DESIGNING A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF
THE BOISE CENTRAL BENCH
SYNTHESIS’
OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY TEAM MEMBERS: NATHAN CLARKE -- BRYAN WILSON -- JASON PARKINSON -- JARED HIATT PROFESSOR: CAROLINE LAVOIE -- TEACHING ASSISTANT: TANYA RICE DATE: 11/19/2015 UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY LAEP 4100
PROCESS
MAJOR NODES
VISION
EXISTING PARKS EXISTING PRIVATE OPEN SPACE CANALS I-184 DISCONNECTS IN HOSPITAL SYSTEM EMERALD
MORRIS HILL PARK DEPOT
FRANKLIN INTERNATIONAL MARKET BORAH PARK
CASSIA PARK
STRENGTHS
TERRY DAY PARK OVERLAND
The Central Bench has many Strengths, including: • The Green Belt • Multi-Cultural • Community Involvement
• Existing Parks • Existing biking infrastructure
FUNNELING
Some weakness currently in the area are: • Lack of Connections in bicycle and pedestrian circulation • Disconnect in sidewalks and lack of pedestrian connectivity • Not enough open space per person
SHOSHONE PARKto meet goal of 10 • Needs more than 100 acres acre per 1000 people OWYHEE PARK • Some roads are congested • Public transit is sparse and inadequate • Lack of connection to surrounding areas and systems, like the Green Belt and Downtown Boise
OPPORTUNITIES
PARKS AND MAJOR NODES HOSPITAL
NODES
THREATS
Some threats to the area are: • Tank Farms with contamination/safety issues • Working with industry to allow for more trails/ open space
TRANSIT CENTER MORRIS HILL PARK
DEPOT
WINSTEAD PARK
FRANKLIN
FLORENCE PARK
BORAH PARK
CASSIA PARK
BOWDEN PARK
KATHRYN ALBERTSON PARK
I-184
TERRY DAY PARK
ORCHARD
LIBERTY PARK
CURTIS
OVERLAND
EMERALD
MAJOR NODE EXISTING PARKS
PROPOSED TRAIL NETWORK
ANN MORRISON PARK JULIA DAVIS PARK
MORRIS HILL PARK
BORAH PARK
CASSIA PARK
PHILLIPPI PARK
BOWDEN PARK
OPEN LOTS TRANSIT CENTER CANALS
DOWNTOWN BOISE
FRANKLIN
PROPOSED PARKS
A connection needs to be made between the major nodes, like the hospital, mall, and international market to allow for a multimodal transportation system for users to access these amenities
• Not being able to use Canals for trails • Restriction on railroad easements for trail use
HOLE IN THE DONUT
EMERALD ORCHARD
CURTIS
• Existing open space that can be programmed and developed for parks • Industrial areas can be re-purposed as open space to accommodate growth • Railroad can be used for mass transit
DOWNTOWN BOISE
I-184
LIBERTY PARK
Many opportunities exist to improve the transportation and open space network, including: • Using the Railroad right-of-way for a trail and open space system • Utilizing some canal access as trails • Wide roads/ sidewalks can be used for biking
PARTI 3
Boise is located in the center of the state of Idaho. The major freeway system through this area is interstate 84. The Tesoro pipeline (shown in the image) travels from Salt Lake City, UT to Spokane, WA with approximately 1 million gallons of petroleum flowing through the pipe a day. The area is also heavily used by commuters traveling from some of the western towns of Meridian and Caldwell to Downtown Boise.
Creating major features will draw users from surrounding areas to the site. These destination places will occur at some of the major intersections to allow for easier access.
PHILLIPPI PARK
WEAKNESSES
I 84
BOWDEN PARK
PARTI 2
CONTEXT
ANN MORRISON PARK
PARTI 1
TOWN SQUARE MALL
ORCHARD
LIBERTY PARK
The canals were once the lifeblood of the agricultural areas in The Bench. This design proposal has the trail system branch off from the major artery to connect to nodes and residential areas, much like the canals would stem from the river and continue to split to provide water to the plots.
DOWNTOWN BOISE
CURTIS
The central Bench in Boise, Idaho is a lively community in motion. To continue enhancing this area, the connectivity of all systems throughout the community will be focused on creating links between transit, bicycle, and pedestrian routes within, as well as outside the bench. The plan will create energized and livable neighborhoods that will be connected to quality open spaces. Walk-ability and mobility within the bench area will be addressed by finding solutions to existing barriers. Key goals include: 1) Connecting the parks and major nodes with functional bike and pedestrian infrastructure. 2) Improving the public mass transit by providing an inner-district bus system. 3) Alleviating traffic and emissions by introducing a commuter rail system. 4) Creating more green space to meet the standard of 10 acres per 1000 people, which will also act as destination points to draw in users. 5) Creating a safe, walk-able community that promotes the health and well-being of all residents.
