Kensington Rising - Capstone Project - Temple University Masters of Landscape Architecture by Liz Krohn

KEN SING TON

RISING A neighborhood vision plan for a future that is

green, inclusive, and dynamic and reflects a vibrant community that resides in the Heart of Kensington, Philadelphia

A collaboration between Esperanza Health Center, The Simple Way Non-profit, residents of Kensington, and Liz Krohn Temple University Tyler School of Art & Architecture, MLArch Capstone Project, 2019 - 2020

Acknowledgments

Many, many thanks to: My loving family Thank you for your continual support and encouragement in pursuing my passions, especially when it comes to this project. You instilled a love in me for nature and for justice, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

My loyal friends Thank you your continued friendship despite the fact that I have not seen any of you for months due to this labor of love and graduation requirement.

My benevolent stakeholders Thank you Esperanza and The Simple Way for welcoming me and helping guide this vision plan. I could not have asked for better, more enthusiastic stakeholders. Thank you for letting me dream with you. Special thanks to: Justin Perry - Esperanza Assistant Director of Operations Deb Ortiz-Vasquez - Esperanza Community of Health and Wellness Director Lianette Pappaterra - Esperanza Community of Health and Wellness Programs Manager Caz Tod-Pearson - The Simple Way Director Shane Claiborne - The Simple Way Director Jeremy Chen and all the Kensington residents who voiced their opinions and concerns regarding this project. Thank you for allowing your voice to be heard for the future you hope for within your neighborhood. My patient capstone advisors and professors Thank you for your continued guidance and for supporting me in my bold design decisions. I am so grateful and honored that I had the opportunity to learn from you all. Special thanks to: Pauline Hurley-Kurtz

Mark Gallagher

Mike Coll

Sue Mrugal

Andrew Hayes

Carter Van Dyke

Lucinda Bartley

Dr. Lolly Tai

Donna Shumpert

My good-humored classmates Misery loves company, am I right?! Thanks for all the laughs, coffee, and encouragement. I am so glad we were able to learn from one another as we crossed paths at Temple. To wellness! Special thanks to: Zach Cross

Katie Bartling

Jacob Zurilla

Mike Isaacman

Contents

Executive Summary

Context & History

Site Character

Inventory & Analysis 28

Social & Cultural Context

Physical Context

Opportunities & Constraints

Vision, Case Studies, & Community Outreach

Concept Development

Master Plan

134 Design Detail 148 Approach & Phasing 160 References & Appendix

Executive Summary

About a 5.5 mi drive north of Center City Philadelphia and 1.5 mi drive west of the Delaware River is the home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities outside of Puerto Rico itself, and one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Philadelphia. In these neighborhoods of Kensington and Harrowgate, collectively referred to as Kensington, a vibrant community lives with a deep-rooted sense of culture, faith, family, and community. Despite what knits this community together, the residents of this area face extreme daily challenges related to the opioid crisis, associated transient community, violence, crime, high poverty and unemployment and a stark, deteriorating environment. These challenges result in immediate and long-lasting individual and community trauma – a current reality that is a result of the neighborhoods’ history of deindustrialization, racial segregation, and neglect. To an outsider, the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Kensington and Harrowgate, collectively referred to as Kensington, is considered ‘The Badlands’, a region held in contempt that people avoid. This reputation often overshadows the beauty and vibrancy that, despite everything, persists in these neighborhoods. In fact, there are many residents who call Kensington home. These residents, who are not involved with the challenges affecting the neighborhood, relentlessly strive to improve their neighborhood and create safe places for children. To assist this community, Esperanza Health Center, a non-profit organization that already had a location in Philadelphia’s Fairhill neighborhood, expanded their services to Kensington by leasing offices in 2007. Wanting to expand their services and have a permanent location in Kensington, Esperanza purchased the long vacant Kensington Trust Co. Building. The classical-style former bank was built in 1925 at the corner of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues, which is the intersection of two major commercial corridors and considered the ‘heart’ of Kensington. Esperanza, wanting to preserve the identity of the landmark building in Kensington, renovated the inside and opened the building for appointments

in October of 2019. The mission of Esperanza Health Center is to provide holistic healthcare to the residents of Kensington, and they recognize that healthcare does not begin and end at the threshold of the Trust Co. Building. Therefore, Esperanza has purchased several vacant lots surrounding their new location to turn into a campus-like setting that will be abundant in programmed, open green space that serves Esperanza visitors, staff, and families of the surrounding neighborhood. For the purposes of this project, the design areas will be 14 acres in total that includes Esperanza Health Center, their new garage and future Community Center, the several lots they have purchased, the adjacent commercial corridors and residential streets, and the neighboring community garden that belongs to ‘The Simple Way’ nonprofit. The overall mission of this project is to create a landscape vision plan that integrates both human and natural systems for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for Kensington residents. This will be achieved through the design of outdoor spaces that provide residents with holistic care (physical, mental, social) in alignment with Esperanza’s mission for the community. In order to create a healthier, safer and more livable community, strategies that will be incorporated in the design include green stormwater infrastructure, complete streets, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), specific public space programming, and development recommendations. The residents of Kensington are long overdue for an environment that contributes to their health and well-being. The following book shares the story of Kensington and provides a vision for the future in which residents thrive in their home environment. The future of this neighborhood can be one that is green, inclusive, and dynamic, and that reflects the vibrant community that resides in the heart of Kensington. No one should have to move to live somewhere better. Kensington’s time is now. With organizations like Esperanza and The Simple Way, and a plan for a healthier, safer environment, Kensington is rising. 2

Context & History

Regional Context The project site is located between the North and Riverwards districts of Philadelphia, about a 5.5 mile drive north of Center City and a 1.5 mile drive west of the Delaware River. While the Riverwards district has been steadily gentrifying to the south and east, the North district has maintained its reputation as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Badlandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a region of the city most Philadelphians avoid. The project site encompasses 14.5 acres at the intersection of the Harrowgate and Kensington neighborhoods of Philadelphia, collectively referred to as Kensington. To the south of the site is Allegheny Station of the elevated Market Frankford Line, one of the main transit lines leading into Center City and out of Philadelphia. The site is also bordered by two designated commercial corridors, but mostly consists of one-way residential streets.

Juniata Park Hunting Park St. Hugh Fairhill Delaware River Center City

Miles

Frankford Valley

Harrowgate

Bridesburg

Kensington

West Kensington East Norris Kensington Square Olde Kensington Richmond South Fishtown Olde Kensington

Port Richmond Delaware River

Northern Liberties Old City

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Neighborhoods

1 Miles

Project area: ~14.5 acres

E Cornw

all St

E Westm

elevated Market Frankford Line (MFL)

oreland

E Willard

Allegheny Station

r tte

E Madiso

E Hilton S t

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n St

n to g n

e Av

ns e K

Alleghen G St

y Ave

Immediate Project Area

100

200 Feet

Stakeholder Context The following map illustrates the land owned by the primary stakeholders for the project. Along with moving into the Kensington Trust Co. Building across from Allegheny Station, Esperanza has purchased a number of parcels to the north of the facility that they would like turned into a green health campus. In the future, Esperanza hopes to purchase other buildings and lots to expand and further connect the campus. Across from Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future Community Center is a community garden owned by The Simple Way, a non-profit organization of neighbors that would like to integrate their block and garden into the Esperanza campus.

KENSINGTON & ALLEGHENY PROJECT AREA elevated Market Frankford Line (MFL) M

Allegheny Station

ESPERANZA 1 1

Former Health Center leased in Flomar Building

New Health Center in Kensington Trust Company building (former bank)

Handicap Parking

Future Community Center

2 Level - Parking Garage Parcels to design Land Bank - potential future parcels Buildings to remove in the future

THE SIMPLE WAY 6 6

Community Garden to make design recommendations

7 7

Main Office Parcels Potential future parcels

E Cornw

all St

E Westm E Willard

6 r tte

E Madiso

E Hilton S t

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n St

oreland

n to g n

e Av

n Ke

Alleghen

G St

y Ave

100

200 Feet

Kensington History Industrialization to Poverty, Crime and the Opioid Crisis

Lenni-Lenape tribes are displaced by colonial estates and settlements

Before 1800

Railroads bring industry and people, followed by services and hospitals; Kensington emerges as a major global manufacturing hub, especially for textiles, and the area becomes known as the “Workshop of the World”

Development expands eastward with wartime industry and the expansion of the MarketFrankford Line

1820 Kensington is established as a district

‘WORKSHOP of the WORLD’

1910s1920s several manufacturing facilities are built; Market-Frankford Line is built in 1916

Impact Services is founded

19882003

1974

1930

1850

Septa reconstructs the MarketFrankford Line

1950present Deindustrialization: the North and River Wards districts suffer from widespread industrial decline; white flight; Hispanic and African-American people moved in; drug market began to fill the economic vacuum - Kensington’s decentralized market kept competition high and prices low and becomes the heart of the opioid crisis on the East Coast

1980 Esperanza is founded

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You see everything here - overdoses, shootings, killings. We are exposed to trauma every day just living here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constant.â&#x20AC;? - Kensington female resident

first homeless encampment Many of the areas old mills are to be cleared; city offered renovated for new uses, a process treatment to displaced heroin that continues today and is causing addicts - many did not accept gentrification; gangs began and moved to sidewalks and bringing in heroin that was purer street corners; residents afraid and cheaper than the historically to leave houses with more dominating heroin imported from addicts, needles, trash and Asia violence out in the open

2017

2000s

1960s2000s

Commercial Corridors and housing projects are supported by major CDCs, including Esperanza and Impact Services; attempts to improve neighborhood continue via a number of social services

2016 Mayor Jim Kenney takes office and makes it a priority to tackle to opioid crisis

2018 The Philadelphia Resilience Project: Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order to combat the opioid crisis

Governor Tom Wolf signed a statewide disaster declaration for the public health emergency in Kensington since 1,200+ overdose deaths occurred in 2017 (34% increase from 2016)

Esperanza History

Mission: COMMUNITYMADE ‘PHOENIX PARK’

1,000+ signatures to make space a city park denied

“Compelled by the love of God in Christ Jesus, in cooperation with the Church and others, Esperanza Health Center is a multi-cultural ministry providing holistic healthcare to the Latino and underserved communities of Philadelphia.”

FOUNDED for Latino Community

1980

Federally-Qualified Health Center

Hunting Park location

2006

2011

1989

2007

5th Street location

first Kensington location

7 alarm FIRE at vacant horse blanket factory in Kensington; spread to 19 nearby homes

recognition as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home

2014 2012 Community of Health and Wellness Department Founded

Locations: Health Services: 2

3 1

1) 5th Street 2) Hunting Park 3) Kensington

City of Philadelphia gave Esperanza ‘Phoenix Park’

Esperanza breaks ground for the new Community Center on second half of former ‘Phoenix Park’

Esperanza begins purchasing adjacent vacant land

2017 2016

purchased the Kensington Trust Company Building

2020

• adult health • children’s health • women’s and prenatal care • dental care • HIV care • behavioral health • medication dispensary • nutrition counseling • social services • spiritual care

Community of Health & Wellness Services:

2019

Kensington Health Center relocated to renovated former bank building

2-story parking garage opens in half of former ‘Phoenix Park’

• group/ individual fitness programs • community health promoter classes • ‘Family Fit’ - nutrition and behavioral health classes • ‘Young at Heart’ seniors program • Esperanza Fresh - farmers market • Esperanza Café 12

Site Character

The project area encompasses the commercial corridors of Allegheny and Kensington Avenues, as well as one-way residential streets. The commercial corridors are lined with a repeated series of check-cashing stores, pawn shops, Chinese food takeouts, bars and furniture stores. Shadowed by the Market Frankford Line overhead, Kensington Avenue in particular is where much of the transient population congregates, especially outside of Allegheny Station at the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny, commonly referred to as K&A.

Streets

6 5

4 9

1 7 3

1 Project Area

Allegheny Ave.

2 Kensington Ave.

3 Allegheny Station at K&A

4 Parking Garage on Westmoreland St.

5 Corner of Westmoreland and Shelbourne

6 Cornwall St.

The narrow residential streets to the north of the Kensington Trust Co. Building have most cars partially parked on the sidewalk, have a series of vacant lots and buildings, are largely devoid of trees, and are scattered with periodic piles of trash. Along E Cornwall Street at the far north of the site, residents painted the bollards a calypso blue, providing bright points to E Cornwall Street that is absent on other streets. Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations have already begun to change the character of the neighborhood. The new, blank canvas that is the two-story garage stands in direct contrast to the surrounding deteriorating homes and sidewalks. Additionally, the newly planted trees placed in front of the garage are the densest collection of street trees in the area. They hold the promise of substantial shade for the neighborhood even though some of the trees have been uprooted since planting, suggesting that some residents are not ready for the changes.

