2015 Delta Park Vision Plan

A New Vision For Delta Park

Restoring a Brownfield in Chicopee, Massachusetts Prepared by Beth Batchelder and Rachel Lindsay 路 The Conway School 路 Spring 2015

Index of Sheets 1 Envisioning a New Park 2 An Industrial Past 3 Regional Connections 4 Watersheds 5 Hydrology 6 Slopes, Drainage & Wetlands 7 Vegetation 8 Safety & Views 9 Summary Analysis 10 Passage Through Time: Alternative 1 11 Come Together: Alternative 2 12 Destination Delta: Alternative 3 13 An Industrial Legacy: The Final Design

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Construction Phases Final Plan Sections The Steam Plant Meadow: Design Details The Steam Plant Meadow 2: Design Details The Exchange Street Entrance: Design Detail The Depot Street Entrance: Design Details Invasive Plant Management Planting Palette Planting Details & Land Management Habitat Restoration Materials & Precedents Cost Estimation References, Contacts, & Image Sources

Chicope

e River

Project Description Delta Park is a 40-acre site at the confluence of the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers. The City of Chicopee acquired the property of the former Hampden Steam Plant when it was demolished in 1992. The adjacent property, site of the former Moore Drop Forge Plant, is owned by the Danaher Corporation. Since the closing of the two industrial plants, the site has been closed to the public.

Most residents of the city are unaware of its existence.

In the most recent Open Space and Recreation Plan submitted in April 2015, residents of Chicopee expressed their desire for more space for outdoor recreation near downtown. In response, the City of Chicopee has requested a master plan for Delta Park. The City would like the plan to:

City Property

§ ¦ ¨ ¦ ¨ § 391

West Springfield

Delta Park is located in the southwest part of Chicopee at the confluence of the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers. The park is separated from Chicopee Center to the east by Interstate 391 and an active railroad corridor. Across the Chicopee River to the north is another open space that is publicly accessible and has similar vegetative characteristics as Delta Park. To the south, the park is bordered by the Dwight Canal, which also runs adjacent to the Lyman and Cabotville Mills, formerly active but now brownfield sites.

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Brownfield Remediation The eastern part of the delta is the former Moore Drop Forging site. A Phase I environmental assessment done in December 1988, before the plant was removed in the early 2000s, found petroleum products in the soils on and around the Danaher property. Since the assessment, the Danaher property and some of the adjacent city property has been under remediation, which is proposed to continue for the next fifteen to twenty years. Remediation equipment in a structure by the entrance to the Danaher property extracts free floating oil in the soil and groundwater from wells throughout the site. The remediation impacts creating a public park here in two ways. First, 33 testing and remediation wells are located on city property and will most likely need to be fenced off.

Second, further remediation, including potential site modification, will need to take place prior to public use of the remediation area.

The west end of the park is where the former Hampden Steam Plant was located. Built in 1918, the coal-powered plant was operational until 1962 and was demolished in 1992. Parts of the building that could not be recycled were buried in the structure’s foundation and the site has since been capped. According to Phase I of an environmental assessment done by Tighe & Bond in February 2014, asbestos has been found in the soil on the site but is contained by the capping. Petroleum was also detected in the soils of the former steam plant but, according to the report, was attributed to the adjacent Danaher property contamination. Upon determination of future use for this site, more environmental assessments will Testing areas like this take away from the natural aesthetic of the park need to be conducted.

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Chicopee River Chicopee Center

Active Rail

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Northern Open Space

Former Lyman & Cabotville Mills

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

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A New Vision for Delta Park

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Envisioning A New Park

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

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Connecticut River

Situated between the cities of Holyoke and Springfield in Western Massachusetts, Chicopee grew as an industrial center in the early 1900s. Today it is part of the most densely populated area of western Massachusetts.

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Population: 55,298 City area: 24 square miles

Danaher Property

Remediation Area on City Property

Former Hampden Steam Plant

• Design passive recreation opportunities for the public.

• Connect Delta Park to the proposed Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway.

• Protect and improve wildlife habitat and ecosystems on the highly disturbed area.

Area Around Delta park

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Envisioning a New Park

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Access Road

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Two of the four access ways onto the former steam plant site stretched towards Chicopee Center. To the right (south) an access road crossed the flooded land close to the industrial canal that was being constructed. To the left (north), the end of the former railroad can be seen.

In addition, the plant’s tailrace (water channel), which was under construction, is visible. Aside from the tailrace outlet, the other roads in this picture no longer exist.

Due to the construction and clearing of forest, Delta Park’s ecosystem has been forever altered.

Tailrace Outlet

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

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A rail line was built across the Chicopee River to the north to bring fill in from a borrow pit on the northern side of the delta. This fill was used to build up the footprint for the steam plant. While the rail trestles are no longer present, you can still see the depression of the borrow pit. The footprint of Hampden Steam Plant is still above the highwater line today because of the transferred fill that created the foundation for the building and main access road.

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An Industrial Past

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A New Vision for Delta Park

The main access road into the site, which still exists today, was built up on fill. To the right, you see the raised fill that later became the railroad that would bring coal to the steam plant. This picture not only shows the former railroad but also shows how the area was historically flooded.

Hampden Steam Plant The former Hampden Steam Plant was a large structure situated on the bank of the Connecticut River. The structure and water intake can be seen as well as the shoot used to transfer coal from the train to the plant. The footprint of the former plant encompassed a large area on the river’s edge.

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At the turn of the twentieth century, Delta Park was significantly altered by the construction of the Hampden Steam Plant. Although only the land forms of the intake and outlet remain, the industrial legacy of the site is something to be honored.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

An Industrial Past

Regional Connections Mass Pike

I-391 Exit 3

Future Plans

Medina Street Boat Ramp Chicopee

(PVPC) is spearheading the planning of

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Chicopee Center

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I-391 Exit 2

This document was funded through Live Well Springfield.

For more information, visit www.livewellspringfield.org.

2 The Medina Street Boat ramp is the future trail head site where the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway will continue north along the dike. Plans are completed to create eleven parking places and 2.5 miles of trail from here north along the dike. The City of Chicopee hopes construction will start in the spring of 2016.

Active Railroad

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

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Designed Canalwalk Section

Active Railroad

DELTA PARK Chicopee, MA

Supported by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Springfield was completed ten years ago and included the construction of two accessible pedestrian and bike bridges. This September 2014 850’ bridge over the railroad allows the path to continue from downtown north to the border of Chicopee.

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st Springfield Riverwalk – 2.0 miles in a loop und Riverdale Shops.

For information on 1 events happening along the River alk visit the City of Springfield Department of Parks and section of the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway in Recreation at:The www3.springfield-ma.gov/park

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more information, visit ng the route north For from Plainfield Street to www.livewellspringfield.org. copee downtown. After crossing the Chicopee er, the route willonuse the happening riversidealong landthe west of For information events River Walk visit the City of Springfield Department of Parks flood control dike between the Medina Streetand at: www3.springfield-ma.gov/park t rampRecreation and Nash Field.

copee Canalwalk – 2.1 miles, extending the rent segment further east and west along the copee River to Chicopee Falls.

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Delta Park

Delta Park

Supportedthat by the Valley of a canalwalk hasPioneer been built (3) Planning Commission. are within a half-mile of Delta Park.

A er Walk Segments Under Design proposed link between these sections document was funded through wouldThis pass through Delta Park and cross Live Well Springfield. copee – 4.9 miles; the I-391 corridor will the Chicopee River.

September 2014

Built Canalwalk Section

River

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Google Earth Image

Boat Launches

Local and Regional Access

The Medina Street Boat Ramp is operated by the Massachusetts State Department of Fish and Game for the purpose of giving fishermen access to the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers. It does not allow recreational kayakers or canoers to launch their boats at this location.

Delta Park is easily accessible from neighboring cities by car via highway I-391. There are two exits a half-mile from the entrance to Delta Park, a distance that can be covered by car in less than ten minutes. Chicopee center is one-third of a mile from the park, or a fifteen-minute walk. A bus stop at town hall links Chicopee to the Springfield bus station, five miles to the south.

Over 2,000 residents live in Chicopee Center within one mile of Delta Park.

There are no public recreational boat launches in Chicopee. The two closest public recreational boating launches are both on the west side of the Connecticut River, three-and-a-half miles south on Riverdale Street in West Springfield, and five miles north at Jones Ferry Road in Holyoke. The City of Chicopee would like to explore the possibility of a recreational boat launch at Delta Park.

An active railroad passes along the eastern edge of the property. The closest stations are Northampton, eighteen miles to the north, and Springfield, five miles to the south. There is no train station in Chicopee.

Although the park is a short distance from downtown, it is isolated from the residential and business district by a raised highway and active railroad. To increase usership of the park, it may be necessary to place signs downtown directing visitors to the entrance.

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Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

st Springfield.a 20-mile multi-use trail from Holyoke to Chicopee Canalwalk – 2.1 miles, extending the Agawam. Planning for the trail network current segment further east and west along the overimmediately twenty years ago.

There are st of the path began will run adjacent Chicopee River to miles Chicopee Falls.and 9 more miles 8.25 completed he banks of the Connecticut River, passing designed. ough a continuous greenbelt and offering West Springfield Riverwalk – 2.0inmiles in a loop A completed section Springfield jestic river views.

Where a riverside route is around Riverdale stopsShops. at the border of Chicopee (1). A easible, connections will be using River onsection along themade Connecticut eet bike lanes. that is fully designed (2) and a section

I-391

A New Vision for Delta Park

a half-mile mile of Chicopee Center, and along a proposed regional

Chicopee – 4.9 miles; the I-391 corridor will bike trail. bring the route north from Plainfield Street to Chicopee downtown.

After crossing the Chicopee Connecticut Riverwalk River, the route use Walk the riverside ure plans for and thewill River will seeland it west of Bikeway the flood control dike between the Medina and to a 20-mile corridor that connects Street boat ramp andThe Nash Field.

Pioneer Valley Holyoke, Planning Commission awam, Chicopee, Springfield, and

Regional Connections

River Walk Segments Underlies Design Delta Park between major regional transportation routes, within

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Designed Bike trail 2.5 miles north to Nash Field

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

through a continuous greenbelt and offering majestic river views. Where a riverside route is unfeasible, connections will be made using onstreet bike lanes.

