Unifying the Campus A Landscape Master Plan Pony Power Therapies, Inc. Mahwah, New Jersey
Prepared By
August 2017
Prepared For
Pony Power Campus Master Plan Contents Introduction Vision and Goals Master Plan Vision....................................................................4 Goals.........................................................................................4
Design Approach Site Specific Design...................................................................5
Master Plan Process Pony Power Stakeholders..........................................................6 Site Analyses.............................................................................6 Plan Revisions ...........................................................................7
Key Site Analyses Geographic Setting....................................................................9 Land Cover..............................................................................11 Slopes......................................................................................13 Drainage..................................................................................15 Base Map: 1158 + 1170 Ramapo Valley Road.........................17 What’s Working, What’s Not...................................................19
The Site Plan Campus Site Plan.....................................................................21 View of the Central Park.........................................................23 View from the Office Patio......................................................25
Landscape Management Guidelines Stormwater Management Features........................................27 Bioretention Basins.................................................................28 Rain Gardens...........................................................................28 Swales and Vegetated Berms..................................................28 Permeable Pavers ...................................................................29 Campus Environmental Stewardship......................................29 Erosion Control.......................................................................29 Habitat Enhancement.............................................................30
Phasing and Implementation Guidelines Campus Improvement Phases.................................................33 1 Chevalier Avenue Greenfield, MA 01301 info@regenerativedesigngroup.com (413) 658-7048 productive landscapes resilient communities
All photographs and graphics © Regenerative Design Group unless otherwise noted.
Revised: August 18, 2017
Design and Development Guidelines Future Site Planning................................................................35 Sensory Path Materials...........................................................37 Parking Lot Materials..............................................................39
Introduction Since the year 2000, Pony Power Therapies has provided individuals with special needs and at-risk children and adults the opportunity to ride, care for, and interact with horses on a fouracre horse farm in Mahwah, New Jersey. Pony Power's staff of 14 instructors, occupational therapist, administrators, and maintenance crew manages over 180 riding and life-skills sessions a week, an average of 100 volunteers a week, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, and 21 resident horses with stalls and paddocks. In March 2017, the organization acquired the property to the north of their original four acres. For the staff, riders, volunteers and horses at Pony Power, the additional 3.2 acres represents an opportunity to work, move, and breathe freely into a more relaxed space that better accommodates the paddocks, riding programs, and outdoor educational programs that serve children and adults with a broad spectrum of needs.
This master plan is a record of a six-month site planning process, facilitated by Regenerative Design Group, to translate Pony Power’s long-term vision for a healthy, vibrant, cohesive campus into physical changes to the landscape. During the master planning design process, explained on pages 6-7, a wide range of possible changes to the site were explored. The team worked together to generate ideas to improve the experience of program participants and improve the environmental health of the site by integrating stormwater management features, pollinator habitat, and food production. The following sections of this document pull together aspects of this process from the initial assessments to maintenance recommendations for a fully integrated campus design.
Looking toward the south in the spring over the Pony Power Campus and the Ramapo River. The main outdoor riding ring, the original barn, built in the 1960's, and the indoor riding ring, built in 2010, are visible in the center of the image. The roof of the new building acquired in 2017 is visible in the lower left-hand corner. PHOTO: Douglas Nelson
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Vision and Goals
Design Approach Regenerative Design Group (RDG) connects the goals of each project to the ecology of the land and histories of its people to enhance social and ecological systems through an understanding of place and creative problem solving.
together with the input of board members, staff, and parents and caretakers of participants, to translate the principles of health and well-being they apply to the programming at the therapeutic riding community into an integrated campus design.
Through each project, RDG aims to:
Pony Power’s commitment to a high quality of life for all people and for their horses, and to demonstrate model environmental stewardship practices at their farm, contributed to the introduction of new sustainable landscape features in the final design. These new features and their management guidelines are described on pages 27-30.
• Engage communities and individuals in the design process to develop robust and collaborative landscape solutions. • Design and build productive landscapes that support food security, increase soil fertility, and accelerate carbon sequestration. Providing safe access to and from the busy Ramapo Valley Road, seen along the lower edge of this photograph, and both sides of the campus is an essential task of the Master Planning process. PHOTO: Douglas Nelson
Master Plan Vision Integrate the newly purchased property with the existing Pony Power site and infrastructure to allow the organization to enhance and expand their services and client experiences.
Goals • Improve access and circulation to create a clear and safe entrance and exit from the property for clients, and safe movement around the property for vehicles, horses, and individuals with varying mobility needs. • Create safe and comfortable spaces for program participants, their care-givers, and Pony Power staff to ride, learn, relax, and connect. • Improve ecological function of the site including drainage and soil stabilization by: »» Managing stormwater on-site with green infrastructure and bioengineering methods where possible,
The outdoor riding arena is the central activity hub for much of the year.
• Establish experiential elements in the landscape that encourage interaction between people and the natural environment, such as: »» A sensory trail for expanded experiential and interactive riding classes, »» Meditative or relaxing spaces for family members and caretakers of participants, and Pony Power staff, and »» Raised-bed vegetables gardens and pollinatorsupporting gardens that provide visual interest for participants and serve as educational spaces for summer programming.
• Reveal the story of the landscape and teach landscape literacy to deepen the ability of site managers to practice good stewardship of their land. • Enhance wildlife habitat, increase stormwater infiltration, and build soil health in a manner and style that suits the context of the site and its community.