Potter St.

Allegheny Station and the Flomar Building across from the Kensington Trust Co. Building

9 Potter St. and H St. 16

Site Character The Simple Way

Red Maple Greenhouse/ aquaponics and solar panels

Rose

Burning bush

Bordering Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Campus is The Simple Way, a Christian organization of neighbors that has a focus on community-building and connecting neighbors to resources within the community. To the east of their block, The Simple Way has a fencedin community garden that was created shortly after the horse blanket factory fire burned down the buildings that were on the site. The garden is open only at certain times and can be reserved by neighbors for events like birthday parties and BBQs. The Simple Way is excited to have Esperanza as neighbors because they hope to open up their community garden to Esperanza staff and visitors. By having a more constant presence in the garden, The Simple Way hopes to keep the fence open more often and that it will thereby increase neighborhood safety.

Grape arbor/ gate Alley Seatwall

Zelkova

Miscanthus spp. Welcome sign

H St.

Redbuds

Paulownia

Planter Boxes Cherry Laurel

. St r tte

Shed and Rain Barrel

40 Feet 18

Site Character Esperanza Lots

One of Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest open spaces, at about 3,000 sq ft, is in front of the new health center, which currently consists of two scraggly trees, newly paved cement, and a great deal of subsurface infrastructure. The largest lot is located at the corner of Westmoreland St. and H St. Since it is about 3,500 sq ft, Esperanza intends for this lot to be the main event and play space. Continuing to the west, Esperanza owns two adjacent lots at the corner of Westmoreland and Shelbourne Streets, which are collectively about 1,300 sq ft. According to neighboring residents, these parcels, which are currently fenced in, are one of the main drug dealing sites in the area aside from K&A.

4 5

1 Project Area

Front of Kensington Trust Co. Building

2 Westmoreland St. and Shelbourne St.

3 Westmoreland St. and H St.

On East Madison Street, Esperanza owns two vacant lot parcels with another vacant parcel between the two that they do not own. In the future they hope to acquire this lot and expand the open space, which would make the area 1,750 sq ft.

4 E Madison St.

Along Shelbourne St., Esperanza owns a majority of the parcels between the Kensington Trust Co. Building and the location of the future Community Center. They hope to eventually own the whole expanse, which would be about 5,900 sq ft. The plan for these spaces is to take down the buildings and to either make it open green space, which would be the largest continuous open space on Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus, or mark it as a site for future campus development. Esperanza also owns 3 parcels on the corner of Shelbourne St. and E Hilton St. Currently the site is a fenced in parking lot with 4 spaces, but Esperanza is open to different uses for the space in the future, especially since it is so close to the Kensington Trust Co. Building.

5 Northernmost lot on Shelbourne St.

6 Shelbourne St. and E Hilton St. 20

Site Character

Within the project area there are several murals that reflect the culture, faith, vibrancy, and hopes of people in the community. A majority of these murals were commissioned and paid for by The Simple Way. Each year for the past few years The Simple Way has paired an aspiring artist within the community with a professional to create a mural together, providing the aspiring artist a job opportunity and valuable experience.

Murals

4 6

1 Project Area

Westmoreland St. and H St.

2 Phoenix Park Mural at H and Shelbourne

3 The Simple Way Garden , south section

4 Side of The Simple Way Office

6 Madison and G St., east

4 Side of The Simple Way Office

A door to The Simple Way Office 5

Madison and G St., west 22

Site Character Architecture

Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new home in Kensington is in the Kensington Trust Co. Building, a prominent landmark in Kensington since 1925. The 35,000 square foot facility was renovated and modernized by Brawer & Hauptman Architects, who incorporated features of the original bank building by keeping the original molding and bank vaults.

Project Area

Kensington Trust Co. circa 1930

Original clock above the front door

Bank vault converted to staff lounge

Renovated Front of Kensington Trust Co. Building, 2019

Front lobby

4 A3.04

239

B.1

0.1

B.2

8' - 10"

E.1

E.2

8' - 10"

11' - 8"

11" TYP.

3' - 7"

19' - 8"

5' - 4 1/2"

-1"

ELEVATOR A

ELEVATOR B

A4.04

117

150

211

4 3' - 6"

2' - 0"

107A

MEN'S

12 5

1' - 6"

3 A4.04

114

CHAPEL 115

101

1710

DISPENSARY

213

119 12 120

209

DISPENSARY OFFICE

A4.04

210

5' - 5" 215

212

A4.04

120

3' - 3 1/2"

A4.03

5' - 8 1/2"

BULK STORAGE

117

5' - 0"

102

118

3 A5.01

+/- 2' - 7" V.I.F.

114

195

4' - 10 1/2"

DELIVERY

116B

8' - 0" 120

118

119

JAN

258

11' - 7"

112

12' - 6"

3' - 0"

CALL CENTER 106

Front columns

4' - 10"

10' - 10"

6' - 9"

A3.05

103

4' - 3"

5' - 0"

15' - 0 1/2"

Secondary/ staff Access

116C123

7' - 2"

8' - 8"

CONSULTANTS:

Primary/ patient Access

8' - 2 1/2"

7' - 10" CLEAR

144

122

116A

4' - 3"

3' - 4"

254 121

107C

4' - 9"

107B

5' - 8"

-3' - 1 1/2"

166

3 A3.05

8' - 2 1/2"

105

112B

104

4' - 4"

3' - 4"

2017 Brawer & Hauptman, Architects

116D UP

2' - 6 1/2"

TYP. AT ALL EXST'G EXTERIOR WALLS

4' - 2 1/2"

3' - 8"

Handicap Parking

3' - 8" TYP.

9' - 10 1/2"

3' - 6 1/2"

5' - 5"

19' - 2"

6' - 6"

2' - 4"

3' - 10"

A3.04

237

417 N. 8th Street, Suite 504 Philadelphia, PA 19123 Tel (215) 829−0084 Fax (215) 829−9695 info@brawerhauptman.com

238

0.2

Esperanza Health Center

2 A3.04

7' - 4"

3 100

196

115

12' - 6"

REGISTRATION

112A 1' - 5"

108

A4.03

11' - 9 1/2"

4' - 9 1/2"

OFFICE 97

A4.03

5' - 1 1/2"

FREEZER 106 2' - 0"

104B

122

10 111

2 A3.06

9' - 1 1/2"

Esperanza Health Center

104

SHELL

BACK KITCHEN

15' - 7"

SECURITY 102

A4.03 A3.09 1

104A

861 E Allegheny Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19134

20' - 7 1/2"

104C

122

259

109

A4.03

7' - 8"

16' - 1 1/2"

A3.03

3' - 4"

110

216

2' - 10"

4' - 9"

1' - 11"

6' - 10"

109

135°

2' - 4"

STAFF BATHROOM

243

197

107

11' - 5 1/2"

110

105

121

LOBBY/ WAITING

7' - 11 1/2" 99

WOMEN'S

2 A5.01

110

8' - 2 1/2"

8' - 3 1/2"

109

10 TYP.

108B

A4.03

A4.04 8

6' - 8 1/2"

111

105

RFI 50

15' - 2"

4' - 10 1/2"

OFFICE OFFICE

8' - 2 1/2"

4' - 6"

256 111

214

A4.03

4' - 5 1/2"

189 3

118 10

14 135°

3 25' - 3 1/2"

CAFE 3' - 10"

18' - 6"

103

A4.03

3' - 1"

6' - 5"

REVISIONS:

A4.03 3' - 5"

A4.04 21

PHOENIX CAFÉ

CAFE SEATING

3' - 0" 4' - 3"

208

6' - 0"

100

101B

101A

100A

1710

2' - 7"

1' - 7"

BID/PERMIT SET 2018-02-09

5' - 10"

1st Floor Plan 4

A3.01

Stairs

Date 02/27/2018 04/13/2018 09/19/2018

3' - 3"

257

Description Addendum 1 Addendum 3 Addendum 4

244

No.

VESTIBULE

2' - 0"

4' - 10"

A3.09

100B

101

112

1 3 4

1 A3.06

4' - 0"

Esperanza Health Center

8 113

A4.04

A5.01

158

A3.02

Handicap Ramp

First Floor Plan 1/4" = 1'-0"

1 A1.02

A1.02

1710

113

20 19

3' - 0"

9' - 2 1/2"

OFFICE

121

BUTT GLAZED GLASS ENCLOSURE 108A

107

9' - 11"

10' - 4"

6' - 4"

12' - 2"

7' - 8 1/2"

108

Kensington Trust Co. First Floor Plans 24

Site Character Architecture

Kensington Trust Co. Building

Handicap parking Potential development space A scheme for the Community Center Garage

Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new two-story garage was completed and opened in Fall 2019. Esperanza originally wanted to utilize the garage for basketball games and other activities when cars were not parked there, but the garage was only structurally designed to support vehicles. Ruggiero Plante Land Design prepared the plans for the stormwater management, new sidewalks, trees, and small herbaceous planting areas around the garage. The Community Center, which is being designed by Norr, an international architecture and engineering firm, is currently designed to be 4 stories with a rooftop terrace. In the future, Norr may design future developments for Esperanza on Shelbourne St. and eventually connect them to the Kensington Trust Co. Building and the Community Center to have one continuous facility.

Proposed programs for the Community Center include:

• gym • community room • Community of Health and Wellness offices • fitness rooms • group fitness room • prayer room • PT exam room • child care • kitchen for cooking classes • roof top terrace

Garage

H St 26

Inventory & Analysis Social & Cultural Context

Racial Composition 3%

Black

35%

14%

White

Asian Hispanic

Compared to the city of Philadelphia as a whole, the Kensington and Harrowgate neighborhoods consist of more diversity. Only 14% of the population is white, compared to 35% in the city, and most strikingly, 64.5% of residents of Harrowgate and Kensington are Hispanic compared to 14% across the city.

Other

41%

Chart Title

14%

Harrowgate + Kensington

18.5%

Kensington

64.5% 1

Harrowgate

0.5 Miles

Hispanic Population & Age Philadelphia has a growing Hispanic population, most of which is located in the North District of the city and within the project site. Of the Hispanic population, a majority are Puerto Rican. In fact, Philadelphia is home to the largest Puerto Rican population outside of Puerto Rico, with an estimated 135,000 Puerto Rican residents. With respect to age, a majority of residents in these neighborhoods are between the ages of 30 and 59, followed by the age group under 20. Over the last couple decades, the population above 60 years of age has been on the decline. 0-5% 5.1-10% 10.1-15% 15.1-25%

10% Age

25.1-50% 50.1-91.6%

< 20

56%30 - 59

20 - 29

< 20 20 - 29

Harrowgate + Kensington

Miles

Philadelphia Hispanic Population

21%

13%

30 - 59 > 60

> 60

Age 30

Poverty The project site is within the most economically disadvantaged region of the city, with approximately 47% of the population living in poverty compared to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25.8% average. Of Hispanic residents living in Philadelphia, most of which live near the project site, 40% live in poverty, making this the largest percentage of any racial or ethnic group.

0 - 16% 16 - 29% 29 - 41% 41 - 57% 57 - 90%

47%

of Kensington and Harrowgate residents live in poverty

Harrowgate 0

Miles

Kensington

0.5 Miles

Employment Rate & Median Income The project area has one of the lowest percentages of people employed within the city, with only 39% working. 13% are considered unemployed (looking for a job and able to work) while a staggering 48% are not in the labor force. Compared to Philadelphia, Kensington and Harrowgateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s median household income is only slightly over half that of Philadelphiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average.