Endangered Species and Species of Special Concern

Chicopee River Watershed

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Delta Park ●

Delta Park

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The Connecticut River watershed is home to federally threatened and endangered species including the shortnose sturgeon, piping plover, puritan tiger beetle, dwarf wedgemussel, small whorled pogonia, Jesup’s milk-vetch and Northeastern bulrush. Restoring native habitat to Delta Park and other areas along the Connecticut River will help improve the chances of survival for these species.

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

Chicopee River Watershed

Bald eagles use floodplain forests along the Connecticut River for nesting habitat and perch in tall trees along the river to fish.

The dwarf wedgemussel is a federally endangered species of freshwater mussel. It is threatened by contamination such as agricultural runoff.

The Chicopee River watershed is the largest sub-basin of the Connecticut River Watershed. The 721-square-mile watershed encompasses 32 towns and the Quabbin Reservoir, which is the source of public drinking water for both Boston and Chicopee. The Chicopee River drops 250 feet in elevation over the course of 17 miles, resulting in a highvelocity river ideal for harvesting power. In the late 1800s, industry grew rapidly along the Chicopee River. Today there are six hydroelectric dams along the river, and nearly 6,000,000 gallons of water a day enter the Connecticut River at the confluence. The seasonal water elevation changes measured on the Chicopee River three miles upstream of Delta Park show an annual average change of six feet from 2008 to 2015, contributing to annual flooding of the wetlands at Delta Park.

The end of the industrial era resulted in a reduction of contamination entering the rivers, and stricter environmental standards have contributed to improving the quality of the water. Today there are community efforts to improve the quality of the river and restore habitat along its shoreline, and the river is a popular feature in Chicopee for sport fishing. Restoring native species to Delta Park would contribute to the overall health of these watersheds and provide recreational and educational opportunities for residents.

Chicopee River Watershed Section 250 feet

Green Dragon is a relative of the Jack-in-the-pulpit and thrives in areas flooded annually. It is a state-listed threatened species because of loss of wetland habitat.

Shortnose sturgeon are among the most primitive bony fish. They are threatened by water contamination, dredging, and dams, which prevent their migration.

West Springfield

Connecticut DELTA I-391 Industrial Chicopee River PARK Mills Falls Dam Railroad

Indian Industrial Mills Orchard in Ware, MA Dam

Quabbin Reservoir

Ware Upper and Lower Dams

Powder Mill Dam

Barre Falls Dam

Bickford Reservoir and Dam

Watersheds

The largest watershed in the northeast, this area covers 11,260 square miles across five states and one county in Canada. There are sixteen hydroelectric and flood-control dams along the 410-mile main river, and over 1,000 dams along its tributaries. The speed and height of the river are impacted by the dams as well as by changes in seasonal precipitation. A stream gauge just upstream of Delta Park measured an average annual change in water level of seventeen feet from 2008 to 2015. The annual flooding along the coastline that these fluctuations cause creates unique habitat for wetland plants, fish, reptiles, and migratory birds. Roughly 60% of Delta Park is flooded annually (shown on sheet 5), creating wetlands that provide habitat for floodplain species but also pose a challenge for siting accessible trails.

A New Vision for Delta Park

Connecticut River Watershed

Connecticut River Watershed

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Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

The Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers are dynamic waterways that have historically driven industrial development. Their watersheds are regionally significant areas with critical habitat for migratory and rare species.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Watersheds

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

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Southern Floodplain Forest

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The extent of this zone creates a significant challenge for constructing a bicycle bridge across the mouth of the Chicopee River. A bridge would need to span the 250ʹ mouth of the river, could not impede flooding in large storm events, and would probably cost over one million dollars.

100 Year Floodplain

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Brush Hill Avenu e

FEMA National Flood Hazard ive Wm ec o Dr

The regulatory floodway covers the western and northern edges of the property and most of the wetlands to the north. Development within this area is federally restricted to protect areas elsewhere from increased flooding. The construction of any raised trails, bridges, or structures within this area would require federal, state and city permitting.

Connecticut Avenue

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Former Moore Drop Forge Plant

Connecticut River

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Regulatory Floodway

Chicopee River Pe r

Hayes Avenue

Niles Street

Orange Street

Massasoit Avenue

Annual flooding poses a significant challenge for siting trails and other recreational opportunities on the site. The design alternatives in this plan set are based on a threemonth study. Before construction, a more thorough analysis over several seasons should be conducted to determine locations for all-season trails.

Northern Floodplain Forest

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Brigh twate r Stree t

The amount of the site under water varies greatly depending on seasonal changes and water levels in the Chicopee and Connecticut Rivers, both of which have multiple hydroelectric dams that control flow volume. Based on field observations during the spring of 2015 and historical photographs, our estimated annual high water line covers 60% of the site in the early spring and in some storm events, leaving only the access road and former steam plant site accessible year-round. According to local ecologists and Chicopee officials, the amount and timing of the annual flooding varies greatly from year to year, and is impacted by the amount of precipitation, date of the first spring thaw, and control of the rivers upstream by hydroelectric dams.

A New Vision for Delta Park

Labelle Street

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City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

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The entire site lies within the 100-year floodplain, and the estimated annual high-water line covers roughly 60% of the site.

Trails should be contained to above the annual high-water line, or be constructed to withstand frequent flooding.

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Hydrology

The City of Chicopee zoning codes contain a Floodplain Overlay District for all land within the FEMA designated 100-year floodplain. Any development within this area must be designed to minimize or reduce the greater community’s exposure to flood damage.

Recreational uses are permitted within this area, including foot and bicycle paths, boating, and fishing. Structures for recreational purposes are permitted provided they do not raise the base flood level or impede water flow.

Most of the northern floodplain forest was under water on April 21, 2015.

Section of Delta Park with High Water Line and Hundred-Year Flood Line

By May 22, 2015 the water had receded and most of the forest floor was dry.

The dike creates a barrier to protect the land east of Delta Park from the 100-year flood.

100 Year Flood Line Mean High Water Line

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Connecticut River

Buried Steam Plant

Sunny Areas with Dense Understory

Floodplain Forest

Mowed Grass

Road

Dike

Former Moore Drop Forge Plant and Underground Oil Tanks

Railroad and Underpass Entrance

I-391

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

A dike constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers protects the adjacent Danaher property from 100-year floods. The 100year floodplain, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers the entire site.

Hydrology

100-Year Floodplain

Drainage

The former factory site and access road form a mostly flat terrace at 64 foot elevation with less than 5% slopes.

The terrain drops off to the north and south with steep banks over 20% slopes to level lowlands an average of 17 feet below.

Water drains quickly down the steep banks into the lowlands and the Chicopee and Connecticut Rivers. On the level lowlands there are areas of pooling. These areas are in designated wetlands. The road divides the Chicopee and Connecticut River watersheds.

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for accessible trails have design restrictions for any trail with over 5% slope. These restrictions limit the distance a trail can climb or descend before leveling off. Trails from the upper terrace to the lower terrace at Delta Park may require constructing raised platforms or cutting across the bank to meet ADA slope requirements.

Surface water flows quickly over unvegetated steep slopes.

The banks along the road at Delta Park are prone to erosion and should remain vegetated. Any trails should be sited perpendicular or diagonal to the flow of water to protect the banks from erosion, and any re-grading of the banks to site trails should be stabilized and planted with native groundcovers and woody shrubs that will protect them from erosion.

Surface Flow over Steep Slopes Surface Flow over Level Areas

64 ft elevation

Division between Chicopee and Connecticut River Sub-basins

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Former Hampden Steam Plant 47 ft elevation

Connecticut River Watershed

A New Vision for Delta Park

Slopes

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

The former steam plant site and access road are fairly level with banks that drop off at over 20% slopes to mostly level wetlands below. This elevation change averages seventeen feet over a distance of 60 feet, creating a significant challenge for siting accessible paths or trails.

Water Pools

0 - 5% Slopes 5 - 10% Slopes 10 - 20% Slopes >20% Slopes

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Wetlands and Environmental Buffers

DELTA PARK Chicopee, There are nine acres of deep marsh and fifteen acres of wooded deciduous swamp in the lowlands to the north andMA south

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The floodplain forest with mature cover of trees is classified by the Department of Environmental Protection as wooded deciduous swamp.

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Deep Marsh

The exposed former channel created by the Hampden Steam Plant outlet is classified by the Department of Environmental Protection as a deep marsh.

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

In total, 95% of the site falls within designated wetlands, wetland buffers, or Riverfront Resource Areas, all of which are regulated by the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and Chicopee Zoning Codes. Any trails, boardwalks, fencing or change in land cover will need to be approved by the Chicopee Conservation Commission and should have minimal negative impact on the water flow or vegetation in the wetlands, wetlands buffers, or Riverfront Resource Area.

Slopes, Drainage & Wetlands

Chicopee River

of the access road, covering a total of 60% of the site. These wetlands are designated by the Environmental Protection Agency and fall within the regulations of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Chicopee Conservation Commission. The Riverfront Resource Area covers a 200ʹ area along the edge of any perennial stream. The City of Chicopee Zoning Codes prohibits any alteration of these areas including dredging, filling, or building within the Riverfront Resource Area or within 100ʹ of wetlands.

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Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Chicopee River Watershed

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Slopes, Drainage & Wetlands

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The areas along the road and in the forest edges are above the high water line and have a high species diversity, including nine species considered invasive. Steep slopes that easily erode and sunny, disturbed soils provide ideal conditions for invasive plants to establish.

Most of this area has occasional 50ʹ - 70ʹ mature trees with a thick understory, with the exception of areas where thick stands of Japanese knotweed form a monoculture and where mature trees have been felled by beavers. Invasive management strategies for these areas are discussed on sheet 20. Species considered invasive by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) are marked with an X. Botanical Name

Invasive

Form

Alliaria petiolata

X

Herbaceous

Japanese Knotweed

Fallopia japonica

X

Herbaceous

Fringed Loosestrife

Lysimachia ciliata

Herbaceous

Virginia Knotweed

Persicaria virginiana

Herbaceous

Greater Celandine

Chelidonium majus

Herbaceous

Jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

Herbaceous

Gravel

Red-Osier Dogwood

Swida sericea

Shrub

Managed Vegetation

Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

X

Shrub

Morrow's Honeysuckle

Lonicera morrowii

X

Shrub

Glossy Buckthorn

Frangula alnus

X

Shrub

Multiflora Rose

Rosa multiflora

X

Shrub

Managed Vegetation

Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

Shrub

Herbaceous annual and perennial plants grow in mowed areas along the road and on the capped site where the Hampden Steam Plant is buried. A row of planted sycamore trees line Depot Street along the border of the Danaher property. These areas are fairly level and can be made accessible and attractive with little modification.

