Browsing by Author "Browning, Lara"
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- Annville Institute/Jackson County Ministries campus and campground conceptual master planGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Davis, Brad; Walker, Harley; Gracey, Sarah; Calvert, Jared (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-12)Annville Institute is located in Annville, a small town of about 1,100 residents in Jackson County, Kentucky. The Annville Institute property is located in the southern portion of the county near the intersection of highways 3630 and 290. It is located on a campus that has been designated as a historical site on the National Register and is now home to many non-profit organizations. The campus contains about 120 acres of land and occasionally is the scene for community events such as carnivals, weddings, car shows, and competitive trail rides.
Annville Institute requested that the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) develop a conceptual master plan for their property that includes an outdoor classroom, amphitheater, wedding venue, primitive camping area, archery range, and walking trail to connect the various parts of the campus. They also requested a proposal for improved signage within the campus and a master planting plan for the property. The site currently houses an equestrian center and several beehives so it was requested that particular consideration be given to plants that are beneficial to bees yet non-toxic to horses. The details of these design considerations are discussed in more detail in the following pages.
Throughout the design process, the Annville Institute Project Team, which consisted of the CDAC design team and representatives from both the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Annville Institute, worked collaboratively to develop a conceptual plan for the campus. This report documents the design process and describes the final concept that was developed. - Burnsville, NC: Streetscape and Trail Conceptual Master Plan for the Western LoopGilboy, Elizabeth; Philen, Melissa; Browning, Lara; Niland, Joe; Jones, Alexander; VanNoy, Jess (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-10)Burnsville, North Carolina, a lone incorporated town in Yancey County, is nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountain Range in Yancey County. It has 17 named peaks over 6,000 feet in elevation, including the highest mountain in the Eastern United States, Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet in elevation. Because of its proximity to the Black Mountain Range and Appalachian Trail, Burnsville has the potential to connect to these outdoor resources and host visitors as a trail town. Providing a trailhead, gateways into the town, and a walkable main street were forefront in this design process.
In conjunction with the North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association, the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) developed the Western Loop Trail which traverses Burnsville’s Main Street and connects historic downtown Burnsville at the town square to the Mountain Heritage High School’s Nature Trail.
This design work includes a gateway design for the entrance to the Mountain Heritage High School, a mini-park for Cherry Lane, a streetscape design for West Main Street, and a trailhead concept at the Burnsville town square. - City of Whitesburg, KY: Downtown Section of the Tanglewood Downhill Trail Conceptual Master PlanGilboy, Elizabeth; Gray, Shane; Philen, Melissa; Niland, Joe; Browning, Lara; Souza de Souza, Aline Soares (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-12)The City of Whitesburg is located within Letcher County, in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Set in Appalachia along the Pine Mountain, Whitesburg is home to many natural resources including lumber, coal, and the Jefferson National Forest, which includes the Pine Mountain Trail that ultimately connects to the Appalachian Trail. Mountainous topography and the winding Kentucky River define Whitesburg and its development.
The Tanglewood Downhill Trail is a pedestrian and cyclist trail proposed to transect through the City of Whitesburg, primarily along an abandoned railway bed. This trail connects important destinations within Whitesburg, as well as connecting Whitesburg to contextual destinations such as the Pine Mountain Trail.
Because the location and route for the Tanglewood Downhill Trail was predetermined by the City, CDAC’s association with the trail consisted of three ‘focal area’ destinations along the trail, in addition to wayfinding and welcoming signage for Whitesburg along the length of the trail. These focal areas include the Farmers Market area, East Main Street, and a Downtown Trailhead.
The Downtown Section of the Tanglewood Downhill Trail Conceptual Master Plan project aims to visualize Whitesburg as a Trail Town and achieve a cohesive downtown experience along the trail, encourage economic growth, and enhance pedestrian experiences. This project comes in the wake of many new programs and efforts, positive energy, and progressive projects. The following list exemplifies such efforts and includes the connectedness of the Tanglewood Downhill Trail, Whitesburg’s Trail Town Initiative, the Whitesburg Health Department, East Main Street and downtown revitalization, the Farmers Market, as well as a Healthy Living Initiative.
