Summary
This alternative creates a large restored natural area along the Jordan River Trail through the granting of a conservation easement to Salt Lake City. A public art space and community garden serve as a buffer between Neighborhood House program space and newly created public space. Land immediately adjacent to Neighborhood House is reconfigured with therapeutic gardens, kids art space, an amphitheater, improved playgrounds, and an improved courtyard area serving as an outdoor classroom.
Needs Addressed
Neighborhood House staff expressed a strong desire for improvements immediately adjacent to the adult facility for the convenience and safety of their clients. Adult clients wanted more flower gardens and expressed their enjoyment of interacting with the children and watching them play. Children and staff wanted improved playground facilities with more imaginative play elements and increased outdoor classroom and art facilities.
The area immediately outside both facilities is improved to enhance program elements for both adults and children, as well as to enhance their interaction. The new adult area features an improved courtyard area with many wide trails weaving through raised planter beds with a variety of flowers and plants. These trails connect to all elements of the yard and directly to the new children’s art area.
The need for security is addressed by separating the Neighborhood House yard area from the “public area” with an improved fence roughly along the existing fence line. Another fence encloses the public art and community garden areas. A series of gates allow access to public areas during daylight hours and into Neighborhood House properties for select events.
Elements
· A natural area restored with native trees and plants, a network of trails, and several docks at the Jordan River edge creates wildlife habitat, a public resource, and educational opportunities.
· A public art space featuring mural walls and a sculpture garden connected to the natural area and Neighborhood House trail system and can be seen from either side.
· A vegetable garden space and greenhouse for community and class use.
· A small garden amphitheater for community garden related events and Neighborhood House educational programs.
· A larger amphitheater located near the adult facility for community events and Neighborhood House outdoor classroom use.
· An “adventure play” area featuring natural and artificial boulders as well as some more traditional playground elements provides a place for imaginative play and climbing.
· An interactive learning area with water features, sound generating devices, plant structures, birdhouses, and a giant ant farm for fun learning possibilities.
· A traditional children’s playground area.
· An improved outdoor classroom space in the existing courtyard.
Time Frame
Through the sale of a conservation easement, the natural area largely becomes the responsibility of Salt Lake City. Depending on potential soil remediation issues, the restoration of this area will likely be a multi-year process as soils are remedied, invasive trees are removed, native trees and other vegetation is planted, and trails are built. Educational opportunities for children are benefits and children could potentially participate in planting.
Neighborhood House Portion
First year
· Sale of conservation easement to Salt Lake City
· Reconfigure courtyard space for outdoor classroom use
· Improve courtyard outside adult kitchen area
· Prep and plant community garden
Second year
· Establish trails/delineate new areas outside adult and children’s areas
· Plant new vegetation and trees/bring in groundcover in new areas
· Build raised beds outside adult area & plant flowers
· Build garden greenhouse & interactive learning area
· Build garden amphitheater
Third year and beyond
· Haul in boulders and build boulder gardens
· Rebuild/reconfigure playground
· Build large amphitheater
Public Portion
First year
· Realign fences to delineate public/private areas
· Soil remediation
· Thin out trees along Jordan River and new areas
· Prep and plant community garden area
Second year
· Establish new trail system
· Soil remediation/begin planting new trees and vegetation
Third year and beyond
· Continued improvements to natural area
· Build docks on Jordan River
6 comments:
I like the idea of a large natural area by the Jordan River. All the plans have this to one extent or another, but this one really takes advantage of this opportunity.
I think this alternative uses the space very efficiently. There are many things to do on a very interactive path system.
This design goes very well with what our "Outdoor Classroom Project" is recommending for children play spaces.Read "Last Child in the Woods" for the benefits of natural play for children. Check out Rusty Keeler's book "Natural Playscapes" and the Dimensions Research Foundation for info. about their Outdoor Classroom located at the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska.You guys are really on the right track with this. If you need any more resources you can e-mail me.
Sue Davis, Teacher and Outdoor Classroom Specialist. Westminster Preschool, Westlake Village, Calif.
Like the other comments, I like the large natural area and extensive network of paths. I like the paths that radiate from the adult center. I'm wondering if the large amphitheater/meeting area should be more centrally located?
This plan seems to ease from one themed area to the next. Nicely done.
1. Wide, weaving trails are ideal for walking in groups while keeping these from feeling like a highway.
2. Consider using a variety of materials for trails so that the place is not full of pavement. Heat will reduce and the site will feel more natural. Also water run-off will reduce.
3. Will this fence allow a feeling of openness? Materials used? Able to look through?
4. For a site this size, one dock should do. Docks impede wildlife, so they should be kept to the minimum needed.
5. Yay for incorporating art!Please utilize artists from the immediate community. This will better reflect the community and foster pride which may result in a reduction of vandalism.
6. Consider only one amphitheater or shield views from one amphitheater to the other. Alternatively, incorporate an open, grassy area (planted with buffalograss or some other drought-tolerant species) to use in lieu of an amphitheater.
This all sounds great until the hoodlums start to paint all there gang signs on this new territory. Of course the docks would be a great place to launch more shopping carts off into the river as well as make a nice place to hang out on and throw all your beer bottles and other small garbage items into the river. If anything is going to be introduced to the Jordan River to make it a more enjoyable place, it should start with cleaning the river up and maybe having the police patrol it at least a few times a day. Don't get me wrong, I like the plan. But who and what money is going to take care of it after it's built and how will it be managed under who's authority. I wouldn't build anything on the Jordan River until the city can at least show that they can take care of it what it already has. Maybe hold off on the river part of the project as a later phase. Maybe investing some money into a better parking plan so when the kids are dropped off and picked up, 500 S. doesn't look like such a nightmare. I feel sorry for the people who live right there and have to put up with that.
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