A vision for INDEPENDENCE PARK
HINESVILLE, GEORGIA
CREDITS
Hinesville Downtown Development Authority
Michelle Ricketson, Executive Director
The University of Georgia
Carl Vinson Institute of Government
Kelsey Broich, Landscape Designer, Principal Investigator
Garrison Taylor, Graduate Assistant, Co-Principal Investigator
Danny Bivins, Senior Public Service Associate
J. Scott Pippin, Public Service Associate
Kaitlin Messich, Public Service Associate
Eleonora Machado, Graphic Designer
T. Clark Stancil, Creative Design Specialist
The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Defense Community Resilience Program (DCRP) is a multi-disciplinary collaborative network working directly with military installations and their surrounding civilian communities to respond to encroachment threats and climate driven vulnerabilities with innovative solutions developed in collaboration with installation personnel, local civilian community leaders, and with University of Georgia research and outreach experts.
Physical
Biological
INTRODUCTION
The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the City of Hinesville share a successful record of collaboration. In 2019, Hinesville participated in the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership’s Renaissance Strategic Vision and Planning (RSVP) process operated out of the Institute of Government. RSVP plans elicit public input to facilitate the creation of community-supported strategic visions, plans, designs, and work programs for partner communities in Georgia.
The Institute of Government team works with government leaders, downtown stakeholders, and local citizens to help ensure that all cities in Georgia have the resources and tools necessary to realize their visions and help maximize their potential. The Hinesville RSVP focused primarily on improving downtown streetscaping and attracting more community activity to the center of town. Following the delivery of the RSVP, UGA designers and Hinesville leaders further collaborated on projects including student design concepts for Bryant Commons Park and Bradwell Park in the heart of downtown Hinesville.
This project emerged from ongoing projects and discussions between Hinesville leaders and the UGA Institute of Government. Michelle Ricketson, executive director of the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority (DDA), expressed an interest in re-envisioning the city’s Main Street Park and Walking Trail, a 1.42-acre linear park just south of downtown Hinesville. Local leaders view Main Street Park as an opportunity to better communicate Hinesville and Liberty County’s history to visitors. Liberty County was a hotbed of patriotic fervor during the American Revolution. Two of the three Georgia signers of
the Declaration of Independence, Button Gwinnett and Lyman Hall, proudly called Liberty County home. Local leaders would like to celebrate this legacy by bringing a liberty garden, interpretative signage, and other elements to Main Street Park. Rechristening Main Street Park as Independence Park could further honor the legacy of Liberty County’s two signers of the Declaration of Independence. By incorporating these and other concepts envisioned in this document, Independence Park could create a lasting community tribute to the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
Figure 1: The following map demonstrates Hinesville’s close proximity to Fort Stewart, indicating Hinesville’s status as a defense community.
THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM
The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Defense Community Resilience Program (DCRP) is a multi-disciplinary collaborative network working directly with military installations and their surrounding civilian communities to respond to encroachment threats and climate driven vulnerabilities with innovative solutions developed in collaboration with installation personnel, local civilian community leaders, and with University of Georgia research and outreach experts.
The UGA Defense Community Resilience Program (DCRP) provides a proactive mechanism for military installations and supporting defense communities to access resources to help them strengthen their shared resilience and support the long-term sustainability of the military mission in these communities.
Housed within UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the DCRP employs resilience professionals stationed in partner defense communities who serve as liaisons between the installations, the civilian community, and UGA’s network of researchers and technical experts from academic, government, and private sector partners.
Through this network, DCRP resilience professionals facilitate access to diverse expertise in fields that include: planning, engineering, ecology, climatology, landscape architecture, environmental science, natural resources management, economics, sociology, and more.
Through this broad interdisciplinary process, the UGA DCRP seeks to help develop solutions to environmental, climatological, and development related challenges that save money and conserve resources by providing multiple layers of benefits and maximizing the technical, social, and environmental values embodied in every project.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Main Street Park and Walking Trail
Main Street Park and Walking Trail is a 1.42-acre linear park along Main Street at the southern end of downtown Hinesville. The park welcomes visitors with a gazebo, landscaping, signage, and a 0.3-mile paved trail along a small stream. The property is bound on the south by Liberty Square Shopping Center. A former Coca-Cola bottling plant and collection of residential properties border the park to the north. Existing vegetation includes an overstory of native trees and collection of ornamental plantings including crape myrtles, privet, and other non-native species. Primary users of Main Street Park include transit riders, employees and patrons of nearby businesses, and residents from the adjacent neighborhood.
The design team began the process of reimagining Main Street Park by conducting a site visit and collecting notes on key opportunities and constraints within the site.
The team consulted Hinesville leaders and worked to incorporate their proposed design elements and site concerns. Upon reviewing the surrounding area and existing conditions, design professionals at the Institute of Government began reimagining the site in a way that addresses the vision of local leaders.
Figure 2: This site map identifies key areas of Main Street Park as well as constraints and opportunities.
THE CLIENT VISION
Hinesville leaders expressed an interest in making park improvements that celebrate Hinesville and Liberty County’s history.
The Hinesville DDA and local partners see the park as a potential educational amenity for the community. Many residents and local leaders view Main Street Park as an underutilized asset that could be made more engaging.
