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MASTER PLAN FOR DUDLEY CARTER PARK Prepared for the City of Redmond Parks and Recreation Department By J.A. Brennan Associates, PLLC April 21, 2010 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS THE PARK NAME THE PARK SITE VISION STATEMENT GOALS PROGRAM PUBLIC PROCESS ALTERNATIVES Alternative A: Artist-at-Work theme Alternative B: Gathering place theme Alternative C: Historic or environment education theme DRAFT AND FINAL MASTER PLANS Haida House Artist-At-Work Program Multi-purpose Facility Gathering Areas Gateways Shoreline Play and Picnicking Circulation Art Restroom Vegetation Site Furnishings Parking and Vehicular Access Mixing Elements DRAINAGE, UTILITIES AND UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS PERMITTING NEXT STEPS APPENDIX A: PROGRAMMING BOARDS AND HANDOUTS APPENDIX B: ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT PLANS APPENDIX C: FINAL MASTER PLAN APPENDIX D: OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST APPENDIX E: MEETING NOTES APPENDIX F: HAIDA HOUSE BUILDING ASSESSMENT; EXISTING FLOOR PLAN AND ELEVATION, AND COST ESTIMATES APPENDIX G: SKETCHES OF MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY APPENDIX H: PRELIMINARY INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT AND PLAN APPENDIX I: ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS/PERMITTING MEMO ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 THE PARK NAME The park was called Slough Park for many years and throughout the master planning process. In accordance with City Ordinance, The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation Department solicited input from the public regarding the park name. Through that process, the park is now called Dudley Carter Park. THE PARK SITE Dudley Carter Park was acquired by the City of Redmond from King County in 2005. The property is 1.37 acres of flat to gently sloping terrain. It is home to renowned northwest woodcarver Dudley Carter’s Haida House IV (ca. 1985.) The Haida House is a roughly 600 square foot, single-room studio built primarily with wood, which includes ornate carved figures on the roof eaves and an iconic totem pole entry. The Haida House IV is designated as a local landmark in the Redmond Heritage Resource Register. In the early- to mid-20th century, the park property was used as a field or possibly a sod farm. In 1945, a one-room house with a detached two-car garage was constructed with a dirt floor (480 sf). This house appears to have been demolished in 1989. In 1957, a rambler referred to as ‘the Slough House’ was constructed. As King County’s first Artist-in-Residence, Dudley Carter lived in the Slough House from 1988 until his death in 1992. The site is located along the Sammamish River, but is not waterfront property, as King County’s Sammamish River Trail runs between the site and the river. The river banks are very steep, and covered primarily with Himalayan blackberry. River access at this location is difficult due to the steepness, and there is no visual indication that people access the river at this location. The site is gently sloping from elevation 38 (vertical feet above sea level, datum unknown) adjacent to 159th Place NE to elevation 32 along the Sammamish River Trail. The embankment of the trail connection through the southeastern part of the site is somewhat steep. There is a low, swale-like area along the western property boundary with a small depression where it meets the higher bike trail to the south. No standing water or indication of inundation has been observed there. There are several trees located through this area, and topographically, this area has potential for on-site stormwater use. The northern and western half of the site is wooded with no understory plants. A Japanese maple is located in the center of the park, which is well-liked among community members. Along the trail, there are several trees, including a grouping of cypress, several cottonwoods, pines and cedars. There are three particularly large and apparently healthy firs along 159th Place NE near the intersection. The site is located at a busy junction and gateway to the city. The adjacent Leary Way bridge carries much traffic into the downtown Redmond area. Leary Way intersects with 159th Place NE, which forms the eastern park boundary. Several auto-oriented land uses are located along this street, such as service stations and repair shops. This parcel is currently designated as “Downtown Mixed Use” in the Dudley Carter ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and 159th Place NE is planned to have 14 foot sidewalks. The Sammamish River Trail, which is very popular among bicyclists and pedestrians, runs adjacent to the site on the south. Dudley Carter Park is likely to attract many visitors from this trail. The site is split between very good and very poor draining soils according to NRCS mapping. In the next phase of the project, a geotechnical investigation will be necessary to determine the feasibility of on-site stormwater management such as low-impact development techniques. See Appendix H: Preliminary Infrastructure Design Report for further soils information. VISION STATEMENT The character of the park will be founded on the preservation of the Dudley Carter’s Haida House IV and wil embody the spirit of the artist by celebrating art, nature, history and cultural traditions in a peaceful, inviting, and sustainable setting. This park will provide a place for people who are making connections between the Sammamish River Trail and Downtown, and for people to