Winter Street Park Community Development Department Adams, MA
Genevieve Lawlor & Ahron Lerman
The Conway School Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design Spring 2011
Index
“To seize the opportunities inherent in the city’s natural environment, to see beyond short-term costs and benefits, to perceive the consequences of the myriad, seemingly unrelated actions that make up city life, and to coordinate thousands of incremental improvements, a fresh attitude to the city and the molding of its form is necessary. Nature in the city must be cultivated, like a garden, rather than ignored or subdued.” -Anne Whiston Spirn, The Granite Garden
Project Overview & Goals.......................................................1 The Region...............................................................................2 The Neighborhood...................................................................3 Industrial History....................................................................4 The Hoosic...............................................................................5 The Green................................................................................6 Existing Conditions.................................................................7 Analysis: Access and Circulation.....................................................8 Legal.................................................................................9 Drainage..........................................................................10 Views...............................................................................11 Summary Analysis..........................................................12 Alternatives: Alternative 1: Woonerf on Winter..................................13 Alternative 2: Riverfront................................................14 Alternative 3: Wintergreen.............................................15 Preferred Design....................................................................16 Design Details: The Green.......................................................................17 Rain Gardens..................................................................18 River Walk......................................................................19 Signs................................................................................20 Plant Palette...............................................................21-23 Cost Estimates................................................................24 Design in Context..................................................................25
1. Enhance Winter Street’s Beauty and Character
2. Improve Street Safety
3. Create pedestrian and bike connections
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Connect to: • Downtown commercial areas • The Hoosic River • The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
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Address problems that contribute to the street’s perceived blight Explore uses for the town-owned green
Define pedestrian and bicycle paths Upgrade the river fence to code
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PROJECT GOALS
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Winter Street is a safe and beautiful part of downtown Adams, for neighborhood residents and the entire town. The public park at Winter Street’s center is a popular social and recreational area between the two downtown commercial districts of Park and Summer Streets.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
VISION
Project Overview and Goals
Winter Street in downtown Adams has suffered some neglect over the years. Basic infrastructure is crumbling and an under-used public green sits at its center. But Winter Street has great potential: it is situated between two commercial districts, within which a river and a bike trail run—and, as evidenced from two public meetings that were held as part of the Winter Street project, the street has many supporters who are invested in seeing things change for the better.
Winter Street Park
Project Overview and Goals
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The Region
Mt. Greylock State Reservation
Savoy Mountain State Forest Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Terminus at Visitor’s Center
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Winter Street
Winter Street
The Region
Adams, Massachusetts
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Channeled Hoosic River
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Downtown Adams
Downtown Adams Mt. Greylock
Adams is a town of about twenty-three square miles in northwest Berkshire County, Massachusetts—an area known for its picturesque small towns, four-season outdoor activities, farmland, cultural events, industrial history, and tourism industry. The Hoosic River flows north through Adams in a valley flanked by the Taconic Range to the west, which includes the summit of Mt. Greylock, the tallest peak in southern New England. Mt. Greylock serves as a dramatic backdrop from most points throughout Adams, including downtown. The town’s recent wayfinding plan emphasized the value of Greylock as a key point in the town’s identity.
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, a former railroad corridor converted to a universally accessible recreation trail, begins eleven miles south of Adams and winds through wetlands and woodlands before reaching its terminus at the Berkshire Visitors Center, just a block west of Winter Street. The Hoosic River is channeled in concrete chutes as much as fifteen feet deep through downtown; where the river flows freely just south of town, it is known for excellent trout fishing.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Unchanneled Hoosic River
Winter Street Park
Hoosic River
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Former Berkshire Mill Building
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A Summer Street cafe
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The Adams Free Library
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The former Berkshire Mill building’s vacant parking lot
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The Berkshire Visitors Center, as seen from the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
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Adams Free Library
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Weber Street residences, just off Winter Street
The Winter Street Neighborhood
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Adams’ two commercial districts on Park Street and Summer Street are roughly 1500 feet apart—the same distance people are generally willing to walk for civic amenities, shops, and public transit. Winter Street’s green is the only open public green space between these commercial areas. The Town would like to explore how a redesigned Winter Street green could potentially serve as an important attraction or stopover, to support redevelopment on Park and Summer Streets. A public square along the rail trail
A historic schoolhouse on Summer Street
Winter Street Park
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Armory Court
The entrance to Armory Court, a pedestrian gateway from Park Street to the Rail Trail
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Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
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genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Winter Street is a residential street surrounded by commercial, civic, recreational, and former industrial areas. For myriad reasons, many of which are discussed in this document, Winter Street seems disconnected from its larger neighborhood context. Town officials and many neighborhood residents and business owners agree that knitting Winter Street back into the fabric of downtown would be a benefit for everyone.
The Neighborhood
The Neighborhood
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1876
1894
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
In 1876, prior to the development of industrial textile mills in Adams, the Hoosic River meandered through the present-day Winter Street area via marshes and wetlands, which filtered water and naturally protected against floods.
By 1894, the Hoosic River floodplain had been engineered to allow space for industry lots. Winter Street did not yet exist, though its path is foreshadowed by new property boundaries.
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
1904
A 1904 map shows Winter Street and the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company for the first time. Row house buildings for the mill workers were squeezed between the street and the river, and a footbridge was built so the workers could easily walk to work. Though convenient for industry, the houses and the mills were sited in what used to be the river’s natural floodplain less than thirty years prior.
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Approximate location of present-day Winter Street project area.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
The former Berkshire Cotton Mills building flanks the Hoosic River across from Winter Street.
