Folcroft Preserve of the
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Image
courtesy of
Anna Anisko
Folcroft Landfill looking north from the Impoundment Trail of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Lower Darby Creek Redevelopment Strategies: Master Plan and Site Design Proposal Sue Ann Alleger LA R C 8 1 5 3 P u b l i c L a n d s s t u d i o December 2011
Preserve
within
Framework Plan
Executive Summary
folcroft
T h e F o l c r o f t L a n d f i l l area is located on north
John Heinz National Refuge poised between
Wildlife Folcroft
the
neighborhood
and refuge marsh
and stream
floodplain.
Water,
Introduction
edge of
marshland and
floodplain are the immediate c o n t e x t s u rr o u n d i n g t h i s
site. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Atlantic Flyway and is well
0
2000’
visited by migratory birds for
Literature Review
N
breeding and nesting.
T h e F o l c r o f t E n t r a n c e Design Concept responds to the need and desire for remediation and reuse of
Examples
this disturbed tract, and the need and desire for access to an open space network for underserved adjacent neighborhoods.
It
will
connect the human realm with the wildlife realm by wildlife
Design
Project
habitat creation and trail
form the inherent structure of natural and
human created spaces.
If
you approach this area by flying
high above the eastern seaboard, as a bird does, several patterns are evident.
This
design attempts to give respect
and credence to those patterns.
Context - Location Site Design
Context - Existing Circulation 2
Site Design
References
P a t t e r n s
Conclusion
system development.
3
Property Buyouts
open space
US Fish & Wildlife US Fish Service & Wildlife Service John HeinzJohn HeinzWildlife National National Wildlife Refuge Refuge
gateway
Philadelphia Philadelphia Airport Airport
views
City of Philadelphia City of Philadelphia DelawareDelaware County County DELCORADELCORA Wastewater Wastewater TreatmentTreatment Plant Plant
neighborhood
DelawareDelaware County Conservation County Conservation District District DCCD DCCD
water trail
Darby Township Darby (Clearview Township (Clearview Landfill) Landfill) Tinicum Township Tinicum Township
Introduction
Job Property Growth Buyouts
Industrial Job Growth
local access roads Commercial Industrial Urban Farm Growth
Historical SignifiCommercial canceFarm Urban
Waste Historical Signifiwater cance
Waste Stormwater water Management
CStormwater ontamination Creek CManagement l e a n uCleanup p
Greenway Trail Cleanup Creek Connections
Greenway Environmental Trail Education Connections
Environmental Walking Trails Education
Viewing Trails Aeas Walking
Deer Viewing Aeas Managment
Native Bird Restoration Watching
Wildlife Bird Habitat Watching
Wildlife Habitat
SStakeHolders t a kStakeHolders e hMatrix old er Matrix* Matrix
Native Deer Restoration Managment
Opportunities
Executive Summary
Adjacent Community -Reuse Suggestions
train
Eastwick Neighborhood Eastwick Neighborhood
Survey Results Respondents: S t u d e n t s o f G e o r g e P e p p e r M i d d l e S c h o o l S o u t h w e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a C o m m u n i t y A d v i s o r y G r o u p S W CAG O n l i n e S u r v e y C o m m u n i t y P a r t i c i p a n t s
Additional items mentioned Stakeholders list:
in recent community surveys not on the
Constraints Contaminants
EPA
Marsh/Swamp
Active recreation areas such a basketball courts S u pp o r t f o r N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e a c t i v i t i e s O p e n S pa c e
* Information
gathered at
Sewage Right-of-way Single access road
EPA R e u s e A s s e s s m e n t C o m m u n i t y F o r u m
N
1000’
0
Context - Stakeholders Site Design
Opportunities 4
Site Design
and
Constraints
Project
1000’
Examples
0
Design
N
Citizens forCitizens Clean for up Clean upDarby of Lower of Lower Darby Creek Creek
Conclusion
major access road
Darby Creek Darby Creek Valley Valley Association Association DCVA DCVA
References
SouthwestSouthwest CDC - Community CDC - Community Develop- Development Corporation ment Corporation
Literature Review
Clean Air Clean Air Council Council
5
Executive Summary
T h e F o l c r o f t E n t r a n c e D e s i g n C o n c e p t
c o nn e c t s t h e u r b a n g r i d
with the organic natural form by study of the patterns evident from s e v e r a l p h y s i c a l s c a l e s a nd t i m e p e r i o d s .