Site Specific Design Regenerative Design Group worked principally with Pony Power's founder and executive director Dana Spett and director of development Wendy Lupo,
A celebration in the great room of the 'new' house was an opportunity to gather design input from Pony Power's community of supporters.
• Integrate technology with infrastructure across the property to maximize intellectual and experiential learning opportunities for people of all abilities. • Maintain a clear separation between spaces designed for programming use and private residential areas at Pony Power. • Develop physical infrastructure to support the long-term needs and operations of Pony Power’s programs.
»» Increasing pollinator habitat and beneficial native species on-site, and »» Integrating productive trees and shrubs near the program centers that complement a food and nutrition curriculum.
Sketches for different design concepts for programmatic uses of the new property were displayed at the event to generate conversation and convey the range of possibilities. Above, concepts for a sensory trail by the red barn at the rear of the new property.
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Vision and Goals ▪ Pony Power Campus Master Plan
August 2017 ▪ Regenerative Design Group
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Master Plan Process The Master Plan process integrates the viewpoints from a cross-section of stakeholders, includes diligent site analysis, and allows for an iterative and creative rhythm of plan revisions. This process grounds the project goals in the realities of the site and program to ensure a smooth process from concept design and cost estimation to the production of construction drawings and permitting.
driveway entrances and parking lots. They also expressed interest in incorporating more contact with the natural environment outside the riding ring into the programming, integrating technology into the campus, and addressing the need for improving spaces capable of accommodating fundraisers, board meetings, and educational events. In individual conversations, several parents, caretakers, and volunteers expressed desires for better spaces to observe the lessons and classes without feeling “in the way,” and excitement for expanded indoor and outdoor programming spaces, including larger classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and educational gardens. One parent described the difficulties her daughter had physically navigating the steep slope into the outdoor riding arena from the parking lot, using a portable ramp to enter the classroom, and her difficulty finding accessible parking. Everyone consulted related the enjoyment and benefit that they and their family members receive from Pony Power's unique programming.
Staff members walked the properties with RDG team members to discuss elements of the existing farm and visions for the new property.
Pony Power Stakeholders E
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Members of the teaching staff, administration, and maintenance crew expressed concerns about
Members of the Board of Directors corroborated the concerns about safety, specifically around the
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RDG team members Laura Krok-Horton and Rachel Lindsay used surveying equipment to stake out design concepts and document features of the site.
construction documents were used to better understand the larger environmental context for the site and elements such as the utilities, topography, and soil types. A selection of key analysis that have informed the design concepts can be found on pages 9-19.
Plan Revisions
The following members of the Pony Power community were consulted and gave valuable feedback during the initial phase of the Master Plan:
the safety of the participants and their families as they maneuver entering and exiting a single-lane driveway with a blind curve. They also expressed a desire for comfortable, relaxing spaces for family members and caretakers to view the ring and wait during sessions without getting in the way of cars and horses. They would like to find a location for the goats and pigs farther from the parking lot so that families can visit them before or after a session without impeding vehicles entering and exiting, and improve the overall accessibility of the infrastructure. The teaching staff expressed clear excitement about the possibility of a sensory trail to diversify the riding experience for participants, and the maintenance crew requested that efficient snow removal be taken into consideration for the new property.
replace the residence at the original farm, and major reconfigurations of the parking areas. Staff and board members provided feedback that was incorporated into two alternative schematics that were presented at an open house celebration on May 7. At the event, members of the Regenerative Design Group team solicited reactions from board members, donors, and long-time community members to the concept alternatives. Working with members of the staff and board of Pony Power to integrate this feedback, the RDG design team developed a single site plan proposal, which was staked out and refined during a site visit in early July, 2017.
During peak hours the center of the farm is bustling with staff, volunteers, riders, and their family members. The slope up to the riding ring from the parking area is more than twice as steep as the ADA recommended accessible slope.
Three initial design concepts showing alternative ways of addressing the stakeholders concerns and documented site conditions were presented to Pony Power Stakeholders in April 2016. Bold ideas presented at this stage of design inspired creative conversations and defined the limits of change for the project. These ideas included a proposal to remove and Map Title Concept Comparison Flip The Ring
Master Plan Process ▪ Pony Power Campus Master Plan
Open Up The Center (Or (Re)move the House)
Outdoor Classroom
Site Analyses Aspects of the site and surrounding environment were explored using a combination of on-site observation and data collection from governmental and non-governmental sources. On-site observations focused on documenting the access and circulation patterns of vehicles, people, and horses; the drainage patterns during heavy rainstorms including areas of severe erosion on the south and western extents of the site, and the condition of existing infrastructure and vegetation. GIS mapping software and previous
RDG principal Keith Zaltzberg shares some initial concepts with a guest at a community event in May.
d Slop
Outdoor Classroom
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Paddock 1 Paddock 5
Back Barn Revegetated and Stabilized Slope
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Small Animals 13
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Drop-off for Riding 10 Spaces, 3 short busses, or 1 long bus
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Private Walking Path Private Walking Path
Reforested Slope with Bioengineered Infiltration
Essential Elements Stalls Paddocks (sqft) Paddock area on Erodable Slopes >15% (sqft) Indoor Riding (sqft) Outdoor Riding Impervious Surface (sqft) Estimated Parking Spaces
Existing 24 64,012 23,922
Flip the Ring 27 51,360 1,122
Open the Center 26 60,232 6,058
5,445 17,889 52,142 31
8,648 15,591 59,432 39
5,445 14,736 63,832 49
Reforested Slope with Bioengineered Infiltration
Initial concepts that were presented to the board explored alternatives ways to meet the long-term goals of Pony Power.