Shrub

Box Elder/Ashfleaf Maple

Acer negundo

Tree

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Tree

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Sweet Birch

Betula lenta

X

Tree Tree

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Tree

Poplar

Populus deltoides

Tree

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Tree

Pear

Pyrus sp.

Tree

Pin Oak

Quercus palustris

Tree

Staghorn Sumac

Rhus hirta

Tree

Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

American Elm

Ulmus americana

Tree

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Tree

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Tree

Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Tree

Oriental Bittersweet

Celastrus orbiculatus

River Grape

Vitis riparia

Vine

Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

Vine

X

X

Tree

Vine

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Connecticut River

Garlic Mustard

Salix discolor

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Common Name

Pussy Willow

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Area with Most Trees Removed by Beavers

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Sunny Areas with Dense Understory Japanese Knotweed Monoculture

Floodplain Forest

Floodplain Forest The ecological communities found in the lower forests are typical of major-river and transitional floodplain forests (NHESP 2007) and are unique ecosystems that thrive in areas that flood annually.

There is a marked absence of invasive species in these areas. The widely spaced 60' - 80' trees and dense, herbaceous layer dominated by ferns create a visually striking forest that is an attractive feature of the site. Care should be taken in the construction of trails to not overly disturb these forests and to preserve their ecological integrity.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Form

Kentucky bluegrass

Poa pratensis

Grass

Horsetail

Equisetum sp.

Herbaceous

Birdsfoot Trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

Herbaceous

Curly Dock

Rumex crispus

Herbaceous

Broadleaf Dock

Rumex obtusifolius

Herbaceous

Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Herbaceous

Goldenrod

Solidago spp.

Herbaceous

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Tree

Common Name

Botanical Name

Form

Wood Nettle

Laportea canadensis

Herbaceous

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Herbaceous

Sensitive Fern

Onoclea sensibilis

Herbaceous

Royal Fern

Osmunda regalis

Herbaceous

Arrow Alum

Peltandra virginica

Herbaceous

Poison ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

Herbaceous

Tussock Sedge

Carex stricta

Herbaceous

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Tree

Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Tree

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Vine

A New Vision for Delta Park

Former Hampden Steam Plant

Vegetation

Fj

Sunny Areas with a Dense Understory

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

Fj

Fj

7/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

There are three main zones of vegetation on the site: sunny areas with dense understory, high species diversity, and a strong presence of invasive species; managed vegetation; and mature floodplain forest with open understory.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Chicopee River

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Vegetation

Connecticut River

Hampden Steam Plant

13’5”

Dw

1

Constructed Barrier to Visibility Vegetated Barrier to Visibility

13’6”

igh tC

an

al

1

2

Blocked View Expansive Desirable View Partially Blocked Desirable View

2

ne o La

N

Access Road

d

Roa

4. The access road is bordered by thick

vegetation that blocks sight-lines into the forests.

Tw

5. Where there are gaps, there are

4

desirable views from the road down into the floodplain forest. The vegetation could be managed to create “windows” into the wetlands, improving the visitor’s experience.

6

View of the Rivers 6. The remains of the former steam plant

3

intake create a platform for viewing the Connecticut River.

7. At the north end of the Dike there are

expansive views across the Chicopee River to forested wetlands.

5

These desirable views are a feature of the site. Paths and trails should be designed to maximize views of the river for visitors while taking care to minimally impact the fragile banks and wetland vegetation.

7

8/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

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

The structural barriers to sight-lines pose a challenge to designing a safe and attractive entrance to Delta Park. Although it would require the construction of an additional bridge, the Exchange Street entrance may be worth developing for increased safety and access.

3

6 Former

1. The entrance to the property is on Depot Street

under the elevated highway I-391 and an active railroad.

The pass under the railroad is 13ʹ5˝ tall and 13ʹ6˝ wide, which allows only one vehicle to pass at a time and is too small for standard emergency vehicles such as ambulances or firetrucks to enter. From Depot Street, the road into the park cannot be easily seen through the narrow entrance and raised railroad.

According to the Chief of Police, Delta Park is not an area of high crime. Although the City is planning to include widening the entrance in the Regional Transportation Plan, it is a long-term project. The police department is currently investing in alternative vehicles for community policing, including bicycles and ATV vehicles, to better access parks and bike paths.

The Chief of Police believe that these will help the City address the safety concerns of citizens and that the current entrance dimensions should not be a barrier to opening the park to the public.

2. There is a tunnel under the same active railroad 600 feet south on Exchange Street. This underpass is two lanes wide, accessible to emergency vehicles, and provides better visibility entering than the northern underpass. Access to Delta Park from this underpass is blocked by the mouth of the Dwight Canal, and a bridge would need to be constructed to be able to use this as an entrance to Delta Park.

3. After passing under the railroad, visitors to Delta Park have to pass through an opening in the dike at the western edge of the former Moore Drop Forge Plant property to enter the city-owned property. The dike is 11 feet tall and blocks the views into the city property until visitors pass through the 20' opening. The opening has iron gates that seal the dike during flood events.

7

A New Vision for Delta Park

5

4

Safety & Views

Entrances

Chicopee River

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

For a public park to be successful, users must feel safe in the space. Perceived safety is based on the clarity of sight-lines, ambient light, proximity of other people, and appearance.

Wherever possible, obstructions to sight-lines should be avoided by placing gathering spaces in view of the main pathways and removing dense vegetation along paths.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Safety & Views

North Underpass De

pot

St.

Chicopee Center

E

t.

ge S

an xch

South Underpass

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

Invasive Zone • Vegetation in this zone consists primarily of invasive exotic species, especially Japanese geese has also been detected here. Any trails or activity planned knotweed and Oriental bittersweet. Siting for this zone should consider the impact on the wildlife. public trails in these areas would facilitate opportunities for management of these • The majority of this zone is subject to seasonal flooding. Any species. designs and subsequent construction should be sensitive to this disturbed and highly erosive area.

• This zone consists primarily of steep slopes with a few flat areas. If any vegetation is modified, it is essential to keep the slopes planted to

Managed Zone prevent erosion.

• While this zone is within the 100-year floodplain, it remains above • This zone is adjacent to the high-traffic the average seasonal high-water line. This makes this zone a prime Managed Zone in many places. Due to the area for heavy-use human activity as it is accessible year-round. height of much of the vegetation, “windows” • This zone includes the former Hampden Steam Plant on the should be created or targeted management west end, which has been found to contain asbestos within the should occur to address the visibility and safety entombed structure. Any vegetation or planned use for this area issues the vegetation creates. needs to avoid disturbing or exposing the contaminated soils.

• Parts of this zone contain testing wells from the • Due to the proximity to the rivers, this zone provides great viewing Danaher property. Potential enclosures and/ areas to the water. Structures or gathering spaces in these areas or continued management will be necessary if can make it easier for visitors to see the views. there is public access while remediation is still in process.

• Most of this zone is level with less than 5% slope. With little modification, the full extent of this zone could be ADA accessible.

• Evidence of wildlife such as beavers and Canada

N

• The dike enclosing the Danaher property in this zone is mown.

There are desirable views of the Chicopee River from on top of the dike.

Entrance Zones • A narrow entrance under a railroad at Depot Street and a dike block views to the Chicopee River and to the rest of the site. The City plans to improve the access and visibility of this area in the future but until then, constraints here are not seen as a barrier to opening the park to the public. Future plans for the road and entrances will have to account for a multi-use path that addresses potential traffic, safety and emergency access issues.

• The underpass at Exchange Street is wide enough for two lanes of traffic and emergency vehicles. Human-centered functions like parking or gathering should be contained to this flat area. An alternate entrance to the park should be considered from the city parcels on the south.

9/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Dike

A New Vision for Delta Park

• The vegetation in this area is a mix of floodplain and transitional floodplain forest species with a dominant overstory of silver maples with other trees such as cottonwood and pin oak interspersed. The understory primarily consists of ostrich fern and poison ivy. Care needs to be taken when placing a trail through this area to plan for pedestrians interacting with poison ivy as well as taking into consideration soil compaction, erosion, and potential destruction of habitat within this delicate wetland ecosystem.

• There are very few shrubs or vines in this zone, which is typical of a floodplain. The contrast between the herbaceous layer and the overstory is attractive.

• This zone is within the 100-year floodplain and is subject to seasonal flooding. Paths within this area need to use materials intended to interact with water.

• The north side has gentle slopes in most parts.

This could potentially provide access points for canoes and kayaks.

• Evidence of wildlife such as beavers and Canada geese has been detected. Increased human activity through this area could disrupt habitat and nesting areas and trails should be planned in such a way as to impact wildlife as little as possible.

Summary Analysis

Floodplain Zone

Railroad

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Although Delta Park has challenging site conditions, most issues can be overcome to open a beautiful space for public access.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Summary Analysis

ay ew ik B ion to ect ge nn rid Co

B

Outlook Over Dike Open Field

Construction Completed, Open to Public Design Plans Completed/Underway Proposed/Potential Linkages

Accessible Footpaths

PROS • The most feet (6,450) of ADA accessible paths among these alternatives • 20 parking spaces near kayak/canoe launch • Open field for sports use • Outlook on the dike for birdwatching and views of the river • 12-foot elevated rail trail follows the historic train line • Lookout platform over the former steam plant intake CONS • Elevated boardwalk and bridge are big expenses • Cars, bikes and pedestrians must share the narrow entrance

Co nn Ca ectio nal n Wa to lk

Pollinator Meadow & Picnic Area Outlook at Former Intake

Regional Biketrail and Walkway Connections

Elevated Walkway

1

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

Building on a Legacy Through the Hampden Steam Plant’s operation into the early 1960s, a raised railroad on the south side of the building serviced the plant with coal. The elevated walkway in this design alternative, along with the lookout built on the former intake for the steam plant, help to show the site’s history when aided by interpretive signs throughout the park. With a better understanding of the historic remnants, visitors will walk away from the site with a better appreciation for the site and the role it played in Chicopee’s industrial history.

Accessible Footpath

N

Raised rail track that delivered coal to the former steam plant.

1

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Kayak/Canoe Launch

A New Vision for Delta Park

Visitors and bikers experience Chicopee’s industrial history as they pass through Delta Park.

Passage Through Time Alternative #1

Alternative #1

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

This plan seeks to highlight the park’s industrial history and connects the park to the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway, which runs through the site via a connecting bridge north over the Chicopee River. The route of the former raised railroad that brought coal out to the Hampden Steam Plant has been highlighted with a boardwalk raised twelve feet in the air. The water intake structure has been re-purposed as an lookout to the Connecticut River. The main trail passes by a pollinator meadow, parking lot near the kayak and canoe launch, a recreation field, and an lookout on the dike.

