Shelburne Falls Pocket Park by Amanda Hawes

Index 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park An Ecological Landscape Design 19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA Designed By: Amanda Hawes

The Conway School Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and + Design Fall 2018

A Park Design for Shelburne Falls Existing Conditions & Goals Existing Park Spaces Access & Circulation Slopes & Drainage Sun, Shade & Microclimates Views Summary Analysis Preliminary Designs Final Design Alternative I Final Design Alternative II Final Design Alternative III Final Design Axonometrics Planting Palette Planting Palette Precedents

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

A Park Design For Shelburne Falls Introduction This project centers around a vacant lot in the heart of the historic village of Shelburne Falls. The property, owned by the client, Josh Simpson, and his three business partners, is in the busiest area in the downtown of the village. The following analyses and final design alternatives explore options for turning this property into a privately owned park that is open to the public.

Recent History of the Property

Historic downtown

Singley Furniture

Located at 19 Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls is the site of the former Singley Furniture Building. The store (built in the late 1800s and pictured far left) was purchased by Josh Simpson and his business partners in 2014. However, upon finding that the building had extensive structural damage, the original plan to renovate and turn it into shops and apartments had to be scrapped. The building was demolished and the subsequent hole left from removing the foundation was filled, eventually transitioning to a grassy and gravely vacant lot with some unique topographic features. This open, sunny space sits at a busy intersection in the heart of Shelburne Falls. While the future of the space is still uncertain, Josh sees potential in it as either a public park or a public park with a building cited on a portion of the property. Demolition

The lot today

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Map of downtown Shelburne Falls *Project site highlighted in orange

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Project site before demolition

At an elevation of 404 feet, Shelburne Falls is located in a valley in the foothills of western Massachusetts, east of the Berkshires and northwest of Greenfield and Northampton. The Deerfield River cuts through the historic downtown and forested hills rise up on either side. At 2.6 square miles, the village is compact and very walkable. Many buildings along the main street, Bridge Street, feature various different businesses, many with apartments on the upper floors.

A Park Design For Shelburne Falls

Shelburne Falls boasts beautiful old colonial homes alongside historic brick buildings, some of which teeter over the Deerfield River, looking both charming and a bit precarious. Historically a popular fishing spot for Native Americans, the area shifted, with colonization, to a focus on industry centered around the Deerfield River. Today, the village of Shelburne Falls has a lively and dynamic creative economy, with restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, studios and performance spaces. The area attracts makers of all trades. It also draws in tourists and locals alike in every season.

Setting: The Village of Shelburne Falls

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Axonometric view

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Footpath

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propane tanks

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Project Goals

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Obscure the view of the side of the Foxtown Diner

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Str

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Axonometric drawing of 19 Bridge Street showing existing conditions

Create an inviting space for people to gather (roughly 40-50 people). This includes providing open, multi-use space, seating, and ADA accessible areas.

utility boxes

Address the safety concern of the steep slope in the southeast corner of the property.

A-A' Section showing the topography of the southern portion of the lot

This project has three overarching goals for the space that are addressed in different ways in each of the three final design alternatives. These three goals reflect some of the concerns the client has as well as the potential he sees for how this lot can become useful and valuable to the community. He has expressed that, in order to make the space more welcoming, the view of the side of the Foxtown Diner that faces the lot needs to be obscured because it's unpleasant to look at. He has also prioritized coming up with a solution to the hazardously steep slope in the southwest corner of the lot. This slope is largely inaccessible and is a potential safety concern. Without the temporary concrete block border, one may not notice this sudden slope when coming up from the southeast into the property, though from any direction it is not currently an accessible feature in the space. For the lot to be open to the public, this area of it needs to be safe. Lastly, the client would like to see this vacant lot become a useful space for the community. He would like to see it become a place that locals and visitors can utilize, that is multipurpose, that can host small gatherings, concerts, or movies in the park and be a pleasant and comfortable space to hang out while enjoying the downtown. In addition to these main goals, the client wants one of the final designs to explore the option of siting a building on half of the space and designing a smaller public park.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