August 2017 ▪ Regenerative Design Group
CC, right, reviews an initial concept for the landscape master plan.
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Key Site Analyses Geographic Setting
Site analyses conducted during the initial phase of planning are an essential part of designing successful, functional landscapes. Information for site analyses are gathered from multiple sources. Site visits offer the opportunity to evaluate the possibilities and constraints of the land. The information gathered during site visits relate to the goals of each project. During site visits at Pony Power, RDG team members conducted analyses including solar assessments to identify locations for productive gardens, percolation tests to determine the rates of stormwater infiltration for the soils on site, and documented the traffic patterns to improve the safety for program participants, staff, and horses. In the studio, information gathered during site visits is mapped onto aerial views of the site and integrated with additional site information available from the site owners, the town, and state agencies. Computer programs such as Auto CAD and GIS software help integrate data from different sources onto a single map. The resulting maps in this section help the design team understand the interaction of environmental and social elements of a site.
New Jersey is divided into the Valley and Ridge, Highlands, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces. Each province defines a region in which relief, landforms, and geology are significantly different from that of the adjoining and nearby regions. The boundary between each province is determined by a major change in topography and geology.
During site visits, detailed areas of the property are noted such as micro-drainage, existing vegetation, and patterns of use.
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Pony Power
In 2004, the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act was passed to regulate development within the Highlands region. The act is intended to preserve both large volumes of New Jersey's fresh water sources for 5.4 million residents and the biodiversity in the area, in the face of increasing development in the exurbs of New York City.
1) Highlands 2) Valley and Ridge 3) Piedmont Many of the characteristics of Pony Power's farm are typical of the4) Highlands region. Rugged cliffs and the Coastal Plain western ridge line of the Ramapo Mountains are visible
The maps in this section represent a selection of the site analyses conducted during the master planning process that most informed the final site design.
to the west, and the farm itself sits on a plateau with steep slopes down to the Ramapo River. In this plan as in past development projects at the farm, care will be taken to conserve soil and protect the water resources of the region.
Pony Power Analysis Summary The two parcels owned by Pony Power Therapies total 7.2 acres and sit on a sandy, glacial terrace close to the southern boundary of the town of Mahwah, NJ and 40 feet above the forested floodplain of the Ramapo River. The original site, which has operated as a horse farm for over 40 years, shows evidence of the historic hoof and foot traffic in its lack of trees and exposed subsoils on steeply sloped paddocks. The spatial constraints on the original farm restrict access to a one-lane driveway with a blind curve.
Physiographic Provinces in New Jersey
Pony Power is located along the eastern edge of the Highlands province. The Highlands cover approximately 980 square miles, and are characterized by scenic and rugged terrain. These hills are the most ancient part of the state, formed over one billion years ago, and are the roots of the Appalachian Mountains.
New Jersey Physiographic Provinces
Image and information source: New Jersey Geological Survey Observations from site visits are added to available information like utilities, zoning setbacks, and vegetation.
The analyses conducted allowed the design team to address the environmental issues on site while developing a plan to integrate the new site into the therapeutic riding program and improve site access for program participants. The key analyses used to develop design recommendations for this site include: • Land Cover • Slopes • Drainage • Access, Circulation, and Parking • Vegetation A variety of software programs integrate survey data with publicly available GIS data.
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Key Site Analyses ▪ Pony Power Campus Master Plan
During the winter months, the ridge line of the Ramapo Mountains are visible to the west of the farm campus.
August 2017 ▪ Regenerative Design Group
Housing developments atop rocky cliffs characteristic of the Highlands Region are visible from the new office building .
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Land Cover
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The Pony Power Therapies campus lies on a peninsula plateau of sandy glacial deposits formed by historic erosion of the Ramapo River and its tributaries.
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In this section of Mahwah, the Ramapo River is flanked on either side by mostly residential urban development. The wooded sections of the new property and the land to the north of Pony Power form a bridge of contiguous forest between the wooded highlands to the east and wetlands and hills to the west. This continuity offers significant advantages to local wildlife and water resources.
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Slopes DO WN R WA DS LO PE
While the majority of the Pony Power campus is flat (0-5% slopes), the western and southern edges of the property lie along the edge of the glacial plateau and slope steeply down toward the Ramapo River and its adjacent wetlands. These banks consist of sandy, gravelly soil that is prone to erosion. To the east, the highlands slope down toward the Pony Power site. These changes in elevation create the catchment basins illustrated on the following page.
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Drainage A drainage analysis shows paths that surface water would flow in during a rainstorm. The paths show that there are two catchment basins on the site: the area shown in blue drains to the west of the site, and the area in pink drains to the south. The purple area is a sub-basin of the west catchment that drains south before flowing west into the blue catchment basin. Areas where these paths converge and erosion was observed on site are marked in yellow asterisks. To avoid further erosion in these areas, the paths of surface flow water should be intercepted before they reach the places marked by asterisks.