Winter Street Park
Industrial History
Like many New England river towns, Adams has a rich industrial history. Its downtown is still dotted with mill buildings that were once the backbone of the region’s textile manufacturing. Within view from most points on Winter Street is an impressive mill building that sits across the river; a footbridge that once shuttled workers to the mills remains as a pedestrian crossing. Below, historic maps suggest how Winter Street evolved with the development of Adams’ textile industry.
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Industrial History
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Connecticut
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
Hudson River
Due to the steep slopes of its 720-square-mile drainage area, the A September 1938 flood saw the highest discharge rate measured Hoosic is fast moving, and prone to flash floods. During the early on the Hoosic River, 5,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). In part of the 1900s, area forests were cleared for agriculture to help response, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed flood support the town’s population growth. SinceNew forests hold more control chutes to usher the river through town quickly and safely Jersey water than farmland does, flooding became more severe. Homes, New York Upper(Traister Bay/ 2004). The chutes were designed to withstand a 500-year businesses, and industry built right on the river were inevitablyAtlantic Ocean flood (one that has a 0.5% chance of happening each year) of over affected by these floods during the 1920s and 1930s. 9,200 cfs.
Since the project was completed in 1958, the flood control chutes have successfully protected the town from floods; in fact, the river’s highest discharge rate since then has been just 2,720 cfs— less than a third of its capacity (Traister 2004). Unfortunately, the channels have prevented public enjoyment of the river, and also compromised the river’s ecology by raising temperatures and rendering sections inhospitable to aquatic life.
Hoosic River Massachusetts
Adams, MA Rhode Island Connecticut
Hudson River
New Jersey
New York Upper Bay/ Atlantic Ocean
Winter Street Park
The Hoosic River’s water flows northwest to the Hudson River, and then south into the Atlantic Ocean. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, “the Hoosic River is one of the few ecosystems in Massachusetts still featuring a viable, selfsustaining population of wild trout.”
New York
Map credit: NationalAtlas.gov
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
Massachusetts has also recognized the Hoosic in its Urban Rivers program, which looks at rivers to “play a significant role in improving the livability of our cities.” Further, the Downtown Development Plan for the Town of Adams, prepared by Chan Krieger & Associates in 2003, notes that “residents and visitors would benefit from modifications to the flood chutes with increased views of the river, ability to interact with the river, and increased trees and vegetative cover” (Krieger 2003). Public access to the river on Winter Street may contribute to economic development, water quality protection, and aquatic life support throughout the watershed.
Just south—and upstream—of downtown, the wild sections of the Hoosic support trout and other fish, attracting fishermen and other recreational users.
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Rhode Island
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Massachusetts
Adams, MA
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Hoosic River New York
The Hoosic
The Hoosic
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The Green
In 1975, the northern of the two row houses burned down and left a 0.4 acre triangle of green space.
The green is maintained by the town as a lawn; there are no formal pathways, seating, or vegetation. Some area residents expressed a desire for shaded seating while walking down Winter on their way to the supermarket or to get ice cream. “It’s not far to get groceries,” one area resident said, “but if it’s a nice day, I’d love to stop and sit for a few minutes.”
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genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Photo Credit: Adams Historical Society
Winter Street Park
The row house apartments have no front yard, and their back yards’ narrow length means resident children have little space to play before approaching the river’s low fence. Instead, uneasy parents encourage children to play on the green, which has served as the neighborhood kids’ unofficial yard, ballfield, and playground. It is also used by some neighbors to walk their dogs.
The Green
A nearly half-acre wedge of town-owned green space sits at the center of Winter Street. Currently, it is maintained as a lawn. Although it is public, not many residents of Adams utilize the space.
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1 Winter Street varies in width, and is narrowest at the southern end. Roughly 800
feet of sidewalk run down the west side of the street; nearly 65% of that length is not universally accessible according to Americans with Disabilities Act standards because it is too narrow and uneven.
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2 The central green, a grassy triangle with minimal slope, is primarily used by Winter
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3 Two apartment buildings are clustered in the north, near the corner of Weber and
Winter Streets; a third directly abuts Winter Street, just south of the green.
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4 The Hoosic River runs parallel to Winter Street. It is bound by flood control chutes
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that extend thirteen feet below grade. A three-foot-tall chain-link fence sits atop the channel walls.
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5 A footbridge, forty-five feet long and six feet wide, with a concrete walk and three-
foot-high railings, crosses the Hoosic River at the southwest corner of the green.
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6 Three condemned buildings sit empty at the corner of Summer and Winter Streets,
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physically separating Winter Street from Summer Street, and creating a blight on the neighborhood.
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Existing Conditions
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Winter Street, a 1250-foot-long residential street located in a former industrial area of downtown Adams, runs roughly north to south, connecting the main thoroughfares of Hoosac and Summer Streets. At its center is a 0.4-acre triangle of public green. The channeled Hoosic River parallels Winter Street to the west; to the east are residential and commercial areas.
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Existing Conditions
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Hoosac Street
7 A London plane tree, several Norway maples, and an ash tree line the east side of
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The center green’s openness contrasts with the dominance of the mill building.
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The front doors of the row house apartments are just six feet from Winter Street and open out to the empty condemned buildings.
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Public Green
Winter Street Park
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the road. A stand of conifers grows just over a fence on private property, and casts shade on the street.
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Cars often speed south on Winter Street, slowing quickly while turning the nearly blind corner around the row house. In addition to the green, children play in the street in front of the row house. The majority of residents—including children—reported having nearly been hit by a car.
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The pedestrian footbridge remains from the town’s industrial history and still serves as an important connector from the street to parts of downtown. The bridge’s railing is too low and not to code, and should be made safer.