make social connections within the community. GOALS • Preserve Dudley Carter’s Haida House IV • Educate visitors about Dudley Carter and his work • Accommodate and allow for Artist-at-Work program • Showcase Native American art and natural history • Create a place for small gatherings • Maintain or enhance the sense of respite • Create a place of discovery PROGRAM During the public meeting process, slide shows and boards were presented (Appendix A) with images and bulleted information to communicate to the public and the Commissions the relative scale, functions and potential appearance of a variety of park uses. The images shown were not specifically intended for this project, but gave a feel for the character and scale envisioned. Handouts were given (Appendix asking meeting participants to rate a variety of potential programming elements including art, restrooms, paths, landforms, art facilities, play areas, etc. Site specific design alternatives were prepared in the next step of the process. PUBLIC PROCESS The public process engaged the City with public meeting attendees, various Commissions (listed below), and City Council. Public engagement included slide show presentations, boards, large-format note taking, and handouts. The handouts provided an opportunity for participants to record their ideas and submit them as written comments. The programming boards and a sample of a returned handout are included in Appendix A. The Master Plan process for Dudley Carter Park involved collaboration between: • The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation Department (property owners and managers) • The Redmond Arts Commission • The Redmond Parks and Trails Commission • The Redmond Landmarks Commission • Public input • Approval by Redmond City Council Several public meetings were held throughout the process, as follows: ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 • Visioning Process July 9, 2009 • Site Inventory and Haida House Assessment August 6, 2009 • Draft Concept Alternatives September 16, 2009 • Preparation of Draft Master Plan October 29, 2009 • Final Master Plan and SEPA February 23, 2010 ALTERNATIVES The three alternatives presented to the public and described below explored a range of options and a variety of treatments in regard to themes and program elements. Alternative A: Artist-at-Work theme The primary attraction in this alternative is the location of an Artist-at-Work facility. The new building is shown adjacent to the Haida House, where the two buildings create a shared gathering space. (See Appendix B for plan.) Alternative B: Gathering place theme In this alternative, the focus of the park becomes a large, open space in the center; the edges of the gathering space are defined by arcing pathways on either side of the space. The Haida House and other building-related park improvements (such as a restroom and/or a multi-purpose facility) are separated from each other by the central gathering space. (See Appendix B for plan.) Alternative C: Historic or environment education theme This option de-emphasizes building related activities in favor of creating smaller, clustered activity zones, with particular consideration given to the enhancement and experience of the wooded area of the park. This would include the restoration of a native Pacific Northwest plant community, as well as an art walk through the woods with art installations located along the path. (See Appendix B for plan.) During the alternatives process, many topics and issues were discussed, from what the appropriate level of restoration of the Haida House should be, to how much parking, if any, should be provided for this project. The particular topics and their resolutions are discussed in the following section. The list of major topics is as follows: • Haida House • Artist-at-Work Program • Multi-purpose Facility • Gathering Areas • Gateways • Shoreline • Play and Picnicking Dudley Carter's Haida House IV ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 • Circulation • Art • Restroom • Vegetation • Site Furnishings • Parking and Vehicular Access • Mixing Elements DRAFT AND FINAL MASTER PLANS A combination of elements from each of the alternatives came together to form a new preferred alternative following discussion with the community. The elements of the Master Plan are discussed below. Haida House There was some discussion in the beginning of the project regarding the relocation of the Haida House to situate it facing the water, as is customary in Haida dwellings. This idea, however, was deemed costly and potentially detrimental to the building. Additionally, the current location of the Haida House is agreeable because of the wooded setting behind it and open space in front of it. The Haida House is visible from adjacent streets, which is ideal from a crime prevention point-of-view. Therefore, the Haida House is proposed to remain in its existing location. MAKERS Architecture assessed the current condition of the Haida House and provided three alternatives for building treatment: 1. Basic preservation work is needed to repair and preserve the building, assuming the building will not be occupied. 2. Additional work is required to bring the building up to current structural code requirements and to meet current handicapped access requirements so the interior could be occupied. 