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North East Redmond Neighborhood Park Master Plan NAKANOASSOCIATES LLC kristin l. tollefson Adopted: April 20, 2010 ---PAGE BREAK--- Mayor John Marchione Parks and Trails Commission Chair, Peter McDonald Vice-Chair, Cindy Jayne City of Redmond Staff Parks and Recreation Director, Craig Larsen Project Manager, Bett y B. Sanders Park Operations, Eric O’Neal Design Team Landscape Architect, Nakano Associates Artist, Kristin Tollefsen Environmental Consultant, ESA Adolfson Survey, PACE Engineers ---PAGE BREAK--- Table of Contents Site Analysis 4 Programming 8 Alternative Concepts 11 Final Master Plan 16 Appendix 24 ---PAGE BREAK--- North East Redmond Neighborhood Park is a site of approximately 5 acres located east of 176th Avenue NE between NE 122nd and NE 124th Streets. The forested site includes a stream and pond along the eastern portion of the property. Site Analysis began with a boundary and topographic survey of the site by PACE Engineers to identify and locate signifi cant and landmark trees and other site features. ESA Adolfson searched Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitats and Species data, City of Redmond wetlands, stream, and wildlife habitat mapping and studies, and other sources for documentation on the NE Neighborhood Park site. Staff then performed a fi eld visit to document the presence of wetlands and fi sh and wildlife habitat conservation areas including the stream and pond. A general assessment was made of habitats present on the site and wetland boundaries were identifi ed. The results of the tree survey were incorporated into the discussion of the wildlife habitat on the site and included in a critical areas technical memorandum. An opportunities and constraints map was prepared to illustrate critical areas to be protected and preserved, and the best areas remaining for park activities. Search results, site documentation and analysis fi ndings were compiled in a Critical Areas Study report to the City of Redmond. The most signifi cant results from this Study are described below. Forests and Wetlands The forest on this site is dominated by big-leaf maple and red alder with Douglas fi r and western red cedar present as well. This tree layer has an understory of shrubs such as salmonberry and vine maple. There are two forested wetlands present on the site. Many of the plant species are the same as listed above, but the ground is saturated long enough each year to create wetland conditions. The pond located near the southeast corner of the site is part of one wetland. 4 Site Analysis NE 124th Street Stream Trees and Shrubs ---PAGE BREAK--- Wetland A is located along the east boundary. This wetland, due to its relatively large size, the presence of the pond, and its association with the stream, has more to off er both wildlife and humans. The stream, a tributary to Bear Creek, may have trout habitat and Bear Creek has both salmon and trout habitat. Wetland B is a forested wetland located near the west site boundary. This wetland is considered isolated, as it has no surface water connection to other wetland or drainages. It provides a single type of habitat for wildlife. Wetland and Buffer Delineation Wetland B Wetland A 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- The ephemeral stream along the east edge of the site fl ows in a southerly direction through Wetland A and into the pond. The stream leaves the pond through a pipe in a man-made berm and fl ows through a box culvert under NE 122nd Street. Wildlife Habitat The site also contains valuable wildlife habitat. The forest, wetlands, and stream together provide a rich interface of habitats. Numerous species of wildlife found in suburban neighborhoods are found here, such as black-capped chickadee, Townsends Chipmunk, downy woodpecker, golden-crowned kinglet, and many others. A few that are typically found in more undisturbed habitats are found here, such as pileated woodpecker and hermit thrush. The park site is habitat for many common species and also for some rarer ones. Pileated woodpeckers use this site extensively for foraging. Nest cavities were not observed, but the birds have been observed feeding on the site daily. Vaux’s swift is another less common species that may use this area. This site aff ords many opportunities for neighbors to get close to nature – to observe a variety of natural areas and a plethora of plant species, hear song birds, glimpse the second-largest woodpecker in North America, and see and hear Pacifi c tree frogs in their habitat. Pond Woodpecker Salmonberry 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- At the same time that this site aff ords opportunities, it also has some constraints. The presence of wetlands and streams on the site introduces some regulatory limitations. The City of Redmond protects streams and wetlands with buff ers, which limit the activities that can occur within buff er boundaries. Some features such as pervious trails, can be planned within the wetland buff ers. The exact location of buff ers can be determined through a buff er averaging process allowed by the Redmond Community Development Guide. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas are also regulated by the City of Redmond. The Final Master Plan contains elements developed to protect wildlife habitat and streams and wetlands on the site. Stream Pond 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- Programming the Site: The Public Process Developing a “program” for the site refers to the selection of the kinds of activities that will occur on the site, and the kinds of structures that might be built to support those activities. Because of the sensitivity of the site and the desire to encourage park users to interact with the natural environment, it is recommended that the park activities be more passive than active. During the public meetings held for this Master Plan citizens were asked to suggest activities that would be compatible with this approach. The following activities were suggested by the participants: Programming 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHILDREN IN NATURE In considering how to incorporate the information gleaned from the Site Analysis phase and the preferences voiced by the community, the City staff and consultant team began to explore an approach to park planning that is beginning to receive increased att ention in the United States and Europe. In his groundbreaking book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv describes today’s disconnection from the outdoor world as “nature defi cit disorder” – “the human costs of alienation from nature”. A variety of cultural trends could be of such a phenomenon: att ention defi cit disorders, depression, obesity, and a lack of connectivity with natural cycles. Louv’s book suggests that a groundswell movement aimed at reconnecting children with nature has begun. He cites studies that show how children who interact with nature on a regular basis benefi t physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually and creatively. Unstructured outdoor play allows for fi rsthand discovery, problem solving, and creative use of space, materials, and time. These two girls building a stick fort depicts this sort of active engagement and its tangible results. Open-ended opportunities for play invite children’s participation in the environment and hold their interest as a result. Robin Moore, an international authority on the design of environments for children’s play, learning, and education suggests that “Natural spaces and materials stimulate children’s limitless imaginations, and serve as the medium of inventiveness and creativity.” In nature, children slow down, become curious, and take notice of what is happening in their surroundings. They often seek out natural objects for play that have multiple uses or interpretations: a rock is a hill, a castle, an elephant; a hole is a volcano, a cooking pot, or a hiding place; sticks are 9 ---PAGE BREAK--- Nature play promotes a range of physical agility and strength building, kinesthetic learning, and sensory acuity: children learn deeply through fi rsthand experience. Climbing allows children to change their perspective from that of a small person to a taller one, grown-up or giant: hills, stones, and limbs off er a variety of options. Exerting energy makes them feel powerful, which in turn engenders capable behavior – children will often push their envelope of ability during outdoor free play. Learning with one’s whole body in this kind of sett ing (as opposed to organized sports which off er a prescriptive process) develops kinesthesia – muscle intuition – that supports a lifetime of self-awareness and well-being. Studies of recreation in schoolyards with both green areas and manufactured play areas have shown that children engage in more creative forms of play in the green areas, and they also play more cooperatively in these spaces. In 2008, children at the Learning Community, a charter school in Rhode Island, designed their own playground, transforming a concrete parking lot into a green hill with trees and room for both active play and quiet contemplation. Their choice of these remarkable spaces, manifested desires held by many children for places to play that are simultaneously green, adventuresome and welcoming. Nature has a calming eff ect on trauma, and acts as a soothing antidote to the chaos of contemporary life: here children can engage their animal inclinations to nest, create small spaces, and ground themselves on the earth. Witnessing natural cadences in seasons, tides, weather, and planets sparks wonder. Becoming aware of these cycles of plant and animal life reminds us of the cycles of our own human lives. “In the same way that protecting water and protecting air are strategies for promoting public health, protecting natural landscapes can be seen as a powerful form of preventive medicine.” Howard Frumkin, Director of the National Center for Environmental Health at Centers for Disease Control In Redmond’s North East Neighborhood Park, we see wonderful potential for off ering this generation of children a place for enrichment and for fostering future generations of stewards of the natural world. 