Full Text
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