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Approximately 65% of Winter Street’s 800 feet of sidewalks are in disrepair and not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, which call for an even, 5-foot-wide surface. The current sidewalk is neither.
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Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Pedestrian and vehicular circulation patterns overlap throughout the project site. Bikers and pedestrians—many of them neighborhood children—use the street as their primary access and circulation path. Conflict areas may be remedied through traffic calming techniques.
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
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Access and Circulation
Access and Circulation
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Winter Street leading up to its intersection with Summer Street is a steep 15%. Residents report that driving up this section is difficult and sometimes impossible in winter. The Fire Department agreed, reporting difficulty with certain trucks on the slope. The Police Department further reported that limited visibility around the condemned buildings presents a dangerous challenge in all seasons.
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Winter Street passes just six feet from the front doors of the row house apartments. Drivers passing through may feel as though they are driving through someone’s private front yard. This impression may hinder public awareness of the green as a public resource.
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There are several key legal restrictions concerning the Hoosic River channel walls that must be taken into account when redesigning the Winter Street green. Abiding by these regulations will help ensure safety for residents without compromising the integrity of the walls.
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The Army Corps of Engineers maintains a 15-foot-wide by 8-foothigh “vegetation-free zone” outside the Hoosic River channel walls. It is against regulations to plant trees or other woody plants within this buffer, since their roots may impact the structural integrity of the walls. Only perennial grasses are allowed.
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property parcel boundary town-owned green
A hole in a vegetation-covered fence reveals a small private pathway to Winter Street from the backs of Kearns Lane and Lehs Lane. Private parcels separate Winter and Summer Streets; by offering rights-of-way or helping improve vegetation, the parcel owners may enhance a Winter Street project.
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Public Green
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The height of the chain link fence atop the channel walls varies: in some places it is just three feet high. Massachusetts state code dictates the fence needs to be at least forty-two inches above the ground, though if the fence is forty-eight inches high, its vertical slats may be placed slightly farther apart. The fence’s height must be brought up to code along its entire length. This seems particularly important considering the nearly two dozen children currently living on Winter Street.
Winter Street Park
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Further, because of the neighborhood’s density, some initiatives—like connecting Winter Street to Summer Street—may depend on cooperation with private land owners.
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Legal
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Hoosac Street
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Several storm drains dump directly into the river. Rainwater warms as it runs off asphalt and contributes to raised river temperatures.
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Drains from Kearns and Lehs Lanes deposit stormwater, silt, and debris on the east side of Winter Street, contributing to the street’s image as a dirty, blighted place.
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Three storm drains next to each other at the intersection of Weber and Winter streets indicates heavy, concentrated flow. Slowed stormwater at this point could grow vegetation to filter out contaminants and improve river water quality.
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Water draining down the slope from Summer Street pools in front of the first two row house apartments. Joked one resident, “I have lake and riverfront property every time it rains.” Another resident reported that a storm drain in this corner was accidentally paved over the last time the road was paved several years ago.
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the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
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Stormwater picks up pollutants and debris and runs through storm drains directly into the Hoosic River. Contaminants have a negative effect on water quality and aquatic life. Winter Street’s ailments include both water draining too quickly into the river and water not draining quickly enough and therefore pooling in front of residents’ front doors. A redesign of the street could educate the public about the impacts our cities have on water quality and display simple, innovative solutions.
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Winter Street Park
Drainage
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Hoosac Street
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Winter Street is often referred to as the “slums” or “ghetto” of Adams. Neighborhood residents agreed that this label was mostly due to a lack of care. “This street’s kind of neglected by the town,” one of the street’s residents lamented. Despite this, the street has some beautiful views on which to build.
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A single London plane tree anchors the entrance to Winter Street from Hoosac Street, but not much else frames the view.
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From the northern end of the street, a view of Mt. Greylock is framed by old brick mill buildings. The mountain has been highlighted in the town’s wayfinding plan to help build the town’s identity.
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genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Views
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Hoosac Street
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The mill building dominates the view looking west from anywhere on Winter Street. A redesign may soften the sharpness of the building and make the view more appealing.
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undesirable view
enjoyable view
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Residents of the row house on Winter Street look out their front doors at the back of vacant buildings on Summer Street. The buildings have been condemned for as long as any of the residents can remember. Residents don’t value this view, nor do the buildings contribute positively to the street’s image.
Winter Street Park
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The Hoosic River parallels Winter Street, but flows at the bottom of 13-feet-deep concrete chutes. It is not always visible, except from the footbridge. To many, the river is merely a hazard in which balls and toys sometimes get lost. Making current views more enjoyable and beautiful may bring the river’s recreational value to the public’s attention.
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In addition to the green, children are frequently in the street playing or riding their bicycles. Vehicles using the street as a cut-through from Hoosac to Summer Street zip down the road, and quickly slow down while rounding the corner at the north end of the row house apartments to avoid hitting the kids. Slowing or discouraging through-traffic may help make Winter Street a nicer place on which to live, walk, or bike. New trees can be planted and, with the existing Norway maples, may provide shaded places to sit. New street trees must be planted outside the Army Corps 15’ “vegetation-free” buffer, though.
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Approaching Summer Street, Winter Street has a steep 15% slope, which directs stormwater toward the southeast corner of the row house, where it pools and leaves debris. The turn is difficult to negotiate in the winter. Condemned buildings at the corner also block visibility for vehicles exiting Winter Street, and contribute to the street’s blighted reputation. Making this corner cleaner, easier to negotiate, and safer may make the street nicer for residents to live on, and improve the street’s reputation.
undesirable view
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The oft-ignored Hoosic River parallels the street, but flows within a thirteen-foottall concrete channel. Atop the walls is a not well-maintained chain-link fence sometimes nearly a foot below code. Improving the fence and creating designated viewing areas could be an opportunity to partner with the Berkshire Visitor’s Center to educate the public about the river and how its story intertwines with the town’s industrial past.