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Existing Conditions & Goals

The lot at 19 Bridge Street is a 6,800 square foot property on the busy intersection of Deerfield Avenue and Bridge Street, which is the main street through Shelburne Falls. Because of the recent disturbance to the site, there is little existing vegetation, mostly grasses and clovers, but there are two mature street trees just to the north of the property. The lot is bordered by roads on three sides with the Foxtown Diner occupying 52 feet of the northeastern border of the property as well. The side of the Foxtown Diner that faces the lot is wood paneled with a large metal vent, a side door, and four large propane tanks as well as a worn footpath running from the side door north to Bridge Street. The lot is centrally located downtown. Because it is vacant and because of the concrete blocks creating a temporary border around the property, it sees little foot traffic. However, there is heavy traffic around it, both vehicles and pedestrians. Perhaps the most distinct feature of this lot is the very steep slope in the southeast corner which has an abrupt eight- foot rise. The shape of the slope is certainly unique in that it curves in, in a kind of bowl shape, and the top provides a great vantage point of the activity on Bridge Street.

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Existing Conditions

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Contextual Section A-A'

B C

Salmon Falls and The Glacial Potholes

Part of the namesake of Shelburne Falls, Salmon Falls used to be a prime fishing spot for local Native Americans. When the dam was built to harness the power of the river, the fishing ended but the unique rock formations called the Glacial Potholes remain. Known as "kettles" in geological terms, they date back hundreds of millions of years. The unique formations in the rock were bored out by swirling water and granite stones during glacial recession.

This contextual section shows relative location of the project site (in orange) within the rest of the downtown.

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Existing Public Green Spaces

Implications:

The 19 Bridge Street lot is close (the common being the farthest away at only .3 miles) to the other significant park spaces in Shelburne Falls. It sits between the Bridge of Flowers and Salmon Falls. The lot is also along an already heavily traveled route. There is not currently a park space downtown that is both open all year round and provides ample seating. The Bridge of Flowers is closed from October to April and none of these three existing green spaces has seating for more than a couple of people at a time.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

A former trolley bridge, the Bridge of Flowers is now a 400-foot path across the Deerfield River flanked by flowers, vines, and trees, both native and ornamental. Maintained by a group of volunteers, called the "Bloom Brigade," the bridge is a big attraction for locals and tourists from April 1 through October 30 and is a unique landmark in Shelburne Falls.

19 Bridge Street

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Bridge Of Flowers

This open lawn at the corner of Main and Water Streets is the setting of the Shelburne Falls Farmers' Market, which runs from May 25 to October 26. The space is vegetated mainly with grass and has a couple of mature trees toward its edges. With only two permanent benches on either side of a memorial to the south end of the common, it is a relatively nondescript, multipurpose space.

Existing Park Spaces

The main public parks in the downtown of Shelburne Falls: Village Common

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Access & Circulation 19 Bridge Street Public Parking Lot w/ room for 85 vehicles

Bridge Street

Route 2/ The Mowkawk Trail

Because of the vibrant creative economy in Shelburne Falls, as well as its historic character and easily walkable downtown, people come from all around New England (and farther) to visit; whether it's to shop, go out to eat, or just wander around and take in the sights. Because Bridge Street is where most of the stores and restaurants are, many people pass by the lot at 19 Bridge Street daily. Two crosswalks meet the sidewalk by the northwest corner of the lot as well, making it easily accessible from either side of Bridge Street and Deerfield Avenue. One of the most heavily trodden routes in town, that goes down Deerfield Avenue from Bridge Street toward Salmon Falls and the Glacial Potholes, runs right by the west side of the property. But there is very little foot traffic through the vacant and exposed site.

Vehicles

Bridge Street, Deerfield Avenue, and Memorial Drive are two lane roads with traffic moving in each direction. The lane behind the Foxtown Diner is primarily used as a parking and unloading spot for diner employees. There is public parking along both sides of Bridge Street as well as a large parking lot that can accommodate 85 vehicles just to the north of the property. Usually, there are a couple of vehicles parked along the western border of the property as well.

Implications:

Shown in graphics B and C:

19 Bridge Street is just .7 miles from Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail, which is a Massachusetts scenic highway that connects Shelburne Falls and the larger city of Greenfield, which is 10 miles southeast. Route 2 also connects to I-91, which runs all the way from New Haven, Connecticut north through Vermont and New Hampshire to the Quebec border.