In anticipation of Trail Town Certification, the City of Whitesburg applied for a grant from the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s (KDF) Restoring Environmental Quality (REQ) grant program for conceptual design work. With the assistance of this grant, the City of Whitesburg accepted a design proposal for the Community Design Assistance Center to assist the city with the following goals and objectives, as outlined by the city and city stakeholders:
1. To create a vision toward their desire for ‘Trail Town Certification’;
2. To plan for the downtown section of the Tanglewood Downhill Trail;
3. To plan downtown streetscape and greenspace improvements;
4. To conserve, protect, and enhance community natural resources;
5. To provide opportunities for ‘Healthy Living’ and alternative modes of transportation;
6. To visualize a downtown gateway experience;
7. To provide places where the city could showcase local arts and culture;
8. To locate an access to the Kentucky River;
9. To conceptualize signage and wayfinding design along the Downtown Section of the Tanglewood Downhill Trail
The goals and objectives, as outlined by the City of Whitesburg and city stakeholders align with CDAC’s core goals and principles of design for communities that CDAC partners with, as evidenced by CDAC’s mission statement below. The CDAC team worked closely with the Whitesburg community throughout the design process in order to provide the most appropriate design concepts for the Whitesburg community. - Cleveland Elementary School Site Redesign + Cleveland Ball Park Redesign + Riverwalk Conceptual DesignsGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Korkuti, Arian; Jessup, Jennifer; Walker, Harley; Wan, Mingchao (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-01)Cleveland is a community of approximately 130 people located in Russell County in southwest Virginia. The Town is situated on the Clinch River, one of most biodiverse rivers in North America. The Clinch has more species of endangered and rare freshwater mussels than anywhere else in the world. Cleveland recognizes the value of this unique river and hopes to utilize its natural assets to promote tourism and stimulate economic growth.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing conceptual designs for upgrading the existing ball park and reusing the former Cleveland Elementary School site as an RV park and campground. In addition, the team explored the possibility of linking the project sites, downtown, and the Barrens waterfall with a river walk. CDAC worked closely with the community and stakeholder groups to develop these concepts which are discussed in further detail in the following report. - Clinch River access points design guidelinesGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Jessup, Jennifer; Walker, Harley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-01-01)The CDAC was tasked with developing general design guidelines for access points along the Clinch River, creating a conceptual design for the access point at the Cleveland Ball Park as a pilot site, generating design concepts for various types of signage for access points.
- Deep Run bike and pedestrian trail design and alignment studyGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Burg, Gardner; Walker, Harley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-11)The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC), approached by Spotsylvania County and the Spotsylvania Greenway Initiative (SGI), was tasked to lead a collection of regional stakeholders in a project to highlight the cultural heritage of the area and re-engage the local community through opportunities for recreation and alternative transportation. The purpose of this project was to create a conceptual layout for a trail system that would connect Fredericksburg to these cultural and historic assets related to its involvement in the Civil War. This trail would also provide opportunities to connect to existing trail networks, as well as, a number of developing economic resources and outdoor recreational opportunities. The details of these design considerations will be discussed in more detail in the following pages.
Throughout the design process, the CDAC team and community stakeholders worked collaboratively to develop design goals and strategies for achieving those goals. After presenting a preliminary concept to a number of Spotsylvania County representatives at a community meeting, suggestions received were used to develop the concept and create final route options. The final concept, as presented in this document, is meant to provide a number of route choices. While some routes are presented as more ideal than others, the flexibility of the final proposal will aid in its adaptive implementation. With this in mind, the success of this project relies not only on presenting a desirable trail routing concept, but ensuring that the final concept is firmly rooted in community interest and practical understandings of the limits of the project. - Devil John Wright Trail linkage & enhancement master planGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Dunne, Peter; Jessup, Jennifer; Walker, Harley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-03-01)Jenkins, KY began as a railroad town; however, it has a history of moonshining and the legendary Devil John Wright. Devil John became known for gunslinging and ruthlessness. It was the desire of Jenkins to incorporate this history in the future master plan for the city.