3. Additional work is required to provide for higher security for the windows (by installing rolling overhead security panels on the interior of the windows) and also to provide for building insulation and heat. It was decided that the basic preservation work (alternative 1) will be the course of action. Artist-At-Work Program A major component of the program is the Artist-at-Work space, where an artist selected by the City in coordination with the Redmond Arts Commission would use the park to create art on site, showcase art in a public venue, and provide educational and recreational opportunities for the public. Park users would be invited to observe artists at work. Multi-purpose Facility A multi-purpose facility which can house the Artist-at-Work program would be versatile for many types of art, from large to small mediums, and work that may be created indoors or out. The building would include storage, power, gas, water, and sewer, and would be lockable so that an artist could secure their work and tools for the duration of their stay. Recognizing that the Artist-at-Work program may require only occasional use, the facility is proposed to be open to other park uses such as informal gatherings, ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 assemblies, picnicking, and other park programming. It is thought that these park uses would not be programmed in the sense that there would not be a reservation system applied to it. The multi-purpose facility will include the following elements: • Operable and lockable garage-style doors with glass-paned windows (polycarbonate glazing) • Interior gas fireplace • Storage room • Uni-sex restroom • Power, water, gas, and sewer connections Gathering Areas Three main types of gathering areas were discussed during the master planning process: • Spectator Plaza • Central Gathering Space • Story-telling Circle The spectator plaza will be a key place within the park and will be able to accommodate a crowd of about 100 people for viewing Artists-at-Work and other events. The plaza has been designed through a collaborative process of designers, art program representatives, and maintenance staff. The proposed pavement design—a repetition of wavy lines—reflects one of Dudley Carter’s iconic carved patterns. The wavy lines were used by Dudley Carter in a variety of wood carvings, such as in The Goddess of the Forest, often to represent a female’s (Goddess’) hair. In this case, the wavy pattern is also a guide, helping to direct people through the plaza to the Haida House and towards the adjacent paths. A planter and benches will be situated to allow for large gatherings, and are included to allow for small group viewing as well as aesthetic appeal. The plaza is intended to be paved with a durable surface that can withstand occasional vehicular traffic for maintenance or material loading and unloading. The location of a story-telling circle was shown in different locations in the alternatives. The name of this space relates to the goal of showcasing Native American art and history, considering the tradition of story-telling among Salish cultures, whose members have lived in the region for centuries and used this site as a river crossing and gathering area. The story-telling circle will feature seating around a fire pit. The story-telling circle lies adjacent to the spectator plaza and central gathering space, allowing connectivity to both spaces. The story-telling circle will have seating for approximately 25 people. The central gathering space is an open lawn that allows informal park uses such as sitting, viewing, picnicking, and small-space recreational activities. It can also serve as overflow space from events held at the spectator plaza. Gateways A gateway is shown at the pedestrian entrances along 159th Place NE, as well as at the entrance to the Sammamish River Trail. The gateways may be artist-designed and could include references to Dudley Dudley Carter's Three Panel Abstraction at The City of Redmond’s Luke McRedmond’s Landing ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 Carter’s totemic wood carvings. The gateways will help nearby pedestrian and bicyclists identify park entry points and compliment the art, architecture, and themes of the park. Shoreline The shoreline is part of the Riverwalk project area which proposed native plantings to help restore fish and wildlife habitat along the Sammamish River. The Dudley Carter Park project would implement the Riverwalk planting plan along the park frontage. Consideration was given to providing more access to the water from the park. However, per the Riverwalk plan for the Sammamish River Corridor in Downtown, the City has already identified key water access points. There is an access point located at Luke McRedmond Park, less than one-quarter of a mile from Dudley Carter Park. Adding water access at this site would lead to trail conflicts. In addition, the bank of the river is quite steep at this location. However, there are excellent views of the river from both the pedestrian bridge and the Leary Way bridge which cross the river and are directly adjacent to the park. Play and Picnicking The idea of developing a sculptural, informal play area was popular among the public. Custom designed, small-scale, interactive sculptural elements are shown grouped together, with the intention of providing recreational opportunities for children, as well as aesthetic and artistic appreciation by all. A picnic area is shown outside of the loop path on the southeastern part of the site. This use may be especially attractive to lunch-time park visitors. Together with the play area, the picnic area creates a use outside of the central gathering space, which in turn helps to define it spatially. Circulation The site is bound by a sidewalk along 159th Place NE, a sidewalk and a viewpoint along