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Case Studies

 

Masterplanning and Greenspace Development Case Studies

I. Zone Recreation Center
Initiated by the Cleveland EcoVillage in partnership with the City of Cleveland Parks, Recreation, and Properties Department and ParkWorks, the Michael Zone Recreation Center Sustainable Greenspace Master Plan was created in response to a call for an eco-friendly revitalization of the community recreation center. A highly trafficked City of Cleveland site with thousands of visitors each year, the center is located across the street from the EcoVillage Rapid station and has nine schools within close proximity. The site currently includes heavily utilized traditional recreation fields for baseball and soccer as well as 22 acres of greenspace. At two public meetings over 150 neighborhood residents gave their input on what specific improvements they would like to see.

Utilizing the community input, ParkWorks coordinated a request for proposal and selection process to retain a consultant team to develop a master plan for the site. The design criteria sent to potential consultants included the following:

  • Provide a national model for ecological urban greenspace design
  • Incorporation of the results of the community planning process
  • Strategies for on-site treatment of stormwater, including run-off from the recreation center building and parking lot, and determine feasibility of daylighting stormwater sewers on the site
  • Consideration of principles of permaculture, including the use of low maintenance native vegetation
  • Areas of natural habitat restoration and determine the feasibility of created wetlands
  • Address trail layout and access to the Regional Transit Authority's rapid station
  • Integrate ecological design and recreational amenities

After careful review, a selection committee comprised of representatives from EcoCity Cleveland, The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, ParkWorks, The City of Cleveland Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties, Cleveland Public Art and the Councilman's office, elected Cleveland-based landscape architect McKnight & Associates, Davey Resources and Manka Design Studio as the consultant team that would develop the master plan for this project. In collaboration with the City of Cleveland Parks Department, a project steering committee, and the neighborhood, the consulting team completed a design that incorporated the results of three community meetings, involving the input of over 300 local residents.

The resulting design and planning objectives focused on integrating the following unique environmental and educational opportunities alongside traditional recreation usage for the 22-acre site.

Environmental Objectives

  • The project will retain all stormwater on site through best management practices including biofiltration swales and wetlands. Cutting edge demonstrations of low impact management strategies will
    • provide education on reducing non-point source pollution
    • reduce combined sewer overflows from the Walworth Run Interceptor
    • improve the water quality of the Cuyahoga River.
  • The project will restore well-defined areas of wetland, woodland, and meadow habitat to enhance the ecological functions of the site, including providing a resting spot for migrating birds and butterflies.
  • The generation of solar and wind energy will be demonstrated on-site. Wind turbines will provide an inspirational landmark.
  • Principles of permaculture and sustainable landscape stewardship will be incorporated into the design and management of the greenspace.

Educational Objectives

  • The project will include both an on-site self-directed educational component for the general public and a curriculum based educational component for students of Northeast Ohio region, both designed to communicate environmental lessons pertaining to permaculture, pollution, ecosystems, etc.
  • The project will provide opportunities for the design team and the community to learn from each other via educational workshops for regional design and construction professionals. Specifically, City of Cleveland Parks, Recreation, and Properties Staff will engage in hands-on workshops to learn sustainable management techniques in order to provide ongoing stewardship for the greenspace. Additionally, workshops in conjunction with the ecological enhancements addressing topics in stormwater wetland creation, habitat enhancement, the use of wind turbines, and naturalized area maintenance in an urban setting will enroll up to 300 environmental, recreation, and community development professionals.
  • Project constituents will document the entire process through the nationally recognized EcoCity Cleveland website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ecocitycleveland.org" www.ecocitycleveland.org) and the EcoCity Journal.

Budget:

The Zone Recreation Center Sustainable Greenspace preliminary construction budget is approximately $4 million. The project partners anticipate that additional budget items will include funding for curriculum planning and public outreach. A comprehensive fundraising effort led by ParkWorks is already in progress for the project. Ward 17 Councilman Matt Zone has currently designated $297,000 to the project, and pledged another $300,000. For a total of $597,000 committed to the project.

II. Rockefeller Park

Rockefeller Park is one of the region's most expansive and historic greenways, featuring a series of more than 20 cultural gardens, the City of Cleveland Greenhouse, winding bikeways, a critical connection to the lake and access to densely populated neighborhoods on either side. Bisecting the park is Martin Luther King Boulevard (MLK), a primary vehicular artery to the booming employment centers of University Hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic and additional cultural and educational institutions of University Circle.

The Master Plan is intended to maximize the potential of this highly-trafficked, visible corridor and address issues pertaining to the park, the traffic flow on MLK, bike paths, long-term maintenance and direct connectivity to surroundings neighborhoods. The purpose of the Master Plan is to coordinate with and build upon existing plans and planning efforts from both a greenspace and multi-modal perspective, identify possible future developments and improvements, including natural stream restoration activities, partnership opportunities, historic and cultural resources protection, operation and maintenance needs and solutions, public use, and volunteer and educational program opportunities within Rockefeller Park.

Due to the depth of their experience, ParkWorks will provide the needed expertise in managing a complex process that includes the agenda of many partners, including:

  • The City of Cleveland as owners of the park,
  • The Holden Park Trust who has previously been engaged in master-planning and ongoing capital improvement efforts,
  • The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership who are engaged in watershed issues that extend beyond the park and study area,
  • The Cultural Gardens Federation that coordinates the activities of the various ethnic groups engaged in the gardens,
  • University Circle Inc. who has an interest in the gateway function to its institutions.

In its managerial role, ParkWorks will lead a process to identify the issues, challenges and opportunities as identified by each partner. Rockefeller Park is flanked by neighborhoods in various states of redevelopment, which need improved park access and that would benefit from enhanced transportation systems. ParkWorks will conduct comprehensive community outreach and input gathering process that will be carried out throughout the phases of project development. Furthermore, ParkWorks will spearhead the following initiatives:

  • Information gathering and review of all stakeholders' development plans that impact Rockefeller Park and/or immediate areas and community access to the Park.
  • Creation and coordination of an Advisory Group to the Master Plan process.
  • Community outreach.
  • Coordination of stakeholders' design charrette.
  • Refine concepts into a final preferred Master Plan.
  • Produce and distribute a final Master Plan report.
  • Recommend maintenance and programming opportunities for Rockefeller Park.

Budget:

City of Cleveland, Department of Port Control $ 20,000.00 Holden Parks Trust - $25,000 (pending) $ 25,000.00 Funding Gap $ 45,000.00 Total project budget $ 90,000.00