The 19 Bridge Street lot is located at a busy intersection in a downtown that is heavily traveled by both pedestrians and vehicles. Its high visibility is significant because, as a public space, it needs to be visible and centrally located to be of the most use to the most people. The lot is easy to get to by foot because the downtown is very walkable and its location is next to where two crosswalks meet. Because public parking is concentrated in this downtown area, it is also relatively easy to park near the lot, though parking does sometimes reach capacity on weekends and when tourism increases in the summer and fall. While being in such a busy location is important for a public park, from within, the space can feel exposed, so the final designs focus on the interplay between creating a sense of separation from traffic while maintaining visibility in and out of the lot.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Pedestrians

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

The walk up to Bridge Street from Salmon Falls

Access & Circulation

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88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Slopes & Drainage

B-B'

Directional Drainage Arrow

B B'

Implications: There is an opportunity to use vegetation and grading to spread and sink more water on site as well as to filter road toxins out of the runoff that enters the site. The speed and quantity of water moving through the space during heavy rains is contributing to the erosion in the southwest corner. That eroded soil and water, and any present pollutants from vehicles and roads, is washing into storm drains that empty directly into the Deerfield River. The storm water management system in Shelburne Falls doesn't adequately address the issue of storm water filtration, which can greatly reduce the quantity of pollutants washing into the river. However, implementing a way to direct the movement of water through the lot and filter some of it in the process, as well as spread and sink as much water as possible, can stop the pooling and erosion on site and help improve the quality of some of the water entering the Deerfield River. It can also potentially start the conversation about how to address this issue on a larger scale in Shelburne Falls.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

The topography of the lot has a major influence on the way water moves through it. Because the property is surrounded by impervious surfaces, when it rains, runoff flows quickly into the lot. Due to the westward lean of the space and the fact that the southwest corner is at a lower elevation, this runoff is mainly flowing southwest out of the property. This flow is exacerbated by the steep southeast corner slope, where runoff moves fastest, causing erosion in the southwest corner of the property. The soil on the lot has some compaction, likely due to the recent construction disturbance, and this, in combination with the low steep slope in the northeast corner of the property, is the likely cause of pooling near that corner. There are three storm drains near the lot. The drain to the south of the property on Deerfield Avenue is where much of the runoff exiting the lot goes. There are three more storm drains down Deerfield Avenue as well. The storm drains empty into the Deerfield River which is less than 200 feet from the lot.

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

A-A'

Slopes & Drainage

Implications: The topography of the site presents a challenge for ADA accessibility. The two areas that are at an accessible grade are separated by a small but steep slope. To make the lot open to the public, there needs to be a portion of it that is ADA accessible and can be easily entered and exited. The final designs take this into account by using grading to provide accessible paths and areas.

Though the property is small, there is a lot of variation in topography on site. The areas outlined in yellow are currently at an ADA accessible grade while the rest of the lot has slopes greater than 5%. The entire site (as illustrated in section B-B') slopes slightly westward. The steep slope in the southeast corner of the property, adjacent to Memorial Drive, is part of a larger hill that begins to slope down just south of that corner.

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Summer Solstice

These graphics show the areas that receive full sun from 9AM to 3PM throughout the year. In the fall, spring, and summer, the lot is very sunny. In the summer, especially, it is flooded with sunlight for the majority of the day. When the weather gets really hot, this amount of sun creates a hot microclimate on the property that can make it an uncomfortable place to spend a prolonged amount of time. Conversely, in the winter, there is much less sun on the property and that, in conjunction with cold winds blowing in from the northwest, creates a cold microclimate. The spring and fall seasons are sunny throughout most of the day with some larger areas of shade than in the summer.

