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City of El Cerrito Design Charrette August 2nd, 2014 Urban Greening Pilot Projects ---PAGE BREAK--- PILOT PROJECTS 1 + 2 Urban Greening Opportunities 1. Connectivity: Improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between the area’s major natural assets--the Bay Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trail. Close any trail gaps and develop trail into Tilden Park (in cooperation with EBRPD) 2. Wayfinding and Signage: Provide wayfinding and education signage along the blue/green connections. 3. Street Trees: Implement a consistant palette of street trees along blue/green conections to create identifiable routes. 1. Blue to Green Connections Improve Connectivity Create Greener Gateways Create Active Commercial Corridors Urban Greening Opportunities 1. Urban Agriculture: Build on Earth Day pilot project to create permanent community gardens and orchards. 2. Urban Wilderness Classroom: Connect to Fairmont Elementary School and bring nature closer to students. 3. Improved Play Structures and Gathering Spaces: Enhance the existing park and attract multi-generational use. 4. Connection to Greenway: Create a defined entry from Liberty Street to the Greenway and park. (see Ohlone Greenway Master Plan) 5. Connection to Park: Create a mid-block connection between the park and San Pablo Avenue. 6. Pacific Chorus Frog Habitat: Protect habitat and connect to wilderness classroom activities. (see Ohlone Greenway Master Plan) 7. Oak Grove: Create an oak grove adjacent to the schoolyard. (per Ohlone Greenway Master Plan) 1 1 3 4 2 5 7 4. Fairmont Park and Adjacent Ohlone Greenway Segment Ownership: Public - WCCUSD and City of El Cerrito 6 Û N Liberty Street Eureka Avenue Ohlone Greenway Fairmont Park Fairmont Elementary School Improve Connectivity Strengthen Ohlone Greenway Enhance or Expand Existing Parks 2. Please note these diagrams are drafts and for illustration purposes only. * *Any opportunities on WCCUSD parcels will be dependent on District’s interest and consent ---PAGE BREAK--- PILOT PROJECTS 3+4 7. Hillside Natural Area and Madera Property Ownership: Private* and Public - City of El Cerrito *Any opportunities on a private parcel will be dependent on property owner’s interest and consent Urban Greening Opportunities 1. Connectivity: Improve trail connections between natural areas, and close any gaps. 2. Park Enhancement: Continue to expand natural area to create connected park system into areas such as the Madera property and PG&E right-of-way. 3. Green Infrastructure: Integrate green infrastructure to lower park energy usage and use low-maintenance plantings, furnishings and materials. 4. Creeks: Enhance and highlight riparian corridors that run through the natural area. 5. Green Gateways/Staging Areas: Create an gateway experience at key park 6. Trails: Consider formalizing desire lines into a pedestrian trail system through the PG&E right-of-way to enhance connections to Hillside Natural Area. 7. Green Infrastructure: Repurpose portions of the right-of-way for water quality management. Û N 1 3 4 4 4 1 2 1 Enhance Creeks Improve Connectivity Enhance or Expand Existing Parks 5 5 5 5 Private Property* 4 6 7 *Private property highlighted in purple. Fairmount Avenue San Pablo Avenue 1 2 3 Urban Greening Opportunities 1. Pocket Parks: Explore opportunity to vacate street and convert to downtown plaza/park space for social gathering, pop-up uses, and play. 2. Connectivity: Enhance pedestrian and bicycle connections to San Pablo Avenue to San Pablo Avenue by providing additional facilities and on- street amenities that encourage strolling and community gathering. 3. Activity Node: Plant shade trees and install seating and tables to encourage active use along San Pablo Avenue. 4. reStreets: Consider opportunities for green infrastructure, small-scale urban agriculture, and events and programs, and use wayfinding and signage for distinctive image and identity 13. Lower Fairmount Corner Ownership: Public - City of El Cerrito Improve Connectivity Create Greener Gateways Maintenance Address Higher Density Neighborhoods 3. 4. Please note these diagrams are drafts and for illustration purposes only. (Roads and Public right of way)* *Any opportunities on private parcels will be dependent on property owner’s interest and consent