COMMUNITY LEADERS REQUESTED THAT THE DESIGN TEAM INCORPORATE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS IN THE DESIGN OF THE PARK:
• Interpretive signage celebrating local history
• A liberty garden with plants of historic and cultural significance in place of the existing gazebo
• A Liberty Bell replica
• Murals celebrating local identity on adjacent building walls
• A venue to celebrate the community’s role in the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Figure 3: This image shows existing conditions at Main Street Park and Walking Trail, including features like the gazebo, bridge, picnic table, and walking trail.
Figure 4: This image shows the stream running through the site.
SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
The process of inventory and analysis provides the necessary background to thoughtfully propose designs in harmony with the context of the site. Hinesville leaders possess a local understanding of the site, but outside designers rely on inventory and analysis to dive deeper into information provided by the client.
The inventory covers three types of attributes: physical, biological, and cultural.1 Physical features describe elements like topography, hydrology, soils, geology, and microclimates. Biological attributes describe the ecology of the site, including vegetation and wildlife that are present. Finally, cultural attributes describe the built environment and its relationship to the surrounding community. Cultural attributes include land use, open space, regulations, property ownership, perception, and public infrastructure.
1 LaGro, James A. 2008. Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=cat06564a&AN=uga.9938957703902959&site=eds-live.
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES WATERSHED
As precipitation falls on the landscape it drains to the lowest point, often to features like a reservoir or a stream.
The area of land where the water drains is known as a watershed.2 A watershed can exist at a variety of scales, from a region to a single property. A large portion of Hinesville drains eastward toward Peacock Creek, the Upper North Newport River Watershed, and the Ogeechee River basin. The small creek on the project site drains to Peacock Creek.
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
Everyone lives in a watershed. Think of the landscape like a bathtub, when water hits the side of the tub, it makes its way to the drain. When stormwater falls on high elevations it travels across the landscape into lower elevations. An area of land that drains to a common point is known as a watershed.
Watersheds can be observed at a variety of scales. For example, a river basin is an area of land that drains into a river. These areas can vary in size. A civil engineer or landscape architect may outline a watershed for a property based on the high points surrounding the area. Regardless of the size, watersheds connect communities from the mountains to the Piedmont to the coast.
Example of a watershed Water moves from the highest point in the mountains, down the valley, into the rivers and eventually, into the ocean.
2 U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Science School, “Watersheds and Drainage Basins Completed,” Watersheds and Drainage Basins | U.S. Geological Survey, accessed April 25, 2024, https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/watersheds-and-drainage-basins
WHAT ARE TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS (TMDLs)?
“TMDLs are frequently developed using Water Quality Models. This process establishes the allowable pollutant loadings that can be discharged into a waterbody and still meet the water quality standards.5”
TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADINGS
Upper North Newport River Watershed
WATER QUALITY CAN BE IMPROVED AT ANY SCALE, EVEN A SITE AS SMALL AS MAIN STREET PARK.
Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that states assess water quality every two years.
The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources lists Peacock Creek in the 2024 list of streams3 under category 4a and 54. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division measures
“Total Maximum Daily Loads,” or TMDLs, a model used to measure water quality. These TMDL measurements determined that
Peacock Creek does not support existing daily uses. In other words, excessive pollutants impact recreation and ecological health within this stream. Category 5 indicates that TMDLs need to be completed for one or more pollutants. Waters in Category 5 make up the 303(d) list, a statewide list of impaired and threatened waterways. Because of the “d list” designation, Fort Stewart also has an interest in improving the water quality of Peacock Creek. As such, there may be opportunities for partnering and funding projects that support improved water quality in the community.
3 Environmental Protection Division | Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program, Georgia 2024 305(b)/303(d) Draft List of Waters § (2024).
4 Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program, Description of the 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters § (2024).
5 “Total Maximum Daily Loadings,” Environmental Protection Division, accessed April 25, 2024, https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/watershedplanning-and-monitoring-program/total-maximum-daily-loadings.
HYDROLOGY
• Upper North Newport River Watershed
• Potentially feeds into Peacock Creek which leads to the North Newport River
selection)
City Boundary
County
Unit: Subwatershed selection
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES TOPOGRAPHY
Main Street Park consists of a gently sloping landscape surrounding a small central creek.
After flowing through the park, this stream is piped under other various developments on the southern end of downtown. The creek reemerges near Bryant Commons Park, where it flows eastward toward Peacock Creek. The gradual slope of Main Street Park is visible by examining the contours on the topographic map featured below. A secondary map shown on page 17 adds a flood zone layer (See page 18 for an explanation of flood zones). This map indicates that the site sits at an elevation away from areas of major flood risk. The park lies within “Flood Zone X,” indicating an 0.2% annual chance of flooding. This is also known as the “500-year flood” or the 1-in-500 chance of a flood. 6
Topography
• Coastal – Relatively flat
6U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Science School, “Floods and Recurrence Intervals Completed,” Floods and Recurrence Intervals | U.S. Geological Survey, June 11, 2018, https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/floods-and-recurrence-intervals.
Source: City of Hinesville, Deane Kensok (building footprints from OpenStreetMap), USGS
Rivers and Streams
Contours
Flood Zone X - 0.2%
Floodway
Site Parcel
Roads
Buildings
Parcels
Flood Zone X 0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE (500-YEAR)
In a low risk flood zone
Source: FEMA, City of Hinesville and Watershed Boundary Dataset HUC 12s, USGS
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES FLOOD ZONES
Main Street Park lies within in Flood Zone X, a low risk FEMA-identified Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
The cross section below was adapted from a FEMA flood graphic and Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps, a specialized collection of maps used to visualize flooding. The stream at Main Street Park flows down to a high risk Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). High risk SFHA zones are low-lying areas with a significant annual risk of flood damage. These areas have at least a 1% annual chance of flooding. This can be visualized in the second map pictured on page 19 where the stream starts in flood zone X and releases into flood zone AE. The flow into a high-risk area highlights the opportunity to manage stormwater upstream to help mitigate downstream flooding and improve water quality.