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Observed Erosion
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Print date: 7/24/2017 1:35 PM
Base Map: 1158 + 1170 Ramapo Valley Road Phone: +1 413 325 7968 Email: info@rdgland.com
The base map for the two lots owned by Pony Power Therapies shows the concentration of paddocks around the western and southern edges of the original farm, the buildings on the properties, and the existing trees on the site. The map also shows the on-site utilities and the building setbacks for this zone of Mahwah: 60' from the front of the properties, 50' from the back, and 40' from the sides.
www.regenerativedesigngroup.com
1 Chevalier Ave. Greenfield, MA 01301
FOR
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Pony Power Therapies
OLD CARRIAGE ROAD TO RAMAPO RIVER RED BARN
PADDOCK
PADDOCK BACK BARN
1158 OFFICES
+ PADDOCK RIDING RING
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CLASSROOM
1170 PRIVATE RESIDENCE
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Base Map EW AY AD
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DEVEGETATED SLOPES WITH MODERATE EROSION
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Existing 24 64,012 23,922
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Essential Elements Stalls Paddocks (sq ft) Paddock area on Erodible Slopes >15% (sq ft) Indoor Riding (sq ft) Outdoor Riding (sq ft) Impervious Surface (sq ft) Estimated Parking Spaces
PROGRAM PARKING
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Above, an aerial photo of the existing site shows the existing building and stark difference in tree cover between the original farm on the south, and the new property to the north. The areas of different elements of the property are listed in the chart below.
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STEEP SLOPE WITH SEVERE EROSION
ISSUANCE DATE: monthdayyear
5,445 17,889 52,142 31
DRAWN BY:
PADDOCK
DATE:
REVISIONS:
DEVEGETATED SLOPES UNAUTHORIZED ALTERATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS A VIOLATION OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW SCALE: 1"= 50' (18x22 sheet)
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DRAWING #
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What’s Working, What’s Not
Print date: 7/24/2017 1:35 PM
Works well in place
Critical Functions of Pony Power
• The forested areas in the northeast and northwestern corners of 1158 Phone: +1 413 325 7968 Email: info@rdgland.com are attractive.
1. Safe and Efficient Access for Program Participants 2. Protect and Improve Environmental Function of the Site
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• The house on 1158 functions well as a program and administrative center. 1 Chevalier Ave. Greenfield, MA 01301
3. Provide Opportunities for Participants to Engage with the Natural Environment
• The rear barn on 1158 functions well as a groundPony work program center. Power PREPARED FOR:
Does not work well • Severe erosion along the western edge of 1170 behind the utilities. • Poor drainage in the paddock south of the program center at 1170.
Therapies • The significant, fully mature and healthy trees on site add beauty and soil stabilization.
The Red Barn is surrounded by mature trees and a low, moss-filled ground cover.
• The large paddock at the front of the property creates an attractive entrance.
• Erosion in the paddocks along the southern property line. • Constrained parking in front of program center and classroom. • 17% slope from parking lot to outdoor riding ring.
• The indoor riding arena and program center at 1170 function well.
• Small animals and garden are inaccessible to program participants because of their proximity to the parking lot.
Works well but could be moved
• The single lane driveway and blind corner entering and exiting from the program center require a staff person to direct traffic during operating hours.
• Paddocks should equal the same amount of space but can be relocated.
• The double entrance of single-width driveways at Ramapo Valley Road is unsafe.
• Some parking should remain within 50’ from program center. • The private residence house and yard could be modified.
Base Map Concrete blocks were placed to try and slow the severe erosion along the rear parking lot behind the indoor riding arena .
ISSUANCE DATE: monthdayyear DRAWN BY: DATE:
REVISIONS:
The less-intensely grazed pasture at the entrance to campus retains vegetation that helps to prevent erosion and creates an attractive, welcoming view for participants. UNAUTHORIZED ALTERATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS A VIOLATION OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW
Cars parked in front of the classroom and riding arena are often double parked during riding sessions.
Water pools in the lower sections of the southern paddocks and overflows the silt fence, causing problematic erosion on the neighbor's property.
SCALE: 1"= 50' (18x22 sheet)
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Campus Site Plan An Integrated Campus The final site plan for the expanded Pony Power farm shifts the farm activities away from the steep slopes to the south and into the expansive, relatively flat center of the properties. The heart of the farm campus becomes a 'central park' that welcomes staff, family members, and participants to relax where they can view the riding ring and small farm animals.
PARKING ROTATIONAL PADDOCK
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
The utility area behind the indoor riding arena is reconfigured to include two places for dumpsters, simplifying the process of manure removal. A retaining wall stabilizes the top of the bank that slopes toward the Ramapo River, and the addition of trees in the paddocks additionally help absorb stormwater and provide shade for the horses.
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ORY TR AI L
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PADDOCK
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RAIN GARDEN CONSOLIDATED ENTRANCE
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PADDOCK RAIN GARDEN
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The addition of new rotational paddocks relieves some of the hoof traffic from the most intensely used paddocks on the original site. An overall increase in the number of paddocks allows some areas to "rest," reducing the potential for erosion and allowing for some flexibility in farm management. The improved orientation of the primary program parking lot and double-lane driveway allows for the cars to enter and exit safely without a staff member directing traffic. The parking lot is buffered on the downhill side with a swale that collects stormwater, and a line of trees that provide an attractive arrival space and shade for parked cars. Below the parking lot and along the front of the property, a series of infiltration basins, vegetated swales, and berms slow stormwater runoff and protect the fragile sandy soils from erosion. Rain gardens in the center of the site intercept runoff and slow it before it reaches the slopes.