CANALS
The reasoning behind our Big Idea came from the void we noticed with the parks and trails system in The Bench area that resembles the hole in a donut. The perimeter is sprinkled with open space from existing parks, canal trails, and the Green Belt. This presents a delicious opportunity to connect exiting infrastructure and fill the void with parks, trails, and open space.
PRECEDENTS JARDIN SERGE GAINSBOURG
MADRID RIO
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
TERRY DAY PARK OVERLAND
SHOSHONE PARK
OWYHEE PARK
I-184
PHILLIPPI PARK
KLYDE WARREN PARK
SHOSHONE PARK OWYHEE PARK
The big idea for this project is to connect the parks and major nodes with functional bike and pedestrian infrastructure. There are great opportunities within the Central Bench to create an extensive trail network stemming from the existing Green Belt by utilizing existing road and railroad right-of-ways, canals, improving sidewalks, and adding bike lanes.
EMERALD NECKLACE
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH ASSOCIACIATES
MASTER PLAN
GATEWAY CONNECTION
GATEWAY PARK: • PLAZA SPACE • INTERPRETATIVE SIGNS • RESTROOMS • BIKE RENTALS • ENTRANCE SIGN
CONNECTION
MARKET PLAZA: • CONNECTION TO GREEN BELT • AREA FOR FARMER’S MARKET • BIKE RENTALS • ENTRANCE SIGN • BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAIL
N E E R G
• MARKET PLAZA
BENCH PARK: • THE LOOKOUT • SOCCER FIELDS • SKATE PARK • RESTROOMS • PLAYGROUNDS • SCULPTURE WALK • DOG PARK • PASSIVE OPEN SPACE • PAVILIONS • COMMUNITY CENTER • BIKE REPAIR
GATEWAY
SAN FRANSISCO, CA
ORCHARD STREET
DESTINATION
CONNECTION
CROSSWALK
DESTINATION
EMERALD STREET
THREE LANDSCAPE ZONES
These zones strengthen the identity of the revived core. Connection, Destination, and Gateway define how the spaces will be interpreted for their roles in the overall programing of this section of The Central Bench. These zones give form and identity to current and future development initiatives. Street, neighborhood, and commercial development sites along its length with all be enhanced, and the urban landscape will be centered around the Bench Parks and the trail system stemming from it.
B
CURTIS ROAD
A’
SOLANA BEACH, CA
T L BE
B’
HIGH LINE TRAIL-NEW YORK
DESTINATION • BENCH PARK
SCULPTURES A
HIAWATHA TRAIL- MINNEAPOLIS PORTLAND, OR
GRANARY DISTRICT - SALT LAKE CITY
OCEANSIDE, CA
HIGH LINE TRAIL-NEW YORK
D
GATEWAY
• GATEWAY PARK
C D’
C’
FRANKLIN RO AD
0
200’
400’
600’
800’
Phase 1 creates a greater connection with the existing Green Belt and also builds from the railroad corridor improvements already in progress along Alpine road.
PHASE 3
PHASE 2
PHASE 1
PHASING
This phase will create the major destination place in The Bench. The North and South Bench Parks offer much of the needed open spaces and amenities for those residing both in and out of the Central Bench. Elements include a dog park, soccer fields, a skate park, playgrounds, restroom facilities, passive open space, areas for art and sculpture works, and a focal point of ‘The Lookout’ at Bench Park.
BUS ROUTES
The final phase focuses on the main entrances of the trail corridor coming into The Central Bench. The Market Plaza in the North East corner provides an area for farmer’s markets and other gatherings adjacent to Orchard Street. The Gateway Park in the South East improves the street scape and experience of those entering The Bench from the East along Franklin Road, and softens the WINSTEAD PARK edge to blend the existing residential and industrial uses.
