RECONNECTING TO THE RIVER
The Port District Master Plan
PORT DISTRICT MASTERPLAN
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Provide an overview of the Master Planning process from consultant selection to project completion
• How to take a ‘placemaking’ approach to master planning
• Approach for balancing conservation with access to nature
• Approach for balancing private economic development opportunities with public parks, recreation and open space
• How to prioritize and implement a great Master Plan
PRESENTATION AGENDA
THE CHALLENGE
THE PROCESS
THE SOLUTION
LESSONS LEARNED
NEXT STEPS
OUR TEAM
JENNIFER COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
CHAD PLACEMAKING + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
JOHN PLACE, BRAND
KELLY PARKS + RECREATION
BETH PARKS, TRAILS + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
+ ARCHITECTURE
SECTION
THE CHALLENGE
Let’s bring the “PORT” to PORT ST. LUCIE
6TH LARGEST
CITY IN FLORIDA
“
Port St. Lucie has Great Neighborhoods; excellent Educational Opportunities for lifelong learning; a Diverse Local Economy and Employment options; Convenient Transportation; unique Natural Resources including the St. Lucie River; and Leisure Opportunities for an Active Lifestyle.
Port St. Lucie is a safe, Beautiful, and Prosperous City for All People -Your Hometown.”
STUDY AREA GOALS
What if the study area helped Port St. Lucie better capitalized on…
§ Beauty of the River
§ Reconnect with Nature
§ Stewards of Nature
§ Access to the River
§ Arts + Culture
§ Anchor of the Community
THE BEAUTY OF THE RIVER
The North Forks is a beautiful piece of the St. Lucie River.
It offers a multitude of ways to intersect with nature and the serene beauty of the River.
RECONNECT WITH NATURE
Port St. Lucie has the opportunity to connect to nature at many levels.
Beyond recreation, nature is ever-present throughout the district and adds valuably to the character of place.
STEWARDS OF NATURE
Improving water quality as a primary objective.
Embed environmental education into the district, making nature a living classroom to learn about the river, mangroves, and many protected species.
PSL should place sustainability at the forefront; sustainability of the river, of place and of self.
ACCESS TO THE RIVER
Visual and physical access to the river should be an essential part of the Port.
Proximity to the water’s edge provides moments of connection to nature, opportunities to walk along the banks, and stunning visual amenity to the whole district.
Create more opportunity to launch both motorized and motorized watercraft.
ARTS + CULTURE
The Port has an opportunity to integrate art into the landscape, using it as a tool to enhance the public realm and create a template for community gathering.
Art that can be viewed or interacted with should be promoted throughout the district.
ANCHOR OF THE COMMUNITY
Use the natural beauty of the Port and an expanded array of recreational opportunities to foster greater activity in the district.
With more curated public space and opportunities for commercial spaces, Port St. Lucie will be able to draw in more people to experience the Port.
SECTION
THE PROCESS
+
THE RFP PROCESS
PHYSICAL PHYSICAL CONTEXT
FUNCTIONAL
Opportunities to bring cohesion at multiple scales
§ Big picture - Mix of uses not working together; opportunity for a district with diverse offerings
§ Parcel scale –disconnected; build better connections + access
§ Built environment- cohesion in materials + signage
SOCIAL
FUNCTIONAL FUNCTIONAL CONTEXT
PHYSICAL
What are the barriers to overcome in terms of policy + regulations + goals?
§ Environmental constraints + permitting
§ Access – from boats and trailers; parking; waling + biking, future mobility
§ Blending conservation + community building
SOCIAL
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Diversity of users and uses
§ Diverse community preferences
§ Multiple stakeholders
§ Conflicts between uses
§ Unmet community needs
§ Untapped potential
SOCIAL
FUNCTIONAL PHYSICAL
+ THE PORT DISTRICT IS…
Survey
Fall 2020 + THE
responses gathered
PORT DISTRICT IS…
TEAMWORK
+
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Chatting Community Meetings
Demographics + Trends
SECTION
THE SOLUTION
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PORT DISTRICT
THE BEAUTY OF THE RIVER
The North Forks is a beautiful piece of the St. Lucie River. It offers a multitude of ways to intersect with nature and the serene beauty of the River.