- Elkhorn City trail town master planGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Jessup, Jennifer; Pieri, Gray; Walker, Harley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-03)Elkhorn City is a community of approximately 1,000 people located in Pike County on the Kentucky-Virginia border. It is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and has many geographic wonders that could make it a major tourist destination in Kentucky. First and foremost of these natural wonders is the Russell Fork River, a tributary of the Big Sandy River, which flows through the center of the city. It is well known for its whitewater rafting, featuring Class II-VI rapids. Elkhorn City is also geographically located in proximity to the Pine Mountain Trail and Breaks Interstate Park.1 Elkhorn City recognizes the value of its natural assets and hopes to utilize them to promote tourism and stimulate economic growth.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing conceptual designs for greenspaces, streetscapes, and wayfinding that would strengthen Elkhorn City as a Trail Town. Areas that were designed included the existing caboose site, a community garden site, a park along the river, and the downtown streetscape. In addition, the team developed designs for wayfinding signage throughout downtown and at gateways to the city. The CDAC team also explored creating an overall master plan or potential tourist pamphlet for the community to market themselves as a Trail Town. CDAC worked closely with the community and stakeholder groups to develop these concepts which are discussed in further detail in the following report. - Elkhorn City visitor center & community center conceptual designsGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Rogers, Robin; Oesmann, Kelsey; Rosenfelder, Stephen (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-03)Elkhorn City, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky, has significant potential as a tourist destination. Straddling the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River, the city draws skilled whitewater rafters to the Class II-VI rapids. The Pine Mountain Trail and TransAmerica Bike Trail, as well as its proximity to Breaks Interstate Park, bring hikers, bikers, and cyclists through the area. The past and current character of the town is heavily influenced by the river, the railroad, and the arts culture. Elkhorn City recognizes the value of its natural assets and hopes to utilize them to promote tourism and stimulate economic growth.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with designing an engaging and inviting visitor center for Elkhorn City, which would provide tourists with amenities such as restrooms and dining, as well as information about things to see and do nearby. Space for educational and cultural events was also requested, and potential uses for the existing railroad museum were explored. In addition, CDAC was asked to design a community center for the residents of Elkhorn City, to provide space for events such as weddings, meetings, and fundraisers, and to serve as an emergency shelter for the community. CDAC worked closely with the community and stakeholder groups to develop these concepts which are discussed in further detail in the following report. - Entryway designs and trail recommendations for Waynesboro's Sunset ParkGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Jessup, Jennifer; Browning, Matthew Mutel (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-10)Waynesboro, located three miles from the junction of Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail, is a hub for outdoor recreation. Recently, the city has made efforts to expand its connection to the proposed redesign of the Crozet Tunnel. A trail from the Crozet Tunnel to Waynesboro would contribute to the expansion of the regional bicycling and hiking network, including the Appalachian Trail and U.S. Bicycle Route 76 (Blue Ridge Parkway). Waynesboro would like to expand on and connect to this feature by transforming an old landfill into a community park.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing a conceptual design for an overall master plan of the landfill which shows possible connections to the Crozet Tunnel and locates a pedestrian trail that would link with proposed mountain biking trails created by a local mountain biking club. In conjunction with the overall master plan, guidelines on appropriate trail development and forest management recommendations were researched. and The possibility of adding zip lines at the top of the landfill was explored. In addition, conceptual designs were developed for the park entry and the reuse of the existing refuse public works building. The team also generated ideas for park character, including materials for entryway signage, kiosks, and trail markers.
CDAC worked closely with stakeholder representatives to develop these concepts which are discussed in further detail in the following report. - Greater Park Place: Community Gateway and Neighborhood BeautificationGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Serge, Will; Moskaluk, Lexi (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-07)Greater Park Place is a term used to represent four adjoining neighborhoods – Lamberts Point, Kensington Place, Park Place, and Villa Heights – located in the City of Norfolk. Developed as a streetcar community in the late 19th and early 20th century, this area makes up one of Norfolk’s oldest neighborhoods. The aesthetic character created by its historic architecture, as well as its proximity to downtown, the Zoological Gardens, Lafayette Park, and Old Dominion University, make it an attractive neighborhood.