6 hours of sun

Winter Solstice Implications: With the ample sun, a variety of plants can be grown on the site, including shade trees to provide relief from the summer heat. A barrier from the cold northwest winds in the winter will help to make the space more comfortable during those months. In the more temperate spring and fall seasons, the lot is already pleasantly sunny with pockets of shade, an atmosphere that is enhanced in the final designs by added vegetation and places to sit. Adding vegetation, such as trees and evergreen shrubs, is the main strategy in the final designs for creating pockets of shade in the summer and for insulating against the cold northwest winds in the winter. This will help create comfortable microclimates throughout all seasons. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Spring and Fall Equinoxes

6 hours of sun

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

6 hours of sun

Sun, Shade, & Microclimates

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Sun, Shade, and Microclimates

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88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Views C

Implications: High visibility can be a great benefit to a public park. It makes the place known, especially to visitors who aren't familiar with the area. In addition, views from inside the park out to the streets and river, with the hills beyond, provide a beautiful vista and great people watching. The view of Foxtown is the only really unpleasant view in the space, and the final design alternatives obscure it. Creating pockets of cozy private space as well as more open and visible social spaces, while providing some visual and physical separation from the busy road, can create different types of experiences in the space. The final designs utilize views and visibility to help create these different experiences, by maintaining some openness and visibility to and from Bridge Street as well as more sheltered areas and raised vantage points to the south of the property.

The site is highly visible from Bridge Street, which is where most people will see it from first, being that Bridge Street is the main street in town where most of the shops and restaurants are located and where vehicle traffic is heaviest. It is also the street people have to cross in order to go down Deerfield Avenue toward Salmon Falls (shown in image D). From inside the property, Bridge Street (and, from some angles, the bridge itself), Deerfield Avenue, and the Deerfield River are all visible. The unappealing view of the side of the Foxtown Diner is also visible

The view of Bridge Street from within the lot looking toward the bridge

The view of the Deerfield River and West Mountain from the top of the slope in the southeast corner of the lot

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

The view of the lot from the corner where the two crosswalks meet on Bridge Street

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Views

The view of the 19 Bridge Street property from across Bridge Street

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88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Summary Analysis

To help create comfortable microclimates all year, some shade is needed for a respite from the summer heat as well as a barrier from the cold northwest winds in the wintertime.

Aerial view of the site looking southwest

The interplay between creating a sense of separation from traffic and maintaining visibility in and out of the lot is a significant factor in the way people will experience the space.

Obscure the view of the side of the Foxtown Diner

Create an inviting space for people to gather (roughly 40-50 people). This includes providing open, multi-use spaces, seating, and ADA accessible areas.

Each design will explore different ways of framing views of the downtown as well as framing views into the park, focusing on the importance of positive views into and out of the space, while obscuring the view of the Foxtown Diner. The designs must have ADA accessible areas and explore ways of making the steep slope in the southeast corner safer and usable Each design will address redirecting pooling water, stopping the erosion and absorbing more rainwater. Vegetation will be used to filter road toxins and spread and sink more water on site, which is important considering the lot's proximity to the Deerfield River.

Address safety concern of the steep slope in the southeast corner of the property.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Project Goals

Summary Analysis

For both vehicles and pedestrians, this lot is in a very accessible area.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

There is not currently a park in downtown Shelburne Falls that is both open all year round and provides ample seating.

The 19 Bridge Street lot is in a convenient and accessible downtown location, but its steep slopes and hot and cold microclimates, as well as its full exposure to the busy street make it an unused and inaccessible space. However, it has great views of the downtown and close proximity to many other beloved destinations in Shelburne Falls and that, as well as the amount of circulation happening around the site, creates the potential for this lot to become a valuable public park that serves needs not currently being met by the other public spaces in town.

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This design features a large area with permeable paving that has trees planted throughout it and terraced garden beds going up to a platform in the southeast corner. A planted berm runs along the western border of the park.

It is important to be able to watch the activity on Bridge Street. The vantage point from a raised area, or the top of an amphitheatre, in the southeast corner is an exciting view to try to enhance and make accessible. There is the potential to site an ADA accessible path to the southeast corner of the lot.

Cons: • Exposure to hot summer sun- The shade sails will alleviate this some but not as effectively as shade trees would. • Minimal separation from Deerfield Avenue. • Potential to be temporary- A permanent green space would play a greater ecological role. • Not ADA accessible.

Pros: • Amphitheatre turns slope into an accessible and usable feature. • A retaining wall provides seating and separation from Deerfield Avenue. • Grading levels out the space, making it more comfortable to traverse. • Deciduous trees provide shade in hot months and allow the sun to shine through during the cold months. • Addresses project goals- The grass (or groundcover) area as well as the amphitheatre become gathering spaces, the steep slope becomes an amphitheatre that is bordered in the back by shrubs while a shrub border obscures the Foxtown Diner. • Potential to be ADA accessible *with a graded and paved path. Cons: • More costly to implement than the meadow design. • Trees will take time to create shade. • The shrub border will take time to grow. • The retaining wall will be expensive. • Not ADA accessible- Would need a paved area or pathway.