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A walking path connects the classroom and main parking area to the new offices, passing through the central park and a picnic area for program participants and staff. The riding program offers a diversified range of experiences with the addition of a sensory trail. Instructors can lead their students out from the indoor or outdoor riding arenas along a trail that loops around the red barn. The trail passes under mature trees with arching canopies, and follows the gently changing contours of the land. Riders are introduced to new visual, auditory, and physical experiences as they ride through different environments and on rolling terrain. The uneven plane of the trail adds to the proprioceptive and vestibular input of the rider. An outdoor classroom and educational gardens add to the diviersity of learning experiences available to program participants.
ROTATIONAL PADDOCK
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The entrance to the farm is consolidated into one driveway, improving the safety of cars turning off of and onto Ramapo Valley Road. Staff and groups attending ground work classes at the Red Barn have designated parking at the new offices.
RAIN GARDEN
UTILITY AREA
RAIN GARDEN PARKING LOT PADDOCK ROTATIONAL PADDOCK
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PADDOCK BIO RE TE NT IO N
MS VEG ETAT ED SWA LES AND BER
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VEG ETAT ED SWA LES AND BER MS
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View of the Central Park STORMWATER FEATURES AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT: VEGETATED SWALES AND BERMS WITH REFORESTED SLOPES
A Green and Spacious Arrival The arrival experience at Pony Power functions smoothly with the blind curve eliminated and two rows of parking places available with trees that provide shade for the parked cars. A central park with benches, a sitting hill, and walking paths connects the classroom to the new property and provides social spaces for visitors and staff. Stormwater features with pollinator habitat increase the ecological function of the land. PADDOCK
PADDOCK PADDOCK RAIN GARDEN
RENOVATED PARKING
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GOATS GARDENS
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View from the Office Patio A Diversity of Experiences. A variety of farm and programming activities fill the space between the riding ring and the red barn. Goats and pigs have larger paddocks, and are more accessible to program participants and their family members. Summer camp participants enjoy gardening and harvesting vegetables in close proximity to the office kitchen. The sensory trail winds through mature trees, and an outdoor classroom behind the red barn provides the quiet privacy needed for students to focus on the lesson.
RIDING RING
SHADED HORSE PADDOCK
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OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
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WALKING PATH HABITAT MEADOW GARDENS
PICNIC AREA
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Landscape Management Guidelines Stormwater Management Features Stormwater runoff is generated when rain and snowmelt cannot soak into the ground and begins to flow. Pavement, buildings, and compacted soils all increase the amount of runoff generated by a landscape and contribute to the load of pollutants like dirt, chemicals, oils, and trash carried by that runoff which harms rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Increasing urban development and the increased frequency of large storm events in recent decades, along with a deeper understanding of ecological systems, has led engineers and designers to develop new, greener solutions for on-site stormwater management. There are a variety of practices and features landowners can implement to prevent erosion and contaminated stormwater from travelling off-site. An integrated water system applies the principles “Slow it. Spread It. Sink It.” to slow the velocity of stormwater runoff and increase the amount of water that is infiltrated on-site.
The site plan for Pony Power includes a number of 'green' stormwater features including permeable pavers for the parking lot, and three types of catchment basins: bioretention basins, rain gardens, and conveyance and vegetated swales. These features share some common elements. Sediment traps, or sediment forebays, are pits where stormwater is slowed just before entering the catchment basin and where a large portion of the sediments in stormwater settles out. Sediment traps need to be cleaned regularly for optimal performance. Vegetation in the catchment basins stabilizes the side slopes of the basin, soaks up and filters water, and provides visual interest. The selection of plants for a catchment basin should compliment nearby land use. They can be showy mixes of summer flowers, mimic a wild meadow or forest edge, or be filled with fruits, herbs, and edible plants. The plants in catchment basins require watering or irrigation, weeding, mulching, and pruning similar to other gardens.
Principles for Integrated Stormwater Management • Start at the top of the watershed or slope to intercept flow as soon as possible. • Maximize living and organic ground cover. Porous surfaces with healthy root systems greatly increase water infiltration and provide a destination for the water molecules — plant matter! • Mimic healthy ecosystems with an appropriate selection of plants for the native soils. • Maximize beneficial relationships by “stacking functions” and using stormwater management features to enhance visual interest, grow productive crops, or provide wildlife habitat for pollinators and birds. • Always design an overflow route for large storms.
Above, a range of built elements that mimic the function of natural features of the landscape that can help to slow, spread, and infiltrate, or "sink", stormwater on a site. August 2017 ▪ Regenerative Design Group
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Bioretention Basins
Permeable Pavers
Bioretention basins are engineered depressions or basins where stormwater collects and percolates through a system of plants, soil, sand, and gravel. These features remove sediments and other pollutants from stormwater during average rainstorms. The size and depth of bioretention basins is determined by the anticipated amount of water directed to the basin, and the infiltration capacity of the native soil. These features are fitted with under-drainage pipes and overflow controls to accommodate the occasional large storm.
Permeable pavers are bricks, often made of concrete, with joints that create openings between the bricks when laid in a pattern. The joints are filled with gravel or sand that allows water to infiltrate between the bricks to a gravel storage bed underneath. A perforated
The bioretention basins at Pony Power are located along the lower edge of the parking lots in front of and behind the main barn and indoor riding arena, and at the entrance to the property (see plan on page 21).