Over the years, the Greater Park Place has struggled with high poverty rates, low property values, and low home ownership, which has led to reduced property stewardship and neighborhood appeal. In recent years, however, the community and various partners have come together to try and revitalize the neighborhood. As part of this process, residents worked with czb LLC in 2010 to draft a Vision Engagement Plan (VEP) report for the Greater Park Place neighborhood. This document was authored “by the residents for themselves and their future partners” and serves as both a status report and a mission statement for future development. Within this document, residents were able to identify a Target Area where there is the greatest concentration of marketable strength; where stabilization and health can be achieved with the greatest efficiency. The Target Area is located inside Omohundro-Debree-38th to mid-block of 30th and 29th. After after the purchase of a tract of farm land by the city, the Park Place Neighborhood was incorporated into the historic City of Norfolk in 1902. Now the diverse community within the Park Place neighborhood boasts its own Civic League run by its residents, who pride themselves on their rich history as a neighborhood, the opportunities their location has to offer, and a close-knit community feeling. The neighborhood has recently built a new YMCA and houses Monroe Elementary School, a community garden, and many churches. The historical architecture featuring houses in Late Victorian, Tudor Revival, Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revival, and Craftsman styles is also a prominent feature of the neighborhood.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing a number of conceptual designs: a gateway park at the intersection of Broadway, Granby, and Omohundro Streets, a design of gem lots, a series of proposed parklets, and residential planting designs. In addition, the team explored community branding and street-scape design. CDAC worked closely with the community and stakeholder groups to develop these concepts, which are discussed in further detail in the following report. - Greater Park Place: Community Gateway and Neighborhood Beautification Stewardship PlanGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Rosenberger, Jack; Jessup, Jennifer (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-07)The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) recognizes the need to incorporate detailed stewardship plans with conceptual design work. A project cannot achieve long term success without a strategy for proper planting, care, and maintenance. The information in this document describes strategies for CDAC design concepts that have been implemented. Such stewardship includes general landscape maintenance, tree and planting care, controlling nonnative and invasive plant species, pests, disease control, habitats, streetscapes, and parks.
One of the greatest and most satisfying aspects of landscape design is its ever changing and transformative nature over time. CDAC is committed to providing communities with sustainable designs and the continued success of our work over time is ensured through the environmental stewardship practices described in this document. CDAC aims to provide resilient and sustainable design solutions that can grow and evolve for the benefit of future generations. After projects developed by CDAC are implemented and installed, it is our hope that this stewardship plan will help each community we assist be successful stewards of their respective conceptual designs. - Greendale Elementary School outdoor classroom & educational trailGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Jessup, Jennifer; Wu, Silvia; Browning, Matthew; Environmental Interpretation Class (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-06)Greendale Elementary School is located in Abingdon, Virginia within Washington County. It is comprised of grades preschool through fifth grade totaling approximately 380 students. Currently there are two outdoor classrooms and a nature trail on the property. The outdoor classrooms are divided between a preschool/ADA accessible garden and a kindergarten through fifth grade garden. Both gardens have been utilized in the past, but are currently underused and neglected.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing conceptual designs to restore the two outdoor classrooms. The proposed outdoor classroom features would incorporate grade-appropriate Standards of Learning (SOL) objectives to help students make the connection between book knowledge and actual “hands on” application in the outdoor classroom, focusing primarily on the “micro” concepts of ecology, biology, aquatics, and soils. The classroom should also encourage different types of uses and include opportunities for lessons on all subject matter.
Greendale also wanted CDAC to explore extending the existing nature trail. This proposed trail would connect the existing nature trail to the existing fitness track on the lower portion of the school grounds. The proposed trail would incorporate a variety of learning stations that introduce the students to “macro” oriented concepts such as forests, land use, climate, and the solar system. In doing so, this would provide the opportunity for weaving in present day challenges of balancing land-use and economic needs with environmental protection and community sustainability. It would also provide the opportunity for real-life experiences of achievement through teamwork among classmates, teachers, parents, and partner organizations that share the same vision for improving the educational potential in local schools.
Greendale is trying to increase awareness for the need of physical activity and the value of a healthy life style. Both portions of the project address obesity and poverty issues by encouraging physical activity in the garden areas and on the loop trail. It also teaches students how to grow vegetables and how that relates to proper nutrition.
The Design Center also collaborated with students in the Spring 2014 Environmental Interpretation course at Virginia Tech’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. These students developed the text for the interpretive materials (e.g. signs and kiosk) in the outdoor classroom areas and loop trail designs. - Hazard conceptual design : coal miners memorial, pathfinders greenway, and various parksGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Davis, Brad; Walker, Harley; Gracey, Sarah (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2013-10)The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was asked to develop conceptual designs for five sites and a greenway in Hazard. The sites varied in both size and function and included City Hall Park, a coal miners memorial, and parks on Liberty Street, Highland Avenue, and Gorman Hollow Road. The conceptual design improvements for City Hall Park creates a gathering space for both small scale and large events and includes the renovation of an amphitheater and the creation of a performance stage. The design for a coal miners memorial at the triangle by the Gorman Bridge transforms an empty grass lot into a town square with symbolic features paying tribute to Hazard’s coal mining past. The designs for improved basketball courts and playgrounds on Liberty Street and Highland Avenue improve existing and introduce new outdoor recreation opportunities for the neighborhoods. Finally, the conceptual design for Gorman Hollow improves the overall quality of the housing development by providing new outdoor recreation opportunities for its residents and improving the aesthetics of its outdoor spaces.