Zone X
FEMA flood zone map definitions for zones VE, AE, and X. The dashed red line shows the 1% inundation level and the dashed blue line is the base flood elevation (BFE). (http://www.r3coastal.com/home/coastal-hazard-analysis-mapping/coastal-flood-hazardmapping, accessed on 11 February 2020). (Definition of the flood zones are provided at https://www.fema.gov/flood-zones, accessed on 16 April 2020.). 9 The caption and graphic are adapted from Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate.10
Figure 5: This diagram visualizes
Source: FEMA, City of Hinesville and Watershed Boundary Dataset HUC 12s, USGS
Rivers and Streams Contours
Flood Zone X - 0.2%
Flood Zone AE
Flood Zone A
Floodway
7Malcolm Spaulding et al., Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ResearchGate, April 18, 2020), https://www. researchgate.net/figure/FEMA-flood-zone-map-definitions-Dashed-red-line-is-the-1-inundation-leveland-the_fig1_340844229.
8FEMA, “Flood Zones,” FEMA.gov, July 8, 2020, https://www.fema.gov/glossary/flood-zones#:~:text=Flood%20hazard%20areas%20identified%20on,exceeded%20in%20any%20given%20year.
9Malcolm L. Spaulding et al., From Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate, April 2020, Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise, April 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340844229_Stormtools_Design_Elevation_SDE_Maps_Including_Impact_of_Sea_Level_Rise.
10Malcolm L. Spaulding et al., From Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate, April 2020, Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise, April 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340844229_Stormtools_Design_Elevation_SDE_Maps_Including_Impact_of_Sea_Level_Rise.
Site Parcel
Roads
Buildings Parcels
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES SOILS
The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey data suggests that the soil type at Main Street Park is a Rutlege Fine Sand, a very poorly drained soil with a depth to water table of 0-6 inches.
Landscape designers often recommend using green infrastructure systems that mimic nature to capture and treat stormwater and improve water quality. However, many green infrastructure practices, including bioretention, require a deeper depth to water table to serve as effective remedies. When a site visit and images reveal signs of sand, local leaders are advised to work with the local UGA Cooperative Extension office to conduct soil sampling for a more comprehensive analysis of the soil.
RU - RUTLEGE FINE SAND
Typical profile
H1 - 0 to 21 inches: sand
H2 - 21 to 63 inches: loamy fine sand
Properties and qualities
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Drainage class: Very poorly drained
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): High to very high (5.95 to 19.98 in/hr)
Depth to water table: About 0 to 6 inches
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 4.0 inches)
Hydrologic Soil Group: A/D
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service - Web Soil Survey
Ea Echaw-Urban land complex
EC Echaw and Cenetenary fine sands
Me Mascotte fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Ru Rutlege fine sand
MAP
BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES ECOREGION
Ecoregions provide a broad sense of the vegetation and landscape character typically found in a region. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies Ecoregions at a variety scales.
Hinesville is located in the Southern Coastal Plain Level III Ecoregion. More specifically, the Main Street Park site lies within the Sea Island Flatwoods Level IV Ecoregion.11 This area is characterized by poorly-drained flat plains with lower elevations, wet soils, and an abundance of loblolly and slash pine plantations.12 Plants commonly found in the region include water oak, willow oak, sweet gum, black gum, and black cypress. Understanding the plant communities of a region provides a baseline for native plant recommendations for the site. Native plants often tolerate regional conditions like heat and drought better than introduced ornamental species. Selecting the right plants for the site can lower maintenance requirements, provide habitat for native species, and improve the ecological quality of the site.
6: The image shows a pine plantation in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Community 5.1.- The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT) (Figure 16, pg. 14)
11Ecoregions of Georgia, map, Level III and IV Ecoregions by State (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2001).
12Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ecological site R153AY001GA Loamy Rise, Moderately Wet § (n.d.), https://edit.jornada.nmsu.edu/catalogs/esd/153A/ R153AY001GA.
Figure
Figure 7: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Level III and IV Ecoregions
Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency - Ecoregions Level III and IV
75. SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN
75f Sea Island Flatwoods
Poorly-drained flat plains with lower elevations
Wet soils are common
Loblolly and slash pine plantations in the region
Common plants: Water oak, willow oak, sweet gum, black gum and cypress in wet areas
BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES SPECIES OF INTEREST
The Biodiversity Portal created by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources provides a list of rare species and federal protection status of critical species. Data can be organized by location, including county, watershed, ecoregions, and other geographic areas.
The list below represents state designated species in the North Newport HUC10 watershed. Species found in pine flatwoods include rare and threatened creatures like the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, Eastern Indigo Snake, and Gopher Frog. Understanding the critical species found in the area provides an opportunity for designers to incorporate plants and habitats that these species rely on.