help
Migratory Patterns Introduction
The most evident landform patterns are those of: • the geologic features distinctly evident in Pennsylvania which form the bird migratory path of the Atlantic Flyway • the geometric urban grid of metropolitan Philadelphia. • the pattern of marshland, water bodies and streams and the associated patterns of plant growth
• The design process used these patterns as inspiration for: • the form of circulation pathways, trails, observation deck
and
connector bridge designed to provide the adjacent community passive recreational space connection to the physical, educational and
the planting pattern inherent in marsh and riverine landforms of the
Middle Atlantic
area of the
Literature Review
•
inspirational resources of the magnificent refuge
US .
Sensual Experience
Visual Experience
Patterns - Landform Site Design
Patterns - Migratory Flyway 6
Site Design
References
Potential Experiential Patterns
Human Grid Pattern
Conclusion
Design
Project
Examples
Geologic Landform Pattern
7
Executive Summary Introduction Literature Review
Marshland of the Delaware River, 1937
signature,
Signature
of upland topography
Closeup
Patterns Site Design
8
Site Design
of lowland area
view of above color represented patterns
Patterns - Historic
hydrology
Signature
signature
References
Conclusion
Potential Circulation Patterns
Design
Color representation of plant Folcroft landfill area 1937
Project
Examples
Dendritic Stream Patterns
9
areas
Trail Viewshed Human Use Area
B scaled: approximately
2x
Reed Bed
size of map below
B
Bridge
Existing Trail
Comparison
of these graphic
displays of vegetation
N
throughout the marsh shows:
•
Restoration Management Plan for the Lower Darby Creek
Identified Target Ecological Communities • 2006 Figure 4. Identified Target Ecological Communities
a change in marsh structure on the western edge due to dredging the fortunate persistence of
Cattail
and
Crucial
Hibiscus
of some species such
community, succession forest,
forest will provide nesting, breeding
poorly due to disturbance from urban development and the highly fragmented nature of it green spaces.
The
National Refuge, is a step in the • Strategically graded pathways
to these patterns
The
1000 acres John Heinz
addition of a functional green space to the nearly
Pennsylvania,that direction.
of the largest remaining freshwater wetlands in right
w a d i n g a n d t e rr e s t r i a l a n i m a l s .
is the
will provide access to the mitigated landfill for
deposition of trash and fill have raised the topography of the coastal plain above
21
t h e s u rr o u n d i n g m a r s h l a n d , a l t h o u g h t h e s e e l e v a t i o n s b l e n d w i t h t h e s t e a d y r i s e o f t h e
for plant diversity on
coastal plain toward the piedmont elevations nearby to the north.
the folcroft landfill to
Isolation
a n d l e a c h a t e b e h i n d s t e e l s h e e t p i l i n g m a y i s o l a t e t e rr e s t r i a l a n i m a l s .
counteract the march of
• Installation
pervasive and invasive plant
and
species.
Site Design
/edge
birds of prey. H a b i t a t f r a g m e n t a t i o n a n d h a b i t a t l o s s h a s b e e n m a j o r r e s u l t o f h u m a n development; this has resulted in a reduction of species diversity and species loss. Habitat quality is based on parcel size, condition and context. The study area scores
has reinforced the need
Historic
shrub
Pin Oak
habitat for residents and nesting,breeding and stopover habitat for passerine, and
Comparison is hindered by non-comparable plant groupings.
Patterns -
of marsh wetlands,
riverine forest community and upland
as smartweed
Source: Restoration Management Plan for the Lower Darby Creek, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, 2006
to the design goals is the segregation of spaces used by human
Wildlife Use Area: • The reintroduction
monoculture
Reference
500’
visitors and wildlife residents and visitors.
vegetation
• Influx of Phragmites into Spatterdock and Typha area near the Folcroft Landfill forming a • Loss
0
Project
Source: Two Studies of the Tinicum Marsh, The Conservation Foundation, 1970
Examples
Not
Executive Summary
Gateway and Node
Literature Review
Trees Shrubs Open water Recently developed
Design
Wild Rice, Zizania aquatica Common Reed, Phragmites communis Mixed Aquatics Cattail, Typha angustifolia, T. latifolia Spatterdock, Nuphar advena Creeping primrose willow, Jussiaea repens Smartweed, Polygonum spp. Giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifidia Oldfields
Introduction
Tinicum Marshes, 1968
Conclusion
of the
of trash
of habitat structures such as osprey platforms, purple martin houses,
snags for woodpeckers and nester.