10/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Passage Through Time

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Regional Biketrail and Walkway Connections

Dog Park

Accessible Footpaths

Construction Completed, Open to Public Design Plans Completed/Underway Proposed/Potential Linkages

Co nn Ca ectio nal n Wa to lk

Public Art Space

Meadow Picnic Area with Kids Play Area

Wetland Boardwalk

Case Study: Fort River Birding & Nature Trail Hadley, MA

o et idg y Br ewa on Bik necti n Co

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

Pavilion/ Performance Space

PROS • 4,850 feet of accessible trails • 15 parking spaces near kayak/canoe launch • Dog park, kids’ play areas, flexible concert space, and art displays cover the space • A continuous greenway path along the Connecticut River connects to surrounding region CONS • Proposed bikeway requires two bridges to follow the shoreline, spanning both the Chicopee River and the Dwight Canal entrance • The 500-foot bridge over the Chicopee will require engineering expertise and increased funding • Some trails are likely flooded annually

Part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, the Fort River Birding & Nature Trail is a loop trail just over a mile long that meanders through floodplains and wetlands surrounding the Fort River, one of the longest free-flowing tributaries in Massachusetts. The trail consists of both on-ground walkways with stone dust and raised boardwalks that weave between the trees. Like this raised walkway, the proposed boardwalk for Delta Park would offer views of the floodplain forest ecosystem without damaging the forest floor.

N

An elevated boardwalk proves to be a new way to view nature.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Br id Co Bik ge nn ew to ec ay tio n

Kayak/Canoe Launch

A New Vision for Delta Park

From bike paths and dog parks to art and concerts, this plan brings the community together in a lively Delta Park.

Come Together Alternative #2

Alternative #2

11/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Come Together

In this alternative, regionally connected paths and activities for all bring people into an active park.

Cars can now be parked adjacent to the kayak and canoe launch between the dike and dog park. All paths, including those on the two new bridges over the Chicopee River and Dwight Canal, lead to a performance space with art displays, kids’ play-spaces, and picnic areas. Footpaths lead visitors through the floodplains while a boardwalk protects the forest floor and gives views through healthy wetlands.

Accessible Footpaths

Lookout Over Wetland Meadow

Pollinator Meadow

Regional Biketrail and Walkway Connections

Reforested Woodland with Outdoor Classroom

Trail with Lookouts

Shrubland Habitat

Construction Completed, Open to Public Design Plans Completed/Underway Proposed/Potential Linkages PROS • 4,250 feet of accessible paths • Reforests 1.5 acres with native plant species • Two outdoor classrooms provide space for educational programming • All trails are above the annual high-water line • Lowest budget option CONS • No regional connection to bike or walking paths, and no additional entrances • No access to the lower floodplain forests • Boaters need to port their canoes and kayaks from outside the park

Co nn Ca ectio nal n Wa to lk

Covered Picnic Areas

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

Case Study: Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary Easthampton, MA

Outdoor Classroom

With five miles of trail, this Massachusetts Audubon sanctuary is a large reserve set in an attractive setting at the confluence of the Mill and Connecticut Rivers. It has places for children to build things and interact with nature, a great blue heron rookery, and many interpretive features such as a sensory trail for blind patrons. The “Destination Delta” plan seeks to use the park much like Mass Audubon with educational spaces that welcome people of all ages to learn about and enjoy this natural ecosystem.

Accessible Path

N

Children interact with and learn about nature as they play in the woods.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Kayak/Canoe Launch

A New Vision for Delta Park

Delta Park is transformed into a wildlife refuge, welcoming visitors to explore the woods and floodplain forests.

Destination Delta Alternative #3

Alternative #3

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

In this design, Delta Park becomes an end destination as the main Connecticut Bikeway connection crosses the Chicopee River east over an existing vehicular bridge.

This plan maximizes the ecological potential of the site by re-vegetating areas of invasive species and keeping paths away from designated wetlands. The area near the kayak and canoe launch has been reforested to become a teaching space while a trail surrounding a meadow south of the kayak and canoe launch has views into the wetland.

A pollinator meadow at the former steam plant has picnic tables and a path leading to a raised outdoor classroom overlooking the floodplain forest.

12/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Destination Delta

Kids’ Play Area

Rain Garden

Trail

Accessible Trails

Sycamore Aleé

Mu

wa y

lti-U

W alk

Lookout

se P ath

to Chicopee Center and the Canalwalk

ilr oa

d

Water Station & Bike Racks

Ra d ise

Pollinator Meadow

Wil

Mowed Path With Lookouts

Ra

Wetland Shrubs

dflo we rM

ead

ow

Lookout on the Steam Plant Intake

Welcome Center Depot Street Entrance

Picnic Areas Covered Pavilion

Steam Plant Outlet

Kids’ Play Area

lk wa

d oar

dB

tlan We

Lookouts

AN

RIV

TC

dM

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

ath eP

Us

ulti

ER

ise

UT

Ra

TIC

IGH

EC

DW

NN

• A total of 1.5 miles of accessible multiuse paths provide space for visitors of all abilities to run, walk, or bike for exercise and pleasure. Visitors can choose between looped trails for short excursions, or continue through the park across the Chicopee River or Dwight Canal to reach the neighborhoods to the north and south.

• City residents who may not have outdoor space to let their pets run enjoy the oneacre dog park.

• Families with small children gather at the play areas and picnic pavilions.

Accessible Trail

AL

Outdoor Classroom

• A 12-foot tall raised railroad walkway along the original route used to deliver coal to the plant allows visitors to walk through the canopy of a mature silver maple forest.

• A lookout on the former intake offers visitors expansive views of the Connecticut River and provides a place for educational materials about the Hampden Steam Plant.

• Visitors pass the former outlet at the head of the steam plant’s channel on a wetland boardwalk that winds for 1/3 mile through the forest.

Recreational Highlights

Restored Floodplain Forest

CO

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Picnic Pavilion

N

Parking

Ecological Highlights

Exchange Street Entrance

• Wet and dry sedge meadows replace thick stands of Japanese knotweed in the northern floodplain forest, increasing wood duck forage and nesting habitat.

• Wetland shrubs replace smooth buckthorn and bittersweet to increase migratory bird habitat.

• Wildflower meadows attract pollinators, reduce mowing costs and contamination, and add color to the former steam plant site and dike.

Connection to the CT Riverwalk and Bikeway South

N

13/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Dog Park

The final design honors the history of Delta Park by tracing the remnants of the Hampden Steam Plant through the landscape. The park connects to the Canalwalk and the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway. The variety of recreational and educational opportunities for people and restored habitat for wildlife bring new life to this nowformer brownfield site.

Connection Historical Highlights

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Portable Restrooms

Parking

Dry Sedge Meadow

The Final Design

E RIVER

Lookout and Fishing Spot

A New Vision for Delta Park

Wet Sedge Meadows

Connection to CT Riverwalk & Bikeway North

An Industrial Legacy

CHICOPE

An Industrial Legacy The Final Design

Canoe and Kayak Access

9

9

1

25

22 23

21

Platform

27 Native Trees: Red

28

8

Phase 2: The construction of a bridge over the mouth of the Dwight Canal and an extension of the multi-use path creates a loop and second entrance to the park, and connects to the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway to the south. A new parking lot and welcome sign increase the potential usership and safety of the park.

6

10

8 2

33

31

11 1

10 5

Bikeway Bridge

1

Ci ty P Da rop e P r na op he rty er r ty

4

3

35 Parking Under I-391 36 CT Riverwalk and

30

8 6

Restrooms

Maple, Red Oak, Serviceberry 28 Open Meadow 29 Trail

29 9

Walkway

32 Wetland Boardwalk 33 Wildflower Meadow 34 Welcome Center /

6

34

35

32 33

7

Phase 3: The Danaher property outside of the dike is acquired or an agreement is reached to develop additional trails, boardwalks, and recreational spaces.

Additional parking is created under I-391, and there is a welcome center and restrooms in the existing building inside the park. A bridge over the Chicopee River connects to the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway north.

Phase 1

Phase 1 Multi-Use Path Pollinator Meadow Picnic Areas Picnic Pavilion Natural Kid's Play Area Lookouts Managed Japanese Knotweed with Restored Forest Floodplain Species 8 Managed Invasives, Re-vegetated with Native Shrubs for Bird Habitat: Vibernums, Elderberry, Dogwoods, Chokeberry, and Spicebush 9 Managed Japanese Knotweed with Re-vegetated Sedge Meadow 10 Accessible Trails 11 Water Station and Bike Racks 12 Outdoor Raised Classroom 13 Canoe / Kayak Access 14 Drop-off for Boaters 15 Temporary Portable Restrooms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

10

12 10

Phase 2

16

16 Extended Multi-Use Path 17 Bridge Across the Dwight Canal 18 Additional Parking 19 Welcome Sign 20 Native Shrubs: Viburnums, Ser-

20 19

viceberry, Red Osier Dogwood

Phase 2

N

17

18

N

Phase 3

N

N

14/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

35

15 14 24 13

Lookouts

31 Raised Railroad

A New Vision for Delta Park

Phase 1: Paths and elements are built on land currently owned by the City of Chicopee. A multi-use path enters the park at Depot Street and circles a meadow and picnic places at the Former Hampden Steam Plant site. A canoe launch has a high-water landing and a path for low-water access. Delta Park is a functioning public park with one entrance and rehabilitated wildlife habitat.

27

30 Mowed Path with

Construction Phases

10

21 Kids’ Play Area 22 Picnic Pavilion 23 Sycamore AlleÊ 24 Expanded Parking 25 Fenced Dog Park 26 Outlook / Fishing

26

r ahe Dan rty e p Pro erty p Pro

13

City

The Delta Park is constructed in three phases.

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

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Phase 3

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Construction Phases

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

c b a a

el

dl bl

d al

Al

A Trails Through a Lookout Sedge Meadow

Meadow with Mowed Paths

Picnic and Play Area

Meadow

MultiUse Path

Regenerated Forest

Multi-Use Path

Section A-Al: The former Hampden Steam Plant Site is an open meadow with mowed paths, picnic and play areas, and a connection to a bridge across the

cl

Key Plan

Chicopee River.