Scientific
Ambystoma cingulatum Frosted Flatwoods Salamander Threatened Pine flatwoods; moist savannas; isolated cypress/gum ponds
Drymarchon couperi Eastern Indigo Snake Threatened Sandhills; pine flatwoods; dry hammocks; summer habitat includes wetlands
Lithobates capito Gopher Frog Rare Sandhills; dry pine flatwoods; breed in isolated wetlands
Frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum)
Photo by FWC, https://fws.gov/banner/frosted-flatwoods-salamander Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0
Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi)
Photo by Reptiles4all/Istockphoto
Gopher Frog (Lithobates capito)
Photo by John B Jensen (Georgia DNR – Wildlife Resources)
CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES HISTORY AND LAND USE
In addition to the physical attributes of the site, cultural attributes such as history and land use provide an important consideration for any thoughtful redesign of Main Street Park.
Local leaders have prioritized this space as a venue to celebrate Hinesville and Liberty County’s history and connection with two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett. Hinesville and Liberty County share an important history that can be celebrated through the landscape. Community leaders see improving conditions at Main Street Park as a signature project to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To further this goal, local leaders could consider renaming this prominent public space Independence Park in commemoration of America’s Semiquincentennial.
HISTORY
Nestled along Georgia’s hundred miles of golden coastline, the City of Hinesville and Liberty County boast rich history and a vibrant community — all within a unique and important natural environment. From the area’s modern beginnings as a hotbed of patriotic fervor during the American Revolution to the community’s role in training some of the key Civil Rights leaders in the 1960s, Liberty County and Hinesville share a heritage steeped in the promise of freedom and independence.
Hinesville was founded in 1837 as a centrally located seat of government for the growing county. Long a sleepy southern
Figure 8: Native American inhabitants of Coastal Georgia are depicted in this 18th-century graphic “Indians of Guale” by French Artist Jacob Le Moyne. (Georgia Historical Society)
Figure 9: Born in England in 1735, Button Gwinnett emigrated to Georgia in 1765. Gwinnett settled in Liberty County shortly after and served as one of three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Photo courtesy of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.
Figure 10: Born in Connecticut in 1724, Lyman Hall settled in Liberty County in the mid-1700s. An influential member of the Midway Congregational Church, patriotic local parishioners nominated Hall to serve in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. - Photo courtesy of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.
courthouse town, the community’s fate changed forever with the establishment of Fort Stewart in 1941. Today, Fort Stewart proudly serves as the home to the 3rd Infantry Division. According to the U.S. Census, Fort Stewart boasts a population of roughly 8,821. Additionally, local estimates indicate that the fort supports well over 20,000 residents in the area. For more than 70 years, Fort Stewart has propelled growth in Hinesville. The friendly, welcoming embrace of this community makes Hinesville a lifetime home for many service members. Liberty County’s vibrant heritage lives on in the growing and diverse community that calls the area home.
SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE AND EVENTS
A Native American tribe, the GUALE INDIANS, inhabited the area prior to European settlers.13
LIBERTY COUNTY was formed by the legislature in 1777.14
Liberty County was an important hub during the American Revolutionary War. HINESVILLE became the county seat in 1837.15
Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, LYMAN HALL and BUTTON GWINNETT, settled in Liberty County.16
American Revolutionary War Generals JAMES SCREVEN and DANIEL STEWART came from Liberty County.17
FORT STEWART began as “Camp Stewart” in 1940. It is the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River and was named in honor of General Daniel Stewart on April 7, 1956.18
13 “Early History of Liberty County,” Liberty County Historical Society, September 4, 2023, https://www.libertyhistory.net/.
14 “SHORT HISTORY OF LIBERTY COUNTY,” City of Hinesville. Accessed May 6, 2024. https://www.cityofhinesville.org/.
15 “Early History of Liberty County,” Liberty County Historical Society, September 4, 2023, https://www.libertyhistory.net/.
16 “Early History of Liberty County,” Liberty County Historical Society, September 4, 2023, https://www.libertyhistory.net/.
17 “SHORT HISTORY OF LIBERTY COUNTY,” City of Hinesville, accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.cityofhinesville.org/.
18 “SHORT HISTORY OF LIBERTY COUNTY,” City of Hinesville, accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.cityofhinesville.org/.
CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES ZONING
The Main Street Park site is designated for commercial use and sits adjacent to residential, privately controlled properties, as well as a parcel zoned for a planned development district.
The three concepts developed for the site were created at varying degrees of scale. One option included in this document includes a long-term “dream big” concept that extends beyond the boundaries of the site into one of the neighboring privately-controlled parcels.
THE ZONING ORDINANCE
of the City of Hinesville, GA
• C-2, General Commercial District
• DD, Private or Semi-Private Club, Lodge, or Social Center
• R-8, Residential
• PDD, Planned Development District
Source: City of Hinesville
CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES
SURROUNDING CONTEXT
The surrounding context can inform the potential users for a rejuvenated Main Street Park. The park sits at the southern end of downtown, surrounded by a mix of residential, commercial, and other uses.
The Institute of Government design studio developed three different concepts for the proposed Independence Park. The third concept includes a more sweeping, long-term development concept that could complement the surrounding area. Expanding beyond the boundaries of the current site has the potential to engage users from the surrounding area. Concentrating development in downtown Hinesville could provide more housing and create more accessible and inviting central gathering and recreation spaces for the surrounding community.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION
• Close proximity to downtown
• Bryant Commons Park a block away
• Near the Azalea Street Redevelopment Project
• Down the street from the Bradwell Institute
• 1.5 miles from Fort Stewart
Azalea Street Development
Bryant Commons Park
Downtown
Project Site
Bradwell Institute
DESIGN CONCEPT I
DESIGN
DESIGN CONCEPTS
Three concepts were created to reimagine Independence Park, celebrating and connecting visitors to Liberty County’s rich history.