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poor drainage
Winter Street Park
The mixed-use area surrounding Winter Street includes commercial, residential, institutional, and transitional zones of use, indicating the wide variety of stakeholders interested in making Winter Street a safe and beautiful part of the neighborhood. Kearns Lane and Lehs Lane are two culs-de-sac that stop just short of connecting to Winter Street. A formalized footpath through a conifer stand could provide a shaded pedestrian connection to the Summer Street commercial and residential area via Lehs Lane.
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Mt. Greylock can be seen from the northern third of Winter Street over former industrial buildings downtown. A large London plane tree casts shade and gives the street a pleasant residential feel. However, the sidewalk is mostly broken, diverting pedestrian access away from the green and the footbridge down the street. Three storm drains at the intersection of Weber and Winter Street may provide an opportunity to grow more street vegetation while improving river water quality by creating an infiltration basin and rain garden.
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the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
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There are many opportunities to address some basic issues confronting Winter Street residents, like poor drainage and undesired views, while making the street safe and beautiful for everyone in town.
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
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Summary Analysis
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Hoosac Street
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Con: • River not highlighted
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the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Woonerf on Winter Woonerf is the Dutch name for a “living street” in which the needs of car drivers are secondary to the needs of users of the street as a whole. It is a shared space designed to be used by pedestrians, playing children, bicyclists, and low-speed motor vehicles, becoming a public place for people instead of a single-purpose conduit for automobiles. In this alternative, the border between the street and the green is blended, and together they become the center of social and recreational activity.
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Pros: • Existing shared use of the street becomes safer • Increased shade and play spaces
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Hoosac Street
Alternative 1
“Squeeze” w/Benches
shared pedestrian, bike, and vehicle space pedestrian traffic vehicle traffic
gateways to woonerf section
Pedestrians walking towards Summer Street via the footbridge find that where Spring Street
Infiltration Basins
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Further on, vegetated infiltration basins in front of the row house collect rain, which overflows from one basin to the next. In a heavy storm, stormwater overflows into the existing drain just past the north end of the house. The native grasses and shrubs are a nice view as one continues up to Summer Street. No one misses the condemned buildings that used to blight the corner.
Play Area
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Continuing further south, the curb is removed, blurring the line between the green and the street. Vegetation and the varied paving make a driver feel as though s/he is moving through a courtyard rather than the speedy cut-through the street used to be.
the path crosses Winter Street, the road has been narrowed to just 14 feet, the minimum width for emergency vehicles to pass. Benches and planters at this “squeeze” further blend mixed uses into the streetscape, signifying that this street is not just for cars.
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The woonerf design begins where Weber meets Winter Street with an infiltration basin that helps slow and filter stormwater, and calms traffic by narrowing the street where it is currently widest. The entry to the woonerf is also marked by a change in pavement as the road curves around the two mature maple trees. Benches in the maples’ shade extend the street’s social spaces and further slow traffic.
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Riverfront explores a scenario that Adams and other towns in the Hoosic River Watershed have investigated in the past, or are currently investigating (such as North Adams): namely, the reintegration of the Hoosic River into downtown neighborhoods. This alternative imagines a future wherein sections of the channel walls are disassembled and the river resumes a meandering path, bordered by riparian vegetation.
Cons: • Significant legal and economic hurdles • Less play space • No through-access for emergency vehicles
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Public/private parking Pedestrian path to the A s h u w i l l t i c o o k R a i l Tr a i l
We s t R i v e r Wa l k
East R i v e r Wa l k
Floodplain park
The riverfront design creates a downtown attraction accessible from the Rail Trail and Summer Street.
Summer Street
Spring Street
Staircase 0’
35’
70’
140’
210’
Winter Street Park
Existing footbridge
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
r S tre et
A’
me
Paving in front of the row house apartments is removed and a front yard for the residents is created. Parking can be moved to a lot built in the footprint of the three condemned buildings, accessible via Summer Street. A terraced stairway and accessible ramp replaces the road where Winter met Summer. The terraces slow and infiltrate stormwater while still allowing pedestrian connection.
Sum
An accessible river walk meanders above the water’s edge, while a central platform offers a place to sit or for social gatherings. Visitors to the park can learn about the Hoosic River’s history at educational kiosks. The terraces also help slow and filter stormwater before it enters the river.
A second footbridge at the northern end of the park enables a looped river walk on both sides of the river—one side still channeled and one restored.
Alternative 2
Central Gathering Platform
Riverfront
E a s t R i v e r Wa l k
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Riverfront
By closing Winter Street below its intersection with Weber Street, and removing the east side of the channel walls, a floodplain park is created. Rocks help stabilize the terraced river’s edge, which retains the wall’s flood control capacity, and provide places to sit and enjoy the water’s edge.
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Pros: • Improves water quality • Greater interaction with river • Eliminates through-traffic • Unique downtown attraction
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Alternative 2
14/25
Closing the street to through-traffic and expanding the Winter Street green creates a half-acre neighborhood park with a playground, shaded seating areas, lawn, and cantilevered focal areas extending over the river. The centralized footbridge moves park access away from the row house, further emphasizing the park as a public space.