Pros: • Potential to be the most ADA accessible design- The whole paved area could be accessible. • No-mow ground cover surrounds the hardscaping. • Permeable paving will reduce runoff. • Meets project goals- Raised platform in southeast corner and courtyard area become gathering spaces, the evergreen hedge will block the Foxtown Diner all year, the top of the slope is turned into a flat seating area. • Planted berm provides border to Deerfield Ave. • Lots of shade with some dappled sunlight in warm months.

The vehicles parked along the western side of the lot on Deerfield Avenue are not desirable and often park partially on the property so having a clear barrier could alleviate that problem.

Cons: • Most expensive and most construction. • Managing storm water may still be an issue- Permeable paving may not spread and sink enough water during heavy rains. • Trees and evergreen hedge will take time to grow.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Design Directives Based on Preliminary Designs:

Pros: • Least costly to implement. • Low maintenance- Mow grass area to maintain and mow meadow every year in the early spring. • Great pollinator habitat- Diverse array of grasses and wildflowers. • Meets project goals- Mowed grass area becomes gathering space, steep slope is delineated by tall grasses, Foxtown is obscured by an 8' tall fence. • Potential to be temporary or permanent- This design can easily be altered to accommodate a building.

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Preliminary Designs

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

This design sites an amphitheatre where the slope in the southeast corner is and features a row of shade trees along the western border. The park is graded to be level, with a retaining wall along the western side.

Permeable Courtyard

This design explores creating a park that is simple, cheap, and relatively easy to construct. It is a flexible space without any trees or permanent structures so that it can be easily altered to accommodate a building or other structure in the future.

Inviting Edges

Preliminary Designs

Low-Impact Meadow

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The spacious paved entryway off of Bridge Street is ADA accessible and features benches and tables with great views of Bridge Street and inward, to the park itself. A row of shade trees as well as tall evergreen shrubs in the northwest corner separate the park from Deerfield Avenue while defining the entryway. On the eastern side of the paved area is the beginning of a path bordered by evergreens. This is an area where people can stop and sit and watch the activity on Bridge Street. From here, they can continue their stroll down Bridge Street, or move to the open lawn or grassy hill at the heart of the park, where they have the option to cut through the space, following the bioswale down and exiting in the southwest corner, toward Salmon Falls. Or, they can travel up the pathway to a platform in the southeast corner.

From Bridge Street, a path gradually rises five feet in elevation, maintaining ADA accessibility, and ending at an accessible platform in the southeast corner of the park. Along its eastern edge is a dark green wall of tall evergreen shrubs, which obscure the unpleasant view of the side of the Foxtown Diner. Looking west is a gradually elevated view of the park, with the three shade trees on its western border and Deerfield Avenue beyond. Towards the top of the path, a portion of the Deerfield River becomes visible through the trees and the buildings on the other side of the street. This path arrives at the top of a small berm in the park, that features a low grassy hill and bioswale at its base.

The steep slope in the southeast corner of the park now has a welcoming perch at the top. This large platform is ADA accessible and offers benches and boulders to sit on to enjoy the unique vista of the downtown while being set back from the hustle and bustle. Set into the slope, the platform has two small flowering trees in its southeast corner to give the space a more sheltered feel.

Planter

Planted with low-growing, water- loving shrubs and flowers, the bioswale is a thin depression that runs the length of the base of the grassy hill, collecting and directing runoff through the park to a rain garden in the southwest corner. Three grates across are located along the length of the swale, inviting people to cross it and to observe the water movement after it rains and enjoy the beautiful native plants planted along it. The bioswale not only provides an interesting, low border between the raised and more level areas in the park, it also provides an example of a beautiful and functional storm water collection system whose plants have the potential to filter runoff.

At the end of the bioswale is a rain garden, which acts as a catchment basin for storm water. More densely planted than the bioswale, the rain garden continues to filter and absorb storm water and features some hardy and beautiful wetland plants. The overflow for the rain garden (in the event of a very heavy rain) is a pipe that directs water off site.

