Wissahickon Gateway Trailhead Vision 2 by Manayunk

Meeting Agenda

Wissahickon Creek and Bridge, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA

• Introductions

• Project Team & Experience

• Project Scope / Intent

• Planning Process

• Existing Conditions / Parcels & Ownership

• Precedent Examples

• Draft Concept

• Next Steps & Discussion

Project Schedule

Canal, 1800s, Philadelphia, PA

• October 8th | Advocates Meeting

• October 15th | Stakeholders Meeting

• November 6th | Public Meeting #1 – Brainstorming + Concepts

• December 9th | Public Meeting #2 – Draft Plan Review

• Draft Plan Review | until January 15

• February | Vision plan complete

Manayunk

Client / Project Committee

near the Devil’s Pool, Wissahickon, Philadelphia, PA

• Gwen McCauley, Executive Director, MDC

• Carla Ferro, MDC Project Committee

• Jamie Wyper, Architect

• John Hunter, Architect

• David Decca, Community Volunteer

Pathway

Project Partners

• SEPTA

• Philadelphia Dept. Of Parks and Recreation

• Philadelphia Streets Department

• PECO

• The Penn Group

• Friends of the Wissahickon

• Roxborough Manayunk Conservancy

• Wissahickon Interested Citizens Alliance

• Philadelphia Water Dept.

• Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia

• Fairmount Park Conservancy

• East Falls Development Corporation

• Schuylkill River Greenway National Heritage Area

• Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.

• Representative Tarik Khan Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA

Project Team & Experience

Project Team

• Peter Simone, RLA, FASLA, Principal

• David Bender, Associate ASLA, Project Manager

• Michelle Armour, Associate ASLA, Staff Landscape Architect

• Todd Poole, Managing Principal

• Susan Crowell-Berigan, Senior Associate

Bridges near the Devil’s Pool, Wissahickon, Philadelphia,

Simone Collins Philosophy

Simone Collins Landscape Architecture is a planning and design firm committed to creating an ecologically enduring society.

CONDUCT careful research. RESPECT ecological context and limits of each site. BUILD on sustainable practices of the past. EMPLOY new methods prudently. CONSERVE materials and energy. SUPPORT local economies.

DESIGN biologically & culturally diverse communities.

Project Scope

• A community-driven vision for a trailhead that is a value-added facility for the Schuylkill River Trail

• Provide for basic trail user needs

• Engage project partners in conversation with the community and with each other

• A plan that will inform future planning & development for SEPTA, Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Dept. of Streets, and the Manayunk Development Corporation

Planning Process

We are Here

“All voices are heard and all ideas are honored”

Meetings

• 2 Public Meetings

• 2 Committee Meetings

• 2 Stakeholder + Advocate Meetings

• 4+ Key Agency Coordination Meetings

• Simone Collins professionals available to community for conversations and off-line meetings

Project Site: Existing Conditions

Site Context

• PECO will vacate site in ~2034

• New SRT design must maintain access to Philadelphia Canoe Club

New SEPTA Transportation Center

Includes:

• Coffee Shop / News Stand

• Restrooms

• Will be publicly accessible if vendor found for shop/stand

Project Conditions

1. The WGT can likely not be built until the new bridge and trail are complete. This is likely 4 years away.

a. Allows time to develop a great design!

b. Gives us time to find funding + crystalize partnerships

c. Requires coordination between SEPTA, Streets Department, + Parks & Recreation, PECO, MDC, and others

Project Conditions

2. Once SEPTA completes its new Transportation Center:

a. Existing bus shelter + brick building will be demolished

b. Site (11,000 sq. ft.) will initially become grass lawn with fencing to meet stormwater mgt. requirements of the larger Transportation Center site. Existing bus shelter + brick building on old transportation center site

Examples

Schuylkill River Trail Junction Center: Norristown, PA

Size :

Approximately one acre, with a +~4,000 sq. ft. renovated industrial building, located at the confluence of the Schuylkill River Trail and the Chester Valley Trail

Likely Elements:

• Cafe

• Shade canopy

• Tables and benches

• Bike racks

• Food truck/vendor spaces

Methodology: Case Studies

Using a combination of primary and secondary research sources, 4ward Planning identified six relatively compact urban trailhead facilities throughout the nation, with a focus on those with shelters or pavilions, restrooms, food services or food truck parking, seating areas, bike racks, and imaginative, engaging design elements. Together, the six case study examples incorporate all these elements, serving as a collective model for the Wissahickon Gateway Trailhead.