Cons: • Overhangs and new bridge require Army Corps approval • Hinges on relationship to mill building
Wintergreen
We b e r S t reet
Central Footbridge
Cantilevered Focal Areas
Ke
arn
Alternative 3
E m e r g e n c y Ve h i c l e Access via Grass Paving
Rain Garden
s L an e
Pedestrian Pathway to Summer Street
Leh
s la
t
ng
ee
rki
Str
Pa
ne
mm Su
pedestrian path
vehicle path
Spring Street
Rain Garden 0’
35’
70’
140’
210’
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
KEY
Winter Street Park
Altering the road by pulling it away from the row house makes the intersection between Summer and Winter more gradual and allows for a small rain garden near the southern end of the building to absorb stormwater.
Resident Parking
e
Parking on the south end of the road remains as is, though a small turnaround where the park begins allows vehicles to exit the road the way they came in.
C a r Tu r n a r o u n d Playground
in A ven u
Moving the footbridge to a central location emphasizes the park as a public space, bringing foot traffic to the park’s middle. The success of the Winter Street park as a downtown attraction hinges on the redevelopment of the mill building for mixed business and residential use. The revitalized area could include a loop trail from the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and the Berkshire Visitor’s Center, around the redeveloped building, over to the Winter Street Green, and then back.
E m e r g e n c y Ve h i c l e Access via Grass Paving
Gav
Cantilevered viewing areas extend out over the river, expanding the park’s focus to the river. A small playground nearby lets children play and run around safely.
er
Pedestrian Pathway to A s h u w i l l t i c o o k R a i l Tr a i l
The central green closes the central portion of Winter Street to throughtraffic, but still allows emergency vehicle access through the use of grass paving.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Wintergreen
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Pros: • Emphasizes the green as a public space • Greater interaction with river • Eliminates through-traffic
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Hoosac Street
Alternative 3
15/25
Preferred Design
Footpath to Summer Street
Kea r
ns
Lan
e
Seating River Walk Perennial Grasses
Leh
sL
Vegetated Bank Stamped Concrete
Open Green Path to Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
A
ane
A’
Widened Footbridge
Winter Street Park
T he R i ver A new fence makes access to the park and views to the river safer and more enjoyable. The path along the river meanders, in contrast to the linear channeled Hoosic, around beds of native perennial grasses. The footbridge is widened to fifteen feet, becoming a two-way pedestrian thoroughfare and a place to linger and chat with a neighbor.
Street Trees
Rain Garden
The Winter Street Park
Street Trees and Sidewalk
Winter Street
Resident Parking A’
0’
35’
70’
140’
210’
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Framed by a shady meandering path along the channel walls to the west, and street trees to the east, roughly a quarter-acre of green remains as open space for free play, picnicking, and potentially a future playground made of natural materials.
River Walk A Section A-A’ NTS
Weber Stre et
T he Gre en Winter Street’s green becomes a central gathering spot for the neighborhood, with clear pedestrian paths and places for strolling, sitting, and playing.
me r St ree t
In front of the row house apartments, Winter Street shifts slightly east, which adds four feet of width for a rain garden of wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs that intercepts, filters, and moves stormwater away from the house. An existing storm drain just past the row house’s northeast corner accepts heavy storm overflow via an underground pipe. The addition of the
Rain Garden
Sum
The central stretch of Winter Street is framed by newly planted shrubs on the east bank and street trees that shade a repaired sidewalk. A road surface change to stamped concrete slows drivers as they enter the row house residential area.
Demolishing the condemned buildings on the corner increases visibility to Summer Street.
et tre rS nte Wi
At the intersection of Weber and Winter, a rain garden slows and infiltrates stormwater. In heavy rains, the existing storm drains can accept overflow. Winter Street bends around the garden, which slows traffic heading south towards the park.
rain garden does not reduce existing parking for the row house.
Vegetated Strip
r ive
Th e Stre e t The entire length of Winter Street becomes a consistent eighteen feet in width (the current average width), which allows nearly 350 linear feet of perennial grasses to be planted along the west side of Winter Street, between Hoosac and Weber Streets.
cR osi Ho
The preferred design was developed in response to the project goals, site analyses, and public feedback to the three alternatives. At two public meetings, participants consistently expressed a desire for safety, comfortable use of the green, and interaction with the river. Design details are on the following sheets.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Consistent 18’ Street Width
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Preferred Design
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Hoosac Street
16/25
Crushed Gravel Footpath to Summer Street Photo Source: http://www.abekleinfeld.com/
Street Tree Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba • • Seating
•
Street Trees Porous Concrete River Walk
•
Yellow fall foliage Excellent city tree: heat tolerant; tolerates road salt spray, air pollution, full sun and partial shade; free of pests Plant male trees to avoid messy, stinky fruits from females Transplants easily
Native Shrub Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina • • • •
Red fall foliage Masses well on banks Cone of deep, red, velvety fruits provides food for wildlife into the winter Transplants easily; adapted to many soil types
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Stamped Concrete Crosswalk
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
A row of trees separates the green and the west side of Winter Street and a row of native shrubs lines the east side of the street. A suggested street tree and native shrub are profiled on the right. Additional vegetation is listed in the plant palette.
Design Details: The Green
Design Details: The Green
Bank of Native Shrubs
Upgraded Fence
Tree Planting Detail
Shrub Planting on a Slope Detail
Stamped Concrete
guy rope (3), white flag on each to increase visibility set tree at original grade mulch: pine bark or wood chips: 3” min. depth and 3” away from root flare soil saucer: use prepared soil, 6” min.