10 ---PAGE BREAK--- NE Redmond Neighborhood Park Critical Areas Study - DRAFT FIGURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ESA Adolfson page 25 January 2009 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- NE 122nd St 176th Ave NE Avondale Rd NE NE 128th St NE 124th Way Legend Project Site Redmond City Limits Parcel Arterial Road SOURCE: Digital Globe, 2006 (Aerial); King County, 2005, 2007. G:\NATURAL (ATR: 01/26/09) NE Redmond Neighborhood Park. 208519 Figure 1 Vicinity Map Redmond, Washington King Snohomish 405 5 U V 520 90 Redmond Project Site o 0 0.125 0.25 Miles ---PAGE BREAK--- Artworks Opportunities in the Master Plan and Future Phases The evolution of the North East Neighborhood Park Master Plan was enhanced by the early inclusion of an artist on the Design Team, whose input contributed to all phases of the project development. The artist helped shape a preliminary conceptual theme for the park inspired by the dragonfl ies at the site. This resulted in a focus on the natural environment of the park, and recreation and artwork that responds to this environment. Creativity and collaboration colored the ensuing design process: the artist assisted in the design of the park’s layout and its amenities, refi ned these forms in conjunction with design team and City input, and translated community priorities into illustrations for the Master Plan narrative. In a development unique to this North East Neighborhood Park project, the artist played an active and important part in shaping and implementing the fi rst phase interim features. The artist conceived of and assisted in the construction of a log council ring and a woven stick hut structure made of sustainable and found materials. These elements were hand built by Parks Department staff , Design Team members, and community members ranging in age from 3 to 70, with coordination by the artist. Our experience with the Master Plan confi rms that the Design and Implementation Phases of the Northeast Neighborhood Park would fl ourish with the inclusion of an artist on the Design Team. Art Work/Trail Marker Entry Gate 20 ---PAGE BREAK--- Educational Opportunities and Programs North East Neighborhood Park is a wooded oasis set in cul-de-sac developments of single- family homes. Pileated woodpeckers, dragonfl ies, chipmunks, and frogs inhabit the lush growth of Douglas Fir, vine maple, red huckleberry, nett le, bleeding heart and salmonberry. Branches fi lter sunlight in the heat and provide shelter from rain in the wet months. Wetlands web the site and support its unique and diverse ecology. The organic smells of growth and nurse logs permeate the air. The richness of this parkland invites fi rsthand encounters with a natural sett ing, a prime opportunity for experiential education ranging from casual discovery to intentional inquiry. Encounters with nature happen spontaneously as children from neighborhoods to the north and south arrange to meet in this safe and wild sanctuary for open-ended play, a foil to passive experiences and virtual technology. Community groups coalesce here, coming together to affi rm a common interest in the environment and to build interim elements in the park. This site contains the opportunity for structured learning too, transforming into an outdoor classroom through the addition of interpretive displays and trail signage, welcoming school fi eld trips, scouting activities and bird watching. A wide range of environmental and social interaction support each other, perpetuating stewardship and preservation of this natural gem. Bleeding Heart Red Dragonfly Nurse Stump Water Exploration Learning Opportunities 21 ---PAGE BREAK--- Wildlife Habitat Management The following text briefl y describes the measures already taken and planned for protection and management of wildlife habitat on the Park site. The consideration of habitat present on the site has been central to the development of the Master Plan. Prior to any planning, all critical areas on the site were identifi ed, in order to inform planning eff orts. Few structures are proposed in this Master Plan (play structures, boardwalks), but they are located outside of wetlands, streams, and their buff ers to the greatest extent possible. All trails would be constructed of pervious materials. While spur trails are located, in part, within buff er and wetland areas, the majority of the trails are located outside of these critical areas or in the outer 25 percent of the buff ers as allowed by the City code. Clearing associated with the development of this plan is limited to approximately one-half acre. The main att raction of this park will continue to be its forest habitat, which will remain a large block of undeveloped open space. Spur trails in buff er or wetland will not exceed six feet in width. As the trails enter the wetland and stream buff er areas, they will transition to boardwalks supported by pin-piles. An existing dock at the south end of the pond will be refurbished when boardwalks are constructed. These boardwalks will be raised above the ground surface such that surface water and small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians may travel beneath them. These boardwalks will allow citizens to enter and appreciate the habitats available on the site. Educational signs will be placed along the boardwalks (Figure). Trails and boardwalks with railings will limit the development of informal trails and destruction of habitat as neighborhood population increases. Pond