Rain Gardens Rain gardens, or infiltration basins, are shallow, vegetated catchment basins that often intercept stormwater runoff before entering a stormwater sewer system and are designed to fully drain within 72 hours. They are often connected to a single point source of stormwater, such as a parking lot or down spout from a gutter on a building, and overflow into a vegetated swale or existing stormwater drain. The size of a rain garden may be determined by the anticipated amount of water directed to the basin, the infiltration capacity of the soil, and by site limitations. The rain gardens and infiltration basins at Pony Power are located mid-slope, where they will intercept the surface flow of water that has in the past contributed to erosion along the southern and western edges of the property (see plan on page 21).
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Permeable pavers are recommended for the parking lot and volunteer parking area at Pony Power.
Catchment Basin Maintenance A series of infiltration swales designed and built by RDG in eastern Massachusetts passively irrigate blueberry bushes.
Swales and Vegetated Berms Conveyance swales and vegetated berms slow and direct water as it moves through the landscape. Conveyance swales are ditches that direct water from one location to another. These channels may be grassed, or lined with stone or other natural materials to mimic a creek bed while conveying water from location to another. Water quality swales are linear, vegetated, channeled depressions that are designed to convey water slowly so that some runoff infiltrates into the soil. The faster water flows through a swale, the less effective the water quality treatment will be. Check dams, small berms of lumber or stone, may be used to further slow the rate of water flow in a swale. Swales are often used in conjunction with vegetated berms, linear hills of soil stabilized with plants that help to direct water across slopes and into swales, especially in large storm events. Swales at Pony Power are planned adjacent to the improved parking lot near the outdoor riding arena to direct runoff to a bioretention basin in the southwestern corner of the property, and along the eastern edge of the property to slow the flow of water down to the lowest point on the southern property boundary (see plan on page 21).
Vegetated stormwater management features such as raingardens, bioretention basins, and vegetated swales and berm require ongoing maintenance to ensure that they continue functioning.
Operation and maintenance check list: • Watering: Keeping plants well watered is very important in the first two to three years while plants establish. Once established, a well designed rain garden will not require much water • Erosion control: After large rain events, inspect the inflow, outflow and ponding areas of catchment basins. If erosion occurs, replace soil, plants, and mulch as needed. Some erosion may occur during the first season while plants are being established; if erosion continues after plants are established a readjustment to the structure may be necessary. • Sediment accumulation: Inspect inflow area and sediment trap regularly. Remove sediment when the trap is full or infiltration appears compromised • Vegetation: Prune and replace dead plant material occasionally. Weed invasive and nuisance plants manually before they go to seed. Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around vegetation.
Campus Environmental Stewardship The goals of the master plan and observed site conditions point to two areas where improvements can be made in the environmental stewardship of the site. In addition to the stormwater management features described above, there are additional changes that can be implemented to further improve erosion control on the Pony Power campus, especially along the steep banks along the southern and western property boundaries. This plan also recommends areas for habitat enhancement through the addition of native plants and edible landscaping.
Erosion Control
Rain gardens and infiltration basins are shallow basins calculated to capture runoff from a designated catchment on site.
underdrain may also be installed to facilitate the flow of water underneath the pavers. Permeable pavers require routine maintenance with specialized vacuums or sweepers to remove dust and dirt particles from clogging the joints between the bricks.
Permeable pavers capture stormwater in gravel banks below these parking stalls.
Landscape Management Guidelines ▪ Pony Power Campus Master Plan
The sandy soils at Pony Power are highly erodible. This is evident in the deeply eroded channel in the rear parking area behind the indoor riding arena and the severe erosion issues along the bottom edges of the southern sloped paddocks that have been depositing sediment on the neighbor’s properties. Establishing a system of rotational paddocks would allow areas that are particularly vulnerable to erosion to revegetate. Removing hoof traffic for three to four weeks at a time on a rotational basis would also help to protect existing
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mature trees from the constant soil compaction that can ultimately kill trees. The final site plan increases the total number of paddocks at the farm from nine to twelve with the intention of establishing a rotational system between the most vulnerable areas: the southern sloped paddock, and the two wooded paddocks in front of the new office building. A paddock rotation with resting times would also give Pony Power the opportunity of over-seeding and establishing some plants like alfalfa, clover, and timothy grass into the rotational paddocks, which have the added benefit of being nutritious plants for horses. The southern and western edges of the property steeply drop off toward wetlands and the Ramapo River. Some of these areas are currently forested, and it will be important to protect these areas and increase their stability through wooded slope protection. Measures such as underseeding a mix of native grasses and small shrubs, preventing channelized flow of stormwater from developing and concentrating in a single area on the bank, and restricting human and horse foot traffic from these areas will help to keep their soils intact. Mixes of native understory plants are recommended for these areas of the site.
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The most intensely used paddocks have no vegetation growing in July, leaving them susceptible to erosion. In the paddocks adjacent to the classroom, there is no topsoil and the gravelly subsoil is exposed.
Habitat Enhancement
Planting for Horses
Wildlife Habitat
Some of the common plants native to or introduced to the eastern Atlantic region of the US are known to be toxic for horses. Just as in human allergies, the reaction to toxic plants will vary from animal to animal. Horses may avoid these plants unless they are significantly deprived of food or nutrients. Plants that have known beneficial qualities for horses can be planted along the borders of paddocks, or over seeded in rotational paddocks during a period of rest.
Pollinator-friendly plants provide food and reproductive habitat for a variety of native insects that play an integral role in the local ecology and food system. Pollinator-friendly list of native plants are integrated into many places around the unified campus including a relaxation garden, the central park area, and around the new office building. Using these plants in highly visible places increases the beauty of the campus and provides an opportunity to educate program participants and other visitors about the importance of supporting habitat for native insects.