Future Playground
Open Green
wooden deadmen (3) remove at least top third of burlap prepared subsoil to form pedestal to prevent settling
Widened Footbridge
Natural playground descriptions, inspirations, and resources: GoEarthscapes.com NaturalPlaygrounds.com PlaygroundDesigns.blogspot.com
remove at least top third of burlap corner of root system at line of original grade firmly compacted saucer gently compacted topsoil mixture: 12” all around ball, min. tamped admixture backfill
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Perennial Grasses
Winter Street Park
rubber hose at bark
17/25
Rain gardens have enhanced the streetscape. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry
Native plants soak up and purify stormwater. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry
Rain gardens fed by stormwater entering through curb cuts on NE Siskiyou Green Street in Portland, Oregon, infiltrate an entire average year’s worth of stormwater as they grow native grasses and ferns. Residents take pride in the project and help weed the beds and remove trash. A small sign teaches residents and visitors about stormwater management. The Green Street design won a General Design Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2007. The project was built for under $20,000 in 2003. Portland now has a waiting list for similar projects on residential streets. A rain garden runs the length of the row house apartments, intercepting stormwater running down from Summer Street. Walkways cross the 6”-7” deep basin from each set of two apartments to Winter Street. The 3-foot-wide gardens also buffer the widened sidewalk and row house apartments from vehicles.
Rain Garden Construction Detail
depth of basin depends on inflow quantity
mixed planting of shrubs and perennial grasses
Rain Garden Wildflower New England Aster Aster novae-angliae
mulch amended topsoil
• Native to New England • Purple flowers blooming in late summer
geotextile fabric optional sidewalk
street
6” perforated drain tile, bedded in gravel, ties into existing storm drain
attract butterflies • Direct seed 1/4 to 1/8 inch deep in fall
Photo Credit: kgNaturePhotography.com
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Row House
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Rain Garden
Urban rain gardens can help control stormwater that flows through Winter Street by using it to grow beautiful streetside vegetation. The plants also filter out contaminants that are currently polluting the Hoosic River.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Design Details: Rain Gardens
Winter Street
Winter Street Park
Design Details: Rain Gardens
18/25
The Canal Walk in Holyoke, Massachusetts, features a simple black steel fence, which allows pedestrians to safely walk near and view the river.
Porous concrete paving is more expensive than standard concrete, but lasts longer. Nearby vegetation benefits from rain soaking through the surface and infiltrates the soil, and pedestrians do not have to skip around puddles.
Fence Construction Detail
Porous Concrete Detail
2”x 2” metal post, typ.
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
of Fo otbr i d g e a n e Vi e w d Ri y E ver d’s r i Wa B lk
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Materials for the preferred design are influenced by comparable nearby urban parks, and use environmentally responsible materials.
Design Details: River Walk
Design Details: River Walk
2.5” porous concrete surface course 2” crushed stone aggregate
1 3/4” x 1/2” metal rails
steel river fence
finish grade
3 1/2 “ diameter cored hole
existing concrete wall
prepared subgrade
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
river walk/ park sign
Winter Street Park
6” aggregate subbase
porous concrete
19/25
f Fo otbr i d g e a n d Vi e w o Rive rW alk
Signs identifying Winter Street should conform to existing downtown wayfinding elements, like the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail sign on Park Street, or to sign designs specified in the town’s wayfinding plan, seen below. Winter Street Neighborhood Sign
Winter Street Park Sign
silhouette cut-out of footbridge
Adams Winter Street
historical snapshot of Winter Street
Adams
River Walk
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
Bi
Eye r d’s
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Some materials for the preferred design were influenced by material standards found elsewhere in downtown Adams.
Design Details: Signs
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Design Details: Signs
Winter Street Park
historical photo
porous concrete
steel river fence
A town wayfinding plan included examples of signs that fit into the preferred design, particularly for the river walk and to identify the Winter Street neighborhood.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
steel post
Winter Street Park
river walk/ park sign
20/25
type
ht (ft.)
width (ft.)
color
comments
cultural notes
purchase source
cost estimate
sidewalk border & riverwalk, next to channel walls These beautiful grasses and wildflowers grow easily in an urban environment. They tolerate compacted soils, urban pollution and disturbance, and a variety of soil quality, moisture, and pH levels. Nitrogen fixers help build soil nutrients to reduce need for outside fertilizers. yarrow
Achillea millefolium
wildflower
1’-3’
white & pink flowers throughout spring and summer
direct seed
American Meadows
$36.95/lb
chicory
Cichorium intybus
wildflower
3’-4’
beautiful blue flowers, July-October
direct seed
American Meadows
$24.95/lb
purple lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
wildflower
1.5’-2’
plumes of bronze-red in late summer
container-grown
Project Native
$9.95/gallon $10.44/lb
green & yellow
attracts birds
direct seed
Sheffield’s Seed Company
white flowers
common daisy
direct seed
American Meadows
$32.95/lb
yellow flowers, June-October
nitrogen fixer
direct seed
Stock Seed Farms
$9.50/lb
1’-3’
yellow flowers
not picky about soil conditions; can be fickle, but sets lots of seed
container-grown
Project Native
$8.95/gallon
wildflower
1’-3’
white flowers August-October
“a remarkably tough native species that is strikingly beautiful in flower.” (Del Tredici 2010, 166)
best propagation by division of mature plants-seed germination rate low
Prairie Moon Nursery
$2.45/bare root plant
Tanacetum vulgare
wildflower
2’-4’
yellow flowers, July-September
Horizon Herbs
$2.95/packet
alsike clover
Trifolium hybridum
groundcover
1’-2’
pale pink or whitish flowers, April-October
nitrogen fixer
direct seed
Wood Prairie Farm
$29.95/5 lbs
white clover
Trifolium repens
groundcover
.5’
mat-forming
white flowers, throughout summer
nitrogen fixer
direct seed
Stock Seed Farms
$3.75/lb
hairy vetch
Vicia villosa
herbaceous annual
1’-3’
climbs or spreads on the ground
purple flowers, June-August
annual that produces readily from seed; nitrogen fixer
direct seed in the fall
High Mowing Organic Seeds
$9.75/lb
common blue violet
Viola papilionacea
herbaceous perennial
.5’
should be allowed to set seed
Prairie Moon Nursery
$20/quarter-ounce (5,750 seeds)
attracts numerous butterflies
New England Wetland Plants
$.85 (50-300) or $1.05 (3501500)/2” plugs
striking in appearance
New England Wetland Plants
$.83 (50-300) or $1.05 (3501500)/2” plugs
New England Wetland Plants
$.83 (50-300) or $1.05 (3501500)/2” plugs
common rush of bogs and hummocks
New England Wetland Plants
$.83 (50-300) or $1.05 (3501500)/2” plugs
New England Wetland Plants
$.83 (50-300) or $1.05 (3501500)/2” plugs
red fescue
Festuca rubra
grass
oxeye daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare
wildflower
1.5’-2.5’
birdsfoot trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
wildflower
.5’-1.5’
black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
wildflower
white heath aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum
tansy
1’-3’ clumps
purple flowers, April-June
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
botanical name
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
common name
Design Details: Plant Palette
Design Details: Plant Palette
rain gardens These low maintenence plants grow well in wet environments and can tolerate road salt spray. They are also beautiful, resilient plants; several plants attract many species of birds and butterflies.