Wetland Vegetation 22 ---PAGE BREAK--- Invasive vegetation presence on the property is low. Noxious species observed at the site include small amounts of Himalayan blackberry, reed canary grass, tansy ragwort, and Scot’s broom. Patches of Himalayan blackberry are located primarily in the central portion of the site west of Stream 1 and on the south edge of Wetland A along NE 122nd Street. Small patches of reed canary grass were observed on the west bank of the stream. Invasive species removal will be implemented during construction activities. The site contains a number of signifi cant trees. Trails and gathering spaces have been located to avoid all but a few of the signifi cant trees. Snag trees will not be removed under this Master Plan, except for trees that the Redmond Parks and Recreation Department may remove for safety reasons. Management recommendations for pileated woodpecker include preservation of signifi cant trees and contiguous habitat on the Park property. As part of the Design Phase, a landscape plan will be developed for the Park, including restoration of all areas disturbed by the construction of elements of the Master Plan. Educational signs will be placed at the entrance to the park limiting trail use to foot traffi c, and requiring that all pets be leashed. A Mitigation Plan will be prepared during project permitt ing to meet the requirements of the Redmond Community Development Guide with regards to impacts to Critical Areas and their buff ers. That plan will provide design plans and specifi cations for all work in critical areas, with monitoring and maintenance methods and schedules. ScotÊs Broom Trees at South Entrance 23 ---PAGE BREAK--- SMITH PROPERTY Appendix 24 ---PAGE BREAK--- SMITH PROPERTY 25 ---PAGE BREAK--- SEATING TRAILS GATHERING PLACE PICNIC AREA NATURE OBSERVATION EDUCATION BOARD WALK NE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK TREE HOUSE 26 ---PAGE BREAK--- PLAY HOUSE SWINGS ART WATER CONTACT/ PLAY PLAY STRUCTURE NE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CLIMBING ROCKS LIGHTING 27 ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX LIST OF POTENTIAL EDUCATION & PROGRAMMING COLLABORATORS SCHOOLS Norman Rockwell Elementary School 11125 162nd Ave. N.E. Redmond, WA 98052 [PHONE REDACTED] htt p://www.lwsd.org/school/rockwell/Pages/default.aspx Albert Einstein Elementary 18025 N.E. 116th St. Redmond, WA 98052 [PHONE REDACTED] htt p://www.lwsd.org/school/einstein/Pages/default.aspx Evergreen Junior High 6900 208th Ave. N.E., Redmond, WA 98053 I [PHONE REDACTED] htt p://www.lwsd.org/school/ejh/Pages/default.aspx Environmental Club, Paloma Benoliel, Advisor The mission of the Environmental Club is to learn how to make less of a negative impact on our environment and learn ways to contribute to making the environment bett er. We do many projects. Some of the projects are to educate the students and teachers at Evergreen in ways of being more Earth-friendly, like the Cool School Challenge and Lunchroom Recycling. Some of the projects are to do things outside to make the environment bett er, like helping with a nearby restoration project. We meet in Ms. Benoliel’s room every Thursday at 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. htt p://www.lwsd.org/school/ejh/Activities/clubs/Pages/EnvironmentalClub.aspx Redmond High School 17272 N.E. 104th St. Redmond, WA 98052 [PHONE REDACTED] htt p://www.lwsd.org/school/rhs/Pages/default.aspx Environmental Club, Mike Town, Advisor [EMAIL REDACTED] Lake Washington Technical College Redmond Campus 6505 176th Avenue NE Redmond, WA 98052-4943 htt Information Desk: (425) 497-3679 28 ---PAGE BREAK--- LIBRARIES Redmond Library The Redmond Regional Library serves the community as part of the King County Library System and is located at 15990 NE 85th Street next to the City’s Municipal Campus. It is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The library has a large conference room available for community use and access to state-of-the-art computer technology. Volunteer opportunities are also available. INFORMATION: [PHONE REDACTED] WEBSITE: www.kcls.org/red/redhomepage.html CLUBS Northeast Boys and Girls Club 7300 - 208th Avenue N.E. Redmond, WA mail P.O. Box 259 Redmond, WA 98073-0259 [PHONE REDACTED] htt Girl Scouts 14645 Bel-Red Road Building E, Suite 103 Bellevue, WA 98007 Phone: (425) 614-1126 / (800) 767-6815 Fax: (425) 614-1132 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Bernadett e Merikle, Regional Director bernadett [EMAIL REDACTED] htt p://www.girlscoutsww.org/aboutus/locations/EastKingCounty Boy Scouts htt p://pack591.org/ Paige Norman [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Nature Vision Scout Links In order to set up one of the following scout programs, please fax this form to Nature Vision at 425-868- 9849 or mail to/contact us at Nature Vision, 21631 NE 44th St, Redmond, WA 98053, [PHONE REDACTED], www. naturevision.org or email [EMAIL REDACTED]. Once dates/times are confi rmed, you will have three business days in which to submit payment and sign the contract. Other Scout Links Scouts use local parks to get requirements checked off for Nature Badges! htt p://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/recreation/outdoors2.asp 29