4ward Planning assembled the case study facilities by background, features and programming, construction funding, and operational and maintenance structures and costs. Interviews with relevant case study agencies and individuals were sought to verify research and fill information gaps, as well as to glean a list of lessons learned in the development and operation of each facility. Where such interviews or data points were unavailable, 4ward Planning made its best efforts to present each case study in its fullest extent feasible.

This analysis allowed 4ward Planning to identify best practices most appropriate for the Wissahickon project space and begin developing operational and economic guidelines for redevelopment of the Wissahickon Gateway Trailhead.

• Albany, NY

• Charlotte, NC

Study Geographies

• Austin, TX

• Knoxville, TN

• Minneapolis, MN

• Indianapolis, IN

• Background & Features

Best Case Practices Opportunities

• Construction & Operation

• Lessons Learned

• Identification of Trailhead Opportunities

Key Findings: Case Studies

Public and community leader engagement

Engaging the public and community leaders in the development process, while sometimes more complex, is critical for the creation of a well-integrated facility that meets local needs.

Finding the right partners and leasing arrangements

Selecting the right partners and/or vendors for a facility is vital, as a shared understanding of and commitment to the surrounding community will make for a more successful public space. Consider a flexible leasing arrangement for a vendor who meets other criteria important to the partnership.

Playful, functional, low-maintenance design elements

Civic spaces that offer playful, functional design can make big community impacts in small corners. The use of color, lighting, and low-maintenance materials that interact well with their surroundings creates an inspiring, sustainable public facility that marries urban design and community development.

Incorporation of public art

Incorporating public art, particularly by local artists, in and around the facility space lends a sense of place and encourages civic pride and stewardship.

Case Study: South End Connector, Albany, NY

Background & Features

The Albany Waterfront Connector project, a critical 1.5-mile link between the Albany County HelderbergHudson Rail Trail and the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail in the city of Albany, New York, was intended to transform an inactive, underutilized space into a vibrant active link from the city’s south end to the waterfront and downtown, as well as to integrate the trail with a bus rapid transit station.

A portion of this initiative, the South End Connector project, encompassing a half-mile activation of the multi-use path and running beneath the elevated section of I-787, created a colorful linear park with four distinct public spaces of varying square footage. The South End Connector project was completed in two phases, concluding in the fall of 2024. Among the four small civic spaces along the connector are permanent picnic tables and chairs, bike racks, a basketball court, fitness court, children’s cycle track and hopscotch area, designated food truck/vendor spaces, and pop-up spaces.

Case Study: South End Connector, Albany, NY (continued)

Construction & Operation

Construction of the four activated spaces along the South End Connector, minus installed lighting, came to $1.7 million, which was funded by grants from the Recreational Trails Program, an assistant program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration; Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley; and System for Award Management (SAM) grants administered by Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).

While the South End Connector is property of the state Department of Transportation, the City holds a use and occupancy permit to maintain it, and the Department of Recreation manages and shares its maintenance with the City’s Department of General Services.

Lessons Learned

Public engagement throughout the life span of the project was most critical. At one point, the South End Connector project was paused due to budget concerns, but with an open channel of communication with residents, public trust was retained. Additionally, many out-of-the-box engagements were led by community leaders and proved very helpful in identifying local needs.

Sources: City of Albany www.albanyny.gov; Interview with Poulomi Sen, Senior Planning Project Manager, City of Albany, December 4, 2024; Lucas, Dave “Discussion Continues On Development Of Albany’s South End Connector,” WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Jun 2021

Case Study: Rail Trail Symphony, Charlotte, NC

Background & Features

In 2013, a collaborative team of developers, designers, and artists identified more than 70 underutilized spaces along the 3.5-mile Rail Trail in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, setting in motion the Rail Trail Vision and Framework Plans, collective strategies to transform the corridor into an urban, linear commons uniting and connecting adjacent city neighborhoods. Additionally, the city created a Public Art Master Plan, aimed at curating a gallery experience throughout the trail, with art installations occupying spaces throughout.