fringed sedge
blue flag iris
Canadian rush
Aster novae-angliae
Carex crinita
Iris versicolor
Juncus canadensis
wildflower
grass
wildflower
grass
2’-4’
dark purple flowers in later summer
3’
green
1.5’-4’
blue-violet flowers in early spring
2’
likes wet conditions; salt tolerant
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
wildflower
2’-4’
crimson red flowers in late summer
favorite of hummingbirds
sensitive fern
Onoclea sensibilis
fern
1’-3’
light green
decorative, beady appearance
Project Native
$9.95/2 quarts
Pycnanthemum muticum
herbaceous perennial
2’-4’
lavender to white flowers in mid-late summer
fragrance of mint and oregano
Project Native
$10.95/gallon
mountain mint
likes wet conditions; can be overcrowded
top of swale:
summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
shrub
3’-8’
4’-6’
new growth bronze; leaves green; pale gold in fall
fragrant showy summer flowers
responds well to pruning; tolerant of salt spray; transplant balled & burlapped or as a container-grown plant into moist soil
Project Native
$15.95/plant
fragrant yellow flowers in spring; attracts birds and butterflies; native
difficult to transplant--use container-grown plants; somewhat slow to reestablish
Project Native
$18.95/plant
container-grown, easy to transplant
Project Native
$12.95/plant
spicebush
Lindera benzoin
shrub
8’-15’
6’-15’
yellow & gold in fall
steeplebush
Spiraea tomentosa
small shrub
2’-5’
2’-5’
pink flowers in mid-summer
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
New England aster
Winter Street Park
bottom of swale:
21/25
width (ft.)
color
comments
cultural notes
purchase source
cost estimate
turf lawn The existing lawn should continue to be grown. However, as traffic increases, wear and tear may degrade the quality and health of the lawn. The following includes a Project Native lawn mix of resilient and attractive grasses to reseed entire areas or to phase into bare spots. When reseeding, an area should be roped off for an entire growing season to allow the grasses to take hold. The grasses with have a much higher success rate this way. sheep fescue
Festuca ovina
grass
red fescue
Festuca rubra
grass
1’-3’
hairy vetch
Vicia villosa
herbaceous annual
1’-3’
climbs or spreads on the ground
direct seed
Stock Seed Farms
$8.80/2lb
green & yellow
attracts birds
direct seed
Sheffield’s Seed Company
$10.44/lb
purple flowers, june through august
annual that produces readily from seed; nitrogen fixer
direct seed in the fall
High Mowing Organic Seeds
$9.75/lb
includes: broom grass, creeping red fescue, chewing’s fescue, hard fescue, rough bentgrass
direct seed
Project Native
$180/20 lbs
“a necessary tree under difficult conditions” (Dirr 2009)
EXISTING; many specimens growing on scrubby bank; transplant and prune select trees
n/a
n/a
yellow in fall
“excellent city tree for public areas” (Dirr 2009)
transplants easily in moderately moist soil; plant male trees--female fruits are messy
Weston Nurseries
$279/4-5’ balled & burlapped
yellow to red in fall
“very handsome street tree…definitely should be used more extensively.” (Dirr 2009)
best moved balled & burlapped in early spring
Split Rail Nursery
2” caliper
specimens grown from southern seed may not be cold hardy to Adams--source from as nearby as possible; transplant balled & burlapped or container grown as a young tree into moist soils; does well in many soil types except permanently wet ones; suffers from extreme stresses
Weston Nurseries
$325/2-2.5” caliper
Weston Nurseries
$295/2-2.5” caliper
Project Native Seed Mix street trees Street trees were chosen for their durability in an urban environment and for their simple care requirements.
box elder
Acer negundo
tree
ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba “Jade Butterflies’
dwarf tree
30’-50’
30’
30’
15’-20’
river walk trees River walk trees were chosen for their beauty and their tolerance for a variety of soil conditions. trident maple
Acer buergerianum
tree
20’-30’
20’-30’
eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis
tree
20’-30’
25’-35’
reddish purple buds open to pink flowers in early spring
“a breath of fresh air after a long winter” and “one of our most beautiful native trees” (Dirr 2009)
flowering dogwood
Cornus florida
small tree
12’-20’
8’-15’
ivory blooms in spring; red, orange & purple in fall
native; part shade
yellow & gold in fall
berries attract birds and butterflies; gorgeous spring flowers
transplant balled & burlapped or container grown plants into moist soil
Project Native
$19.95/plant
brilliant foliage; easy to care for native shrub
finely fibrous root system--transplants well; effective massed: “almost a sea of red in fall and winter” (Dirr 2009)
Project Native
$15.95/plant
Broken Arrow Nursery
$25/2 gal
Native shrubs interplanted among the above trees along the river walk add interest and beauty. shadblow serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
large shrub
10’-20’
5’-10’
chokecherry
Aronia arbutifolia
shrub
3’-8’
3’-6’; suckers & spreads
New Jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus
shrub
3’-4’
3’-5’
white flowers in spring; dark red fruit late in summer creamy white flowers in summer
Winter Street Park
shrubs
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
ht (ft.)