DESIGN CONCEPT I Represents key requests from local leaders. This shorter-term concept minimizes changes to the site but makes effective improvements envisioned by the community.
DESIGN CONCEPT II Expands the role of the existing stream and further enhances visitor experience of the park.
DESIGN CONCEPT III Reimagines the entire site and neighboring commercial development, showing what Hinesville’s future could look like.
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT I
Concept I draws from the vision of local leaders to create a liberty garden and a history walk through the site. This concept would be the most inexpensive and readily implementable of the three proposed concepts.
Figure 11: Concept I for Independence Park featuring a history walk, signage, liberty garden, and other elements.
THE PROGRAMMING ELEMENTS INCLUDE:
12 interpretive signs detailing local history
A historically-inspired liberty garden in place of the existing gazebo
A mural featured on an adjacent commercial building
A working Liberty
The concept pictured on page 36 outline potential improvements to Independence Park. Existing entrances at either end of the park are shown with improved signage. The bus stop on Main Street shown in Figure 12 could provide the first interpretive signage opportunity to welcome visitors to the park. Interpretive signage offers an opportunity for interactive programming that shares Hinesville and Liberty County’s heritage with visitors. The example sign shown on the left highlights the Georgia signers’ names on the Declaration of Independence.
Figure 13: This interpretive sign concept features the Liberty County signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Figure 12: The Main Street entrance of the park is shown in this rendering. The minimal changes highlighted include interpretive signage added to the bus stop, entry signage, and a new bridge.
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT I
The existing bridge is functional but may need replacement in the future.
The existing bridge is functional but may need replacement in the future. Attractive prefabricated bridges like the one shown in Figure 14 are available from many companies. The stream is shown with natural stones and native plants that help stabilize the slopes while providing food and habitat.
Figure 14: This rendering illustrates stream improvements including native plants, rocks, and an improved bridge.
The liberty garden design (shown in Figure 15) takes inspiration from historical records of colonial-era kitchen gardens. This liberty garden includes a replica Liberty Bell as a central focal point that draws visitors into the site. The Liberty Bell, historical garden, and associated signage all celebrate Liberty County’s connection to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In this concept, existing signage and memorials that are already on site would remain.
DESIGN ELEMENTS TYPICAL OF THESE FORMAL GARDEN SPACES INCLUDE:
• Fencing or a low hedge (Ilex glabra ‘Gem Box,’ Ilex vomitoria ‘Schillings Dwarf,’ or similar) defining beds and spaces within the garden
• Pathways composed of pea gravel or crushed shells
• A central focal point to draw the eye
• Raised beds with colorful annual and perennial plantings of cultural significance
• Intermixed plant types with herbs, flowers, and vegetables grown in the same bed
Figure 15: This concept shows a potential liberty garden with key features including signage, a Liberty Bell replica, and mixed plantings.
INDEPENDENCE PARK
DESIGN CONCEPT I
ON THE OTHER END OF THE PARK, THE ENTRANCE FROM ASHMORE STREET IS SHOWN IMPROVED WITH A MURAL OF PROMINENT HISTORICAL SITES IN LIBERTY COUNTY.
Figure 16: This concept shows a mural welcoming visitors near the Ashmore Street entrance to the park.
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT II
Concept II maintains many elements of the initial concept but expands the ecological focus to include stream improvements and a small boardwalk over a pocket wetland.
Figure 17: The plan above shows the second concept developed for Main Street Park.
Independence Park
The boardwalk shown in Figure 18 allows visitors to explore a pocket wetland, giving park patrons the opportunity to experience and learn about nature.
Stormwater Management
Independence Park features a small stream running through the center of the park. While this creek is exposed, or “daylit,” through the park, moving eastward the stream flows through pipes and culverts under a number of developments on the southern end of downtown Hinesville. While Independence Park lies at a higher elevation at a low risk of flooding, the daylit stream has the potential to carry possible pollutants from
the surrounding parking lots and commercial developments to downstream waterbodies through stormwater runoff. Local leaders should prioritize effective stormwater management to prevent possible negative impacts of stormwater runoff. The Georgia Stormwater Management Manual (GSMM) provides guidance on stormwater management practices for communities in
Georgia. The Volume 2 guide is designed for planners, engineers, contractors, and inspectors from local governments and private development.19 The practices in the guide are designed to minimize the negative impacts of stormwater runoff to protect downstream areas from possible contamination. Designers can use this guide to identify the most appropriate practices for the site.
19 Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016)
Figure 18: The secondary concept for Independence Park features a proposed boardwalk and pocket wetland.