The Rail Trail Symphony, a 203-square-foot space along the trail and adjacent light rail station, is one such activity node. This compact performance, play, and resting platform, outfitted with drums and chimes, a chalkboard, stamped concrete, and creative seating, facilitates fun and casual interactions in a small area.

In addition to impromptu gatherings, the Rail Trail Symphony has hosted free summer concerts, as well as fundraising concert events.

Case Study: Rail Trail Symphony, Charlotte, NC (continued)

Construction & Operation

Construction of the Rail Trail Symphony cost approximately $25,000. Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP), an economic and community development nonprofit, spearheaded the Rail Trail Symphony space planning and construction.

Lessons Learned

• The CCCP team faced a few implementation challenges along the way, such as a lengthy review process and the need to coordinate between three installers. To overcome these hurdles, the team emphasized flexibility, worked with stakeholders, and spread their work across different phases.

• The comingling of urban design and community development was not only vital to the success of the Rail Trail Symphony, but helped to create a healthy balance of culture, community, and play.

• CCCP found an unlikely partner for the Symphony space in a nearby brewing company, which came on board to co-host a children’s musical band that performed there. Subsequently, the brewery offered to open its patio for future band sessions and continued to work with CCCP to develop arts programming. For CCCP, such experiences confirmed that local businesses share the same vision for success.

• By creating nodes along the trail that are thoughtfully designed and provide seating and activity, the Rail Trail Symphony enhances the public realm of the neighborhood. It also helped inspire an adjacent property owner to improve a separate entrance to the trail.

Sources: Charlotte Rail Trail www.charlotterailtrail.org; Rail Trail Symphony, Kaboom! www.kaboom.org

Case Study: Butler Trail Restrooms, Austin, TX

Background & Features

Over the last 15 years, Austin, Texas, has distinguished itself with its well-designed urban trail public restroom facilities, particularly those situated along the Anne and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, locally known as the Butler Trail, a 10-mile loop through the heart of the city’s downtown. Two of these facilities, the restrooms at Johnson Creek and Festival Beach, are notable for their compact designs, functionality, and cheerful aesthetics. Both were designed by local architects who incorporated sustainable materials and minimized maintenance and electricity needs into their creations.

Built in 2013, the Johnson Creek Restroom, a 600-square-foot facility with four open-ventilation stalls, partial overhead and vertical sheltering evocative of prairie grass, outdoor concrete wash basin, bike racks, and simple stone pillar seating provides a rest stop where the trail meets the highway overpass. The stalls are illuminated by sunlight during the day, and by thin LED fixtures embedded between the rafters at night.

Johnson Creek Restroom

Case Study: Butler Trail Restrooms, Austin, TX (continued)

The Festival Beach Restroom, completed in 2020, is a 3,200-square-foot facility with three open-ventilation stalls, overhead terra cotta tile sheltering evocative of water, outdoor concrete wash basin, combination water and pet fountain, and nighttime LED lighting embedded in the rafters.

Construction & Operation

The Johnson Creek restroom was designed pro bono by the local architect.

Lessons Learned

• Offering artfully designed public restrooms in well-loved outdoor spaces complement the surrounding natural areas and promote civic stewardship.

Sources: Guide to Austin Architecture www.guidetoaustinarchitecture.c om; Trail Conservancy www.trailconservacy.org

Case Study: Baker Creek Preserve Pavilion, Knoxville, TN

Background & Features

Completed in March 2024, the Baker Creek Preserve Pavilion in Knoxville, Tennessee, serves as a gateway to the city’s expansive, more than 60-mile Urban Wilderness trail system and the centerpiece of the linear park’s second phase of the Gateway Park development, which encompasses the pavilion, surrounding plaza, and parking lot (totaling approximately 14,000 square feet).