Employed 39%

0 - 50% 50 - 60%

Unemployed

60 - 65% 65 - 80%

Not in Labor Force

80 - 91%

30,325

13% 10,041 48%

37,576

Median Household Income Site $25,219 0

Philadelphia Employment Rate

Miles

Philadelphia $46,116

Kensington & Harrowgate Employment Status 32

Crime

Narcotics

High

Low

Miles

Violent Crime

Miles

Kensington, the epicenter of the opioid crisis, has not only the city’s highest narcotics crime rate, but the highest violent crime rate as well. Both narcotics crime and violent crime are correlated since the drug dealers area aggressive about keeping the regions they deal in. Additionally, the clearing of encampments by the Resilience Project has lead to increased violence against the residents as more of the transient community moved to the streets where many residents made it clear they were not welcome. Open-air narcotics beneath an underpass

“My worry is we are being asked to face this epidemic as a neighborhood, but the threat of violence is very high and very real, and it’s only getting worse.” - Kensington resident, ‘Trapped by the Walmart of Heroin’, New York Times article, 2018

Police respond to 4 homicides in Kensington, August 2019

Inventory & Analysis Physical Context

Changes in the Urban Fabric The project area has experienced dramatic changes since the early 19th century. An 1808 map of Philadelphia shows that the project site was undeveloped and that Gunners Run stream ran south through the site near where the current Simple Way Community Garden is. By 1862 Gunners Run had been buried in the sewer system, road ways crossed the site, and large parcels between the roads were designated as industry grew in the area. The parcels south of Kensington Ave had been subdivided and developed by 1895 and by 1910 most of the surrounding area had been developed, including the Kensington Trust Co. Building. By 1942 the whole site was developed and the Market Frankford Line had been constructed. The area stayed largely the same through 1962. Between the late 20th century and the present, there has been an increase in vacant buildings and lots as the neighborhood has experienced economic decline. 1808 - Gunners Run

1910

1942 - 1962

1862

1895

0 2019

200â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2019

Watersheds & Buried Streams Wissahickon

Pennypack Creek

Poquessing Creek

Tookany TaconyFrankford Creeks

Darby and Cobbs Creek

Historic Streams

Lower Schuylkill Delaware Direct River

Miles

Remaining Streams Philadelphia Watersheds

The project area lies within the Delaware Direct Watershed, so prior to development, all runoff was either infiltrated or flowed to the Delaware River. Since the 1800s, most of Philadelphiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streams were buried (including Gunners Run that used to be within the project area), and incorporated into the combined sewer system. The primary problem with combined sewer systems is that they can cause serious water pollution during combined sewer overflow (CSO) events. This means that when there is a heavy rain or snowmelt event, the combined sewage and surface runoff flows can exceed the capacity of the sewage treatment plant. In this case, untreated stormwater and wastewater are discharged into streams, rivers and other water bodies.

Hydrology Project area E Cornw

Runoff direction

all St

Inlets Fire hydrants

E Westm

oreland

E Willard

Major catch areas

Known sewer line locations

r tte

E Madiso

E Hilton S t

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n St

n to g n

e Av

ns e K

Alleghen

G St

y Ave

100

200 Feet

The project area is relatively flat, but the 1 ft. contour lines indicate where the major stormwater runoff catchment areas are. The location of fire hydrants is noted to indicate where access to water may be possible for the future park spaces.

Zoning Project area Residential Single Family Attached (RSA-5) Residential MultiFamily (RM-1) Community Commercial Mixed-Use Neighborhood Commercial Mixed-Use-2

100 200 Feet

Residential Single Family Attached - Cornwall Street

Industrial Commercial Mixed Use

Community Mixed-Use Commercial - Kensington Avenue

Land Use and Vacancies Project area Land Use Medium density residential Consumer Commercial Business/ Professional Commercial Mixed-use Residential Commercial Industrial Civic Institution 0

100 200 Feet

The project area is zoned primarily for residential, followed by mixeduse commercial along Kensington and Allegheny Avenues. Current land use shows the changes Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence have made as well as the variety of commercial use there is, not just along Kensington and Allegheny, but scattered in row homes through the neighborhood. Further, much of the commercial and residential units are vacant and in a state of dereliction, and there are even more vacant lots. These vacancies, however, offer a future opportunity for positive change within the neighborhood, whether it is infill that benefits residents or public green space.

Culture/ Amusement Vacancies & Lots Vacant buildings Vacant lots Esperanza lots Simple Way lots

Soil & Surface Condition

High

Low

Lead Contamination

Litter Density

Miles

Compared with the rest of Philadelphia, and most of the country, Kensington and Harrowgate currently have the highest lead contamination levels in the soil and surrounding buildings. This is because during the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Workshop of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; era Kensington was home to most of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead smelters. As the area has experienced economic decline, fires, collapsed and demolished buildings, and new infrastructure, the compacted, urban soil has been disturbed, unearthing and spreading the formerly buried lead to new places, including within neighboring buildings. Another issue facing Kensington and Harrowgate is the amount of litter and waste in the streets. This is not just a problem caused by the transient community, but from many residents as well, who are used to seeing trash in the roads and associate the outdoors as another disposal area.

Invasive Species

Ailanthus altissima - tree of heaven

Paulownia tomentosa - empress tree

Miscanthus spp. - silvergrass

Euonymus alatus - burning bush

After habitat loss, invasive species (or species located in a new environment where they are not native), are the most significant threat to biodiversity. In their new habitat, invasive plant species often out-compete native plant species since they have no natural predators that they evolved with. As a result, the success of native wildlife that evolved to utilize native plants is compromised. Even though the project area is in an urban environment, vacant lots, and The Simple Way garden especially, provide an excellent opportunity to foster biodiversity by providing native plant habitat for bird and pollinator species. Currently, tree of heaven and empress tree, allocated mostly to alleyways, are the most common invasive trees in the project area. Most of the other invasive plant species are found within the Simple Way garden. These species are common, ornamental landscaping species, but they provide little to no wildlife benefit and often take over native plant species.

Prunus laurocerasus - cherry laurel

Philadelphia Trees & Temperature

75 80 85 90 95

High

100 105 110 115

Urban Heat Island Effect

Street Tree Density

Low Miles

The urban heat island effect occurs when a highly developed area, with a high percentage of impervious surfaces, experiences warmer temperatures than less developed areas nearby. This is because impervious surfaces have a higher heat capacity than natural areas, meaning they absorb and retain heat longer. The urban heat island effect is reduced when the amount of green spaces and trees in any urban environment is increased, since plants transpire and provide shade. The urban heat island map indicates that the project area experiences a higher level of the urban heat island effect than most regions of the city. This is because the project area is very low in the number of street trees, as indicated by the Street Tree Density map (which does not include trees in park areas).

Street Trees Project area E Cornw

Existing street trees

all St

E Westm

oreland

E Willard

r tte

E Madiso

E Hilton S t

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n St

n to g n

e Av

n Ke

Alleghen

G St

y Ave

100

200 Feet

Up until fall of 2019, the project area contained less than a dozen street trees. After the completion of the garage, Esperanza planted trees and grasses along H St. and Shelbourne St., and some of the plants have already been uprooted. This is common in similar neighborhoods, as plantings are often associated with future gentrification. Moving forward, it will be important to work with the Kensington council representative in keeping housing affordable in the neighborhood to avoid the effects of ecogentrification.

Lighting

Lights under Market Frankford Line on Kensington Avenue

Philadelphia satellite night image

Typical storefront lighting on Kensington Avenue

Project area Existing light fixturesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; illumination area

E Cornw

all St

E Westm

oreland

E Willard

The project area, though seemingly as welllit as most of the city, has only street lights as opposed to the pedestrian level lighting. This kind of lighting casts a dim orange glow along the streets and leaves shadowed gaps between much of the lights, perpetuating safety issues.

r tte

E Madiso

n St

E Hilton S t

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n to g n

e Av

n Ke

Alleghen G St

y Ave

100

200 Feet

Access I-95 Rail Market-Frankford stations Bus routes

Harrowgate

Urban Arterial Community Commercial Corridor

Broad Street

Kensington

Neighborhood Commercial Corridor

Roosevelt Blvd Major highways Market-Frankford Line Rail 0

Philadelphia Context

Miles

Neighborhood Context

0.5 Miles

Project area elevated Market Frankford Line (MFL)

E Cornw

all St

Bus Routes

E Westm

oreland

E Willard

Designated Bike Routes

St 3

r tte

E Madiso

Esperanza Parking Garage Free Parking Metered Parking One-way Street

E Hilton S t

G St

H St

Shelbourn

e St

n St

n to g n

e Av

n Ke

Alleghen

y Ave

Allegheny Station

100

200 Feet

The site is most easily accessible via I-95, the Market Frankford Line, and bus routes 60 and 3. Within the site there is metered parking and designated bike routes along the commercial corridors , and there is free street parking along the residential streets.

Open Space and Neighborhood Resources Pennypack Park Wissahickon Valley Park

Fairmount Park

FDR Park

Philadelphia Context

Miles

The project site is far removed from Philadelphiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major park systems in terms of distance and accessibility. If someone has a car, it would take an average of 20 minutes to reach each park when there is minimal traffic. Within a mile of the project area there are a handful of recreation centers and parks, though the parks are often unsafe, since many of the transient population shoot up within the park and discard their needles on the ground. The project area is also near several schools, which makes the future park spaces even more valuable for safe places for children to pass and visit on their ways to and from school. Additionally, if the park spaces are designed utilizing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and native plants, they can become valuable environmental education resources for community schools. In terms of health facilities in the area, Esperanza is the only health center, though St. Christopherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital for Children and Temple University Hospital Episcopal Campus are about a mile from the site.

Project area

ile

Parks and Rec Centers 1) McPherson Square

0.5 M il e 5 4

Hospitals

te w a

Health Centers

lk 11

5) Harrowgate Park

Kensington

Schools

3) Scanlon Playground and Ice Rink 4) McVeigh Rec Center and McKinley Playground

Harrowgate

2) Harrowgate Park

I-95

te w alk

0.5 Miles

Kensington Context 52

Inventory & Analysis Opportunities & Constraints

Challenges Affecting Public Health and Quality of Life

Knowing the history of Kensington makes some sense of the reality residents currently face - a reality that is strife with challenges that affect quality of life on an individual, social, economic, and environmental level and that include trauma, effects on health, lack of green space, illegal dumping, and disinvestment in the neighborhood.

Opportunities For Green Space Exposure and Enhanced Quality of Life

An effective way of beginning to address the injustices against public health in Kensington is to restore and heal the physical environment, ultimately addressing the rights of people to feel safe, included, and at home in an environment that contributes to their well-being. By providing opportunities for green space exposure through park space and GSI, quality of life can be enhanced in numerous ways that include community-building, improved general health, habitat creation, a reduction in the urban heat island effect, and increased vitality in the local economy.

Opportunities & Challenges street parking significantly more street trees

streets for pedestrians

separated vacant lots expanded community garden

dealer corner

sunniest location

streetscape enhancements for connected campus

needs to be fenced in and locked

largest campus connection

connection to Phoenix CafĂŠ

impervious surfaces

play streets

beneficial community businesses

adjacent oneway streets in same direction subsurface infrastructure

community precedent major gateway

transient population congregation area

unsafe intersection

more light and color

elevated MFL

ECONOMY

CULTURE

ENVIRONMENT

Challenges • • • • • • •

disinvestment loss of industry and jobs unemployment stressed social services stagnant population lack of ownership lack of diverse commercial businesses • food dessert

• ‘Badlands’ reputation and isolation from rest of city • real and perceived danger (crime, violence, opioid epidemic, unsafe intersections, unsafe streets) • limited outdoor spaces for people to be in community • unequal access to safe outdoor space • limited opportunities for artistic subculture • mentality about litter

• fragmented urban fabric makes dangerous areas • disconnected, dim lighting • lack of open site lines • homes in disrepair • high percentage impervious surface • subsurface infrastructure • car-centric • unsafe intersections • limited space for children to play • litter and waste

• jobs associated with creation, maintenance and security of new park space and GSI implemented • room for infill and beneficial businesses • affordable housing • cost reductions due to GSI

• space for safe community gathering space • outdoor educational opportunities • highly programmed outdoor spaces connected with Esperanza and neighboring nonprofits • celebration of diversity and culture • increased mental and physical health from GSI • play streets

• GSI potential • increased habitat spaces for pollinators and birds • lessening of urban heat island effect • aesthetic opportunity with GSI and local art • open site lines • more walkable

Opportunities

Vision, Case Studies & Community Outreach

PROJECT VISION To create a landscape vision plan that integrates natural systems into the urban environment for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for Kensington residents through outdoor spaces that provide residents with holistic care (physical, mental, social) in alignment with Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission for the community

GOAL To make a healthier, safer, more livable community through:

green infrastructure

pedestrian friendly streets

CPTED

public space programming

greater access

development recommendations

The people of Kensington are in great need of healthy and safe outdoor spaces that provide opportunities for health, wellness, play, and community engagement. Since it is located at the center of Kensington at the threshold of a major transit center, Esperanza Health Campus has tremendous potential to initiate positive community change. Through their future connected outdoor campus, Esperanza has the opportunity to set a precedent for revitalizing a neighborhood through creative placemaking, green stormwater infrastructure, outdoor community programming, safe streets, and celebration of art and culture.