Boulder retaining wall

C Solar Lights

Bench

Tables

The grassy hill in the park is gradual enough that it is comfortable to sit or lay on. Metal grates over the bioswale invite people to cross and walk up onto the hill to enjoy the open space.

Benches

- The overflow pipe can potentially connect to the storm water system underground; more information on this is needed. Otherwise, the water will flow down Deerfield Avenue toward the storm drain 100 feet to the south, which is what it currently does. A goal for this park is to spread, sink, and filter as much water as possible but Shelburne Falls, as a whole, would benefit from an updated comprehensive storm water management system.

Pedestrian entry/ exit

Grading Plan Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Final Design Alternative I

This design alters the existing topography of the space to create an ADA accessible route from Bridge Street to a platform built into the slope in the southeast corner. A grassy hill and lawn area provide open space while a bioswale running into a rain garden filters and directs storm water to a rain garden.

Light

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Alternative I: Platform Perch

10/16

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Alternative II: Outdoor Amphitheatre

Just inside the entrance to the park is a large flower bed inspired by the Bridge of Flowers. It is planted with a mix of native and ornamental perennials that can also be found along the Bridge of Flowers walk. This serves to tie the two parks together for people and pollinators alike. Species are planted with a variety of colors with all- season interest in mind. A low wall borders the edge of the bed where it meets the paving, giving people the option to sit close to the garden and take in the variety of different flowers and watch the pollinators at work.

An ADA accessible path runs from the entryway, along a row of mixed evergreen shrubs and small trees that present a variety of textures while obscuring the side of the Foxtown Diner. The pathway is level with the open lawn space of the park and ends at the front row of the amphitheatre, making it possible for those with mobility issues as well as those with strollers to enjoy the amphitheatre area and any performances that may happen in the lawn in front of it.

Light

A five- level grassy amphitheatre with concrete edging makes for a spacious and gradual seating area. With the top portion sheltered by a tree and the sides bordered by evergreens and small trees, this space feels tucked into the southeast corner of the park but still has open views of Bridge Street and of the open lawn in the park. The lawn area is subtly divided into two shapes, the southern portion featuring a curved row of tall grasses that serve to define that area as a rounded space that can be used as a performance space or for movies in the park. Even without an event going on, the amphitheatre can easily be a social space for groups to sit or a tucked away solitary space to read or just enjoy the weather and views.

In-between some evergreen shrubs and small trees in the southwest corner of the park is a small gravel path that serves as a secondary entrance/ exit, allowing people to cut through the space, making the park become a route to and from Bridge Street from the Salmon Falls area. This small path is not ADA accessible because it goes onto Memorial Drive, which is too steep to be ADA accessible.

D Inset light on every stair

E Light

Tables

Benches

Pedestrian entry/ exit

Grading Plan Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

A ten- foot opening bordered by a row of evergreens to the west and sweet-fern to the east, opens onto a paved entryway that leaves the park visible from Bridge Street and creates partial separation from the busy sidewalk. The large, curved, paved area is ADA accessible and features tables and a large flower bed surrounded by a low wall for more seating. From this entryway, people can move onto the open lawn area and have the option to spend some time enjoying the spacious and sunny amphitheatre seating , partially sheltered by a small tree in the southeast corner of the park. Or, they can walk through the park on the way to or from Deerfield Avenue. For those who require ADA accessibility there is a path from the rounded paved area south to the amphitheatre.

Final Design Alternative II

This design takes inspiration from the already curved shape of the slope in the southeast corner of the lot and turns it into an outdoor amphitheatre that is tucked away from the roads and framed by vegetation. The design provides an ADA accessible entryway and a path to the amphitheatre. It also features trees for shade along the western border and a large flower bed that mirrors the Bridge of Flowers.

11/16

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Alternative III: Small Park Approach

The entrance to the park is a clearly designated, ADA accessible path that curves through the center of the park, passing two paved areas, before ending at the door to the building. This path invites people into the park space and makes for a pleasant and beautiful walk to the building. Visitors have the option to enjoy either of the two paved areas that have seating, or spend time on the grass under the shade tree toward the western side of the park or on the small, sunbathed grassy area in the northwest corner.