Along with quickly becoming a landmark shelter, the 2,500-square-foot pavilion is envisioned as a central hub for cycling activities within the Urban Wilderness and is outfitted with two family restrooms (approximately 350 square feet), picnic tables, stone slab benches, a water-filling station, bicycle storage, and trail wayfinding. The pavilion is designed to support daily functions as well as seasonal events such as the Appalachian Mountain Biking Club Fall Festival, which draws visitors to Knoxville from around the country.

Case Study: Baker Creek Preserve Pavilion, Knoxville, TN (cont.)

Construction & Operation

Construction of the second-phase pavilion, plaza, and parking lot cost the City approximately $2.7 million.

General maintenance of the facility is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department, with these costs largely paid through the annual parks fund. As the facility is new, annualized utility and insurance calculations will not be available until the spring of 2025.

Lessons Learned

• As the pavilion is new, the City is still realizing its full value.

• Providing on-site water and restroom facilities elevated this trailhead’s utility and impact.

Sources: City of Knoxville www.knoxvilletn.gov; Interview with Wes Soward, Urban Wilderness Coordinator, Knoxville Parks Department, November 24, 2024; Moore, Hannah “$2.6 Million Pavilion Opens, Providing Gateway to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness,” Knox County News, March 26, 2024; Urban Wilderness Gateway Park, Sanders Pace Architecture, www.sanderspace.com

Case Study: Bde Maka Ska Pavilion, Minneapolis, MN

Background & Features

Opened to the public in October 2023, the 4,400-square-foot Bde Maka Ska Pavilion on the edge of Bde Maka Ska Lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was designed to replace the original refectory structure, which was built in 1930 and burned down in 2019. After a period of collaborative stakeholder and public agency input, the redeveloped city park and trail site was created to incorporate two new buildings hosting a restaurant and market, six-stall restroom area, Indigenous artwork, and naval artifacts that were previously displayed at the site. An additional 3,000 square feet of covered (with heating elements in the rafters) and open outdoor space includes improved seating (for up to 150 people) punctuated by a community table designed by a local arts group, a small performance stage, upgraded native landscaping and trail safety features, 51 bike parking stalls, and a rebuilt boat launch.

Case Study: Bde Maka Ska Pavilion, Minneapolis, MN (continued)

Construction & Operation

The nearly $9 million project, spearheaded by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), was made possible by an active public-private collaboration, which included the concessions owner, local nonprofit arts organizations, and the Native American Community Development Institute.

Funding for the project was made possible with insurance proceeds from the fire loss, Minnesota State Legacy funding, park dedication funding (park system funding assessed on any city development), and enterprise funding. The MPRB maintains the facility, with operations costs drawn from the general parks fund. As the MPRB’s asset management system does not break operations costs down by facility, operations costs for the pavilion are not available.

The pavilion concession partner signed an initial five-year lease renewable through board resolution. Although the MPRB typically sets vendor leases at 12 percent of revenue, the local start-up vendor signed an agreement for eight percent of revenue in the first year, followed by two-percent increments in the following four years.

Lessons Learned

• Engaging the community in the development process can be messy but is necessary for a successful, well-integrated facility. In the end, public debates and input helped create a successful, lively space.

• Selecting the right vendor/partner is vital, as it takes time and patience to build a business.

• Devoting time and attention to bidding documentation will avoid mistakes and save money.

Sources: Interview

with Dan Elias, Design Project Manager, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, December 2 and 5, 2024; Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board www.minneapolisparks.org; Uren, Adam “New Pavilion on Bde Maka Ska Opens Four Years After Fire,” Bring Me the News, October 21, 2023

Case Study: Cultural Trail, Indianapolis, IN

Background & Features

In the mid-2000s, the City of Indianapolis, Indiana, turned to Project for Public Spaces (PPS) for support in creating a downtown bike and pedestrian trail, which was ultimately segmented into seven phases constructed over a six-year span, culminating in December 2012. The resulting eight-mile Cultural Trail loops around the downtown, with two spurs that connect to greenways. Since the trail was designed to pass through many of the city’s cultural destinations, it was also planned as a space for public art and historical celebration. The trail includes interpretive signage about historical uses and art installations that highlight them, as well as illuminated, sometimes functional public art, seating areas, and shelters (including the Prairie Modules, with solar-powered lighting, pictured below; and Moving Forward poetry bus shelters, pictured on the following page).