Case Study 1: Community Designed Event Venue Frankford Pause Park Frankford Neighborhood, Philadelphia, PA FIRM: Hinge Collective CLIENT: Frankford CDC PROJECT TYPE: Neighborhood Pocket Park/ art environment VISION: Community-driven park design SIZE: ~7,000 sq ft OPENING DATE: 2019

Like the location of the Esperanza project area, Frankford Pause Park is located at the intersection of a commercial corridor and residential neighborhood near a major transit center and is in a diverse, lowincome neighborhood. Formerly a vacant lot, the now pocket park/ art environment serves as the premier outdoor event venue and community hub at the heart of Frankford. Through the partnership of Hinge Collective and the Frankford Community Development Corporation (FCDC), the project was implemented in multiple phases with the ultimate goal of getting the community involved with the process. They did this through incremental placemaking, event programming, community engagement opportunities, and co-creation and building experimentation with youth. From these efforts, Frankford Pause Park has experienced increased community involvement and ownership. Additionally, visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perception of the neighborhood have improved since the opening and continued programming within the park.

Frankford Pause Project Area

Context

Event Flyer example

The success of Frankford Pause is from the frequent programs that are held there and from the amount of community involvement in the design process and continued maintenance. By allowing the community to contribute their ideas, help with planting, and plan events, Frankford residents feel that this park is theirs, and it has increased overall pride in the neighborhood.

Case Study 2: Health Facility Healing Garden & Streetscape Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Boston, Massachusetts FIRM: CLIENT: Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital PROJECT TYPE: Rooftop Healing Garden and Streetscape design VISION: Provide a place of respite for patients and staff SIZE: Streetscape and 11,000 sq ft Healing Garden STATUS: Under construction/ to open in 2021

Streetscape rendering

Although the Beth Israel Hospital, located in the Longwood medical area in Boston, is in a different physical and demographic setting than the project site, it serves as a precedent to strive towards for several reasons. Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital was created with the healing potential of nature integrated throughout the building. To create continuity between the inside and outside, Design Under the Sky Landscape Architects were hired to design public pocket gardens and a unified streetscape, thereby creating a clear identity for the hospital with a focus on the healing potential of nature. Honey locust trees, permeable paving edges, rain garden planters and a custom sculptural granite planter bench all define the campus setting and reflect the value Beth Israel places on GSI and environmental stewardship. The six floor healing garden was designed with the intention of providing a space for patients and staff to gain respite and relaxation after being in the

stressful hospital environment. A variety of atmospheric conditions were incorporated into the design to provide guests with experiences that best fit their current condition or mood. An accessible, meandering path leads the guests to a variety of scaled spaces for both social interaction, or to simply reflect in a nature-like environment in privacy. Having a calm, peaceful setting in Kensington for people to have a chance to be restored would be invaluable to residents. In the healing garden, a majority of the plants are in above ground planters due to the roof infrastructure. At the project site, much of the soil is severely compacted and contaminated, making planters a possible alternative planting solution.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nature is but another name for health.â&#x20AC;?

- Henry David Thoreau

Case Study 3: Green Stormwater Maintenance Manual Philadelphia Water Department

In an effort to meet the obligations of Philadelphia’s Clean Water Act, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has developed the Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW) program. Through this initiative, PWD has pledged to reduce the volume of stormwater pollution entering local waterways by about 8 million gallons per year by 2036. This will be accomplished using green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to manage stormwater runoff from about 35% of the impervious surfaces in the city served by the combined sewer system. All together, this is about 10,000 acres of the city.

Esperanza’s Health Campus, located in a region serviced by the combined sewers that empty into the Delaware River, presents a tremendous opportunity for green infrastructure to help accomplish PWD’s stormwater management goals by 2036. For their new park spaces, Esperanza can set an example for the future direction of revitalization in Kensington by employing GSI. GSI would save Esperanza and Kensington stormwater costs, promote economic growth, and create construction and maintenance jobs that people in the community could be trained to do. For Esperanza, employing GSI and catching rainwater where it falls will allow the captured water to be

10,000 acres serviced by Philadelphia’s combined sewer system Blue roof

used as a resource for the campus, whether it is through irrigation or select water features on site. Sometimes vegetated GSI is not a viable option due to utilities or infrastructure. Below is an example of a blue roof, which is a non-vegetated roof system that retains or slows stormwater before it reaches the building’s downspouts. Considering the amount of infrastructure and utilities on the Kensington Trust Co. Building, this may be an option for the roof versus a green roof system. Other GSI applications currently being installed throughout Philadelphia by PWD, and that are feasible options for the project site, are shown on the following pages.

In addition to environmental and economical benefits that GSI provides, GSI can also provide an educational opportunity for neighboring schools in terms of stormwater management, plants, the importance of providing habitat for pollinators, air and water quality, climate resiliency, and how GSI aligns with Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission of providing health and wellness to residents of Kensington, as well as answers the Christian call of environmental stewardship.

Case Study 3: Green Stormwater Maintenance Manual

Tree Trench: a subsurface infiltration trench, typically filled with stone and planted with one or more Benefit: Trees take up water from trench, provide shade, enhance streetscape, and cool the surrounding air, provides traffic calming

Rain Garden: a shallow, vegetated area, typically planted with native grasses and shrubs, designed to collect runoff from impervious surfaces Benefit: Stormwater infiltration, cools the surrounding air, provides habitat for pollinators Green Roof: a vegetated surface, consisting of multiple layers, that is installed over a roof surface; selected plants can tolerate a thin planting media and occasional extreme temperatures Benefit: Stormwater velocity reduction and increased infiltration, cooler rooftop temperature, habitat for pollinators

GSI Applications utilized by PWD

Stormwater Bump-out: a vegetated curb extension that intercepts gutter flow Benefit: Stormwater infiltration, enhances streetscape, cools the surrounding air, provides traffic calming and increased pedestrian safety

Green Wall: (living wall) vertical vegetated systems that capture stormwater via direct rainfall or via diversions from roof drainage systems Benefit: Stormwater reduction, habitat for pollinators

Stormwater Planter: a planted installation to manage street , sidewalk, and/or downspout runoff Benefit: Stormwater infiltration, enhances streetscape, cools the surrounding air, provides buffer for pedestrians, provides habitat for pollinators

Bioswale: an open vegetated channel designed to control stormwater runoff velocity and allow runoff to infiltrate Benefit: Stormwater infiltration, cools the surrounding air, provides habitat for pollinators, a place to play for children

Pervious Pavement: a permeable hardscape surface that allows water to pass through the surface; can be concrete, asphalt, or pavers Benefit: Stormwater infiltration for pedestrian traffic areas, parking areas, and hardscape recreational areas, like basketball courts

Stormwater Tree: a specialized tree pit in a sidewalk that collects stormwater via a grate installed along the curb Benefit: Trees take up water from trench, provide shade, enhance streetscape, and cool the surrounding air, provides traffic calming Cistern/ Rain Barrel: storage receptacles that capture and store stormwater for nonpotable, beneficial reuse such as irrigation, toilet flushing, or industrial uses Benefit: reduction in stormwater runoff, economic savings over time

Community Outreach Event On January 23, 2020, community input for the future park spaces was received at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shaking Off the Winter Bluesâ&#x20AC;? event hosted by the Community of Health and Wellness in Kensington Trust Co. Building. The event, which offered yoga, arts and crafts, food and giveaways, also had a number of tables featuring community partners and resources. This was the first opportunity to introduce the future park spaces to residents, and with 100 residents in attendance, a great deal of feedback was received, especially from children in the neighborhood. To prepare for this event, posters were created in English and Spanish that included: an introduction to the future park spaces, an info board about the health and wellness benefits of green spaces, potential elements and activities that could be in the spaces that people could vote upon, and a Wish Wall in which people could write what they wanted for their parks and neighborhood.

Additional Comments

West m

orela

ur ne

nd St

Neighbors spoke about how a number of drug dealers congregate early every morning at the corner of Shelbourne and Westmoreland and make anywhere between $5,000 $10,000 a week. Though the neighbors would like to see business development workshops for the dealers to enter the labor force, the neighbors do not believe they will be incentivized to stop selling drugs. Therefore, a number of residents expressed the need to have a conversation with the drug dealers about the ideas for the future park spaces. By including the dealers in the conversation about and creation of the future park, the residents believe they will be more likely to respect the spaces as areas for children and families, and maybe places they can participate in legal recreation as well.

Community Outreach ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTER FUTURE PARK SPACE

HELP DESIGN YOUR

FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK!

The following posters introduce the site and park spaces and how even a short amount of time in green spaces can improve physical and mental health.

GARAGE

FUTURE COMMUNITY CENTER

THE SIMPLE WAY GARDEN

HOPE HOUSE

ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTER

3 ALL

EGH

ENY

AVE

ALLEGHENY STATION

GREEN SPACE = IMPROVED HEALTH PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS

MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS

SUGGESTED NATURE DOSAGE 2 MINUTES

INCREASED WEIGHT LOSS & FITNESS

INCREASED ENERGY

REDUCED ANXIETY & DEPRESSION

DECREASED STRESS, ANGER & AGGRESSION

STRESS IS RELIEVED (AS MEASURED BY MUSCLE TENSION, BLOOD PRESSURE AND BRAIN ACTIVITY)

2 HOURS INCREASED VITAMIN D

INCREASED IMMUNITY

IMPROVED MOOD

IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

MEMORY PERFORMANCE & ATTENTION SPAN IMPROVES 20%

2 DAYS REDUCED BLOOD PRESSURE

BETTER FETAL GROWTH & HEALTHIER BIRTH WEIGHTS

50% LOWER RISK OF DIABETES & HEART ATTACK

IMPROVED SELF-ESTEEM

REDUCED CHANCE OF DEVELOPING NEARSIGHTEDNESS

IMPROVED CREATIVITY

INCREASED SENSE OF BELONGING

LEVELS OF CANCER FIGHTING WHTE BLOOD CELLS INCREASE 50% AFTER 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS

INCREASED MEMORY & ATTENTION & REDUCED A.D.D. SYMPTOMS

Community Outreach

The following posters presented general activities and elements people would want available in the park spaces. People were allowed to place a dot beneath any image they would like to see. From this exercise, it was clear that most participants are excited

for an increase in greenery and having places for gathering, play and events. Open lawn received the least amount of support, possibly because most of the parks in the vicinity have open lawn, and without programming, these parks can be dangerous places to be.

Community Outreach Less people were inclined to participate with the Wish Wall, which makes sense as it can be hard to conceive of what a park could be if one has not been shown. Most participants stayed and talked about what they had written. Everyone agreed that the area needed to be cleared from drug dealing, and some expressed the need for local business development to do so. Others spoke to how strongly they wanted healing gardens and spaces where play in the park was offered for all ages, such as having larger swings for adults to use as well. Further, there was positive feedback regarding the pocket parks that were held by Community of Health and Wellness during the summer of 2019 at the Westmoreland and H St. lot. Residents would like to see similar programming held more frequently in the future. Having strong and frequent programming in these spaces will determine the success of the park spaces, as having an increased presence will reduce unwanted activities.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Draw Your Dream Parkâ&#x20AC;? pages were also provided for input and were hung on the wall behind the table when completed. Most children who participated expressed wanting a place for their family and a place with a water feature, slide and/or swings.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You shouldn't have to leave your neighborhood to live in a better one.â&#x20AC;? - Majora Carter, American urban revitalization strategist

Concept Development

Long Term Campus Planning Project area

E Cornw

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Vacant Building

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Alleghen

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Existing Vacant Buildings

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For the long term planning of the site, the existing vacant buildings were identified and removed or replaced for the master plan. This is because in the future, especially as positive change occurs within the neighborhood, it is possible that the lots the vacant buildings are on may be integrated into the health campus or purchased for future development.

Project area

E Cornw

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Primary Campus Primary Spaces to Design

E Westm E Willard

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Po E Madiso

Therefore, for the master plan, the adjacent lots that were vacant or had vacant buildings on them were included as spaces to design.

n St

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Proposed Spaces to Design 82

Programming Based on meetings with the stakeholders and community input, a list of programming, GSI enhancements, and development recommendations was compiled and agreed upon. Each of these recommendations addresses a challenge that the community is currently facing, and together, these implementations can bring about continued positive change for the neighborhood and people’s quality of life.

ECONOMY • Education Workshop/ Business Development (Bike, scrap and recyclable material, GSI installation/maintenance, graffiti removal, business, building maintenance) • Food Co-Op • Smoothie/ Juice Stand • Childcare

CULTURE • Community Recreation • performance space • outdoor seating • outdoor classroom for ecology, CHW programs • dog park • community gardening • Fitness • stations • outdoor fitness room • walking path with distance markers • bike loop • Restorative Recreation • healing garden • prayer space • sensory garden • Play • water • music • swings • slides • ecological feature

ENVIRONMENT • Complete Streets • bike lanes • raised crosswalks • play streets • road closings between certain hours • street direction change • Art • water • murals • sculptures • recycled material • mosaics • lighting • plantings • painted on streets • building facades • GSI • trees • rain gardens • green roofs • living walls • cisterns/ rain barrels • permeable paving • renewable energy • solar panels

Themes Moving forward with the design process, a number of themes can influence park features and the general character the health campus could take on. This includes ‘Kensington Rising’ based on the former Phoenix Park that was on the space where the garage is and where the Community Center will be built. Another integral theme is ‘Rooted in the Heart of Kensington’, giving reference to how GSI enhancements in this central part of the neighborhood can lead the way to healthier living and can help the neighborhood flourish. ‘Weaving the Fabric of Kensington’ refers to the former textile industry that was prominent in the area. This can be translated in the landscape with color and texture that ‘weaves’ through the sidewalks, streets, buildings and park features. Finally, the theme of ‘Stained Glass’ refers to the peaceful, sacred, and restorative character this health campus can take on and how that can greatly influence healing within the neighborhood.