B

N

Bl Chicopee River

Resting Station

Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge

Multi-Use Path

Regenerated Forest and Wetland Shrubs

Trail

Raised Railroad Walkway

Wetland Boardwalk

Section B-Bl: A multi-use path follows the center to the site from the Depot Street entrance to the former Steam Plant site. To the north, a bridge crosses the Chicopee; to the south, the footpaths, elevated walkway, and wetland boardwalk provide access for visitors to the beautiful floodplain forests without damaging the fragile ecosystems.

C

Resting Path to Station Depot Street

Lookout

Intersection with Raised Railroad

Intersection with Trails

2% Slope Across Dwight Canal

Bridge Foundation at Exchange Street Entrance

Section C-Cl: The multi-use path follows the Connecticut River coastline, crossing the Chicopee River south of the Medina Street trail head, passing through the former Hampden Steam Plant site, and continuing along a raised boardwalk that ramps up to the foundation of a former bridge at the southern entrance to the park.

D

Dl

Connecticut River

Forested Bank

Path Pavilion

Picnic and Play Area

MultiUse Path

Wetland Shrubs

Path

Section D-Dl: On the former Hampden Steam Plant site, a pavilion and picnic area with children's playscape are flanked on the either side with steep slopes down to the Connecticut River on the west and shrubland bird habitat to the east.

E

El

Chicopee River

Lookout Path

Fenced Dog Park

Play Area

Multi-Use Path

Trail

Entrance to Raised Railroad Walkway

Floodplain Forest

Section E-El: Phase three creates an additional gathering space north of the main path, with a lookout

platform, dog park, and additional children's play area. To the south of the main path, a trail descends into the floodplain forest and the raised railroad walkway provides universal access to the lower forests.

15/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Bridge Across the Chicopee River

Final Plan Sections

Cl

Northern Open Space with Access from Medina Street

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

A New Vision for Delta Park

Chicopee River

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

e

Final Plan Sections

Re-vegetated Floodplain

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Ex ch St ang re et e

l

Cana

Kids’ Play Areas

reet

ot St

Dep

Lookouts

Steam Plant Meadow

ht Dwig

Design Details

Connecticut River

C

eR

pe

o hic

r ive

N

The kids’ play area includes a mixture of elements found in the natural landscape. In addition to a more traditional play structure, a dry stream bed weaves through the playground that kids can play in and jump over (1). Children entertain themselves in a system of tunnels made with willow branches (2) and log stepping stones (3).

3

Shrubland

1

2

N

Lookouts

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

Re-Vegetation

Lookout platforms on the former steam plant intake and along the multi-use path provide views across the Connecticut River and into the flood plain forests. The five lookouts in the park are suitable for a variety of activities including resting, fishing, and gathering for educational programming.

The former steam plant footprint and surrounding areas are seeded with a native wildflower mix to become a pollinator meadow. Mowed areas for picnic tables create nooks for family gatherings (1). The area to the north of the plant is converted into a shrubland on the steepest slopes and a sedge meadow that visitors can stroll through (2). Just to the east of the plant, a lookout and trails provide views into a sunny wetland shrub area with native plants that offer a wide range of habitat for wildlife (3). Bird boxes dot the landscape for cavitynesting birds.

3 2

1

2

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Sedge Meadow

Design Details

Pollinator Meadow

The Steam Plant Meadow

Lookout

Kids’ Play Area

A New Vision for Delta Park

Picnic Areas

16/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

The Steam Plant Meadow

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Water Station & Bike Racks

Bridge Across the Chicopee River

Multi-Use Paths

Multi-Use Path

Visitors of all abilities can bike, walk, or jog through the main arteries of the park. The size and materials vary, from the 20-feet wide asphalt road at the Depot Street entrance to the 8.5-feet wide raised boardwalk at the Exchange Street entrance. Visitors can rest on benches along the side of the path, sited to maximize views into the adjacent floodplain forests.

N

Outdoor Classroom

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

Educational groups and recreational birders and nature-lovers can gather in larger groups at the outdoor classroom. Local birding groups, nearby schools, and Massachusetts Audubon may use this park to educate people about the site’s floodplain ecosystem as well as the city’s industrial history. Areas like this boardwalk at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary provide a space for education and immersion in nature. In further planning, the boardwalks and classrooms should be designed to have minimal impact on the forest, including incorporating mature trees into the path of the boardwalks as features rather than removing them.

Bridge Across the Chicopee River A 250-foot pedestrian bridge connects Delta Park to the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway trail head at Medina Street, allowing pedestrians and bikers safe access to northern Chicopee. The bridge is elevated at 65 feet above sea level to accommodate for floodwaters and for trails to pass underneath. The bridge is included in phase 3 of the plan to accommodate for the involved engineering and planning process that a suspension bridge spanning the 250-foot mouth of the Chicopee River will require.

Northern Open Space with Access from Medina Street

Bridge Across the Chicopee River

Path Under the Bridge

Path Under the Bridge

Resting Station

Path to Depot Street

17/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

N

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Covered Pavilion

C

Design Details

Outdoor Classroom

reet

ot St

Dep

r

ive

eR

e op hic

Visitors to the park stop for a moment here and refill their water bottles or give their dogs some water at the drinking fountain. A few benches nearby give people a place to rest while bike racks give visitors a place to store their bikes as they go explore the park’s trail system. Restroom facilities are also available in this area.

A New Vision for Delta Park

l

Cana

Ex ch St ang re et e

Rest Area

Steam Plant Meadow

ht Dwig

Design Details

Connecticut River

The Steam Plant Meadow 2

The Steam Plant Meadow 2

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

l

Cana

Ex ch St ang re et e

ht Dwig

Design Details

Connecticut River Exchange Street Entrance

reet

ot St

Dep

C

r

ive

eR

e op hic

N

N

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

Exchange Street Entrance An additional entrance at Exchange Street creates a loop that connects to the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway to the south, improving the recreational potential and safety of the Delta Park.

This entrance requires the construction of a bridge across the Dwight Canal to take advantage of the additional space for parking and wider entrance under the railroad that accommodates emergency vehicles. Visitors can park along Exchange Street, where there are orientation and interpretation signs at the entrance to the park. Restroom facilities are also in this area.

Bridge Across the Dwight Canal The multi-use boardwalk rises at a 2% slope to cross the Dwight Canal and meet grade where a footing from a former bridge across the Connecticut River still remains. The construction of the bridge will create a second entrance to the park, creating a potential loop for increased recreational use of the park and improved safety.

2% Sloped Raised Multi-use Boardwalk

Dwight Canal

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Additional Parking

This 8.5-foot wide boardwalk connects the steam plant meadow to the Exchange Street entrance, through the floodplain forest. At 4.5 feet above the ground, the multi-use boardwalk remains above the annual highwater line and is accessible yearround. The height also allows for the ferns and wood nettle to grow underneath, maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem and allowing wildlife to pass underneath.

Design Details

Raised Multi-Use Path

Exchange Street Entrance

Exchange Street Entrance

Bridge Across Dwight Canal

A New Vision for Delta Park

Raised Multi-Use Path

Bridge Foundation at Exchange Street Entrance

18/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Exchange Street Entrance

Ex ch St ang re et e

Northern Park

In the first phase, the gravel parking area near the canoe and kayak access point is used as a drop-off space for boats. In the second phase, it becomes a larger parking lot providing 13 parking spaces, three of which are universally accessible.

l

Cana

Depot Street Entrance

Raised Railroad Walkway

Parking

ht Dwig

Design Details

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Connecticut River

C

r

ive

eR

e op hic

N

Parking Phase 1

Parking Phase 2

Canoe/Kayak Access Path

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

To the Depot Street Entrance

Canoe/Kayak Access Path

N

N

N

Depot Street Entrance

Raised Rail Trail

The addition of terraced shade-tolerant plants, signs, and additional lighting at the narrow underpass at Depot Street creates a safer and more inviting entrance while the long-term process of expanding the entrance is underway.

After remediation at the Danaher property is complete, the building inside the park will be available for a welcome center, with information about the park and restrooms.

Following the path originally taken by the railroad constructed to bring coal to the steam plant, this raised walkway offers visitors expansive views into the floodplain forest. This trail is also a great place to observe wildlife, especially birds.

Canoe & Kayak Access Dog Park City residents with pets who may have no outdoor space benefit from a one-acre dog park with views across the Chicopee River and nearby picnic pavilion and kids’ play area.

Pet owners can enjoy a looped path with shade trees and benches while their pets run freely inside the fenced area.

Boaters can launch canoes and kayaks at the end universally accessible trail to the shore. The distance of the access point from the parking varies according to the water height. During seasonally flooded times, a resting space 100 feet down the trail serves as a put-in spot; when the water is low the path continues an additional 150 feet to the shore of the Chicopee River.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Dog Park

Design Details

Parking

Depot Street Entrance

Canoe/Kayak Drop-off

Canoe/Kayak Access Point

A New Vision for Delta Park

Parking & Restrooms

19/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Depot Street Entrance

New York City, NY The Bronx River flows twenty-three miles through suburban and urban communities.

The high amount of impervious surface surrounding the river contribute to high-volume flooding that erodes the river banks and degrades the quality of wildlife habitat.

Invasives including Japanese knotweed establish in large areas along the banks, choking out native plant communities and overgrowing trails. Since 2004, a diverse group of community organizations, government agencies, and non-profits have joined forces to restore the native forested wetlands. They have used federal and state grant money to: • Grub banks, install landscape fabric, and professionally manage herbicide applications to prevent the re-establishment of invasives; • Reforest with native species and monitor their establishment over time; • Design a GIS mapping tool for evaluating what zones of the watershed to prioritize; • Conduct studies in collaboration with research institutions. One recent study showed equal effectiveness but lower costs of continual cutting versus grubbing and removing the roots for Japanese knotweed management.

The high level of collaboration in the Bronx River Watershed has contributed to an overall reduction in the use of herbicides and increase in the efficacy of mechanical management through dedicated volunteer groups and community involvement.

Volunteers remove Japanese knotweed and install a wood duck nesting box along the Bronx River.

Fj

Fj Fj

Connecticut River

Sunny Areas with Dense Understory Fj

Japanese Knotweed Monoculture Gravel Managed Vegetation

N

Floodplain Forest

This team identified nine invasive species, located in the sunny areas with dense understory along the road and steep banks. A full list of plants in this area, including all the identified invasive species, can be found on sheet 9.

Japanese Knotweed

Oriental Bittersweet

Japanese knotweed is an upright, herbaceous perennial that can grow up to ten feet tall. It spreads via underground runners that can reach up to thirty feet in length.

Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous vine native to parts of Asia.

It winds around shrubs, trees, or fences and can reach up to 60 feet in height. It grows rapidly and produces abundant seeds for reproduction in late fall.

Fallopia japonica

Threat: This species degrades the structure and function of

the riparian zone by forming dense monocultures that reduce the regeneration of native plant species. The shallow root systems do not effectively stabilize soils, and allow for microerosion that gradually weakens steep banks. During large storm events, banks with a Japanese knotweed monoculture are more likely to erode than those with native vegetation.

Mechanical management:

Soil, runners, and the entire plant can be laboriously removed from the site. All plant parts must be removed for this treatment to be effective.

Repetitive cutting may be effective 1 when repeated every ten days for Japanese knotweed impedes access and native plant growth on the sunny northern slope between the several growing steam plant site and the Chicopee River. seasons.

Celastrus orbiculatus

Threat: Bittersweet dominates native plant communities

by filling the overstory with leafy vines, reducing light to the forest floor. The vines are much heavier than native varieties and the weight can pull branches down or topple trees. The berries are eaten by birds, who then spread the seeds in their droppings. Some studies have suggested that the berries are unhealthy for native birds.

Mechanical management:

Bittersweet can be effectively managed by cutting the vines in the spring and removing them from trees.

Vines should be cut as close to the root collar as possible.

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

To protect the integrity of the floodplain forest at Delta Park, the recommendation of this team is to work in consultation with licensed professionals to develop protocols that avoid herbicide application.

Mechanical methods such as repeated cutting can be used, are effective for smaller areas of invasives, and can be an opportunity to involve citizens in educational and community service activities at the park. Monitoring and evaluating of invasive species management techniques could be an educational opportunity for faculty and students at nearby Elms College.

2

Former Hampden Steam Plant

Herbicides can effectively control populations, but they also pose serious environmental and health risks. Some forms of glyphosate are lethal for wetland amphibians. In March 2015, the World Health Organization declared the most commonly applied herbicide, glyphosate, a probable human carcinogen. There are methods of minimizing the application of herbicides, but any use of herbicides within certified wetland buffers and in Riverfront Resource Areas will require permitting, additional planning, and monitoring of the site. Trained, certified applicators should be employed for this work.

The Bronx River Forest Floodplain

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

Fj

A New Vision for Delta Park

An ecological approach to determining what actions should be taken at Delta Park begins with examining each species to assess the impact it has on the native vegetation and wildlife habitat. We consulted with five local ecologists and invasive specialists to determine that, among the identified invasive species listed in the vegetation analysis on sheet 9, Japanese knotweed and oriental bittersweet pose the highest threats to the native plant communities at Delta Park and should be prioritized for management.

1

Invasive Plant Management

Invasive species management is a complex issue. In a floodplain, invasives often become established by debris washed downstream and left on the shoreline after flood waters recede. The re-establishment of invasives after flood events adds to the costs of management in a riparian zone. Species identified as invasive have aggressive growth habits, and several years of intensive control is often necessary to bring the population down to a manageable level.

Fj

Fj

Approximately ten acres of the site are dominated by invasive species. What management practices for invasives are most effective and ecologically appropriate is the subject of debate among ecologists. While removing invasive species can create additional space for native plants that provide wildlife habitat, the conventional herbicides used in management also have negative side effects.

Management Strategies

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Chicopee River

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Invasive Plant Management

2 Bitterweet vines overtake and weigh down native vegetation. Their weight can pull down trees on steep areas, destabilizing the banks.

20/26

10

The following native plants are selected for their wetland tolerance, ability to stabilize steep slopes, quality of forage for migratory birds, and aesthetic appeal. They are organized by their characteristics for site-specific areas of the park. More detailed designs will be needed for each area to create planting plans that include quantities, appropriate spacing, and installation requirements.

Bottlebrush Grass

Elymus hystrix

Riverbank Wildrye

Elymus riparius

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

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

2. Wetland Shrub Habitat These areas require invasive management, establishment of native plants, and regeneration of native overstory. Shrubs selected for their tolerance to flooding and forage for birds bring colorful flowers and berries to the landscape. Where invasives are cleared from steep slopes, bioengineering techniques with live stakes or branch layering should be used to stabilize the banks. Ernst Seeds is a source for native bioengineering materials. Details are shown on the following sheet.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Chokeberry

Aronia arbutifolia

Elderberry

Sambucus nigra

Common Blackberry

Rubus allegheniensis

Smooth Arrowwood

Viburnum dentatum

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

Silky Dogwood

Swida amomum

Red Osier Dogwood

Swida sericea

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Common Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Bebb's Willow

Salix bebbiana

Black Willow

Salix nigra

3. Regenerated Floodplain Forest This area requires management of Japanese knotweed. Care should be taken to protect native seedlings including silver maple and cottonwood to allow the forest cover to regenerate. Planting typical transitional floodplain forest species will help to restore this area.

9 7

7 1 2 2 5

7 7

2

6

6

8 3

4. Wet Meadow This area requires Japanese knotweed management followed by the establishment of wet-tolerant ferns, sedges, and grasses for the floodplain forest meadow. Ernst Seeds and New England Wetland Plants can tailor mixes for the floodplain forest.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Tussock Sedge

Carex stricta

Rice Cut Grass

Leersia Oryzoides

Fringed Sedge

Carex crinita

Bluejoint Grass

Calamagrostis canadensis

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

5. Pollinator Meadow New England Wetland Plants sells a mix of native grasses and wildflowers that attract birds, butterflies, and insects.

The mix should be applied over clean soil in the early spring or late fall for best germination, and mowed once a year in late fall to prevent woody species from establishing.

Name

Source

New England Showy Wildflower Mix

New England Wetland Plants

6. Meadow Mowing on the dike and lawn should be reduced to once a year to allow the species here to flower and create a pollinator meadow. A thin application of native wildflower seed mix can be spread over the current vegetation in early spring to increase the presence of native species.

7. Path Edges Native, shade-tolerant groundcovers and low herbaceous plants should be established along paths in the forest edges.

These attractive plants require little maintenance and their height allows for visibility into the forests.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Giant Solomon's Seal

Polygonatum biflorum vr. commutatum

Canade Anemone

N

8. Low-Mow Mix Open picnic and play areas should have a low-mow mix of grasses. The mix offered

by Prairie Nurseries contains six varieties of fescue, which are fine hardy grasses that grow only 3" - 6" tall, and clover can be added. Plant in the fall. These mixes can be mown once a month, reducing maintenance costs and fuel consumption.

Name

Source

Low-Mow Seed Mix

Prairie Nurseries

9. Rain Garden Stormwater runoff from the gravel parking lot is captured and infiltrated into a rain garden before draining into the wetlands. This swale is vegetated with low-growing plants to maintain sight-lines to the multi-use path. These native plants will also increase pollinator habitat.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnatum

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

New York Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensis

10. Park Trees A mix of native trees that provide spring flowers and fall color.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Pin Oak

Quercus palustris

Anemone canadensis

Red Maple

Acer rubrum Acer saccharum

Common Name

Botanical Name

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Sugar Maple

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum racemosum

Serviceberry

Amelanchier spp.

Wood Nettle

Laportea canadensis

Northern Blue Flag Iris

Iris versicolor

American Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

21/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Botanical Name

4

8 10

A New Vision for Delta Park

Common Name

4

Planting Palette

1. Dry Meadow This area requires Japanese knotweed management followed by the establishment of sedges and grasses. The majority of this area is above the high-water line. A mix of these native species that can withstand occasional flooding will stabilize the bank and provide an attractive, low cover that will maintain the views across the Chicopee River.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Key Plan

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Planting Palette

Bank stabilization is especially important in flood prone areas. There are several bioengineering methods of stabilizing banks using live vegetation. These methods should be used in areas where Japanese knotweed or other invasives are removed, or where path construction disturbs a contiguous sloped area.

Brush Layers

Branches of varying lengths, 3 - 4 thick

Erosion control geotextile fabric

2ʹ - 4ʹ long cuttings

Stream

1

Erosion control geotextile fabric

Stream bank

2ʹ - 3ʹ triangular spacing

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

Live cuttings 3/8˝ to 1 1/2˝ in diameter

Trench

Stream

2

Topsoil Layer

10° - 20° angle

Seeded grasses and sedges

Topsoil Deadwood stakes

Dead stake to secure fabric

Stream

Installed Brush Mattress

Seeded native grasses and sedges

Established living mattress

Stream Fiber roll

3 Top of bank Stakes Biodegradable twine

Gravel Soil Mix Stream

Trench and fiber roll Stream

Design options for toe of slope include fiber rolls, geobags, and logs

Live Stakes

Brush Layers

Brush Mattresses

Live stakes are dormant, woody cuttings of a species with the branches trimmed off. They quickly establish deep roots. They can be used alone or as stakes to hold down geotextile fabric or other erosion control bioengineering materials.

Brush layers are bundles of living branches placed in terraces along a bank and interspersed with soil. This technique is used to repair heavily eroded banks or areas where the soil has been removed as part of invasive remediation.

Brush mattresses are living branches laid in a criss-cross pattern across the surface of a bank to form a living ground cover. The mattress protects the soil and the established cover creates a sediment trap, reenforcing the banks.

Installation Notes: Stakes should be 3/8˝ to 1 1/2˝ diameter, and 2ʹ to 4ʹ long. Soaking before installing greatly increases survival and growth rate. Install at right angles to the slope in early spring or late fall, buds facing up, with at least 2/3 of each stake underground.

Installation Notes: Branches should be placed with 2/3 of the branches tilted into the slope and covered with soil. Growth tips should protrude from the bank. Geotextile wraps can be used to stabilize soil layers.

Branch bundles should be 3ʹ long and 4 to 3 branches thick.

Installation Notes: Place 3/8˝ to 3˝ diameter branches 2 to 4 thick with the basal end down-slope and secure them with stakes and biodegradable twine. A thick layer of soil over the entire mattress and irrigation will help to encourage sprouting.

Land Management in a Floodplain There are high environmental and financial costs to chemical intensive land management. Herbicide and fertilizer runoff can damage sensitive wetlands and pollute the rivers, and the labor and fuel costs of chemical applications and frequent mowing increase the maintenance budgets for parks. To minimize the negative impacts that land management may have in a floodplain, we recommend the following: • Use only organic fertilizers and nitrogen-fixing species to improve soil fertility. Red and white clover, hoary vetch, and sweet vetch are examples of native plants that will increase the availability of nitrogen in the soil.