TRAILS
WIN-
OPEN SPACE
DOWNTOWN BOISE
ALPINE FRANKLIN
3
ORCHARD
LIBERTY
MORRIS HILL PARK
EMERALD
DOWNTOWN BOISE
ANN MORRISON PARK
MORRIS HILL PARK
FRANKLIN
BORAH PARK
BORAH PARK
CASSIA PARK
CASSIA PARK
• Population-38,600 • Goal is10 acres per 1000 people (386 acres) • Current acres-260 • 126 acres needed to meet goal
TERRY DAY PARK
TERRY DAY PARK
OVERLAND
OVERLAND
I-184
I-184 TARGEE
PHILLIPPI PARK
PHILLIPPI PARK
SHOSHONE PARK
SHOSHONE PARK
WIN-
CANAL
BOWDEN PARK
BOWDEN PARK
VISTA
KOOTENAI
OVERLAND
I-184
CURTIS
EMERALD
KATHRYN ALBERTSON PARK
FRANKLIN
LATAH
6
LIBERTY PARK
ORCHARD
4
• 1.8 miles of trails • Canal access near Borah park in use • Not many designated trails besides the Green Belt
DOWNTOWN BOISE
I-184
CURTIS
EMERALD
ORCHARD
CURTIS
ALLUMBAUGH
5
EXISTING
I-184
• All routes go downtown • Difficult to get from one end of the area to the other • Long wait between bus arrival • Don’t operate late enough
OWYHEE PARK
OWYHEE PARK
WIN-
FRANKLIN
OVERLAND
• ~14 miles of new trails • Almost all district parks connected • Use many existing canals
MORRIS HILL PARK
I-184
LIBERTY PARK
FRANKLIN
BORAH PARK
KATHRYN ALBERTSON PARK ORCHARD
EMERALD
DOWNTOWN BOISE
EMERALD ANN MORRISON PARK
JULIA DAVIS PARK
MORRIS HILL PARK
FRANKLIN
CASSIA PARK
VISTA
KOOTENAI
ORCHARD
ALPINE
LIBERTY PARK
CURTIS
EMERALD
DOWNTOWN BOISE
I-184
CURTIS
• Vital for residents without car • Easier travel from one side to the other • Direct routes to health and commercial centers • Serves areas with no existing routes
LATAH
ORCHARD
CURTIS
PROPOSED
I-184
ALLUMBAUGH
DOWNTOWN BOISE
BORAH PARK
CASSIA PARK
BOWDEN PARK
BOWDEN PARK
TERRY DAY PARK
TERRY DAY PARK
OVERLAND
OVERLAND
• Proposed new acres-126 • Total acres-386 • 2035 Population-49,000 • 490 acres needed to meet goals ‑• Explore options for public open space near perimeter of the district that can serve its residents
I-184
TARGEE
I-184 PHILLIPPI PARK
PHILLIPPI PARK CANAL
SHOSHONE PARK
SHOSHONE PARK OWYHEE PARK
OWYHEE PARK
GATEWAY PARK
ENTRANCE SIGNAGE AND TRAILS BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS C’
C
ENTRY SIGN
PARKING ENTRANCE
PARKING
GATEWAY
D
CANAL
COMMUTER RAIL
SHARED-USE TRAIL
FRANKLIN ROAD
D’
B’
B
8’ WALKING TRAIL
10’ BIKE TRAIL
SOUTH BENCH PARK BIRD’S EYE OF BENCH PARK PLAYGROUND
SOCCER FIELDS
RESTROOMS RESTROOM/ BIKE REPAIR
PAVILIONS THE LOOKOUT
PLAZA
PLAZA
BIKE/ PED TRAIL
DOG PARK SKATE PARK
RE-PURPOSE TANKS
The North Bench park is the destination spot for active recreation. Playgrounds, soccer fields and a skate park are all welcoming to the outdoor enthusiasts of the Boise area. The new dog park along the trail connecting to the Green Belt allows dog owners from all around to enjoy much needed and convenient space for their beloved pooches. The South Bench Park provides space for more passive recreation for users to enjoy on their lunch breaks, in the evenings with families, or as a stop along the Green Belt. Features such as the canals, a pond, and the repurposed tanks, including The Lookout, can all be enjoyed.
PAVILION POND
WOOD PLATFORM ROCK CLIMBING
ICE CLIMBING
ART
TREE TOWER
EXISTING RAILROAD EXPOSED
RETAINING WALL
THE LOOKOUT
OPEN
EXISTING TANKS RE-PURPOSED
BIKE & PEDESTRIAN PATH
20’
40’
SLIDE
MOVIE NIGHT
ZIPLINE
‘THE LOOKOUT’ AT BENCH PARK
CANAL
0’
HILL AND TOP PLAZA
The re-purposing of the existing oil tanks is going to help brand the entire Central Bench. It is going to help the area become a major destination spot in Boise. Some of the less-appealing features of the industrial area of the Central Bench will soon become a center of pride for the area that will continuously reflect its rich history. The tanks will also serve as an example of Boise’s innovation and commitment to sustainability and equitable use of its land. Users will be able to experience numerous trails throughout the park that meander through the tanks and over the canals and pond. The culminating experience occurs as users are able to stand atop The Lookout and have a 360 degree view of the Central Bench and surrounding areas, including downtown Boise, the Foothills, Boise peak, the improved Orchard St. corridor, and the Saint Alphonsus Hospital.
80’
A
A’