Design Alternatives

The first design concept seeks to restore hydrologic function and enhance wildlife habitat by allowing existing vegetative buffers along waterways to expand through natural succession. Human access to the lower fields is limited to the existing mowed path network to reduce disturbance to ground-nesting birds, but a new accessible spur trail leads to an overlook area along the ridge north of the solar array. This design maintains the existing entrance and location of the farmers market, but it separates accessible paths from from vehicle traffic by converting most of the northern driveway to a pedestrian zone.

Hayfields

Gardens

Ice cream

Barn

Parking

Vegetated buffer Seating

Farm House

Parking Parking

Farmers' Market

Bioswale

The primary driveway leads to a small parking area in front of the farmhouse. Part of the southern driveway is moved across the corner of the pad area to reduce compaction on the roots of the mature trees around the farmhouse. An additional small parking lot is constructed adjacent to the pad. This reduces the need for people to navigate around traffic because people can get to the farmers' market without crossing a road.

This orientation allows much of the former entry space to be converted to accessible paths and demonstration/education gardens, which connect to the existing beds to the north. Additional landscaping around the farmhouse and along Main Street provide habitat, aesthetic value, and screening from the road. The old ice cream shack is moved slightly to the west to act as an off-hours information center for visitors.

Stormwater from the culvert is directed into a vegetated swale along the edge of the pad for treatment before being routed to the large southern drainage. The event area is screened from the lower parking area by vegetation and events are no longer interrupted by vehicles. This design also highlights views of the river and fields by creating rest areas at scenic viewpoints.

Enter/Exit

Enter/ Exit Pros:

• Reduces impact to grass-nesting birds and increases habitat • Arrival focused on farmhouse and gardens • Reduced potential for vehicle-pedestrian conflict • Reduces flooding risk in high-use area by redirecting runoff • Treats stormwater • Reduced impacts to mature trees • Events are not interrupted by cars

Cons:

• Reduced parking capacity • Reduced access to maintenance area • Limited visitor access to lower fields

The second design concept focuses on accessibilty by increasing the extent of barrier-free pedestrian paths on site all the way to the waterfront. It pulls vehicles away from the central core area by creating a new single entrance off Main Street through the southern part of the pad area, which runs down to the lower parking lot and allows semis direct access to the food bank. The remainder of the pad area is converted to parking. Stormwater from the culvert is routed through a narrow swale before passing under the driveway and discharging to the southern drainage. The farmers' market is moved north into the current entry area. Farmers have access through the parking area, but this is otherwise a pedestrian zone. Vegetation along Main Street in this area helps screen views of the road.

Hayfields

Ice cream

The old driveway loop is completely converted to an accessible path except for a service drive to the maintenance workshop. This loop connects to the larger accessible trail network. The pedestrian core thus created accommodates new seating areas with views and shade near the barn and the garden area.

Demonstration gardens and native plant landscaping are added around the front part of the farmhouse and the existing garden beds to the north. The old ice cream shack is moved slightly to the west to act as an off-hours information center for visitors. A natural play area is located nearby to be convenient for trail users and visitors coming from the ice cream store.

Stormwater in the orchard area is channeled to a rock-lined swale that directs water to the existing culvert under the driveway. Event space is extended into this area through the creation of foot paths and a trellis planted with attractive flowering vines.

Enter/Exit

Gardens

Seating

Barn

Parking Event/ Orchard Farm house

Vegetated buffer Farmers' Market

Parking

swale

Enter/ Exit Pros:

• Increased extent of accessible areas • Greatly reduced likelihood of pedestrian/vehicle conflict • Maintains or slightly increases parking capacity • Protects mature trees • Reduces flooding risk in high-use area by redirecting runoff • Treats stormwater • Option to expand parking to neighboring lot to the south if purchased

Cons:

• Most change to existing infrastructure • Human activity in fields may impact wildlife • Does not expand vegetative buffers around waterways • Views on entry do not focus on farmhouse • Parking mostly distanced from buildings • Less capacity for green stormwater management

The third design concept creates a main entry and new driveway layout similar to Design Concept 1, focusing arrival for routine visitors on the farmhouse and routing other vehicle traffic to the south. The farmers' market is moved to the lower parking area to encourage visitors to interact with more of the property. Stormwater from the culvert is directed into a shallow pond with a small forebay for sediment settling, then flows into the southern drainage. The remainder of the pad area is used for parking and is screened from Main Street by vegetation planted along the bank. An accessible path with informational signs loops around the pond, enabling visitors to learn about stormwater management.

The section of the old driveway loop leading to the maintenance workshop is maintained as a service drive off the farmhouse parking lot. The remainder of the loop is converted to an accessible path connecting to the existing gravel trail. Pedestrian activity is thus concentrated in the center of the site, and further enhanced by the addition of demonstration gardens and seating around the farmhouse. Additional seating areas with shade are placed near the trailhead to take advantage of the views and offer trail users a place to rest.

The old ice cream shack is moved to the west to act as an off-hours information center, additional rest area, and restroom facility for trail users. The existing garden beds are expanded into the resulting space to create a large naturalistic planted area. This provides additional wildlife habitat and creates a strong edge along the main drive that helps draw visitors' focus towards the farmhouse.

Hayfields

Ice cream Enter/Exit

Barn

Farmers' Market/Event Parking

Vegetated buffer Seating

Gardens

Farm house Parking

Parking Enter/ Exit Pros:

• Arrival focused on farmhouse • Gardens and seating close to farmhouse/offices • Increased extent of accessible trails • Reduced likelihood of vehicle-pedestrian conflict • Protects mature trees • Reduces flooding risk in high-use area by redirecting runoff • Treats stormwater • Potential for stormwater management pond to double as skating area in winter

Cons:

• Potential conflict between events at barn and farmers' market • Reduced visibility of farmers' market from street • Reduced parking capacity