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT II
Pocket Wetlands
Designers used the GSMM to investigate the best possible alternatives for managing stormwater in Independence Park. The site inventory suggests that most of the soil on site is composed of Rutlege Fine Sand. Many stormwater treatment practices, including green infrastructure like rain gardens and bioswales, require soil types that can hold stormwater for a period of time. These interventions are designed to then let stormwater slowly percolate
back into our groundwater. Rutlege Fine Sand does not provide this kind of storage capacity because the water table lies only 0-6 inches below the soil surface. However, stormwater wetlands offer an effective stormwater management practice appropriate for use in this soil type. Pocket wetlands can improve water quality, but these features cannot be used for extended detention.20 Pocket wetlands are constructed by digging down to the water table, an soil. Stormwater wetlands are constructed shallow marsh systems designed to treat urban stormwater and runoff control volumes.21 Pocket wetlands mimic natural systems and remove pollutants through settling and uptake by marsh vegetation. Specially selected native marsh plants remove pollutants through their roots. The graphic below demonstrates how pocket wetlands remove pollutants from runoff and keep downstream
Figure 19: This image shows a conceptual cross-section of pocket wetland environment.
Wetland environments may pose concerns for visitors who fear these environments attract snakes and mosquitos. Proper maintenance can mitigate many of these concerns. Incorporating educational signage into the design could further inform visitors and celebrate the importance of these natural systems. Additionally, if volunteers and community partners are engaged in the management of the system, including tasks like monitoring
performance and managing invasive plants, a similar pocket wetland feature could grow a sense of ownership in the stewardship of Hinesville and its waterways.
The graphic shown in Figure 19 illustrates how a conceptual pocket wetland could function. However, the system pictured is very conceptual in nature. An engineer would need to collect and review data to properly design a pocket wetland for Independence
Park. The schematic of a pocket wetland shown below was included in the GSMM to demonstrate the various parts of a pocket wetland. In this pocket wetland design, stormwater moves through a combination of shallow marsh areas, open water, and semiwet areas above the permanent water surface. In this system, pollutants are primarily treated through settling and biological uptake by native plantings.
“Stormwater wetlands are constructed wetland systems used for stormwater management. Stormwater wetlands consist of a combination of shallow marsh areas, open water, and semi-wet areas above the permanent water surface. As stormwater runoff flows through a wetland, it is treated, primarily through gravitational settling and biological uptake.”22
System
Figure 4.26-5 Schematic of Pocket Wetland
(Source: Center for Watershed Protection) Figure 20: These schematic designs show how a pocket wetland functions. Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016), 373.
22 Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016), 135.
-The Georgia Stormwater Management Manual
System Figure 4.26-5 Schematic of Pocket Wetland
(Source: Center for Watershed Protection)
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT II
Example Plants
Plant selection for a pocket wetland should consider regional suitability and a plant’s ability to survive in both wet and dry conditions. Additionally, plants can be selected for aesthetic qualities that make these vital wetland components attractive to visitors. Common rush, smooth cordgrass, swamp sunflower and bushy bluestem are a few examples of plants appropriate for a wetland in this region (Figures 21-24). Bushy bluestem is a hardy tall grass that grows well in many situations. Bluestem sways gently in the breeze, providing a sense of movement to the landscape while also controlling erosion. Juncus, also known as common rush, is often seen at the edges of wetlands and has interesting starburst-shaped flowers. Smooth cordgrass, common near the coast, is an attractive tall grass that can tolerate salty water. Swamp sunflower is a fantastic wetland or garden plant, often reaching heights of up to eight feet. The bright yellow flowers bloom from late summer through fall and attract migrating birds as well as pollinator insects.
Scientific Name
Common Name
Andropogon glomeratus Bushy Bluestem Can grow in a variety of moist habitats ; seeds provide food
Juncus effusus Common Rush Full sun, likes wet savannas and freshwater wetlands
Spartina alterniflora Smooth Cordgrass Along water edges in tidal marshes and coastal
Notes
Good for erosion control; has droughttolerant varieties
Common in rain gardens
Salt tolerant
Figure 21: Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus)
Photo by Max Licher, n.d., Go Botany Native Plant Trust, n.d., https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/andropogon/ glomeratus/.
alterniflora)
Photo by Tom Austin. Smooth cordgrass. n.d. iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/543507.
https://gobotany. nativeplanttrust.org/species/juncus/effusus/.
https://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hean2.
Figure 22: Common Rush (Juncus effusus)
Photo by Marilee Lovit, Common Rush (Juncus Effusus), n.d., Go Botany Native Plant Trust, n.d.,
Figure 23: Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina
Figure 24: Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
Photo by Stephanie Brundage, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (The University of Texas at Austin, n.d.),
INDEPENDENCE PARK DESIGN CONCEPT III
The third concept reimagines the entire area surrounding Independence Park.
In this concept, park boundaries are expanded to include a neighboring wooded lot along Bagley Avenue. This significantly expanded park could create a signature downtown location to gather and relax. The centerpiece of this park concept is a larger constructed wetland system. A wetland feature of this size could
Peacock Creek. Within the park, the linear trail and liberty garden form a network of paths and pocket gardens. Interpretive signage along the inviting paths pictured could tell the story of Liberty County and Hinesville. A larger boardwalk and bridge give greater access to the wetland, inviting visitors to explore
Conceptual uses for surrounding buildings, including a food hall and brewery, could bring new activity downtown while linking the park with the remainder of the development. This concept offers local parents the chance to enjoy a vibrant social space while their kids safely enjoy the adjacent play areas
Figure 25: The Concept III plan for Independence Park significantly expands the park area and ventures into surrounding properties to propose opportunities for mixed-use downtown infill development.