Case Study:

Construction & Operation

During design and construction, approximately $4 million in private funding was raised for new public art projects along the Cultural Trail. The principles of art integration that informed the commissioning of the projects included a focus on quality over quantity, site sensitivity, engaging experienced and emergent artists, supporting innovation, and promoting connectivity Construction funding and maintenance costs and partnerships are varied for the trail’s many installations. For instance, Prairie Modules 1 and 2 were made possible by a partnership with Indianapolis Power & Light, which provided the solar panels and their installation on the functional sculptural pieces.

Lessons Learned

• Lighting can be a captivating and functional design element, as well as a safety feature.

• Engaging local architects and artists with a keen sense of place and area history creates powerful spaces.

Creative Urban Bike Racks

The following are just a few of the many playful yet functional bike racks found throughout the nation’s cities.

Ithaca, NY Nashville, TN

Louisville, KY

Shipping Container Cafes

Pre-fabricated Rest Rooms

Recommended Building Program

• Shade / Rain / Wind Protection

• Restroom (freestanding or incorporated)

• Space for limited-service Café

• …or space for expanded service Café

• Maintenance equipment storage Implementation Strategy

• Short - term implementation (shipping container / Philly Phlush)

• Long - term implementation (permanent structure)

• Longer term – expand green space into former PECO site – enlarge seating plaza

Jacobs Wyper Architects

SEPTA Transit Center Completion

Estate

Fencing

Bus Shelter & Pull-off Lane

Driveway to Canoe Club

Open Lawn: 11,000 SF to meet PWD stormwater management requirements for Transportation Center

Old bridge abutments

Gateway Trailhead Amenities

Bench Seating

Café + Restrooms

Lighting

Bike Repair Station

Indego Bike Station

Gateway Signage

Seat Wall

Vehicle

Gate

Public Art

Gateway Trailhead Planting

Unmask beautiful Wissahickon gneiss ledge

High- branched trees to allow clear eyelevel sight lines

Message / Branding options for Gateway Signage

These signs could announce:

• Wissahickon Gateway

• (To) Forbidden Drive

• Manayunk

• East Falls

• Transportation Center

PECO Transformer Site

• Transformers relocated out of flood plain by about 2034

• 1.3 Acre Site is in the floodplain – many challenges to future use

• Site originally transferred to PECO from City for $1

• What is future use?

• Not a good commercial or housing site.

• Environmental Remediation by PECO

• Best use is likely open space

• Is a planning study needed to determine best use?

$1.4 Million (2024 dollars)

Many possible sources of grant funding including:

• DVRPC Regional Trails Program

• PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

• PA Dept of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

• DCED Multi-Modal

• PennDOT Multi-Modal

• Local Share Account (LSA)

Since SEPTA will retain site ownership, they will likely need to be involved in these grant applications.

Who should operation & maintain the Wissahickon Gateway Trailhead ?

• SEPTA?

• Department of Streets?

• Department of Parks and Recreation?

• Coalition of Manayunk Development Corporation / East Falls Development Corporation / Friends of the Wissahickon?

A logical case can be made for any one of these entities to operate and maintain this facility. While everyone thinks the WGT is a good idea, no one want to be responsible for operations and maintenance.

How can the community solve this dilemma?

(Good news is there is time to reach a solution)

Steps Wissahickon Gateway Trailhead:

• SC to email draft concept presentation to stakeholders and agencies for comment and suggestions

• Receive comments back by January 15.

Please send comments to:

• Gwen McCauley gmccauley@manayunk.org

• Pete Simone psimone@simonecollins.com

• David Bender dbender@simonecollins.com

• Meeting with MDC to discuss and reach consensus on revisions.

• Follow up with agencies and stakeholders as necessary.

• Public final vision plan and report recommendations – February.