• Plant a low-mow mix of grasses and clover to areas with high foot traffic, and mow paths through meadows rather than mowing large areas. This will both reduce fuel consumption and allow more grasses to bloom, improving pollinator habitat.

• Maintain vegetation on steep banks.

• Paths and trails above the high-water line should be 1/2˝ gravel or stone-dust to allow for stormwater infiltration and meet ADA requirements. Below the high-water line, paths should be compacted dirt or constructed boardwalks to avoid introducing fills and materials into the floodplain. ADA trail guidelines require surface materials that may not be appropriate in areas that are flooded annually, and the Chicopee Conservation Commission should be consulted to determine where exceptions to ADA guidelines may be necessary due to the fragility of the wetlands and hydrology of the site.

A New Vision for Delta Park

2/3 of cutting buried

Installed Brush Layers

Planting Details & Land Management

Mature Cuttings

Installed Cutting

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Bank Stabilization

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Planting Details & Land Management

22/26

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Due to its location on the Connecticut River and its uncommon ecosystem, Delta Park serves as a prime location for wildlife habitat.

Amphibians Many amphibians live in floodplain forests similar to Delta Park, some of which have been identified as species of conservation concern for floodplains. Many amphibians, such as leopard, pickerel and red spotted frogs, prefer small bodies of still, fish-less water such as vernal pools and nest in sunny open fields. Some of these species are either poached for pets or are killed while traveling between sites.

Spotted turtle

Wildlife at Delta Park

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

The following species have been identified at Delta Park.

Scientific Name

Common Name

Branta canadensis

Canada Goose

Poecile atricapillus

Black-capped Chickadee

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk

Picoides pubescens

Downy Woodpecker

Cyanocitta cristata

Blue Jay

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-winged Blackbird

Setophaga coronata

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Strophitus undulatus

Creeper

Castor

Beaver

A sunny patch east of the former Hampden Steam Plant currently has many invasive vines and shrubs. If this area were cleared of invasive species and replanted with native plants that co-evolved with the area’s wildlife, it could provide better forage and nesting habitat for animals in the area.

Construction & Wildlife With the potential for having many endangered species on site, any construction done at Delta Park, from planting to building trails and bridges, should take into consideration the wildlife impact. Here are a few suggestions to make Delta Park safe during this transition: • Build after the nesting season, which typically lasts through August. If this is not possible, protective netting can be used to prevent wildlife from nesting in the construction areas.

• Prior to mowing any of the grassland areas or maintenance of the shrublands, a visual sweep of the area should be conducted to check for bird or turtle nests. Mowing field from the center-out allows wildlife to escape to the field edges.

• All activity near vernal pools needs to be severely limited during their existence to allow for natural processes of many amphibians.

• Signs should be posted in the pollinator meadow during the breeding season to protect any ground-nesting wildlife.

• The existing power poles could be kept intact to give areas for birds to perch.

Pollinator Habitat Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths are vital parts of the ecosystem at Delta Park.

Adding pollinator meadows to open areas on the site will improve the health of the wetland ecosystem by diversifying vegetation and by attracting pollinators that help to fertilize other forest plants. According to local bird specialists, the sizes of the open areas at Delta Park are not sufficient for grassland nesting birds to build nests. However, introducing pollinator meadows will help to generate insects that the birds feed on, helping to create a more beneficial landscape for wildlife at the park.

Habitat Restoration

The Connecticut River watershed is part of a major migratory zone for over 200 birds, many of which are priority and globally significant birds identified by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Because Delta Park is a natural area that lies within the Connecticut River watershed, it could provide nesting and forage habitat for many birds that either pass through or stay. Species such as yellowthroated and warbling vireos are known to nest in the canopies of riverside trees and birds such as the wood ducks and hooded Vesper sparrow mergansers use the forest and pools characteristic of floodplain forests. If habitat can be improved for birds within the park, it could benefit nesting birds as well as migratory birds in need of temporary resting space.

A New Vision for Delta Park

Bird Habitat

23/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Bird boxes provide habitat for birds that nest in cavities in Massachusetts Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Adding bird boxes in re-vegetated shrublands could increase nesting opportunities to many birds.

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Habitat Restoration

Boardwalks may be built of wood, recycled plastic composite, or metal grating. Wood planking is the most inexpensive option and is easily available. Pressure treated lumber should be avoided because of the toxins that can leach into wetlands. Some hardwoods are naturally resistant to rot such as black locust, white oak, and cedar, but may be more expensive. Composites are more durable than wood and will not leach, but they are slippery when wet, warp over time and with sun exposure, and may be more expensive than lumber.

Galvanized metal grating is a durable material, can be slip resistant, and lets the most light through to the vegetation underneath. It is the most expensive option, but has the additional advantage at Delta Park of evoking the industrial past of the site. All boardwalks need to allow light through to vegetation underneath to meet wetland regulations.

The wetlands at Delta Park flood at least annually and have fragile vegetation and fine, alluvial soils.

Boardwalks protect wetlands from the compaction and disturbance of trails by preventing foot traffic on the soil, and may allow visitors to access wetlands even when they are flooded. There are two methods of raising boardwalks that do not require excavating to install and minimally impact wetland vegetation; helical anchors and diamond piers. All boardwalk designs will need to be reviewed by the Conservation Commission and a structural engineer.

Helical Anchors

Diamond Piers

Rail

Rail

Post

Post Deck

Deck

Joists

Welded beam seat bracket

Ledger beam

4’-6” Bracket

Anchor extension for cross braces with turnbuckle assembly

Stainless or galvanized steel pipe extension

Anchor bolt

Concrete pier head

Pin cap

Stainless steel bearing pins Helical anchor lead

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

Pin plug

Helical anchors are large screws that are augured into the soil. The helical plates on the shaft transfer the weight of the structure onto the soil. Welded metal brackets at the top bolt into the cross-braces of the boardwalk. Extensions can be added to raise the structure to the desired height.

Pros: • Installing helical anchors does not require any soil excavation, which is appropriate at Delta Park to protect the fragility of the wetland soils and to prevent the resurfacing of any buried contaminants.

• Galvanized or stainless steel pipes will not leach into standing water.

• Can be used in limited access sites, areas with high water tables, and in structurally weak soils.

• Helical anchors work well with sandy soils.

Cons: • Requires a hydraulically driven torque motor to install anchors.

• This is a more expensive option.

Diamond piers are pre-fabricated concrete blocks that are dug into the surface of the soil. Pins driven through them at various angles secure them, and the wooden legs of the boardwalk are mounted on top.

Pros: • Diamond piers require only hand-held power tools for installation and are appropriate for unskilled labor such as volunteer groups.

• This is a less expensive option.

Cons: • Diamond piers require some excavation of the topsoil to install. This could be a concern in areas where there could be buried contaminants in the sediment.

• The wooden legs of the boardwalk are in standing water, and may not be as durable as galvanized or stainless steel.

Wooden boardwalk in Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth CT. Wooden boardwalks are attractive and can be built of sustainably harvested lumber, but are less durable than other materials.

The Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Ashcott, England achieved a similar aesthetic to a wooden boardwalk out of recycled plastic composite. Composite is more expensive than wood but may better withstand flooding.

Metal grating can be used for boardwalks such as the one above in Tomaree Head, Australia. The grating must have spaces smaller than 1/2" to meet ADA regulations.

Advantages include increased light to the vegetation underneath and durability.

Canoe and Kayak Launches According to the National Park Service, natural sites such as beaches and gently sloping banks can provide durable, low-impact launches without additional infrastructure. The most important design elements of a canoe and kayak launch are firm surfaces and gentle slopes that allow for universal accessibility. General guidelines for the site of a canoe and kayak launch are: • Between 9˝ and 2ʹ from the highest water level • At least 5ʹ wide • At least 25ʹ long to allow paddlers "dry" access to the full length of their boat • Access path of 8.33% slope or less, with handrails for slopes over 5% • In a sheltered location without strong currents, fragile riparian habitat, or erosion-prone banks Floating launches are not recommended in areas where there is dramatic fluctuation in water height. At Delta Park, there is an estimated annual eight-foot fluctuation in water level. At the site of the proposed kayak launch, the water recedes over a linear distance of over 200 feet. For this reason, a dual design is proposed with a launching landing at the highwater line and an extended path to access the shore when the water level is low.

Materials & Precedents

4’-6”

Joists

Ledger beam

Canoe and kayak launches should be sited in areas with gentle slopes into the water, such as this launch in Azalea Park, Roswell, Georgia.

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Footing Options

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Material Options

A New Vision for Delta Park

Wetland Boardwalks

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Materials & Precedents

24/26

The following costs are rough estimates. Further site analysis, planning, and design are necessary to evaluate the full costs of developing Delta Park.

Phase 1 Cost Item

Unit

Dimensions

Quantity Phase 1

Quantity Phase 2

Quantity Phase 3

Low Unit Cost

High Unit Cost

Low Estimate

Phase 2 High Estimate

Low Estimate

Phase 3 High Estimate

Low Estimate

Complete Project High Estimate

Low Subtotal

High Subtotal

Clearing & Grubbing

acre

3.4

Asphalt & Material Removal

square feet

54,000

0.5

$5,000.00

$9,000.00

$17,000.00

$30,600.00

$2,500.00

$4,500.00

$0.00

$0.00

$19,500.00

$35,100.00

$1.25

$3.00

$67,500.00

$162,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$67,500.00

$162,000.00

$0.15

$0.25

$1,012.50

$1,687.50

$0.00

$0.00

$600.00

$1,000.00

$1,612.50

$2,687.50

$45.00

$55.00

$126,000.00

$154,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$126,000.00

$154,000.00

Site Improvements Grading

square feet

Topsoil Type A

cubic yard

6,750

Trails: Crushed Stone

square feet

17250

13900

$0.80

$2.00

$13,800.00

$34,500.00

$880.00

$2,200.00

$11,120.00

$27,800.00

$25,800.00

$64,500.00

Gravel Parking Lot

square foot

2500

1540

$2.00

$2.50

$5,000.00

$6,250.00

$0.00

$0.00

$3,080.00

$3,850.00

$8,080.00

$10,100.00

Lookout, wood construction

square feet

900

450

$0.50

$7.00

$450.00

$6,300.00

$0.00

$0.00

$225.00

$3,150.00

$675.00

$9,450.00

Lookout concrete (remodeled intake)

square fet

1200

$6.00

$10.00

$7,200.00

$12,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$7,200.00

$12,000.00

Fencing, metal

linear feet

840

$22.00

$35.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$18,480.00

$29,400.00

$18,480.00

$29,400.00

Fencing, split-rail

linear feet

910

$18.00

$25.00

$10,440.00

$14,500.00

$0.00

$0.00

$16,380.00

$22,750.00

$26,820.00

$37,250.00

Boardwalk: High

square feet

12’h

6000

$100.00

$150.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$600,000.00

$900,000.00

$600,000.00

$900,000.00

Boardwalk: Low

square feet

4.5’h

800

8250

$50.00

$75.00

$40,000.00

$60,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$412,500.00

$618,750.00

$452,500.00

$678,750.00

Multi-Use Path: Asphalt

square feet

20’w

38700

$3.00

$4.00

$116,100.00

$154,800.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$116,100.00

$154,800.00

high quality

4000

2800 1100

580

Landscaping Trees (3-4” caliper)

each

Shrubs and groundcovers (average 4’

square foot

4’ centers

6

20

$500.00

$750.00

$3,000.00

$4,500.00

$0.00

$0.00

$10,000.00

$15,000.00

$13,000.00

$19,500.00

77,100

2800

$0.50

$1.00

$38,550.00

$77,100.00

$0.00

$0.00

$1,400.00

$2,800.00

$39,950.00

$79,900.00

centers) Meadow Seeding

acre

2

$2,500.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$8,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$5,000.00