In the Concept III design, the existing strip development and parking lot neighboring Independence Park to the south are shown reimagined as a streetfacing mixed-use complex. A similar development would bring a downtown feel to West Hendry Street. Mixed-use buildings like those pictured could provide housing on the upper floors, retail or office space on the ground floor, and space for existing local businesses to grow and expand (See Figure 27). Instead of one large impervious parking lot, small lots and parallel and angled on-street parking extend along and beyond the new buildings. Residents of the
new apartments could enjoy green spaces and interior courtyards. Green strips and spaces outside of the buildings create a cohesive park-like feel throughout the site. While this concept requires land acquisition and years of planning, it represents a vision to extend Hinesville’s downtown and connect to other surrounding assets such as the Azalea Street redevelopment project, the Bradwell Institute, and local parks. Independence Park could help connect several areas of town and become a major community asset for Liberty County.
Figure 26: This illustration shows a play area and outdoor food hall. This particular playground is inspired by the local ecology and history.
Figure 27: This illustration of streetscape character shows how on-street parking, trees, and outdoor seating can create a more urban feel.
19 Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016)
PRECEDENT STUDIES
While this concept proposes a new long-term vision for this area, the concept itself was inspired by real developments in similar areas across the state.
Designers often use precedents from similarly-sized cities and regions to recommend design concepts for new areas. A few examples of these kinds of concepts include Wire Park in Watkinsville, Fayetteville City Park, and Chason Park in Bainbridge.
PRECEDENT STUDIES WIRE PARK,
WATKINSVILLE
Wire Park, designed by SPG Planners + Engineers, consists of a central plaza connecting visitors to shops, restaurants, and city services like the local library.
Mixed-use buildings and residences in the heart of the development surround an active commercial hub. An additional residential development is planned for the future. A trail network links the mixed-use development to a large greenspace with a lake, making the whole area a multifunctional community amenity.
Figure 29: Wire Park commercial spaces are a vibrant retreat on a busy spring day.
Figure 28: The Wire Park lawn creates a focal point of the commercial development.
Figure 30: This plan of Wire Park includes surrounding housing, park spaces, and trails.
Figure 29
Figure 28
UGA DCRP Project: A Vision for Independence Park in Hinesville, Georgia
Use/Apartments
Adjacent Single Family Housing
Figure 30
PRECEDENT STUDIES
FAYETTEVILLE CITY PARK
Fayetteville City Park combines municipal services, park space, commercial uses, and residential spaces. Designed by Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, this unique spot activates downtown. A park connects Fayetteville City Hall to commercial and office space. The playground backs up to the outdoor seating area for a food hall, so parents can comfortably watch their kids while enjoying social time with friends. A variety of housing, including apartments and singlefamily residences, surround the site.
Figure 32: Fayetteville City Park playground is a popular attraction for local youth.
Figure 31: Line Creek Brewery creates a local destination at Fayetteville City Park.
Figure 33: This aerial view shows the arrangement of buildings and park spaces at Fayetteville City Park.
Figure 32
Figure 31 52
UGA DCRP Project: A Vision for Independence Park in Hinesville, Georgia
Playground
Mixed Use/Apartments
Figure 33
Fayetteville City Hall
Commercial & Office Space
Commercial & Office Space
PRECEDENT STUDIES CHASON PARK, BAINBRIDGE
Chason Park in downtown Bainbridge activates the city’s once-neglected riverfront along the Flint River. Designed by TSW, this park draws visitors from across the region. Interpretive signage near the playground celebrates local history and ecology and helps children learn about their world. A riverfront amphitheater hosts popular events and acts as a place to watch the world go by. A new mixed-use housing development adjacent to the park has become a major amenity. The design studio at the UGA Institute of Government began working with Bainbridge in 2013. Design studio members have assisted the city with a number of concepts over the years, including early versions of this park and housing concept.
Figure 34: : Interpretive signage at Chason Park describes the unique history and ecology of this region.
Figure 35: This view shows the new ecologically minded playground at Chason Park.
Figure 36: This rendering shows the conceptual design for Chason Park along the Flint River.
Figure 37: Chason Park celebrates Bainbridge’s status as the “City of Oaks.”
Figure 35
Figure 34
Apartments
Playground
Figure 36
Figure 37
Amphitheater Riverfront
INDEPENDENCE PARK REFERENCE LIST
LaGro, James A. 2008. Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dire ct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=cat06564a&AN=uga.9938957703902959&site=eds-live.
U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Science School. “Watersheds and Drainage Basins Completed.” Watersheds and Drainage Basins | U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-scienceschool/science/watersheds-and-drainage-basins#:~:text=A%20watershed%20 is%20an%20area,point%20along%20a%20stream%20channel.
Environmental Protection Division. “Water Quality in Georgia.” Environmental Protection Division. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://epd.georgia.gov/ https%3A/epd.georgia.gov/assessment/water-quality-georgia.
Environmental Protection Division | Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program, Georgia 2024 305(b)/303(d) Draft List of Waters § (2024).
Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program, Description of the 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters § (2024).
“Total Maximum Daily Loadings.” Environmental Protection Division. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/watershedplanning-and-monitoring-program/total-maximum-daily-loadings.
U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Science School. “Floods and Recurrence Intervals Completed.” Floods and Recurrence Intervals | U.S. Geological Survey, June 11, 2018. https:// www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/floods-and-recurrence-intervals.
Spaulding, Malcolm L., Annette Grilli, Rezi Hashemi, Chris Damon, Soroush Kouhi, and Grover Fugate. from Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. April 2020. Stormtools Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: Including Impact of Sea Level Rise. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340844229_ Stormtools_Design_Elevation_SDE_Maps_Including_Impact_of_Sea_Level_Rise.