• Vigilant
monitoring for invasive plant encroachment.
Concept Design
vegetation of the refuge 10
Site Design
References
Vegetation
11
H a c k b e rr y
ash
Sycamore
Succession Forest
0’
100’
Selections from Pin Oak Mixed Hardwood, and Mixed Mesophytic Upland Forest Plant Communities
9’
B l a c k b e rr y
E l d e r b e rr y
River
birch
Pin
oak
Sweetgum
Silver
Mixed Mesophytic Upland Plant Community
0’
maple
100’
9’
N
creeper
Spicebush
Gray
dogwood
White
Beech
ash
Tulip
tree
0’
Selections from Riparian, Pin Oak Mixed Hardwood, and Mixed Mesophytic Upland Forest Plant Communities
500’
9’
Sweetfern Red-twig
dogwood
Spicebush
E l d e r b e rr y
A rr o ww o o d
Warm Season Perennial Grasses
Mixed Mesophytic Upland Plant Community Shrub Community
Conclusion
Riverine Plant Community Succession Forest
Reed Bed 6’
6’
Warm Season Perennial Grasses Reed
Sedge
bed
Planting Plan Site Design
Examples
Dropseed Gamma
grass
Little
bluestem
Big
of suggested restoration plant material
which offer food, nesting and shelter for wildlife
12
Site Design
bluestem
Nut
grass
Executive Summary Project
Shrub Community
Design
0
Virginia
Introduction
A rr o ww o o d G r e e n
dogwood
Soft
rush
Plant Types
References
Buttonbush Silky
Literature Review
9’
Examples
100’
Riparian Plant Community
13
Soil Cap
Circulation
Trash
piling
a nd
Sheet
Silt
piling
Vegetation
Bedrock
R u n - o ff
I nf i l t r a t e
Leachate Collection Pipes
Sheet
piling
Landfill Mitigation Structure
Design
Project
Reedbed
Reedbed
Image
c o u r t e s t y o f www . p n d e n g i n e e r s . c o m
O pen C ell S hee tpile ® B ulkhead • U seful in soft soil conditions
Topography
0
and
Context
N 500
Design Layers
Landfill Mitigation Site Design
14
Site Design
Conclusion
Sheet
S a nd
Literature Review
Reedbed
Introduction
Executive Summary
Leachate Collection Plan
Examples
i s o l a t i o n a nd
References
Trash
15
Reedbed Parking image courtesy of
Sue Ann Alleger
Darby Creek image courtesy of
Clivus Composting Toilet
Bridge
Sculpture
Kristen Brown
Canoe L a nd i n g
Image
c o u r t e s y o f www . c l i v u s m u l t r u m . c o m
View
toward
Impoundment
N
Osprey
platform
500
Warbler
Image nest boxes
Iguazu
courtesy of
National Park Service
viewing platform,
Brazil
image courtesy of
Kristen Brown
Potential view to marsh Observation Platform
from
Image
courtesy of
Frank Germann
Image
courtesy of
Illustrative Plan Site Design
Frank Germann
Image
courtesy of
Dick Tuttle
Image
16
c o u r t e s y o f www . i n s t a b l o g s i m a g e s . c o m
Site Design
Precedent
and site character
Conclusion
0
Kestrel Box
Crissy
Bridge and Trail Field, San Francisco
Sue Ann Alleger
Design
Observation Platform
restoration,
image courtesy of
Project
Wetland
Executive Summary Literature Review
Reedbed
Examples
Gateway
References
Composting Toilet
Introduction
Folcroft Borough
Existing Gateway structure at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
17
Executive Summary
100
Introduction
50
N
Bridge
view
- Model
simulation
MHW + 1’
MLW + 5’
MLW
Minimum water depth
Canoe Landing image courtesy of
Naomi
Illustrative Plan Site Design
0
5’
10’
Illustrative Plan 18
Site Design
References
Pedestrian Bridge, Amsterdam
Conclusion
Design
Project
Examples
Literature Review
0
19