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
type
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
botanical name
Design Details: Plant Palette
common name
Design Details: Plant Palette
22/25
color
comments
cultural notes
purchase source
cost estimate
scrubby bank The east side of the road is privately-owned, but currently brush cut by the town to keep suckering trees away from overhead utility lines. The native plants listed below are low-maintenance alternatives to help beautify the road, stabilize the bank, and provide wildlife forage and habitat. “a good choice for a native plant ...due to its short height, long bloom time, versatile sun and soil needs, and brilliant classic white flowers.”
can spread aggressively; potential success growing under Norway Maples
Project Native
$9.95/quart
fragrant blooms
may tolerate Norway Maple understory
Project Native
$20.95/tree
bright red fall color
attracts over 35 species of birds
potential success growing under Norway Maples
Project Native
$10.95/gallon
deep red/maroon in fall
quick growing; red berries attract birds all winter
Project Native
$11.95/plant
Canada anemone
Anemone canadensis
wildflower
1’
spreading
sweetfern
Comptonia perigrina
small shrub
4’-8’
4’-8’
deep leathery green
witchhazel
Hamamellis virginiana
large shrub
10’-20’
8’-15’
golden yellow flowers in late fall
Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
creeping vine
staghorn sumac
Rhus typhina
tall shrub
30’
suckers & spreads
8’-18’
8’-15’
classic white flowers in mid-spring
Sources: Del Tredici, Peter, Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2010 Dirr, Michael A., Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses, Sixth Edition. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing, 2009
Canada anemone
Eastern redbud
Canadian rush Photo Credit: kgNaturePhotography.com
Steeplebush Photo Credit: kgNaturePhotography.com
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
width (ft.)
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
ht (ft.)
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
type
Design Details: Plant Palette
botanical name
Winter Street Park
common name
Design Detail: Plant Palette
23/25
cubic yard square foot square foot square foot
fencing demoli'on fence
lump sum linear foot
landscaping trees shrubs grass seed rain garden
each each pound of seed linear foot
park furniture bike rack trash & recycling receptacle water fountain benches
unit cost
quan-ty
subtotal
descrip-on
$23.00 $8.00 $8.00 $11.00
80 4000 6400 630
$1,840.00 $32,000.00 $51,200.00 $6,930.00
includes disposal costs half the length of Winter Street along the river, from the footbridge to the intersec'on of Hoosac and Winter the same as the Rail Trail crosswalk on Park Street
$4,000.00 $40.00
1200
$4,000.00 $48,000.00
includes disposal costs there may be opportunity to reduce costs by using exis'ng 4' tall poles
$300.00 $20.00 $400.00 $12.00
20 75 1 1920
$6,000.00 $1,500.00 $400.00 $23,040.00
each each each each
$1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,000.00
1 3 1 5
$1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,000.00
ligh-ng pedestrian lights
lump sum
$3,000.00
1
$3,000.00
signs wayfinding sign
lump sum
$3,000.00
1
$3,000.00
Subtotal Con-ngency Cost (10%) Mobilliza-on Fees (20%) Design & Administra-on Fees (15%) Total
see plant paleOe for more a detailed breakdown of plant cost es'mates
$186,410.00 $18,641.00 $37,282.00 $27,961.50 $270,294.50
includes plants and seeds
notes
similar to style found elsewhere in town, see sheet 20
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
unit
Winter Street Park
item paved surfaces demoli'on sidewalks: porous concrete riverwalk: porous concrete stamped concrete
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
Items not priced individually are not detailed in the plan, but their inclusion in the park is anticipated.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Cost estimates provided below are rough gauges of the cost of the Winter Street park. It is encouraged to source materials as locally as available and to reuse materials whenever possible.
Design Details: Cost Estimate
Design Details: Cost Estimate
24/25
Not for constr uc tion. This drawing is part of a student project and is not b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y.
Design in Context
Hoosac Street
et tre rS nte Wi
ver
Ri
ee Str er int W
Kear ns
t
Lane
Mill Building
Sum
me r St ree t
illt i co Ash uw
Park S tre
et
ok R
ail Tra i
l
Library
Lehs
genevieve lawlor & ahron lerman
c osi Ho
Visitors Center
Design in Context
A river walk features the Hoosic in a new light, while ecological stormwater management techniques begin to address the problems of polluted runoff directly entering the river.
the conway school | conway, massachusetts | spring 2011
A park on Winter Street, with dedicated pedestrian connections to outlying areas, integrates the street into Adams’ downtown neighborhood and makes the street safer and more beautiful for residents and visitors.
Lane
Town Hall
Above: The map suggests how formalized pathways might extend from the park on Winter Street to the commercial area of Summer Street to the east, and west to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
Sum
me r St ree t
Right: The preferred design overlayed on an aerial photo of the site.
Town of Adams Community Development Department Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Open Green
Winter Street Park
Hoosic River
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