- Jonesborough Municipal Garage Complex Conceptual Site Master PlanGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Hill, Matt; Jessup, Jennifer; Rosenberger, Jack (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-06)Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough, is known for its historic preservation, small-town charm, and the International Storytelling Festival. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The town offers its residents a number of recreational opportunities including Wetlands Water Park, Persimmon Ridge Park, the Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts, and the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. Another popular destination is Jonesborough’s Senior Citizen Center. The center offers “a variety of events and trips, opportunities for outreach to the community, education, socializing, health and fitness, and spiritual and vocational classes.” Although the population of Jonesborough was only 5,975 in the 2010 census, the Senior Citizen Center serves the broader Washington County area and has approximately 2,000 members. In addition, it has over 350 volunteers who help manage and operate the center.
In 2014, the Town of Jonesborough began constructing a new facility for the Senior Citizen Center in order to better meet the needs of its members. The new location is closer to the downtown area and will be more easily accessible. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2015. The new center neighbors the town’s municipal garage and is located in the Longview Drive/North Lincoln Street neighborhood.
Although the town has actively tried to screen the municipal garage area and its activities from the surrounding neighborhood, they feel that the construction of the new Senior Citizen Center offers an opportunity to remove the municipal garage to a more appropriate location and then utilize the vacated land as an asset - a park that serves the seniors and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Town of Jonesborough requested that the Community Design Assistance Center help in the site planning for the new municipal garage and the redesign of the current municipal garage property. The new municipal garage site is located in the floodplain of Little Limestone Creek, so special attention was paid to the floodway and the appropriate type of development for the site. In addition, the town wanted to minimize any impacts of the new facility on neighboring residents.
It was envisioned that the current municipal garage property would be redeveloped into a senior citizen/neighborhood park. This park would serve the needs of the Longview Drive/North Lincoln Street neighborhood as well as the Senior Citizen Center.
The site planning for the new municipal garage is described in this report. The conceptual design for the park is described in a separate report. - Jonesborough, TN: North Lincoln Avenue Community Park Conceptual DesignGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Hill, Matt; Jessup, Jennifer; Rosenberger, Jack (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-06)Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough, is known for its historic preservation, small-town charm, and the International Storytelling Festival. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The town offers its residents a number of recreational opportunities including Wetlands Water Park, Persimmon Ridge Park, the Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts, and the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. Another popular destination is Jonesborough’s Senior Citizen Center. The center offers “a variety of events and trips, opportunities for outreach to the community, education, socializing, health and fitness, and spiritual and vocational classes.” Although the population of Jonesborough was only 5,975 in the 2010 census, the Senior Citizen Center serves the broader Washington County area and has approximately 2,000 members. In addition, it has over 350 volunteers who help manage and operate the center.
In 2014, the Town of Jonesborough began constructing a new facility for the Senior Citizen Center in order to better meet the needs of its members. The new location is closer to the downtown area and will be more easily accessible to residents. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2015. The new center neighbors the town’s municipal garage and is located in the Longview Drive/North Lincoln Street neighborhood.