“Ecoregions of Georgia.” Map. Level III and IV Ecoregions by State. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2001.
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ecological site R153AY001GA Loamy Rise, Moderately Wet § (n.d.). https://edit.jornada.nmsu.edu/catalogs/esd/153A/R153AY001GA.
“Early History of Liberty County.” Liberty County Historical Society, September 4, 2023. https://www.libertyhistory.net/.
“SHORT HISTORY OF LIBERTY COUNTY.” City of Hinesville. Accessed May 6, 2024. https://www.cityofhinesville.org/.
“Button Gwinnett.” 1735. https://search.ebscohost.com/login. aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=ir01612a&AN=dlg.nge.ngen.m.2637&site=eds-live
“Lyman Hall.” 1724. https://search.ebscohost.com/login. aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=ir01612a&AN=dlg.nge.ngen.m.1046&site=eds-live.
“Indians Of Guale – Renderings by French Artist, Jacob Le Moyne (Georgia Historical Society).” Real Spooks. Accessed May 6, 2024. https://search.ebscohost.com/Login.aspx.
Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016).
Licher, Max. Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus). n.d. Go Botany Native Plant Trust. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/andropogon/glomeratus/.
Lovit, Marilee. Common Rush (Juncus effusus). n.d. Go Botany Native Plant Trust. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/juncus/effusus/.
Austin, Tom. Smooth cordgrass. n.d. iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/543507.
Brundage, Stephanie. Helianthus angustifolius. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin, n.d. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hean2.
FEMA. “Flood Zones.” FEMA.gov, July 8, 2020. https://www.fema.gov/glossary/floodzones#:~:text=Flood%20hazard%20areas%20identified%20on,exceeded%20in%20any%20given%20year.
INDEPENDENCE PARK APPENDIX
4.26 Stormwater Wetlands
Description: Constructed wetland systems used for stormwater management. Runoff volume is both stored and treated in the wetland facility which consists of a shallow impoundment with a permanent pool designed to mimic natural wetlands.
LID/GI Considerations: Wetlands should not be designed close to the source of runoff as LID dictates because it is not practical or cost effective. However wetlands employ several LID/GI characteristics, for example mimicking natural systems and providing infiltration and evapotranspiration.
Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Stormwater Management Manual | Volume 2: Technical Handbook § (2016). https://atlantaregional.org/what-we-do/natural-resources/georgia-stormwater-management-manual/
Wetlands systems used volume is facility impoundment with natural not be LID diceffective. LID/GI characsystems evapotranspiration.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
DESIGN CRITERIA
• Minimum contributing drainage area of 25 acres; 5 acres for pocket wetland
• Two design variations (level 1 and level 2) to achieve different pollutant removal rates
• Outflow hydrograph should mimic the existing conditions hydrograph, where applicable
• Design should include water balance analysis and landscaping
ADVANTAGES / BENEFITS
• Good nutrient removal for level 2
• Provides natural wildlife habitat
• Relatively low maintenance costs
• Provides moderate to high removal of many of the pollutants of concern typically contained in post-construction stormwater runoff
• Ideal for use in flat terrain and in areas with high groundwater
DISADVANTAGES / LIMITATIONS
• Requires large land area
• Needs continuous baseflow for viable wetland
• Sediment regulation is critical to sustain wetlands
• Provides minimal reduction of post-construction stormwater runoff volumes
• More costly than some BMPs
• Difficulties in maintaining the permanent pool may arise
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
• Plant replacement vegetation in any eroded areas.
• Remove invasive vegetation
• Monitor sediment accumulation and remove periodically
• A valve will be required to dewater the wetland
POLLUTANT REMOVAL
Level 1
Total Suspended Solids
Nutrients - Total Phosphorus / Total Nitrogen removal
Level 2
Total Suspended Solids
Nutrients - Total Phosphorus / Total Nitrogen removal
Metals - Cadmium, Copper, Lead, and Zinc removal
Pathogens – Fecal Coliform
Metals - Cadmium, Copper, Lead, and Zinc removal
Pathogens – Fecal Coliform
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
SUITABILITY
Runoff Reduction
Water Quality
Channel Protection
Overbank Flood Protection
Extreme Flood Protection
suitable for this practice
may provide partial benefits
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Land Requirement
Capital Cost
Maintenance Burden:
Shallow Wetland
ED Shallow Wetland
Pocket Wetland
Pond/Wetland
Residential Subdivision Use: Yes
High Density/Ultra-Urban: No
Drainage Area: Minimum contributing drainage area of 25 acres; 5 acres for pocket wetland
Roadway Projects: Not applicable
Soils: Hydrologic group ‘A’ and ‘B’ soils may require a liner (not relevant for pocket wetland)
L=Low M=Moderate H=High
RUNOFF REDUCTION CREDIT
• Level 1: 0% - Runoff Reduction Credit
• Level 2: 0% - Runoff Reduction Credit
• Accepts Hotspot Runoff: Yes, 2 feet of separation distance required to water table
The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Defense Community Resilience Program (DCRP) is a multidisciplinary collaborative network working directly with military installations and their surrounding civilian communities to respond to encroachment threats and climate driven vulnerabilities with innovative solutions developed in collaboration with installation personnel, local civilian community leaders, and with University of Georgia research and outreach experts.
