Community Open House December 13, 2011 A project of the Green Infrastructure Center, supported by Skeo Solutions
Project Background The Green Infrastructure Center, Inc. (GIC) was formed in 2006 to help local governments and communities identify, prioritize and protect their green assets. This project grew out of several years of work at the regional and city scale: Richmond Region, 2009 City of Richmond, 2010 Neighborhood, 2011 Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 2
Acknowledgements A special thank you Altria Group VA Dept. of Forestry City of Richmond Skeo Solutions Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 3
Overview Purpose and goals Watershed, schoolshed, site Water flows Pedestrian flows Strategies for Bellemeade Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 4
Develop a shared vision, set of strategies and concept plan to improve the creek and neighborhood health in Bellemeade PURPOSE Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 5
Watershed + Schoolshed THE CONCEPT Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 6
Watershed + Schoolshed The City of Richmond is developing a Stormwater Master Plan to improve water quality, mitigate flooding and reduce stream bank erosion. The plan will assist in prioritizing capital investments over time. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 7
Watershed + Schoolshed The new Oak Grove Elementary school will stand as a beacon in our community, lighting the way for new hope and prosperity. I envision the new school as a silent teacher; its beauty wrapped around educational programs that will teach the whole child and support the needs of the community. Jannie Laursen, Principal Oak Grove Elementary School Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 8
Walkable Watershed Objectives Slow, infiltrate and clean rain water. Improve pedestrian routes to the community center and new school. Connect the neighborhood to the creek, the regional trail and the James River. Create outdoor education opportunities. Develop a sense of community centered around the new school and the watershed. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 9
WATER FLOW Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 10
Water flows Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 11
Water flow challenges Erosive flows Channelization Polluted water Local flooding Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 12
Potential drainage issues Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot Image Credit: Timmons Group 13
Water flow strategies Flowing Ponding Learning Celebrating Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 14
Water Strategies - flowing Planted streetscapes can be used to slow and clean stormwater. Stormwater flow can be integrated into the streetscape in a way that provides multiple benefits traffic calming, pedestrian safety and landscaping. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 15
Water Strategies - flowing Healthy banks include vegetation to stabilize the banks, keep the water cool and provide habitat. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 16
Water Strategies - ponding Ponds can help slow rainwater reducing flooding and stream bank erosion. Ponds can be designed to provide park-like amenities with wildlife habitat and views of water. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 17
Water Strategies - learning Stormwater strategies can be designed to highlight how rainwater flows through the neighborhood to the creek. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 18
Water Strategies - celebrating Features such as bridges, splash blocks, storm drain inlets can be designed to celebrate the watershed. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 19
PEDESTRIAN FLOWS Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 20
Pedestrian flows Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 21
Pedestrian flow challenges Lack of sidewalks Arterial crossings Visibility and safety Crossing Creek Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 22
Lack of Sidewalks Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 23
Pedestrian flow: benefits Walking meets the Surgeon General s exercise recommendation of 30 minutes a day. Walking increases ability to concentrate, including for children with ADHD. Children who walk or bike to school obtain more overall physical exercise than those who ride in a car or bus. Children who walk or bike to school are more likely to walk or bike to other destinations in the neighborhood. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot Image Credit: http://www.thehealthage.com/2010/08/children-walk-school-stressed- 24 exams/ (25 Oct. 2011)
Pedestrian flow: principles Connection Ensure that walking & biking routes connect key local attractors such as public transit stops, schools, work, and cultural destinations and provide connections to key regional networks. Comfort Using walking and biking routes should be high quality, safe and enjoyable experiences. Convenience Routes should be direct and designed for the convenience of pedestrians and cyclists, including those with impaired mobility. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot Image Credit: Safe Routes to Schools and Health (SRTS, 2010) 25
IDEAS FOR BELLEMEADE Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 26
Ideas for Bellemeade The following concept plans present a set of priorities generated by students, residents, community leaders and city representatives at a working session held in October. These ideas focus on how to improve pedestrian connections and the health of the creek in a way that can unite the community around the stream and the new Oak Grove Elementary School. These ideas will be refined based on input from the community open house and summarized in a final report expected in February. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 27
Concept Plans Include 3 Scales Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 28
Watershed scale Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 29
Watershed Strategies Connect the neighborhood to the James River Branch Rail Trail Transform the CSX property into a park that extends James River Branch Rail Trail. Consider pocket parks along Jeff Davis to announce greenway Identify opportunities to clean and infiltrate rain water along the trail Evaluate options for connecting the neighborhood to the James River in the future. Plant trees and restore the stream bank within the city parkland Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 30
Neighborhood scale Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 31
Neighborhood Strategies Create green streets that improve drainage and sidewalks on primary school routes including Lynhaven, Mason, Overlook, Minafee and Mimosa. Improve creek crossings at Overlook and Minafee. Add sidewalks, creek signage and overlooks to planned culvert crossings improvements. Develop a creek watershed loop trail with educational and exercise stations. Promote community gardening, rain gardens, tot lots, community vendor locations and other community building and education opportunities at City-owned parcels along school routes. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 32
Site scale Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 33
Site Strategies Build a new bridge at Overlook creek crossing with a safe, lighted entry corridor leading to the new bridge. Install bike-friendly path from Overlook creek crossing to school and community center. Restore and protect the stream banks. Design an outdoor learning classroom and community gathering space near the creek that could showcase a rain garden. Install traffic calming at intersections near school including Lynhaven and Webber. Acquire parcel or right of way north of school to extend the creek views and learning opportunities. Create creek-side trail from school through the park to use for learning opportunities and recreation. Create a loop trail with shade trees and resting spots around north field and south field Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 34
Events and Programs Name the Creek and the Park! Only Rain Down the (storm)drain education program Schedule special neighborhood events at the creek and adjacent fields. Schedule regular events to learn about and clean the creek. Connect creek and walking routes to educational requirements in school. Hold a walk to school day (or race to school day). Organize more activities for the underutilized north field such as a community garden or mixed-use sports field. Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 35
Student Ideas for Walking Connecting sidewalks Ensuring that dog owners have their dogs fenced or on leashes Safe bridge crossings at Bellemeade Creek Paint the bridge! ½ hour no car zone before and after school Removing trash and planting flowers along the route Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 36
Student Ideas for Learning Name the stream! Science experiments in the stream Plantings to stabilize the stream banks and beautify the landscape Learn about what a watershed is Students to lead community education on trash disposal and the watershed Go Green t-shirts Develop a watershed mural at the school Create an outdoor classroom with a shelter large enough for 2-3 classrooms of students Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 37
Please contact Alisa Hefner at 434-975-6700 ext 235 or ahefner@skeo.com if you d like to provide additional comments. WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS? Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Pilot 38