1) Kensington Rising Phoenix Rebirth, Growth, New Beginnings, Hope

2) Rooted in the Heart of Kensington Spreading Roots, Greenery, Water, Sun, Nourishment, Earth, growth

3) Weaving the Fabric of Kensington Color, Vibrancy, Life, Texture, Textile History

4) Stained Glass Sacred, Healing, Community, Sing, Salt, Spirit, Color, Set Apart, Water, Grace, Celebrate, Light

Concept A All the concept master plans have the same programs and themes, though the layout varies between concepts. For Concept A, the primary active recreation spaces are between the Community of Health and Wellness Building and the Health Center and the passive recreation areas are primarily on H St. The major difference is that this concept proposes closing Shelbourne St. to vehicular traffic between Allegheny Ave. and Hilton St. This would create a solely pedestrian corridor for the campus between these streets, and it would require the direction of the Madison St., a one-way street, to be changed, which the city has approved for other residential streets in the neighborhood.

Thresholds Major Campus and Neighborhood Threshold Secondary Gateway Seamless Building/ Outdoor Threshold

Circulation Campus Primary Pedestrian/ Bike Path Campus Pedestrian/ Bike Only Path Pedestrian/ Bike Only, Closed to Traffic Vehicular Traffic Direction Non-Street Parking Bike Route Play Street

Outdoor Spaces Program 1. Continuous Plaza, Event Hub (singular identity) 2. Healing Garden 3. Community Garden with Seating/ Opportunity for Play 4. Business Development Outdoor Workshop 5. Dog Park 6. Fitness Classroom/ Stations, Start of Fitness Loop 7. Primary Play and Campus Event Space 8. CafĂŠ Seating/ Game Tables

Development Campus Development Mixed-use commercial/ residential Affordable Housing Infill A. Area Info Kiosk/ News and Event Info Stand B. Food Co-op C. Greenhouse and Aquaponics D. Business Development/ Green Job Training Classrooms E. (Mobile) Smoothie/ Juice/ Power Drink Stand F. Mixed-use retail and residential

E Cornw

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St Shelbourn e St

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Concept B For this concept, the active spaces are along H St. and further Esperanza Campus development is proposed along Shelbourne St. This concept also varies from other concepts in that Madison St. is envisioned as being closed to vehicular traffic, making it a primary pedestrian corridor that leads to the health campus. If this were implemented, additional parking would have to be provided for residents of Madison St., potentially in the large vacant area on the street. Other recommendations in this concept include a bike lane in the median on Allegheny Ave. and a business development center on Kensington Ave.

Thresholds Major Campus and Neighborhood Threshold Secondary Gateway Seamless Building/ Outdoor Threshold

Circulation

Outdoor Spaces Program 1. Event Plaza 2. Prayer Space/ Plaza 3. Fitness Stations 4. Event Plaza, Outdoor Classrooms 5. Play 6. Community Garden, Seating 7. Dog Park 8. Healing Garden 9. Outdoor Workshop/ Build-yard 10. Plaza

Development

Campus Primary Pedestrian/ Bike Path

Campus Development

Campus Pedestrian/ Bike Only Path Pedestrian/ Bike Only, Closed to Traffic, except residents Vehicular Traffic Direction Non-Street Parking

Affordable Housing Infill

Bike Route

A. Esperanza Development B. Food Co-op C. Business Development/ Green Job Training Classrooms D. (Mobile) Smoothie/ Juice/ Power Drink Stand

E Cornw

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E Westm

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St Shelbourn e St

E Willard

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H St

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G St

M M

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Alleghen

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Concept C For the third concept, major variations from the other concepts include: an extension of the cafĂŠ outside of the Health Center, passive recreation spaces in The Simple Way Garden area, the primary play space at the lot at Westmoreland St. and H St., fitness promoting throughout the campus as opposed to being designated to one location, and a dog and community pocket park along Madison St.

Thresholds Major Campus and Neighborhood Threshold Secondary Gateway Seamless Building/ Outdoor Threshold

Circulation Campus Primary Pedestrian/ Bike Path Campus Pedestrian/ Bike Only Path Pedestrian/ Bike Only, Closed to Traffic Vehicular Traffic Direction Non-Street Parking Bike Route Play Street

Outdoor Spaces Program 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Open, Simple Plaza with trees Outdoor CafĂŠ/ Seating Picnic Lawn/ Open Space (outdoor classes) Music Garden/ Community Garden Play/ Event Space F itness Loop with Fitness Stations in Bumpouts and Westmoreland and Shelbourne lots 7. Dog Park 8. Plaza/ Art/ Game Tables 9. Swing Grove 10. Healing Garden 11. Peaceful Seating/ water feature 12. Community Sculpture/ Art Plaza

Development Campus Development Affordable Housing Infill A. Area Info Kiosk/ News and Event Info Stand B. Esperanza Development C. (Mobile) Smoothie/ Juice/ Power Drink Stand D. B usiness Development/ Green Job Training Classrooms and Food Co-op

E Cornw

all St

E Westm

oreland

St Shelbourn e St

E Willard

E Madiso

n St

E Hilton S t

r tte

H St

y Ave

G St

M M

Alleghen

n to g n

e Av

n Ke

100

200 Feet

Master Plan

100

200 Feet

Master Plan E Cornwall St

E Willard St

Affordable Housing & Community Roof Deck Fit & Tree Plaza

E Madison St

Westmoreland St

G St

Garage

The Simple Way Prayer Garden & Picnic Area

Community Center

Hilton St

Raised Planters

The Gathering Pocket Park & Community Garden

H St

Paw Print Dog Park

Shelbourne St

Typical Residential Woonerf

Swing & Music Grove

Main Plaza

Phoenix Plaza & Park

Health Center

in ns

e Av

Business Development & Community Build Yard

Healthy Food Co-op & Art Plaza

The proposed campus and neighborhood design creates green community spaces for a healthier Kensington. Based on analysis of the existing conditions and stakeholder feedback, this plan proposes to increase the quality of life of Kensington residents through major commercial, institutional, and residential design suggestions. This plan represents a vision for the long term and therefore includes bold design decisions.

Allegheny Ave

Planted Center Median

Sol Plaza at K&A

100

200 Feet

Traffic Calming & Circulation E Cornwall St

H St

E Willard St

Shelbourne St

Westmoreland St

E Madison St

n Ke

G St

Hilton St

g sin

e Av

Allegheny Ave

100

200 Feet

GOAL: To reduce traffic speeds and accidents through environmental strategies and circulation recommendations; To create pedestrian-friendly streets that connect the Esperanza Health Campus

Primary interventions to calm and slow traffic include: • No vehicular access from Allegheny onto Shelbourne, which requires a change in direction on East Madison Street; • Paving changes at a few locations around the campus; and •T he incorporation of traffic circles • Art in the environment and • Increased pedestrian activity as people utilize the park spaces

Trees, bump-outs, curb cuts, center median

Trees in parking lane, narrower streets

Plazas and primary paving changes Woonerfs, chicanes Narrower cartway Existing traffic direction

Center median

Change in traffic direction Pedestrian only No parking Raised crosswalk, bump-outs, trees, paving changes

Chicane

- National Association of City Transportation Officials 98

Green Stormwater Infrastructure & Sustainability E Cornwall St

H St

E Willard St

Shelbourne St

Westmoreland St

E Madison St

n Ke

G St

Hilton St

g sin

e Av

Allegheny Ave

100

200 Feet

GSI GOAL: To detain and release stormwater runoff and infiltrate as feasible to reduce flooding and pollutant loads Sustainability GOAL: To set a precedent for the neighborhood and Philadelphia in reducing the collective carbon footprint and caring for environmental health Trees (tree trenches) Bumpouts, green gutters and curb-cuts, medians Other planted areas Pervious parking Pervious paving potential Solar panels Blue roof potential

GSI and sustainability measures will be an integral part of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s positive transformation. Esperanza, especially being at a major intersection and transit hub, has a tremendous opportunity to be an example for other neighborhood revitalization efforts in the city and the nation. For sustainability measures in particular, green roofs may not be easily implemented due to the infrastructure on top of the buildings. Therefore, a blue roof system and solar panels are being proposed. Solar panels are recommended for the ~20,000 square foot garage, since the structure can not support recreation uses, but could support an even weight distribution of solar panels. This could be achieved by having the solar panels raised above the parked cars so that no spots would have to be eliminated.

Definitions: Bumpouts - A vegetated curb extension that intercepts gutter flow. Designed to detain and release stormwater runoff and/or infiltrate where feasible. Blue Roof - A storage system designed into a roof surface that the roof retains ponded stormwater. Designed to reduce the rate of stormwater runoff. Green Gutters and Curb Cuts - A narrow and shallow landscaped strip along a streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curb line. It is designed to manage stormwater runoff by placing the top of the planting media in the green gutter lower than the streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gutter elevation, capturing stormwater runoff through curb-cuts from both the street and sidewalk. Pervious Paving - A hard permeable surface commonly composed of concrete, asphalt, or pavers. It is designed to detain and release stormwater runoff and or infiltrate where feasible. Tree Trench - A subsurface infiltration/ storage trench that is planted with trees. Typically are linear features designed between the curb and sidewalk.

- Philadelphia Water Department

100

Green Stormwater Infrastructure & Sustainability Positive Outcomes Decreased stormwater and energy costs Enhanced air, water and soil quality Increased recreation areas and enhanced community aesthetics Reduction in crime and improved perceptions of safety Reduction in urban heat island effect (cooler air and energy savings) Providing ecosystem services and habitat for beneficial birds and insects - increased biodiversity

The positive outcomes GSI has on communities is profound. In addition to the physical and mental health, economic, and environmental benefits, GSI and greening in general are directly correlated with a reduction in violence in neighborhoods. Studies have shown that greening vacant lots can transform the physical environment from one that promotes crime and fear to one that may reduce crime and improve perceptions of safety. Research conducted by Columbia University’s School of Public Health in collaboration with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania showed that full-scale makeovers (with grading, planting and fencing) as well as basic interventions (clearing and mowing) of Philadelphia vacant lots significantly reduced violent crime by as much as 30%. Additionally, these interventions were found to reduce people’s fears of going outside due to safety concerns by 58% and increased people’s use of outside space by 76%.

Economy

Green Infrastructure Environment

Quality of Life

- The National Environmental Education Foundation

- Philadelphia Water Department

102

Art Opportunities E Cornwall St

H St

E Willard St

Shelbourne St

Westmoreland St

E Madison St

n Ke

G St

Hilton St

g sin

e Av

Allegheny Ave

100

200 Feet

GOAL: To better reflect the vibrancy and creativity that is already within this community; To create cleaner, safer, more respected areas that people take pride in and want to be in Street murals Wall and MFL murals

Existing homes on Cornwall St.

The art possibilities in Kensington are endless, and there is already a lot of art present in the neighborhood. Through this plan, I am proposing increasing the amount of artwork in the neighborhood. There are already dozens of vibrant murals in the neighborhood, residents have even taken it upon themselves to contribute art to the community. Two of the images below show homes on Cornwall St., the northern-most residential street within the site area. On this street there are more bright colors on the homes than anywhere else within the site, and residents even painted the curbs and bollards a calypso blue. This street helped inspire the design development to fill the neighborhood with bright colors. In the future, more residents could paint their homes as well.

Proposed MFL as art - light

Proposed MFL as art - murals

Proposed street murals examples 104

Enhancing Safety Through Light

100

200 Feet

GOAL: To achieve increased real and perceived safety through design and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) strategies Street lighting Sidewalk level lighting/ glow in the dark paving

To achieve increased real and perceived safety through design, both street and pedestrian level lighting will be increased across the site so that there is constant and continuous visibility. Other CPTED strategies that will reduce crime, as mentioned previously, include streetscape enhancements, greening and GSI, the art installations, and increased pedestrian activity as people use the park spaces. Additionally, in order to maintain safety, maintenance and continual upkeep of the spaces is key, and it will have to be a community understanding and collaborative effort. If the spaces are not maintained,

including trash removal, further disorder can follow. Therefore, whenever something in the neighborhood needs maintenance, cleaning or needs to be replaced, it should be addressed as soon as possible so the damage is not increased. Immediately after implementation of a design feature, heavy monitoring and maintenance will have to occur around the site for a few months, but eventually, as studies have shown, the frequency of maintenance will continue to decrease as people begin to respect the space as an asset and a part of the community. However, this is only successful if the community is included in the design planning process from the beginning.