$8,000.00

Sedge Seeding

acre

1

$525.00

$2,430.00

$525.00

$2,430.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$2,430.00

$2,430.00

Lo-mow Lawn Seeding (Dog Park and Open

acre

2

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

A New Vision for Delta Park

Demolition

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Cost Estimation

acre

8

2

4.5

$400.00

$800.00

$3,200.00

$6,400.00

$800.00

$1,600.00

$1,800.00

$3,600.00

$5,800.00

$11,600.00

Invasive Management Year 2

acre

8

2

4.5

$200.00

$400.00

$1,600.00

$3,200.00

$400.00

$800.00

$900.00

$1,800.00

$2,900.00

$5,800.00

Invasive Management Year 3

acre

8

2

4.5

$100.00

$200.00

$800.00

$1,600.00

$200.00

$400.00

$450.00

$900.00

$1,450.00

$2,900.00

Bench: Granite and Wood

each

24

10

$800.00

$2,000.00

$19,200.00

$48,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$8,000.00

$20,000.00

$27,200.00

$68,000.00

Trash Receptacle

each

3

3

$800.00

$1,000.00

$2,400.00

$3,000.00

$800.00

$1,000.00

$2,400.00

$3,000.00

$5,600.00

$7,000.00

Kids Play Structure

each

1

$15,000.00

$60,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$15,000.00

$60,000.00

$15,000.00

$60,000.00

Kid’s Natural Play Structure

lump sum

1

$2,650.00

$4,900.00

$0.00

$0.00

$2,575.00

$4,650.00

$5,225.00

$9,550.00

Sign (small, entrance)

each

1

$250.00

$400.00

$250.00

$400.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$250.00

$400.00

Sign (large, interpretive)

each

3

1

1

$800.00

$2,000.00

$2,400.00

$6,000.00

$800.00

$2,000.00

$800.00

$2,000.00

$4,000.00

$10,000.00

Drinking Fountain

each

1

1

1

$1,000.00

$6,000.00

$1,000.00

$6,000.00

$1,000.00

$6,000.00

$1,000.00

$6,000.00

$3,000.00

$18,000.00

Bike Rack

each

1

$800.00

$1,500.00

$800.00

$1,500.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$800.00

$1,500.00

Pavilion

each

1

1

$30,000.00

$75,000.00

$30,000.00

$75,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$30,000.00

$75,000.00

$60,000.00

$150,000.00

Picnic Table

each

10

5

$1,900.00

$2,600.00

$19,000.00

$26,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$9,500.00

$13,000.00

$22,500.00

$30,000.00

Vault Toilets

each

2

$28,000.00

$36,000.00

$56,000.00

$72,000.00

$28,000.00

$36,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$84,000.00

$108,000.00

$982,667.50

$35,380.00

$54,500.00

$737,710.00

$1,200,700.00

$1,363,967.50

$2,237,867.50

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

Amenities 1

1

SUBTOTALS: $590,877.50

Additional Costs Not Included: Mobilization (1-2% of subtotal), Construction survey (1-3% of subtotal), Tax & permitting fees, Design administration (10-20% of subtotal), Contingency (10% of subtotal), Bridges over Dwight Canal and Chicopee River, Yearly maintenance (Invasive management = $100/acre/year), Bathroom & Welcome Center building renovation, Additional parking under I-391, Environmental site assessments and remediation.

25/26

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

Invasive Management Year 1

Cost Estimation

Field)

These organizations and individuals generously shared their expertise with the authors of this report, and are willing to continue to be resources for the City of Chicopee as plans for Delta Park move forward.

All images were taken by the authors unless listed below. All images are copyright free and labeled for noncommercial reuse. All GIS data is used courtesy of Massachusetts GIS and the City of Chicopee and historical photos are courtesy of the City of Chicopee.

Chicopee River Watershed Council, www.chicopeewatershed.org

Keith Davies

chicopeewatershed@gmail.com

Friends of the Columbia Greenway, www.colombiagreenway.org

Jeffrey LaValley, Chair, Board of Directors

columbiagreenway@gmail.com

Hampshire Bird Club

Joshua Rose, Board Member

board@hampshirebirdclub.org

Mass Audubon, www.massaudubon.org/arcadia

Jonah Keane, Connecticur River Valley Sanctuaries Director

jkeane@massaudubon.org

Lucy Gertz, Accessible Trails

lgertz@massaudubon.org

New York City Department of Parks and Recreation,

www.nycparks.gov

Sarah Tobing, Project Manager, Bronx River Watershed

Sarah.Tobing@parks.nyc.gov

Marit Larsen, Director of Wetlands and Riparian Restoration

Marit.Larson@parks.nyc.gov

Danielle Bisset, Conservation Corps Fellow

Danielle.Bissett@parks.nyc.gov

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, www.pvpc.org

Chris Curtis, Chief Planner / Section Manager

chcurtis@pvpc.org

Andrew Loew, Principal Planner and Brownfields Specialist

aloew@pvpc.org

Polatin Ecological Services, www.polatineco.com

Chris Polatin, Habitat Restoration Specialist

chris@polatineco.com

Trust for Public Land, www.tpl.org

Darci Schofield, Urban Program Director

darci.schofield@tpl.org

Connecticut River Walk & Bikeway. 2014. Digital Image. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. June

2015.

Sheet 4

CT River Watershed. July 2013. Digital Image. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. June 2015. e_monk. Shortnose Strugeon. 28 September 2010. Digital image. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Gutowski, Bob. Arisaema draconitium, Green-dragon. 23 May 2009. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Chapman, Carl. Bald Eagle Alaska. 17 March 2006. Wikimedia Commons. Web. June 2015.

Armbrust. Dwarf Wedgemussel. 17 January 2011. Wikipedia. Web. June 2015.

Sheet 12 Doyle, Phil. Arcadia Camp. Digital Image. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Web. June 2015.

Sheet 16 Tuli. Wicken-Fen-Hide. 5 November 2005. Digital Image. Wikipedia. Web. June 2015.

Kearney, Megan. USFWS - Pacific Region. 31 July 2012. Digital Image. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Kington, Jonathan. Living “Tunnel”. 15 May 2009. Digital Image. Wikimedia Commons. Web. June 2015.

Fleishman, Glenn. Japanese Garden (Dry Streambed). 16 May 2009. Digital Image. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Sheet 19 Waddington, Andy. Kayak Group on Beach South of Brantwood. 26 June 2004. Digital Image.

Geograph. Web. June 2015.

Moore, Brent. Nashville’s Dog Park. 12 November 2005. Digital Image. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Sheet 20 Bronx River Alliance. About Us. Digital Image. www.bronxriver.org/about us. Web. June 2015

Sheet 23 Mosesso, John J. Spotted Turtle - Clemmys Guttata. 1 May 2003. Digital Image. Wikimedia Commons.

Web. June 2015.

Phagan, Jay. Vesper Sparrow. 25 April 2012. Digital Image. Flickr. Web. June 2015.

Knox, Ian. Winllan Wildlife Garden - Hay Meadow With Wild Flowers. 14 June 2006. Digital Image.

Wikimedia Commons. Web. June 2015.

Weber, Dave. Bluebirds and a Nesting Box. 7 April 2014. Digital Image.

Sheet 24 Morrowlong. Paul F. Wildermann Boardwalk. 5 September 2011. Digital Image. Wikipedia. Web. June 2015.

Huguet, Simon. Visitor boardwalk, Ashcott. 6 April 2009. Digital Image. Wikimedia Commons. Web. June 2015.

Tomaree Head Walkways. Creative Commons. Digital Image. Web. June 2015.

Darlingstock. Canoe Launch. 2 September 2010. Digital Image. Deviantart.com. Web. June 2015.

Beth Batchelder & Rachel Lindsay

George Kingston, Member and Organizer of the Springfield

Christmas Bird Count

gcking@yahoo.com

Sheet 3

City of Chicopee Planning Department Spring 2015

Allen Bird Club, www.massbird.org/allen

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Image Sources

Delta Park Vision Plan

Connecticut River Watershed Council. www.ctriver.org “Natural Community Fact Sheet: Floodplain Forests”. National Heritage and Endangered Species Program.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 2007.

Web. June 2015.

“Chicopee: Conserving the Biodiversity of Massachusetts in a Changing World”.

2012. BioMap2. National Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Web. 4 June 2015.

Yau, F., Larson, M., McCarthy, K., Bounds, K., Thornbrough, A., Doroski, D. “Bronx River Riparian Invasive Plant Management Plan”. 2012. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Group. New York Botanical Garden. Web. 10 June 2015.

“Creating Safe Park Environments to Enhance Community Wellness”.

National Recreation and Park Association. Web. 10 June 2015.

“Ernst Seeds Interactive PDF Catalog 2015”. Ernst Seeds. Web. June 2015.

Cullina, M.D., Connolly, B., Sorrie, B., and Somers, P. “The Vascular Plants of Massachusetts: A County Checklist”.

2010. National Heritage and Endangered Species Program, MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Web. June 2015.

“Logical Lasting Launches: Design Guidance for Canoe and Kayak Launches”. National Park Service. 2004.

Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program. Web. June 2015.

Contacts

References, Contacts, and Image Sources

References

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