primary Destinations

District Name

MAP- individual places

Parks Master Plan15Design Guidelines

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsDESIGN CATALOG

LIGHTING

SEATING

• Waste receptacles• Drinking fountains• Paths and Trails• Overlooks• Landscape• Other……

FENCING/RAILING

Parks Master Plan16Design Guidelines

• Stream crossings, bridges• Trail markings• Interpretive or historical projects• Pavilions• Lighting• Entry markers

Unifying Parks-wide Design ConceptsART AND CULTURE

“Four Mile Run should be the focus of a major initiative on the part of the Public Art Program staff to conceive, organize, and execute a series of public art projects.”

-Public Art Master Plan, 2004

Artist/Designer Collaboration on Park Elements:

Parks Master Plan17

Unifying Design Elements –

Jennie Dean Park and Shirlington Park

Wayfinding and Placemaking)• Directional signs

Design Character• Riparian area

Design Catalog• Seating• Lighting• Fencing/railing• Trash/recycling/dog waste

receptacles• Drinking fountains• Overlooks

Parks Master Plan18Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Jennie Dean Park

• Design Character (applied to Jennie Dean Park)o Entryo Visibility into park areaso Park areas:

structure/materialso Public arto Park edges (to be

coordinated w/ Area Plan)

Parks Master Plan19Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Jennie Dean Park

• Wayfinding and Placemaking (applied to Jennie Dean Park)• Interpretive signs/markers• Gateways

Parks Master Plan20Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Jennie Dean Park

• Design Catalog (applied to Jennie Dean Park)• Picnic areas• Casual Use Open Space• Landscape design

features

ALLEE GROVE UNDERSTORY

Parks Master Plan21Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Jennie Dean Park

• Casual Use Open Space• Diamond Fields• Playground• Athletic Courts, Picnic Shelters,

Restrooms and Concessions• Parking

Parks Master Plan22Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Shirlington Park

• Design Character (applied to Shirlington Park)o Focal/Access pointso Public art

• Wayfinding and Placemaking (applied to Shirlington Park)• Interpretive signs/markers• Gateways

Parks Master Plan23Design Guidelines

Unique Design Elements– Shirlington Park

• Design Catalog (applied to Shirlington Park)o Paths and Trailso Bike rackso Fitness stationso Landscape Design and

Management

Parks Master Plan24Design Guidelines

Questions for Discussion

• What elements do you like and what are missing?

• Any suggestions for design character? For entire parks study area? For individual parks?