Proposed glow-in-the-dark paving (bike lanes)

Proposed sidewalk lights and uplighting

Proposed light as sculpture

Proposed seat/ step lighting

Bike lane lighting/glow in the dark paving Pedestrian level lighting/ string lights

Proposed overhead lights/ MFL

106

Street Typologies: Allegheny Avenue Currently, Allegheny Avenue is entirely impervious surface, is approximately 110 feet wide, and has bike lanes next to the driving lanes. For the design, the width of the sidewalk would remain the same, but it would be broken up with colorful, raised planters (due to the subsurface infrastructure). Also, a weaving blue path has been incorporated, to vary the walking experience on the sidewalk, but to also reflect this idea of weaving, an important part of the neighborhoods textile industry history, and to symbolize how the neighborhood can be woven together into a unified whole. Another enhancement to Allegheny Avenue includes moving the bike lane on the other side of the pervious parking spaces to act as a buffer from vehicular traffic, and to add a planted center median to increase stormwater infiltration on site.

Existing

Proposed

Existing

25’ sidewalk

7.5’ 5’ parking bike lane

11’ cartway

11’ median

11 5’ 7.5’ cartway bike parking lane

25’ sidewalk

Proposed

25’ sidewalk

5’

8’ 12’ pervious bike cartway parking lane and bump-outs

8’ median

12’

8’ 5’ pervious cartway bike parking lane and bump-outs

25’ sidewalk

108

Street Typologies: Kensington Avenue The current state of Kensington Avenue, with the width between buildings and the columns of the MFL, does not leave a lot of room to give back to pedestrians. However, enhancements could include moving the bike lane to the other side of pervious parking spaces to provide increased safety against vehicular traffic. Additionally, to increase safety, more lighting in the form of pedestrian lighting and string lighting, and more color in the form of murals on the MFL columns and beams, is being proposed.

Existing

Proposed

Existing

Proposed 7.5’ 8’ 5’ sidewalk parking bike lane

24’ cartway

5’ 8’ 7.5’ bike parking sidewalk lane

8.5’ 5’ 7’ side bike pervious walk lane parking/ bump-out

24’ cartway

7’ 5’ 8.5’ pervious bike side parking/ lane walk bump-out 110

Street Typologies: Residential Street - Woonerf Woonerfs are being proposed for the residential streets. A Woonerf, which is a Dutch concept, is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;living streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that includes strategies like shared space, traffic calming and low speed limits. Ultimately it gives more space back to the pedestrian, making each street like a mini park space for gathering and events. Specifically, for the residential streets within the project area, the recommendations include: moving parking against the buildings between the stoops (people are already parking there on the sidewalk anyway); providing changes in vehicular direction along the street to slow the traffic; using one paving type all at the same grade in order to make a unified space; and using trees and plants to direct traffic. Also, in order to give each woonerf a unique identity, it is recommended that the road edges are painted a different color, similar to the existing blue curbs on Cornwall Street.

Existing

Proposed woonerf character

25’

sidewalk and parking

parking and cartway

sidewalk

Proposed

Proposed woonerf character

8’ parking/ planting

10’ cartway 35’ pedestrian zone

8’ parking/ planting Proposed woonerf character - National Association of City Transportation Officials

112

K&A Intersection Currently, K&A is a complicated intersection with multiple traffic signals and â&#x20AC;&#x153;do not turnâ&#x20AC;? signs. It is confusing, dangerous, and extremely loud, especially with noise reverberating off of and coming from the MFL. Therefore, a series of traffic circles similar to that in Poynton, England is being proposed for K&A. Before construction, this intersection of two major road ways in Poynton was loud and dangerous and there were numerous accidents per year. Since the circles were implemented in 2013, traffic moves continuously through the circles, it is much quieter, it is safer for pedestrians, and there has not been a single accident. The idea is that drivers approach the circles more cautiously as opposed to automatically speeding forward for a green traffic signal. For traffic circles at K&A, it is being recommended that the middle of the circles are impassable, but part of the circles are easily and smoothly mountable for large turning radiuses. Another recommendation is that some art feature is installed in the middle of each circle to contribute to the traffic calming and to prevent people from plowing through the circles. Even with the MFL columns, the circles could fit. It may be challenging to convince people of this idea, but it presents an exciting and innovative opportunity to make K&A more inhabitable and safer for pedestrians.

New Poynton traffic circles

Former Poynton intersection

New Poynton traffic circles

Proposed art in center of traffic circles

Partially mountable curb

Art feature in middle

114

Business Development & Food Co-op In considering the design of the site as a whole and what the needs of the community are based on the outreach event, two major recommendations are being made for the commercial corridors of Allegheny and Kensington Avenues. Currently, there is a large, underused parking lot adjacent to two vacant buildings and a empty lot on Kensington Avenue. This could be an excellent, central location to place to very needed businesses in Kensington: a business development center and a food co-op. The only way positive change can be brought about in Kensington is if the community is directly a part of the uplift. Therefore, residents need to be given opportunities to contribute to the betterment of their neighborhood. Through a business development center, people can learn valuable skills for the workforce, which ideally could include GSI and park feature implementation in the neighborhood. For this reason, a build yard is also being recommended for the business development center, which would contribute to community-building and awareness of the changes that are occurring within the neighborhood.

Proposed build yard character

Proposed expansion of the Kensington Co-op to Kensington Ave

The other main commercial corridor recommendation is building a food coop that has healthy food options, since the primary places to access food are at corner stores and bodegas. In 2019, the Kensington Community Food Co-op opened a location along Lehigh Avenue in Kensington, which is approximately 1 mile from the project area. Most people are not willing to walk if it takes 15 or more minutes to reach a destination, so it is recommended that the Kensington Co-op expands their operation to Kensington Avenue. This would greatly benefit the community in accessing healthy foods, but would also contribute to increased community-building within the neighborhood, especially if it shares a plaza with the business development center. This could be a great way to bring members of the community together and further unite them around positive change. Additionally, one of The Simple Wayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acts of service for Kensington is growing and distributing food from their garden for free to residents in need. If The Simple Way is able to expand their gardening operation, they could potentially become involved with the Coop as a means to reach and benefit more people.

Business Development

Build Yard

Health Food Co-op

Art Plaza

116

Sol Plaza Sol Plaza will be the main focal point of the K&A intersection and the welcoming entrance to Esperanza Health Center. For the plaza, it is proposed that the current structure in front of the Kensington Trust Co. Building, steps on one side and an ADA ramp on the other, is extended and made into a raised terrace. This area can then serve as an extension for the cafĂŠ that is immediately inside the first floor of the health center. Other recommendations include having some art feature, like a GSI fountain, and planting the columns in the front with either evergreen plants or a native wisteria vine. As for the paving pattern in front of the terrace, it can be composed of Esperanzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colors and take on a character that was inspired from a mural that will not be as visible as the campus continues to develop with the construction for Community of Health and Wellness Center.

Proposed column plantings

Existing mural that inspired Sol Plaza pavement design

Proposed wisteria

Proposed fountain

Proposed furniture colors for the site

Solar Panels/ Blue Roof

Planted Front Columns

Entrance GSI Fountain and Stairs

CafĂŠ Terrace

Event Plaza

118

Esperanza Campus Pedestrian Walk The Esperanza Campus pedestrian walk, which would extend around the block and by the main park spaces, will be the primary means of unifying the campus. This will be achieved through a continuous, tree-shaded character and with consistent paving that marks the walk as being a part of the health campus. The main recommendation to contribute to the loop being primarily for the pedestrian is to inhibit vehicular traffic from Allegheny Avenue onto Shelbourne Street. This way, only emergency vehicles would be permitted on Shelbourne between Allegheny and E Hilton St. By doing this, there would be less traffic overall on Shelbourne St.

Proposed space for events/activities

Proposed pedestrian walk character

Shelbourne St.

E Hilton St.

End of Pedestrian Only Zone

Esperanza Health Campus Paving

Vehicular Access for Emergency Vehicles only Proposed overhead art installation 122

Swing & Music Grove One of the primary requests by children and adults alike at the outreach event when it came to play features was the incorporation of swings. Additionally, Esperanza was interested in having outdoor music features. Therefore, along the active recreation side of campus on Shelbourne Street, a space will be devoted to swings and to opportunities to make music for all ages.

Proposed swings - all ages

Proposed swings - all abilities

Proposed outdoor instruments

Paw Print Community Dog Park Before Esperanza broke ground on the garage, Phoenix Park was the primary dog park for the neighborhood. Therefore, the proposal provides a dog park, which most people at the community outreach event were interested in as well.

Proposed dog park character

Proposed dog park, synthetic turf

Proposed dog park character 124

Phoenix Plaza & Park The space between the Health Center and the Community Center is recommended as being the heart of the active recreation area within the health campus. The symbolic name of Phoenix is in commemoration of the former park that was built by the community on the site where the garage and community center are. The Plaza includes a service road, event plaza, and small pocket seating areas. Currently there is handicap parking in this area, but the proposal is to move those spots to H Street in order to free up more valuable park space for the campus. A fiery, bright paving called Phoenix Walk would weave through the park, which would also include lawn spaces, climbing play structures, bouldering walls and slides based off of feedback. Also there would be a shallow water feature (just deep enough to wet peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet) for all ages and abilities to enjoy. Behind the water feature there would also be a raised boardwalk for additional park seating.

Proposed tables

Proposed shallow water feature and seating

Proposed climbing feature

Proposed lawn seating

Elevated Boardwalk

Shallow pool

Proposed slide

Phoenix Walk Pocket Seating Areas

Bouldering and Slides

Service Road

Event Plaza

Proposed climbing feature 126

Fit & Tree Plaza & Fitness Loop With the gym in the Community of Health and Wellness building across the way, the recommendations is for a fitness plaza across the street. It would include a lawn for classes like yoga and Zumba, fitness stations and adult playground equipment, and the start of the fitness loop, which would go around the campus and have distance markers every 100 ft to tell people how far they have gone. Additionally, there could be an extension to the health center cafĂŠ in this location with tabled seating outside, which is another place for people to sit who would be using Phoenix Park.

Proposed fitness stations

Proposed adult playground

Proposed cafĂŠ extension

Fitness Loop

Proposed fitness lawn

Typical Distance Marker Proposed simple fitness marker

CafĂŠ Extension and Tables

Fitness Classroom

Start of Fitness Loop

Proposed simple fitness marker

Seat Wall

Fitness Stations and Adult Playground Equipment

Seat Wall

Proposed fitness stations 128

The (Narrow) Way Next, the Way (or the Narrow way â&#x20AC;&#x201C; biblical reference for my stakeholders) would be the main passage from the active recreation side of the campus to the more passive recreation side. This walk could be book-ended by mirror street murals that could be designed by members within the community. Recommendations for this space include some sort of transitional paving, similar to the Phoenix walk paving, and a GSI water feature with seating, which is across from a tiered seating area. This could be a peaceful place to rest, and maybe a space where Esperanza staff can gather for their routine morning prayer.

Proposed circulating water feature

Proposed street mural example

Proposed tiered seating

Peaceful GSI Water Feature Transitional Paving

Connecting Murals

Tiered Seating

Proposed GSI water filtration pond 130

Plaza & Prayer/ Healing Garden The Way would lead to the more passive recreation side of the campus that would open up to a continuous plaza space. The plaza would be continuous because curbs would be removed and the space would all be on the same surface and unified by the same paving. Drivers slow down when lines on the road are removed, the cartway is narrower, there is a paving change, and there are plants that narrow the field of vision. Also, the trees and planters would be spaced so as to prevent drivers from deviating from the cartway, and the collective traffic calming strategies would make this a primary pedestrian space. Connected to the plaza would be a picnic area, which is what The Simple Way was hoping their garden space could be used for, and which could feature a series of rain gardens. Beyond the picnic area in the remainder of The Simple Way would be a healing garden, which could include sensory plants, a small water feature and garden paths, like a labyrinth. The circuitous path seen in the plan symbolizes the former stream that used to run through the site, and the other forms in the plan are inspired from existing forms in the current Simple Way Garden.