Leary Way, and by the popular Sammamish River Trail, which is used by pedestrians and bicyclists and connects to the Bear Creek Trail. The site is a crossroads and a gateway into downtown Redmond and the Redmond Town Center. There are currently no developed pathways within the park. Public input regarding circulation emphasized the need to make connections to the adjacent trail and sidewalks while providing appropriate pedestrian circulation. The proposed circulation routes include the walkway that encompasses the central gathering area and the art walk through the woods. There will be improved pedestrian access from the Sammamish River Trail, 159th Place NE, and Leary Way. Art The Parks and Recreation Department has engaged the Arts Commission during the master planning process. Both the Arts Commission and the public support the idea of having public art displayed in the park. Various ideas have been discussed, including displaying several Dudley Carter woodcarvings on site; embedding artistic, commemorative, or educational information in the park pavement; providing foundations for sculptural pieces that could be introduced at a later time; and providing art work built into the multi-purpose facility. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Arts Commission will continue to work on the art programming. ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 Restroom There is consensus that a restroom is needed at this location to serve the heavy numbers of users along the Sammamish River Trail. There is a shared public-private restroom at the mixed-use development behind the nearby city park, Luke McRedmond Landing. To the south, the nearest public restroom is at King County’s Marymoor Park. Given the small size of the site (1.37 acres), and the evolving nature of the program towards passive recreation as well as the goal to maintain a place of respite along the river, the park will have a one-room uni-sex restroom. Vegetation Most of the existing park trees will be preserved. The park layout, as shown in the master plan, has been arranged in order to save as many trees as possible. Trees within the 200’ shoreline zone of the Sammamish River are valuable for wood recruitment for the river and habitat; the trio of fir trees near the park driveway may be considered the best trees on the site due to their height, caliper, habit, or stature. The public expressed desire for the Japanese maple near the center of the park to be preserved. One to two trees will be removed to accommodate the multi-purpose facility. Two clusters of non-native and invasive tall shrubs will be removed; one next to the south elevation of the Haida House in order to enhance the view of the building; the other along the Leary Way embankment in order to improve views into the site from the viewpoint and intersection along Leary Way. A native plant palette will be used to accentuate the park entries, to enhance the building elevations, including a native plant garden around the Haida House, and enhance the shoreline (King County property). Vegetation will be selected to maintain reasonable visibility into much of the site for security purposes. The picnic area will be seeded with native grasses and wildflowers. The maintenance staff can mow as necessary around the picnic facilities. It is intended that the area between the bike trail and the picnic facilities can be maintained as a meadow. The spectator plaza will have a planter near the center, which may consist primarily of native plants. Site Furnishings • Lighting for the art walk in the woods • Lighting the interior and exterior of the Haida House • Security lighting as needed • Benches • Picnic tables • Bike racks for 10 or more bicycles • Bollards, potentially, for vehicular controls • Trash receptacles Parking and Vehicular Access It was decided during the public process that the site is too small to dedicate space to parking. On-street parking along 159th Place NE was proposed in each of the three alternatives; the alternatives illustrated parallel, angled, and 90 degree parking. After meeting with City traffic engineers, the 90 degree parking option was eliminated due to safety concerns. Shortly thereafter, angled parking was also eliminated due to the excess space it requires when compared to a parallel parking arrangement. Four or five parallel parking stalls are proposed, with timing and use limitations to allow for optimum park usage. The City will refer motorists to parking at other off-site locations in the case of larger events. ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 Also, vehicular access will be accommodated at the existing curb cut and gateway entrance along 159th Place NE, which is for park maintenance vehicle use and material/equipment delivery for artist use. Another rolled curb to the north of the parallel parking strip will be provided for artist parking. The Preliminary Infrastructure Design Report in Appendix H provides further parking design and vehicular access information. Mixing Elements The preferred alternative incorporates key elements from each plan, including: • The creation of a gathering area formed by the Haida House and the multi-purpose facility (from Alternative • A central gathering space, which is a large lawn area more or less centered on the Japanese maple (from Alternative and • The forested art walk in the woods (from Alternative DRAINAGE, UTILITIES AND UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS A drainage plan has been developed based on the final master plan. See Appendix H, Preliminary Infrastructure Design Report for