ARTS + CULTURE
STEWARDS OF NATURE
RECONNECT WITH NATURE
Port St. Lucie has the opportunity to connect to nature at many levels. Beyond recreation, nature is everpresent throughout the district and adds valuably to the character of place.
The Port has an opportunity to integrate art into the landscape, using it as a tool to enhance the public realm and create a template for community gathering. Art that can be eaten, viewed or interacted with should be promoted throughout the district.
Improving water quality of the river should be the primary objective, as the river is the heart of the community.
Embed environmental education into the district. Make nature a living classroom with the opportunity to learn about the river, mangroves, and many protected species native to Florida.
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
Use the Nature beauty of the Port and an expanded array of recreational opportunities to foster greater activity in the district. With more curated public space and opportunities for commercial spaces, Port St. Lucie will be able to draw in more people to experience the Port.
Port St. Lucie should place sustainability at the forefront; sustainability of the river, of place and of self.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Diversity in Exploration
• Visual Amenity
• Build Stewardship
• Potential Project Locations
//
EXPLORE NATURE Lyngate Park Midport Lake VeteransMemorialParkway Potential Gateway Feature
EXPLORE NATURE
//
POTENTIAL PROJECTS: EXPLORE
§ Iconic Overlook Tower
§ Kayak Launches + Outpost
§ Kayak Purveyor + Bait Shop
§ Day-use Docks
§ Boardwalk Networks + Overlooks
HIGHLIGHTS
Retail Activation • Connected + Cohesive • Open Space • Room for Growth // GATHER IN NATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Diversity in scale
Varied experiences
All ages and
Potential Project Locations VeteransMemorialParkway The Promenade Bridge Plaza The Botanical Gardens Lyngate Park Midport Lake Dining Docks
•
•
•
•
groups •
DINING DOCKS
GATHER WATERSIDE
//
BRIDGE PLAZA REIMAGINED
GATHER COMMUNITY
//
GATHER MIDPORT LAKE
//
POTENTIAL PROJECTS: GATHER
§ Dining Docks at Pioneer Park
§ Bridge Plaza Signature Building
§ Grow Tom Hooper Park
§ Enhance Midport Lake Park
§ Consider Midport or Tom Hooper extension for First Responders Park
§ Enhance Veterans Memorial Park
§ Picnic Area + Pavilion with Parking
HIGHLIGHTS
• Increased River Access
• Bikeable + Walkable District
• Parking Access
• Potential Project Locations
Veterans Memorial Park
CONNECT COMMUNITY
//
Lyngate Park
Midport Lake
CONNECT WITH NATURE
//
CONNECT WITH THE RIVER
//
CONNECT SAFELY
//
CONNECT GATEWAYS
//
PSL Blvd Potential Gateway Feature The Promenade Bridge Plaza The Botanical Gardens Veterans Memorial Park Midport Lake Potential Gateway Feature
CONNECT BETTER
//
POTENTIAL PROJECTS: CONNECT
§ Increase Boating Opportunities
§ Connect the District with Trails
§ Enhance Streetscape (River to the Road)
§ Strengthen the Brand across the District
§ Pedestrian Connections + Expanded Parking at Veterans Memorial Park
SECTION
THE LESSONS LEARNED
THE MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK:
§ GET COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK/ INVOLVEMENT EARLY AND OFTEN
§ A DIVERSE TEAM ON THE PLANNING SIDE PUSHES THE OVERALL SOLUTION OR SERIES OF SOLUTIONS
§ A GREAT TEAM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS – LEAN ON EXPERTISE. DON’T ALWAYS RELY ON PLANNERS.
§ THINGS TAKE TIME! TO FUND…TO IMPLEMENT. NEEDED TO ALSO PACKAGE THOSE FUNDING/ PHASING RECOMMENDATIONS DIFFERENTLY.
§ PROCESS IS IMPORTANT – COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SIDE OF LA/ PLANNING
§ CREATE A NARRATIVE / CULTIVATE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACE
§ STRIVE TO CREATE DIVERSE SETS OF EXPERIENCES – NOT THE SAME STORY OVER AND OVER.
§ DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY NO.
SECTION
NEXT STEPS
ONGOING EFFORTS // PHASES
ONGOING: BRANDING PHASE WILDERNESS
GRANT .
QUESTIONS
RECONNECTING TO THE RIVER
The Port District Master Plan