Proposed open, continuous plaza

Proposed rain garden character

Labyrinth

Healing Garden

Proposed rill/rain garden character

Open Plaza

Pervious paving/ rain garden Picnic Area

Water feature Proposed labyrinth 132

Design Detail

134

The Gathering Community Garden In terms of site phasing, The Gathering Community Garden, along with Sol Plaza, could be constructed first, possibly within the next few years. For this space, The Simple Way Community gardening operation would be moved and expanded here, as this is the sunniest location on site and it would allow for the construction of a larger greenhouse. In addition to gardening, this site would be ADA accessible and would also be for play, events, and passive recreation. A splash pad was one of the more requested campus features by Esperanza and the community, so an option could be to place it in this space so there is a water feature before the installation of one at Phoenix Park. If a splash pad was not placed here, then either the gardening space or lawn could be expanded. Additionally, this space would have an event stage and a blank wall to the east for movies to be projected, both of which people could gather on the lawn and at the surrounding tables for. Also, there would be enough space here for the Community of Health and Wellness to run outdoor programs and pop-up park events.

Greenhouse

Pergola Shaded Seating

Seating

Event Stage

Mural or Living Wall Potential

Splash Pad Option Gardening Play Feature Movie Backdrop H St.

Cistern

ADA Ramp

Westmoreland St.

The Gathering Community GSI & Materials For GSI, The Gathering Community Garden, in addition to all the planted areas, would have permeable bluestone paving for the terrace, ramp and steps and permeable rubber pavement for the garden/ play area. Additionally, there can be a system beneath that lawn that would collect infiltrated stormwater, cleanse it, and recirculate it for use in the splash pad. This could be through a cistern and/or biotope collection lines beneath the lawn, from which infiltrated water could be pumped to a UV

sanitizer. From there, the cleansed water can be pumped to the splash pad where the water would ultimately drain back to the cistern. Below is a diagram of a similar water circulation system for the constructed wetland at Tanner Springs Park in Portland, Oregon. As for other materials on site, there would be bright furniture similar to that found within the rest of the campus, and seatwalls, pergola, and planters can be made from cedar.

- Friends of Tanner Springs

Pervious rubber pavement play/ garden area

Infiltration/ Cistern

Bright Furniture

Bluestone

138

The Gathering Grading Plan To keep the grading of the site minimal, the existing slope of the site was taken into consideration for the final design. Therefore, a small terrace with steps and an 5% ADA ramp was planned that accommodates an elevation change of 2 feet. There

is a 2% slope on the terrace as well as the lawn and the garden space, with all the grading sloping south towards Westmoreland St. Also indicated in the plan is the height of the seat walls, all of which are 1.5 feet high and 2 feet in width.

Feet

140

The Gathering Planting Plan - Edible Garden One of The Simple Way’s acts of service for the neighborhood includes growing and distributing food from their community garden. Therefore, in the future design, the gardening operation can be expanded and made into more of an edible garden in order to increase the amount of food that can be distributed. In the future, it may even be possible for The Simple to start or partner with the health food co-op that would be a key development in the neighborhood. Native Flower Seed Mix (for vibrant color/interest all season): •A sclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) •B aptisia australis (blue false indigo) •E chinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) • Heliopsis helianthoides (oxeye) • Phlox paniculata (garden phlox) •R udbeckia triloba (brown-eyed Susan) •S ymphyotrichum oblongifolium (aromatic aster) •S chizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

20 Feet

Key

Botanical Name

Common Name

Qty

Height

Spread

Notes

American hornbeam

20-35’

will not interfere with overhead wires

redbud

20-30’

25-35’

will not interfere with overhead wires

peach

15-25’

running serviceberry red chokeberry black chokeberry raspberry blackberry

4 7 4 5 3

4-5’ 6-8’ 3-6’ 3-5’ 4’

4-5’ 3-4’ 3-6’ 2-3’ 4’

lowbush blueberry

.5-2’

at least 2 varieties (cross pollination); 3-4 before fruit

TREES CA CA CE CA PR PE

Carpinus caroliniana Cercis canadensis Prunus persica

FRUIT-BEARING SHRUBS AM ST AR AR AR ME RU ID RU UL VA CO

Amelanchier stolonifera Aronia arbutifolia Aronia melanocarpa Rubus idaeus ‘NR7’ Rubus fruticosus Vaccinium angustifolium

fruit - pies fruit - jams and jellies fruit - jams and jellies thornless variety less thorny

VEGETABLES BA AL

Basella alba

malibar spinach

5-10’

2-6’

needs trellis

CA AN

Capsicum annuum

bell peppers

1-3’

use stakes or trellis

CU SA

Cucumis sativus

cucumber

.75-1.5’

3-8’

do well on trellis

IP BA

Ipomoea batatas

sweet potato

1-1.5’

4’

LY ES

Lycopersicon esculentum

tomato

3-6’

2-3’

do well on trellis

PH VU

Phaseolus vulgaris

pole beans

5-10’

1-2’

needs trellis

Vitis vinifera

common grape

3-9’

VINES VI VI

142

The Gathering Planting Plan - Planters The purpose of integrating gardening with play and gathering was to create a space with multiple functions so that it is used more frequently and by more people. This will ensure an active, and therefore safer, space for the community to enjoy. The planters between the play climbing structures can be various heights so that people of all heights and abilities can have access to and enjoy the plants. These plants, some of which are shown

to the right, would do well in this sunny, south facing section of the site as well as in the small amount of space. The reason for the planters in The Gathering and in other areas on site is because the urban soil is compacted and contains a high level of lead from the former industries. Therefore, instead of replacing the soil, it is more efficient and less costly to use planters.

Various Planter Sizes

3’ 2.5’ 2’ 1.5’

2’

Plant Options Root Vegetables:

Radishes

Beets

Chives

Kale

Strawberries

Basil

Cilantro

Parsley

Carrots

Onions

Fruit and Vegetables:

Herbs:

Oregano

144

The Gathering Community Garden Greenhouse The greenhouse is designed to be about the same size as the first floor of a neighboring row home, so it is pretty sizable. As for uses, the interior can have various planters, an expanded aquaponics section (since The Simple Way already has one in their garden), and storage for maintenance and event equipment. Also, The Simple Way had expressed interest in a pergola, where

10’

they could grow a grape vine like the one they have in their existing garden space. Aside from gardening operations, this greenhouse could also be an exciting place for people to reserve as private event space, as people in the neighborhood already do at the existing Simple Way Garden.

40’

12’

10’

20’

Functional Greenhouse

Event Area

Vertical, horizontal and hanging planters

Aquaponics Section

Storage

Pergola (Grape Vine)

146

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realized that to reach and inspire my community on these issues, we needed to do more than just block the bad stuff. We needed projects that our neighbors could see and touch and be proud of. We needed projects that improve their quality of life, that make community members active and connected to each other...â&#x20AC;? - Majora Carter, American urban revitalization strategist

Approach & Phasing

148

Community Empowerment & Ownership Community ownership and empowerment as mechanisms for neighborhood revitalization • v ital to involve community in the conversation, including residents, drug dealers, and transient community •n eed to empower the community as the neighborhood experiences aesthetic and ecological changes - need job training, work and affordable housing

The main approach that needs to guide the entire design process is involving community members in major decisions, not just what type of street furniture they like. This is the only way the people can feel ownership over the spaces that are designed and constructed, otherwise it is just another outside organization installing something in their neighborhood that they did not ask for. That would strip away the community’s empowerment over shaping their neighborhood and continued positive change would be less likely to happen if the community did not help bring it about themselves. Additionally, all people living in Kensington need their voices to be heard regarding this project. This includes the drug dealers and transient community, which is the only way anything that is constructed, especially in earlier phases, may be respected as safe, community park space. This has been proven effective in other revitalization projects in troubled areas, like parts of Trenton and the Bronx. In fact, a model for the community empowerment and ownership approach can be taken from Majora Carter. Carter is an American urban revitalization strategist and the founder of the Sustainable South Bronx (SSBX), a nonprofit environmental justice solutions corporation, and their program “Greening the Ghetto”.

Job Training Majora Carter’s low-income, depressed neighborhood in the Bronx, which has experienced similar struggles that the Kensington neighborhood has, contains a higher concentration of power plants, sewage-treatment facilities, diesel-truck fleets, and waste-transfer stations than any other section of New York City. Therefore, residents have higher asthma rates than any other community in the United States. To combat this problem, Carter founded Sustainable South Bronx (SSBX), which has raised millions to help clean up existing facilities, block new ones, create “green collar jobs”, and build a green corridor that will replace brownfields, landfills, and prison barges. The organization’s job training and placement system within the neighborhood has empowered and employed many in the neighborhood, and has paid participants for projects such as urban forestry, brownfield remediation, green-roof and solar panel installation and other green infrastructure training, and building maintenance. Since 2003, SSBX has maintained a job placement rate exceeding 80% within the community, and 10% of former participants of the program have gone on to college. This program provides a guide and inspiration as to how Kensington’s transformation to a safer, healthier community for all residents may take place. It will be through providing community members with not just a means of financial stability, but with justice and dignity that have long been denied to these residents. Additionally, by providing some job training and other forms of employment centered around the health campus and positive neighborhood changes, the neighborhood will be empowered and better able to ward off the effects of gentrification. As for funding, Kensington has been receiving more attention in recent years as the effects of the opioid crisis become more known, and as the city, through the Resilience Project, becomes more involved. With all the attention, it is very likely that the funds needed to initiate neighborhood revitalization in Kensington can become available through perseverance, community-based initiatives, and grants. People have long looked at the deteriorating state in Kensington, but organizations like Esperanza and The Simple Way provide a lot of hope, and a lot of potential, in catalyzing this neighborhood towards a better tomorrow. It is long overdue.

‘CoolRoofs’ job training and placement, SSBX

Job training/placement, SSBX

Solar panel installation, SSBX

- Sustainable South Bronx

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Tactical Urbanism Short-term action can lead to Long-term Change Benefits of Tactical Urbanism • inspire action •d raw attention to real and perceived short-comings in the current environment •w iden public engagement - allows feedback to be expressed through use and demonstrated preferences

Tactical Urbanism (also known as DIY Urbanism, Planning-by-Doing, Urban Acupuncture, or Urban Prototyping), refers to a city, organizational, and/or citizen-led approach to neighborhood building using short-term, low-cost, and scalable interventions to catalyze long-term change. Through these low-budget changes, communities can experiment with and gather input on potential street and greening strategies in their neighborhood. This is a strategy cities around the world are utilizing to initiate neighborhood revitalization. One example is NYC’s Plaza Program, in which the DOT works with selected organizations to transform underused streets into social public spaces through a series of trial and development phases. This is all a part of NYC’s goal to make sure that all city residents live within a 10 minute walk of quality open space that the community enjoys. Tactical Urbanism can also occur with smaller-scale “demonstration projects” that usually occur within a week. Tactical Urbanism is not a foreign concept in Kensington - The Simple Way and a group of residents created “Phoenix Park” after the 2007 fire burned down the horse blanket factory. They cleaned the space, planted grass, painted a bright fence and recycled tires to border the park space, and gathered 1,000 signatures to make it a city designated park. This initiative shows how receptive and ready Kensington is for public space changes in their community, and this method has proven to garner community interest in the past and can continue to do so in the future.

•d eepen understanding of local user’s needs at the neighborhood, block or building scale •g ather data from real-world use of public spaces •e ncourage people to work together • t est before making large political or financial investments

- Tactical Urbanist’s Guide - NYC DOT: Plaza Program

One easy example of small-scale tactical urbanism could be testing out the woonerf concept. Potter St. with The Simple Way Office and Garden or Cornwall St. to the north of the site, with the painted curbs and bollards on the opposite side of the street as parking, could be a good place to start, as a number of these residents on that street are affiliated with Esperanza and showed great interest in future park spaces. By talking to a civic representative, parking on the sidewalk between the stoops could be allowed, a temporary ‘Play Street’ sign with a reduced speed limit can be placed, and tables, chairs and planters can be placed on the sidewalk. Chalk, painted games on the street, a basketball hoop, and other play equipment could even be provided on the street for children to play with. This could be tested for a week or so to gauge how this changes the activity on the street, and observations and the level of success of the project can be documented to determine next steps, like getting the city to designate the street as a “play street”. The complete woonerf concept would take time, but starting with tactical urbanism and a play street would be a great place to start.

Testing pocket park

Testing climbing play structure

Children playing on Cornwall St, the northern most residential street within the project area

Testing bump-outs 152

An Ecological Campus Restoration Ecology Goals in the Urban Environment

Esperanza and The Simple Way have a tremendous opportunity to showcase how greening a neighborhood can benefit its residents, especially with the neighborhood’s current challenges and high level of urbanity. By organizing volunteers, partnering with organizations like the Philadelphia Water Department and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, and by increasing green job training within the neighborhood, a robust, healthy ecological site within Kensington can be realized.