Human Habitat Raised garden beds, perennial shrubs that produce berries for human consumption, and small fruit trees are elements of edible landscaping that will enhance the educational value of the campus by providing materials for cooking and nutrition classes. These plants require maintenance such as pruning, mulching, and fertilizing with organic compost that could also be incorporated into an environmental stewardship curriculum for Pony Power’s educational programming.
This diagram shows where site features that increase the ecological function of the land have been introduced across the campus. In many cases, the new landscape features serve more than one ecological purpose.
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• Stormwater management features including infiltration basins and rain gardens. • Erosion control measures including managed rotational paddocks, vegetated berms, and reforested slopes. • Habitat enhancement features including pollinator meadows and gardens, perennial berries, and native forest understory.
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• Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.) are common meadow plants and are unpalatable for horses. • Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) is toxic for both humans and horses, and certain species have been used by indigenous peoples in sacred ceremonies for its hallucinogenic properties. • Nightshade family plants (Solanum spp.), including horse nettle, are toxic and may be fatal if consumed in quantities of 1 - 10 lbs.. • Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) causes a burning sensation in the mouths of horses. • Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) is an introduced ornamental bush that is highly toxic to mammals. • Wild Cherry (Prunus spp.) seeds, leaves and bark contain cyanide, which increases in level when the plants are stressed by drought.
Summer camp participants at Pony Power participate in making seed balls; lumps of compost and clay with the seeds of native plants that are thrown along the woodland edge to help stabilize the slopes and enhance the local ecosystem.
Increasing Ecological Function
Some Plants Toxic for Horses
• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) should never be used for bedding; the shavings are shown to be toxic.
٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ ٭٭٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭٭ ٭ Landscape Management Guidelines ▪ Pony Power Campus Master Plan
Ecosystem Enhancement In the areas where new vegetation is recommended, species should be selected that enhance the native plant communities that occur along the Ramapo River. Oak/hickory, the most common forest community in northern New Jersey, consists of native species including white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), hickory species (Carya spp.), white ash (Fraxinus americana), walnut (Juglans spp.), yellowpoplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and red maple (Acer rubrum). Several of these species already occur on the Pony Power farm. The wetlands forests in the Highlands region are commonly red maple swamps dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum) with black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), ashes (Fraxinus spp.) and yellow birch (Betula lutea), a shrub layer of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), speckled alder (Alnus rugosa), spicebush (Lindera
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• Maple (Acer spp.) leaves are toxic when they are dried and may cause kidney damage. • Rhododendron, Azalea, and Mountain Laurel (Rhododendron spp.) foliage and flowers may cause intestinal distress.
Some Plants Beneficial for Horses • Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.) are high in potassium, calcium, iron and beta-carotene. • Garlic and onion (Allium spp.) varieties that grow wild are antioxidants, aid in digestion, and may reduce blood pressure. • Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) seeds and plants are edible and a good source of vitamin E. • Raspberry and blackberry (Rubus spp.) are high in vitamin C and palatable to horses, and they can eat the young leaves and fruit around the thorns. • Willow (Salix spp.) bark and leaves have analgesic properties and can relieve pain and inflammation. Horses have been known to self-medicate by seeking out willow when injured. • Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and plantain leaf (Plantago major) are common field plants and enjoyed by horses, especially when they are young. • Legumes (Fabaceae spp.) including alfalfa, clover, and birdsfoot trefoil are traditional plants for horse forage. Sources: Rutgers University, Cornell University, Natural Horse Magazine.
benzoin), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), and winterberry (Ilex verticillata), and groundcovers of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), ferns, and mosses (Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service). Plant selection for Pony Power draws from a list of native plants for Bergen County, taking into consideration plants that are toxic or beneficial to horses (described in more detail above). Plants that are beneficial to horses may be planted in hedgerows along fencing. Their stems or trunks should be protected by split-rail or electric fences, allowing horses to browse the leaves but not kill the plant.
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Phasing and Implementation Guidelines
Print date: 8/3/2017 5:16 PM
Pony Power Phases 1-4
Phone: +1 413 325 7968 Email: info@rdgland.com
Campus Improvement Phases
www.regenerativedesigngroup.com
1 Chevalier Ave. Greenfield, MA 01301
The improvements shown in the Site Plan will be implemented in phases in order to address immediate priorities while minimizing disruptions to Pony Power's programming.
PREPARED FOR:
Pony Power Therapies
PHASE 1: Driveway and Storm Water Improvements RED BARN
This first phase is focused on the improvements at the site entrance and along the southeastern boundary of 1170 to begin as soon as possible. These specific changes include consolidating the two existing driveway entrances and removing the looped section of the driveway at 1170 as well as the grading, fencing, and restoration plantings required to establish a series of vegetated infiltration basins to improve stormwater dynamics and enhance wildlife habitat. In order to facilitate the permitting and review process, Phase 1 also includes the development of engineering plans for the majority of the site (excluding detailed design for the Southwest Utility Zone). Target construction date: Fall 2017
1158 OFFICES
2
1
PHASE 2: Campus Unification Phase 2 includes the majority of improvements and renovations required to unify the two properties into a single campus. Work includes the improvement of the parking areas, reconfiguration of the outdoor arena, establishment of the central park, the construction of stormwater management structures, and accessibility improvements for the entrance of the main building at 1158. Target construction date: Spring 2018.