further drainage design information. A geotechnical investigation is necessary to finalize the drainage plans for the site. The City’s goal is to use low-impact development techniques to manage stormwater on site. Preliminary site designs show rain gardens in planters within the spectator plaza. The attached report in Appendix H, Preliminary Infrastructure Design Report, also contains information regarding other utilities such as power, water, sanitary sewer and natural gas. The design team investigated the presence of underground storage tanks on the site, thinking that they may have been used for waste or fuel for past residential use. Mapping and correspondence with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department of Ecology and King County Public Health Department has not shown the presence of underground storage tanks on this site. However, further investigation may be required as underground tanks require special handling. PERMITTING Appendix I, Environmental Opportunities and Constraints Memo, explains the regulatory requirements for the project. NEXT STEPS After the completion of the SEPA comment period and City Council approval of the Master Plan, the City of Redmond will commence implementation of the plan. This may include a phased approach, where some park elements are funded and built prior to others depending on funding and other factors. Park development will include permit applications for compliance with the City of Redmond Shoreline Master Program, as well as building and grading permits, issued by the City of Redmond. An opinion of probable construction costs has been developed for the master plan (see Appendix The City will construct the park in phases. • Phase I – Preservation of Haida House ---PAGE BREAK--- 11 – Gateways, signage – Trails and sculpture • Phase II – Multi-use building – Finalize landscaping – Street frontage • Phase III – Programming • Cost Summary Total Project – Approximately $1.4M for construction; $600K for A/E and permitting services. ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX A: PROGRAMMING BOARDS AND HANDOUTS ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Slough Park Master Plan gathering space story telling Park Elements multi-purpose facility ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Slough Park Master Plan Park Elements restrooms gateways / icons art ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Slough Park Master Plan Park Elements children’s informal play area landforms interpretive ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX B: ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT PLANS ---PAGE BREAK--- CITY OF REDMOND SLOUGH PARK CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN B 0’ 20’ 40’ Scale: 1” = 20’ N September 16, 2009 legend: HAIDA HOUSE ZONE A. Haida House B. landforms to screen street C. on-street parking (7-9 spaces) D. park entrance CENTRAL GATHERING SPACE ZONE E. gathering lawn outdoor event space F. art walk G. icon/focal point MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY ZONE H. multi-purpose facility carving studio storage/utilities event space covered fire circle interpretive displays restroom (1 uni-sex room) artist parking I. bike parking and information J. bike parking and information K. shoreline restoration A B C D E F G H I J K ---PAGE BREAK--- CITY OF REDMOND SLOUGH PARK CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN A 0’ 20’ 40’ Scale: 1” = 20’ N September 16, 2009 legend: CENTRAL ACTIVITY ZONE A. Haida House B. gathering space C. informational kiosk D. multi-purpose facility open air art-making studio storage/utilities gateway event space information E. restroom (1 uni-sex room) F. on-street parking (4-5 spaces) OPEN PARK ZONE G. sculpture garden H. sculptural/informal play element(s) I. bike parking and information J. shoreline restoration K. gateway sculpture/icon A B C D E F G H I K J ---PAGE BREAK--- CITY OF REDMOND SLOUGH PARK CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN C 0’ 20’ 40’ Scale: 1” = 20’ N September 16, 2009 legend: A. Haida House HAIDA HOUSE GATHERING ZONE B. story circle outdoor fire pit C. water feature coastal beach garden D. on-street parking (5-6 spaces) E. park entrance OPEN SPACE ZONE F. restroom (1 uni-sex room) G. information panel/kiosk historical/natural content H. zone separation (landforms) PARK EVENT ZONE I. multi-purpose facility (small) utilities picnic/stage/gathering informational panel J. gathering lawn (small) event space K. bike parking and information L. shoreline restoration M. ART WALK IN THE WOODS N. native plant garden/restoration O. art stops seating/information A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX C: FINAL MASTER PLAN ---PAGE BREAK--- CITY OF REDMOND DUDLEY CARTER PARK FINAL MASTER PLAN 0’ 20’ 40’ Scale: 1” = 20’ N April 19, 2010 IN ASSOCIATION WITH MAKERS ARCHITECTURE + URBAN DESIGN DAVIDO CONSULTING GROUP, INC. DOUGLASS CONSULTING H B C A E G D K J F M I L LEARY WAY NE 159TH PLACE NE SAMMAMISH RIVER TRAIL LEGEND: BUILDING ZONE A. Art walk (Through the woods) B. Haida House (Restoration) C. Spectator plaza 75-100 people Dudley Carter wavy pattern motif Seating and planters D. Multi-purpose facility Artist-at-work studio Event space Storage and utilities Fireplace Restroom (1 Uni-sex room) Artist parking E. On-street parking New sidewalk F. Gateway CENTRAL GATHERING SPACE ZONE G. Story circle 25 people Fire ring H. Japanese maple (existing) I. Picnic area Lawn and meadow J. Bike parking K. Gateway L. Art and play area Tactile, child-oriented art Lawn and meadow M. Shoreline restoration