To create ecologicallyenhanced, sustainable park spaces that: • i ncrease biodiversity (native plants, pollinators, birds); • i nfiltrate stormwater • r eflect ecologies native to the region To educate about the benefits of urban ecological restoration through: •e xperiencing the site (residents and school groups) • i nvolvement with the planning, implementation and continued monitoring and maintenance of the site

“What you do with land use in a community has everything to do with how the people view it and view themselves in it.” - Majora Carter

‘Just Green Enough’ Model According to “Vacant Lots: An Underexplored Resource for Ecological and Social Benefits in Cities”, in order to achieve successful restoration projects that maximize the benefits for people currently living in low-income communities, a ‘just green enough’ model is recommended. This suggests taking on small restoration projects over time to avoid the risks of eco-gentrification, or environmental gentrification. For smaller scale implementations, this could include re-purposing recycled material and giving them ‘new life’, as The Simple Way has already done in their garden and in the former Phoenix Park. For larger scale implementations, in order to prevent changing the social context of the area and displacing residents, the projects need to be phased according with the business development, job training and job placement (including green jobs for the park spaces) occurring within the neighborhood. Good places to start larger scale enhancements would be the front of the health center, the lot at the intersection of Westmoreland and H Streets, and the dog park.

existing Simple Way Garden

existing lot at Westmoreland and H Streets

existing Simple Way Garden

- “Vacant Lots: An Underexplored Resource for Ecological and Social Benefits in Cities.” - Anderson and Minor 154

Recommended Native Plants for Park Spaces MixedHardwood Plant Community Since the site is within the lowland and intermediary upland section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, recommended plants for the park spaces will include those that can be found in a mixed-hardwood forest plant community. The listed plants are all native to this region and would be beneficial plants for the GSI initiatives as well as for increasing the biodiversity of birds and pollinators on site, contributing to a healthier environment

American hornbeam

tuliptree

sweet-bay magnolia

redbud

winterberry

sweet pepperbush

The Physiographic Provinces of Pennsylvania

baldcypress

clustered mountain mint

red chokeberry

blue grama grass

Botanical Name

CANOPY TREES

UNDERSTORY TREES

SHRUBS

FERNS & HERBACEOUS

GRASSES

Common Name

Wildlife Value

Collaborative Effort They will come. Potential Collaborators: • The Resilience Project •M ural Arts •B icycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia •P ennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS)

• LandCare • Roots to Re-entry •C ommunity Garden resources • Tree Tenders

•P hiladelphia Orchard Project (POP) •P hiladelphia Water Department (PWD) • Urban Tree Connection •U niversities - students, ecologists, land managers, urban planners

Since there is a lot of attention on Kensington now due to the degree of the opioid crisis and the work of the Philadelphia Resilience Project, a number of organizations may be willing to collaborate with the site’s transition to a healthier neighborhood. This includes Philadelphia Mural Arts, which has already done a number of projects within Kensington and has recently partnered with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Together, these two organizations are creating increased awareness about the Indego Bike Share program, the benefits of bike riding, and bike safety through various projects. They also plan to have community engagement activities surround the projects, including mural related paint days and bike safety workshops. In the future, these two organizations can assist in bringing about increased art and bike safety to Kensington. Another key organization to partner with, especially in the early stages of the project, would be the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS), which has a number of programs that can benefit the Kensington community. One is their LandCare program, which uses gardening and landscaping to clean, green, and maintain vacant lots. Since it was established, the LandCare program, which has partnered with a network of contractors and community groups, have transformed approximately 12,000 vacant lots in Philadelphia with grass, trees, and other plants. The areas where these projects have been done have since shown a decrease in gun violence, and neighbors have spoken to their increased mental health due to positive effects the space brings to their neighborhood. Another program through PHS is the Roots to Re-entry program, through which PHS connects those seeking employment in the horticulture and landscape industries. The program particularly supports individuals returning to their communities upon release from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. The program includes paid training in horticulture, landscape maintenance, greenhouse operations, and carpentry and masonry. Additionally, PHS provides job readiness, conflict resolution, health education, and occupational therapy. When people graduate from the program, PHS continues to provide continued case management support and job placement. Other programs include the PHS Community Garden programs, which offer services to community gardens , at any stage of development, throughout the city. Services include educational workshops, gardening supplies and materials, seedlings, access to the PHS tool library, technical assistance, volunteer assistance, and infrastructure improvements.

Another program offered by PHS is their Tree Tenders program, which provides workshops in tree planting and care and volunteer group organization. Also, lessons can be learned from other organizations making a positive impact in the city in terms of environmental enhancements, such as the Urban Tree Connection non profit in West Philadelphia. Another gardening organization is the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP), a nonprofit that plants and supports community orchards (including fruiting trees and shrubs) in the city. Their core values include educating communities of how to tend for the orchards, justice, permanence, regeneration of community health and the fertility of the land, and beauty. As for other potential collaborators, as previously mentioned, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) would be a great asset to environmental enhancements in Kensington. They have already installed some GSI strategies in the area and they provide continued maintenance. Additionally, it is likely that members of Philadelphia universities can be involved, like students, professors, and researchers involved with urban planning, land management, urban ecology, and sociology, to name a few. Finally, it is key to get civic representatives involved, as they can garner the most support from the city in providing resources to Kensington for environmental enhancements.

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The people of Kensington are in great need of healthy and safe outdoor spaces that provide opportunities for health, wellness, play, and community engagement. Since it is located at the center of Kensington at the threshold of a major transit center, Esperanza Health Campus has a great opportunity to set a precedent for revitalizing a neighborhood through landscape design. Additionally, Esperanza and The Simple Way have already made amazing positive changes in the neighborhood, and can continue to do so by providing safe, programmed, and ecological spaces throughout their future campus. But as my project may have shown, you have to start by dreaming big.

Thank you

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References •A nderson, Elsa C., and Emily S. Minor. “Vacant Lots: An Underexplored Resource for Ecological and Social Benefits in Cities.” Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, vol. 21, 2017, pp. 146–152., doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2016.11.015. • https://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/ •F ike, Jean. “Terrestrial and Palustrine Plant Communities of PA.” PNHP - Natural Communities, www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/ fikebook.aspx. • Esperanza: https://esperanzahealth.com/ •H affner, Jeanne. “The Dangers of Eco-Gentrification: What’s the Best Way to Make a City Greener?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 May 2015, www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/06/dangers-ecogentrification-best-way-make-city-greener. • Hinge Collective: https://www.hinge-collective.com/ • “ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Plant Database.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin, www. wildflower.org/plants/. • Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books. • Mural Arts and Bike Coalition: https://www.muralarts.org/events/mural-dedications-bike-share/ • National Association of City Transportation Officials: https://nacto.org/ • North District Plan: https://www.phila2035.org/north • Resilience Project: https://www.phila.gov/programs/philadelphia-resilience-project/ • Pennsylvania Horticulture Society: https://phsonline.org/ • Project for Public Spaces: https://www.pps.org/ • Philadelphia Orchard Project: https://www.phillyorchards.org/ •P hiladelphia Water Department: http://documents.philadelphiawater.org/gsi/GSI_Maintenance_Manual.pdf • https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition/ • The Simple Way: https://www.thesimpleway.org/ • “Society for Ecological Restoration.” Society for Ecological Restoration, www.ser.org/. • Steckel, David B., and Holly M. Harper. “Natural Lands Trust Land for Life: A Handbook on caring for Natural Lands”. Natural Lands Trust. October 2008. • Sustainable South Bronx: https://www.ssbx.org/ •T actical Urbanist’s Guide to Materials and Design V1: https://issuu.com/streetplanscollaborative/docs/tu-guide_to_materials_and_ design_v1

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Appendix Short-Term Simple Way Garden Planting Plan Option

Planting Notes: 1) Planting soil should be a loam soil capable of supporting vegetative cover and should be combined with 20-30% organic material (compost), and 70-80% soil base (preferably topsoil.) Amended planting soil should be four inches deeper than the bottom of the largest root ball. 2) Loosely grade the planting soil to create a non-compacted growth medium. 3) Test soil conditions for fertility and measure the amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium in the soil, as well as the pH level of the soil. 4) Amend the top 6 - 8” of soil as necessary to provide optimal growing conditions. This may involve: (A) balancing the pH level of the soil, (B) providing nutrients that the soil may lack, (c) improving the soil’s structure so that it holds oxygen plants needs as well as retaining necessary moisture and providing critical drainage, and (D) supplying and encouraging strong populations of beneficial microbes that will stimulate the health and growth of plants. 5) All herbaceous perennial plugs should be planted with 2’ - 0” spacing between plants. 6) When planting, water plants as soon as they are in the ground. Allow the water to soak in, then water again until the soil is thoroughly moistened. For the first week of planting, water plants daily or every other day. Afterwards, unless the weather is extremely hot and dry, decrease watering frequency to two or three times per week until fall rain begins. 164

Appendix Short-Term Simple Way Central leader. (See crown observations detail). Option Garden Planting Plan

Top of root ball shall be flush with finished grade. Trunk caliper shall meet ANSI Z60 current edition for root ball size.

Prior to mulching, lightly tamp soil around the root ball in 6" lifts to brace tree. Do not over compact. When the planting hole has been backfilled, pour water around the root ball to settle the soil.

Root ball modified as required.

Round-topped soil berm 4" high x 8" wide above root ball surface shall be constructed around the root ball. Berm shall begin at root ball periphery.

4" layer of mulch. No more than 1" of mulch on top of root ball. (See specifications for mulch).

Finished grade.

Notes: 1- Trees shall be of quality prescribed in crown observations and root observations details and specifications.

Modified soil. Depth varies. (See soil preparation plan). Existing soil. Bottom of root ball rests on existing or recompacted soil.

P-X 1

SECTION VIEW

TREE w/ BERM (EXISTING SOIL MODIFIED)

2- See specifications for further requirements related to this detail. URBAN TREE FOUNDATION ÂŠ 2014

OPEN SOURCE FREE TO USE

Shrub. Root ball. 4" high x 8" wide round - topped soil berm above root ball surface shall be constructed around the root ball. Berm shall begin at root ball periphery.

4" layer of mulch. No more than 1" of mulch on top of root ball. (See specifications for mulch).

Prior to mulching, lightly tamp soil around the root ball in 6" lifts to brace shrub. Do not over compact. When the planting hole has been backfilled, pour water around the root ball to settle the soil.

Finished grade. Modified soil. Depth varies. (See specifications for soil modification).

Existing soil.

Root ball rests on existing or recompacted soil.

SECTION VIEW

Notes: 1- Shrubs shall be of quality prescribed in the root observations detail and specifications. 2- See specifications for further requirements related to this detail.

SHRUB - MODIFIED SOIL

URBAN TREE FOUNDATION ÂŠ 2014

OPEN SOURCE FREE TO USE

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Appendix Short-Term Simple Way Garden Planting Plan Option

2 - 3" thick layer of mulch. Finished grade.

Modified soil. Depth varies. (See specifications for soil modification).

Existing soil.

SECTION VIEW

Groundcover plants to be triangularly spaced.

Mulch.

Pavement.

6" min.

PLAN Notes: 1- See planting legend for groundcover species, size, and spacing dimension. 2- Small roots (1 4" or less) that grow around, up, or down the root ball periphery are considered a normal condition in container production and are acceptable however they should be eliminated at the time of planting. Roots on the periperhy can be removed at the time of planting. (See root ball shaving container detail). 3- Settle soil around root ball of each groundcover prior to mulching.

GROUNDCOVER

URBAN TREE FOUNDATION ÂŠ 2014

OPEN SOURCE FREE TO USE

Face of wall or building.

Lean nursery stake against the wall. Stake to be removed at the end of the maintenance (warranty) period after the vine has attached to the wall. Vine. Root ball. 4" x 8" wide round - topped soil berm above root ball surface shall be constructed around the root ball. Berm shall begin at root ball periphery. Prior to mulching, lightly tamp soil around the root ball in 6" lifts to brace shrub. Do not over compact. When the planting hole has been backfilled, pour water around the root ball to settle the soil. 4" layer of mulch. No more than 1" of mulch on the top of the root ball. (See specifications for mulch). Finished grade. Pavement. Modified soil. Depth varies. (See specifications for soil modification).

Root ball rests on existing or recompacted soil.

Existing soil. Notes: 1- Vines shall be of quality as prescribed in the root observations detail and specifications. 2- See specifications for further requirements related to this detail.

VINE - MODIFIED SOIL

URBAN TREE FOUNDATION ÂŠ 2014

OPEN SOURCE FREE TO USE

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