The patio space in front of the building serves as a seating area for customers and park visitors. It has four tables and is accessible by the path through the lawn area north of it. The patio has great views of Bridge Street and Deerfield Avenue as well as the rain garden in the park, that features wetland plants of diverse colors and textures. The rain garden and groundcover plantings to the west of the patio create some separation from the traffic on Deerfield Avenue, while the shade tree on the western side of the park creates some shade.

The rain garden on-site catches storm water runoff from the building and site. The garden features some colorful plants of varying heights to create some separation from Deerfield Avenue. The overflow is through a pipe that empties onto Deerfield Avenue from the rain garden.

F E D C

- The overflow storm water can potentially connect to the storm water system underground, more information on this is needed. Otherwise, the excess water will flow down Deerfield Avenue toward the storm drain 150 feet to the south. The goal for this rain garden is to collect, sink, and filter as much water as possible but Shelburne Falls would benefit from an updated comprehensive storm water management system.

Lights

Tables

Benches

Pedestrian entry/ exit

The presence of an herb garden in the park is an idea predicated on the building being a restaurant or bakery/ coffee shop of some kind. If that is not the case, the garden can just as easily be a flower bed to create some privacy for the patio while maintaining visibility for the building.

Just inside the entrance to the park is a curved paved area that is ADA accessible and has benches as well as open space. Shaded by the tree on the western side of the park throughout a portion of the day, this area is bordered by evergreens to the east and some small trees to the north, along Bridge Street, that maintain some views of the busy street but make the small park space still feel separated from it.

Grading Plan Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

There are many options for the type of business to site on this property. Set back from Bridge Street, this building is still highly visible from the intersection and Deerfield Avenue, but it has a public park space as an entrance with an ADA accessible path to the door. The building has a rain garden for storm water catchment and an accessible front patio area with seating, which serves to merge the business with the public park space.

Final Design Alternative III

Solar Lights (5)

This design sites a building on the southern portion of the lot with an ADA accessible pathway to the entrance and two paved patios with seating. There is a rain garden on site for water catchment and filtration and a tree on the western side of the lot to provide shade.

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Final Design Axonometrics

Outdoor Amphitheatre

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

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Platform Perch

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Small Park Approach

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Axonometric Illustrations

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When the Singley Furniture Building was demolished and the foundation removed, the subsequent hole was filled with a "clean fill", which is a type of construction fill that is free of significant quantities of toxic substances and of hazardous materials like glass and plastics. Clean fill is better for the environment than the non-clean alternative, but it still contains little to no organic matter, which is essential for plant growth. Currently on the lot are some very hardy groundcovers, mostly patches of grasses and clovers with a couple of asters, providing the soil with only a very small amount of organic material. It wasn't surprising, then, that the three soil pits dug on site revealed a minuscule organic top layer and the soil test results supported that finding, with the organic content of the soil at only 1.7 %. For rocky, gravely soil in Massachusetts, which is the texture of the soil on the lot, the organic matter content is generally closer to at a least 2- 3%. The soil on the lot is also moderately acidic, which is average for Massachusetts. It was difficult to dig in, which, considering the recent demolition on the lot and the presence of pooling water in the northeast corner, may indicate compacted soil. Given that runoff from Memorial Drive enters the site, it can be assumed that road toxins are present in the soil at some level.

While the soil is low in nutrients, there are plenty of native plants that can live in nutrient- poor soil and tolerate road toxins. Increasing vegetation on the site will also improve the soil structure over time through aeration which can help alleviate soil compaction. It will also increase organic matter and nutrient content in the soil. Introducing compost when planting and then to the top of the garden beds and around the base of trees and shrubs annually will improve soil quality and plant health over time.

A H E

Outdoor Amphitheatre

Platform Perch Column1 Column2 Border Trees and Shrubs Common Name Serviceberry Staghorn sumac

Arrowwood viburnum Bayberry American arborvitae

Scientific Name Amelanchier canadensis Rhus typhina

Viburnum dentatum Myrica pensylvanica Thuja occidentalis

Column3

Column4

Column5

Column1 Shade Trees

Column2

Column3

Column4

Height/ Width 30'/20' 15-25'/20-30'

Notes Flowering

Label A B

Common Name

Scientific Name Gleditsia tricanthos inermis

Height/ Width

Notes Light, dappled shade Nitrogen fixing

6-10'/6-10' 5-10'/ 5-10' 20-40'/ 10-15'