Although the town has actively tried to screen the garage and its activities from the surrounding neighborhood, they feel that the construction of the new Senior Citizen Center offers an opportunity to move the municipal garage to a more appropriate location and then utilize the vacated land as an asset - a park that serves the seniors and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Town of Jonesborough requested that the Community Design Assistance Center aide in the redesign of the current municipal garage property into a neighborhood park. This park would serve the needs of the Longview Drive/North Lincoln Street neighborhood as well as the Senior Citizen Center community. - London, KY : Turning London Green : Conceptual Designs for the Expansion of London's Streetscape and GreenspacesGilboy, Elizabeth; Philen, Melissa; Browning, Lara; Gray, Shane; Gresham, Carter; Souza de Souza, Aline Soares; Jones, Alexander (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2016-02)Located in Laurel County, Kentucky, the City of London is beginning to look to the future of the town and opportunities that exist for downtown improvements. The downtown area already contains several local restaurants and boutique shops, however the area is lacking in any major green space and is in need of streetscape improvements. Main Street exists as a lovely example of streetscape beautification. Urban trees, perennial shrub plantings, benches, and other pedestrian amenities line the corridor. London hopes to expand upon this aesthetic design by including the Broad Street corridor. London’s goal is to create a system of connected greenspace to promote outdoor physical activity such as walking and bicycling. Due to London’s recent designation as the Cycling Capitol of Kentucky, the city also looks to renovate and reassess its current cycling infrastructure. Directional and informational signage are also needed to unite the city under one clear aesthetic.
The city hopes to incorporate greenspace, provide safe and comfortable walking routes, celebrate their rich culture, and infuse the streets with local public art. By doing this, London hopes to have a more vibrant, welcoming, and economically viable destination for residents and visitors alike. - Luray greenway extension & waterfront pocket park : conceptual designs, Luray, VAGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Houck, Chris; Shealy, Kaitlin; Smith, Jessica (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2013-11)The downtown of Luray is a major hub for activities, festivals, and commerce within the small town. Ruffner's Plaza, located just off the greenway allows a public space for residents and visitors alike. The community area has become a place of year-round gathering, hosting summer concerts and fall festivals. [1] Taken from project application dated August 2012
Hoping to further enhance the Main Street, the Town is proposing to add a pocket park located adjacent to Main Street in the Town center. Luray would like the park to be a gathering place for residents and tourists to fish, relax, and enjoy Hawksbill Creek and the Greenway, both of which are immediately adjacent to the property. The existing bridge is in the preliminary planning stages of renovation. Therefore, the pocket park design could be partnered with that project to help transform the downtown as well.
Upon visiting the overgrown site with several Town leaders, the CDAC team members realized the great potential of the pocket park to act as a natural focal point and fishing node for downtown visitors. - Mill View Estates Park conceptual design : prepared for the Town of Bridgewater, VAGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Jessup, Jennifer; Paul, Lauren; Pieri, Gray (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-03)The Town of Bridgewater is located near the southern border of Rockingham County and along the northern edge of the North River. The town currently encompasses 2.48 square miles with a population of approximately 5,774 in 2012.
The Community Design Assistance Center was tasked with developing a conceptual design for a 4.73 acre park at the Mill View Estates Subdivision. The site is located along the northwestern section of Bridgewater’s corporate limits. The new park will serve residents of that part of town which currently do not have a park close by.
Throughout the design process, the Mill View Estates Park team, which consisted of the CDAC team and representatives from the Town of Bridgewater, worked collaboratively to develop a conceptual plan for the Town of Bridgewater. This report documents the design process and describes the final concept that was developed. - Morganton, NC: Building a Healthier Community through Open Spaces, Greenways, and Natural Resource EnhancementGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Eliason, Amy; Gresham, Carter (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-07)“Established in 1777, Morganton is the county seat and cultural, governmental, financial, and commercial center of Burke County, the largest county in Western North Carolina. Sitting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Hickory and Asheville, Morganton’s location along I-40 makes it an important economic center for the region.
Morganton and the surrounding counties, cities, and towns are blessed with scenic rural landscapes, bountiful natural resources, and a rich historic and cultural heritage. Lake James State Park, the Linville Gorge, Pisgah National Forest, and South Mountains State Park are short drives from the city. Morganton prides itself on providing big city services wrapped in small town charm.”
The Foothills Conservancy approached the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) looking to evaluate an existing trail system on a site just south of Downtown Morganton. An array of different types of trails exist on the various properties of the site. In addition, the largest stakeholder on this “Pentagon” site, Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC), seeks to welcome and attract community members to the area for recreational use. With this in mind, WPCC is requesting options for an enhanced trail system that will connect with the various other sites, including the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) and Broughton Hospital. Burke County, hailed as “Nature’s Playground,” also seeks to create an environment that promotes healthy living. This project will work in conjunction with the North Carolina Forest Service’s goal of appropriate large scale reforestation.
The Community Design Assistance Center prepared a conceptual master plan for trails, as well as detailed amenity spaces, planting recommendations, and reforestation guidelines.