PHASE 3: Southwest Utility Zone
Phase 1:
Driveway and Storm Water Improvements
Phase 2:
Campus Renovation
BACK BARN 1170 RESIDENCE
PhaseSite 3: Plan
Southwest Utility Zone
3 INDOOR ARENA CLASSROOM
ISSUANCE DATE: August 3, 2017 DRAWN BY: DATE:
REVISIONS:
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The work of Phase 3 is limited to the southwestern sector located adjacent to the indoor riding arena. This phase is focused on improving the safety and access for maintenance vehicles such as the roll off dumpster truck and parking for riding staff. Stormwater management improvements located in this area are also included in this phase. Target construction date: Summer 2018.
Legend
one inch equals SCALE: 1"= 40' 80 (18x22feet sheet) 0
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40 Feet
DRAWING #
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Design and Development Guidelines Future Site Planning As programming at Pony Power shifts to adapt to its new campus over the next ten years, new opportunities may present the need for additional changes to the site. During the Master Plan process, stakeholders expressed the long term desire for elements that were deemed too far out of reach for the scope of this master plan, but that may become viable in the future, such as an expanded indoor riding arena and a composting facility to process horse manure on-site. Whether programming changes, the purchase of additional land, or future renovations to update existing infrastructure are the reasons for future site planning, these principles should be applied: • Maintain high-functioning ecosystem services on-site. At Pony Power, the close proximity to the fragile wetlands along the Ramapo River, and the sandy, erodible soils on site mean that care and attention should be placed on stormwater retention and absorption during any site development. Any changes in use, especially in foot, wheel, and hoof traffic patterns, should take surface water flow into consideration. Maintaining perennial vegetation is the most cost-effective method of protecting topsoil and infiltrating water. • Maximize ecological, educational, and productive value of the land. With the right considerations, the need for a future building or barn renovation at Pony Power could be leveraged to include landscape elements that further increase positive contributions to food production and nutrition education, increase soil fertility, and accelerate carbon sequestration. Maintaining a healthy ecosystem of diverse trees and native plants is not a one-time action, but rather an ongoing process of evaluation and implementation. • Consider the social and environmental footprint of new development. Whenever possible, materials should be reused on-site, any new materials should be sourced from reputable companies that demonstrate a commitment to upholding high environmental and social standards in their labor policies and sourcing of their raw materials.
The construction of design elements that serve multiple functions can be opportunities for non-profits to engage with community members. Above, RDG led a workshop with a community gardening non-profit in Springfield, Massachusetts to install a rain garden with native plants that serves to infiltrate stormwater and attracts pollinators to the new urban farm.
• Select materials that have been sourced locally whenever possible to minimize the project's carbon footprint. The materials under consideration for the changes implemented at Pony Power include: »» Permeable pavers »» Porous Asphalt »» Trap Rock Gravel »» Native plants »» Native seed mixes Details and specifications for the materials used will be compiled during the construction document phase of the project. The following pages illustrate some materials considered most appropriate for the Pony Power site.
• Engage communities members in the design process. Continuing to involve members of the staff, maintenance crew, board of directors, and user groups in future site planning will strengthen the sense of belonging and commitment to Pony Power by its community members.
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Sensory Path Materials Stone Dust Stone dust is a crushed material with fines used to define paths. It is ADA compliant and horse-friendly. All granular surfaces require maintenance over time, including resurfacing repair and weed control. These are relatively low-maintenance, moderatecost, and have high durability.
Stone dust bike trail with metal edging.
Stone dust walking trail with a natural edge.
A stone dust walking and bike path with natural edging.
Wood chip path with wood edging.
Urban forest trail with organic edges.
USDA stabilized wood fiber makes a more compact trail.
Wood chips Shredded wood is a natural material used to line trails, adding to the natural aesthetic of the woods. Wood chips can be ADA compliant and are horse-friendly. They are relatively low-cost, but have poor durability, slippery when wet, and requires more frequent maintenance. They may be stabilized with a polymer and used with a stabilized aggregate or soil to increase their durability.
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Parking Lot Materials Porous Asphalt or Gravel Porous asphalt has higher stormwater infiltration compared to regular asphalt but looks very similar. Porous asphalt has a higher cost than gravel.
A large porous asphalt parking lot at Cayuga Medical Center.
A fine gravel parking lot along a paved road.
Courser gravel parking area by a trail head.
Eco-Priora pavers used for a full residential driveway
Hanover Architectural pavers used for parking and a walkway.
Square pavers used for a private drive.
Pavers installed for parallel parking on a street.
Permeable pavers used for parking along a commercial drive.
Pavers laid in a herringbone pattern for street parking.
Permeable Pavers Permeable pavers are tight-locking paving bricks that are porous or semi-porous and ADA compliant. They allow some water to infiltrate. There is a wide selection of colors, sizes, and patterns available from different manufacturers. Pavers are adequate for heavy low-speed vehicular loads. They require maintenance to ensure that the spaces between them are not clogged with fine particulates.
Asphalt Drive and Paver Parking Prefabricated interlocking paver blocks are available in a variety of colors and patterns. They are ADA compliant and can be used only for parking stalls with a paved center lane.
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1 Chevalier Avenue Greenfield, MA 01301 info@regenerativedesigngroup.com (413) 658-7048 productive landscapes resilient communities
All photographs and graphics Š Regenerative Design Group unless otherwise noted.
Revised: August 18, 2017