Large white flowers in Spring give way to dark blue berries Evergreen

Column1 Column2 Column3 Column4 Shade Trees/ Shrubs Safe for Underneath Power Lines

Common Name

Scientific Name Height/ Width Notes

American Hop Hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana

25-30'/20-30'

Slow growing

C D E

Thornless Honey Locust Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata Column1 Column2 Column3 Ground Covers Common Name Creeping juniper

Scientific Name Juniperus horizontalis

60'/40' 50-70'/50' 50-70'/40-50' Column4

Height/ Width Notes .50-1.5'/5-8' Evergreen

Scotch heather Calluna vulgaris alba 1-2'/1-2' Sweet fern Comptonia peregrina 2-4'/4-8' Marginal wood fern Dryopteris marginalis 1.5-2'/1.5-2'

Column5 Label I

Small Park Approach Column5 Label F G H

Evergreen White flowers J Tendency to colonize K Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey. Evergreen L

Plant palette

D C C

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Implications:

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Plant Palette

A note about soils:

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Column1 Column2 Native Warm Season Grass Mix

Common Name Little bluestem Indian grass Partridge pea Virginia wild rye Canada wild rye Red fescue Butterfly milkweed New York ironweed

Scientific Name Schizachyrium scoparium Sorghastrum nutans Chamaecrista fasciculata Elymus virginicus Elymus canadensis Festuca rubra Asclepias tuberosa Vernonia noveboracensis

Common Name Little bluestem Big bluestem Virginia wild rye Indian grass Red fescue Switch grass

Evening primrose

Oenothera biennis Aster novae-angliae (Symphyotrichum novae-anglia)

Outdoor Amphitheatre

Rudbeckia hirta Solidago juncea Eupatorium fistulosum (Eutrochium fistulosum) Aster lateriflorus (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Platform Perch

Column1 Column2 "Bridge of Flowers" Flower Bed

Column1 Bioswale

Column2

Column3

Common Name Lowbush blueberry

Scientific Name

Notes

Sweet fern Fragrant sumac Bee balm

Vaccinium angustifolium Prefers acidic soil Comptonia peregrina Rhus aromatica 'grow-low' Monarda fistulosa

Column1 Rain Gardens

Column2

Column3

Common Name Winterberry Frgrant sumac Switchgrass Culver's root

Scientific Name Ilex verticillata Rhus aromatica 'grow-low' Panicum virgatum Veronicastrum virginicum

Notes Edges of garden

Common Name Scientific Name Crocus Crocus vernus Common hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis Blue star Amsonia hubrichtii Blue false indigo Baptisia australis Bee balm Monarda 'gardenview scarlet' English lavender Lavandula angustifolia 'hidecote' Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England aster Leucanthemum Ă&#x2014; superbum 'Becky' Shasta daisy Butterfly milkweed Asclepias Not for construction. Part of a studenttuberosa project and not based on a legal survey.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

New England Wetland Plants Inc. www.newp.com

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Starved/calico aster

New England Wetland Plants Inc. www.newp.com

Hollow-stem joe pye weed

Small Park Approach

Plant Palette

New England aster Black eyed susan Early goldenrod

Plant Palette

Scientific Name Schizachyrium scoparium Andropogon gerardii Elymus virginicus Sorghastrum nutans Festuca rubra Panicum virgatum

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Column1 Column2 New England Wildflower Mix (flowers and grasses)

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D. and E. Planted amphitheatre with concrete edging and steps. F. The hardscaped entry to Pulaski Park on Main Street in Northampton.

19 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

A. People sitting on a grassy hill in Buttes Chaumont Park in Paris. B. An upward sloping ADA accessible path outside the Smith Botanical Garden in Northampton. C. A rocky bioswale in Pulaski Park in Northampton.

88 Village Hill Rd. Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Shelburne Falls Pocket Park

Small Park Approach

Outdoor Amphitheatre

Precedents

Platform Perch

Precedents

G. The garden entrance to the Holy Ghost Bakery in Northampton. H. Congress Square Park in Portland, Maine. It is a public park that also serves as an entrance to the Eastland Hotel. I. Rain garden planted with winterberry outside of a building for storm water collection. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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