Open Space Seattle: 2100 Designing Seattle’S Green Network for the Next Century

Open Space Seattle: 2100 Designing Seattle’s Green Network for the Next Century

MAPS Systems and Structures for Livable Cities EXISTING PLANS

INCLUSIVE NEEDS Report to the Guidance and Executive Committees December 13, 2005 SYSTEMS

University of Washington TYPOLOGIES Landscape Architecture 561 Professor Nancy Rottle IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS Mapping

POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT Watershed Delineations DENSITY URBAN VILLAGES HABITIAT CREEK BASINS ZONING TRANSIT NETWORK LAND USE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME INDIVIDUALS LIVING BELOW POVERTY LEVEL RACE RELATED DEMOGRAPHICS Map Collection AMONG OTHERS Existing Plans

PARKS AND Open Space Gap Report OPEN SPACE

NEIGHBORHOODS

ECOLOGY

TRANSPORTATION Existing Plans

PARKS AND Seattle Neighborhood Plans OPEN SPACE

NEIGHBORHOODS

ECOLOGY

TRANSPORTATION Existing Plans

PARKS AND Seattle Right of Way OPEN SPACE Improvements Manual

NEIGHBORHOODS

ECOLOGY

TRANSPORTATION Existing Plans

PARKS AND Restore Our Waters OPEN SPACE

NEIGHBORHOODS

ECOLOGY

TRANSPORTATION Inclusive Needs

What is open space to you? Groups “places where there •Low Income are moments for •Homeless magic” •Ethnic minority groups -Jourdan Keith •Children/Families •Elderly •Disabled “places for just being together”

-Mercedes Cordova- Haleim General Issues •Health Exercise and recreation for youth, non-toxic environment, “it opens the mind and safety senses and allows for freedom” •Access -Erdris R. Syed R. Idrs Transportation, cultural sensitivity, ADA, perception of safety

- Community Conversation •Robustness Meeting, December 3, 2005 Designed for diverse groups/activities and large groups Inclusive Needs

What is open Community Conversation Meeting (December 3, 2005) space to you? • Meeting arranged through Seattle Parks and Recreation. • Begin conversation with diverse communities for 100-year plan for “places where there Seattle open space. are moments for • Report will be available to incorporate into design process. magic” -Jourdan Keith Issues Raised • Importance of cultivating stewardship among youth and connecting open spaces to schools and neighborhood centers “places for just being together” • Using technology to activate spaces, encourage interaction and inform users of hidden processes -Mercedes Cordova- • Utilize non-traditional spaces (street-ends, traffic circles, sidewalks) Haleim as open space • Provide open spaces that are comfortable for large family groups and cultural events “it opens the mind and senses and allows for freedom” -Erdris R. Syed R. Idrs

- Community Conversation Meeting, December 3, 2005 Open Space Precedents

Boulder Chicago Copenhagen Minneapolis New York Pittsburgh Portland San Francisco Vancouver Chicago Illinois

552 parks on more than 7000 acres

The nice thing is, if you improve the • Anchors quality of life for Grant Park, Gold Coast, Soldier’s Field and Shoreline Parks people in your city, you will end up attracting new • Connective Corridors people and Lakefront Parks, Boulevard between employers. Our Washington & Jackson Park, Chicago River Trail quality-of-life measures helped attract new • Recreational 31 beaches, 5000 marina slips, Washington companies like Park, Lincoln Park Zoo (with bike path), Navy Boeing. Pier.

-Richard Daley, Mayor of Chicago

Open Space System CHICAGO IL Lessons Learned

As schools lost their • Strong leadership that is effectiveness as community anchors, committed to sound environmental the same thing design and stewardship in public happened to parks, space helps urban civic pride libraries and other (cyclical) public spaces. People stopped using them, and the • Improving the quality of life of Buckingham Fountain (Grant Park) City stopped taking people in the city has attracted care of them. Or new residents and employers maybe people stopped using them because the City • Plans only go so far – stopped taking care implementation is needed of them. - Richard Daley, • Neglect of maintenance has been The Bean – Millennium Park Mayor of Chicago a problem in past

Open Space System CHICAGO IL Minneapolis Minnesota

Notable Statistics Horace W.S. • System established in 1883 as Cleveland, a independent board by state landscape architect legislature. A semi-autonomous independent and citizen-elected whose work branch of City government included New York’s • 6,400 acres of parks, 170 Prospect Park and properties Chicago’s South • 10.2 acres per person, $153 Park Commission, expended per capita, 382,618 conceived and people designed a linear Park Goals open space system for Minneapolis • Environment organized around • Recreation natural hydrological •Community systems (rivers, streams, lakes)

Open Space System MINNEAPOLIS MN Approaches

• BMPs and Environmental [The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Monitoring Board] can recapture • No Net Loss of Parkland the designs of • Riverfront Acquisition Olmsted and Wirth, "perhaps America's • Linkages finest urban open • Economic Investment space network“ while restoring 5,000 years • Public and private of biological wisdom collaboration in this landscape, creating anew these "… spots of trees, as if planted by the hand of art for the purpose of ornamenting this natural splendid scene." (W.R. Smith, 1837, in Curtis,1959)

Open Space System MINNEAPOLIS MN Lessons Learned

Will it work for Seattle? Cedar Achievements Meadows Wetlands • Historic infrastructure of open Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board space received a 4-star • Original park plans rooted in rating in 2000 from appreciation of hydrological Trust for Public Lands features and was described as the “closest to park • Strong citizen involvement and nirvana.” support • Logical and accessible linkages and multiuse • Focus on environment both monitoring and acquisition Challenges • Budget shortfalls because of dependence on property taxes • Temporary moratorium on new projects • Delicate balance between Open Space System private interests and public needs Stormwater Management at MINNEAPOLIS MN Lake Harriet New York City

Key Components NYC Open Space Stats: • serves 7,381,000 people ANCHORS • Central Park • 52,938 acres (26.6% of city) • Prospect Park • Battery City Park • 7.17acres per 1000 people • Waterfront Park System • Gateway National • $41 per person Recreation Area • Van Cortland Park

CONNECTIONS • parkways • bike and greenway system (350 miles) • waterfront park system • river corridors

NEIGHBORHOODS • includes 700 vacant lots transformed into gardens (112 – TPL) (36 – NYC Parks)

Open Space System NEW YORK NY Estuary with 500+ miles of waterfront Waterfront Blueprint

Waterfront Waterfront Park Alliance Blueprint (New York League of Conservation Voters) Projects • 35+ nonprofit organizations in support of waterfront development •Hudson River • Reviewed 100+ proposals Greenway • Focused on transformation of former •Riverdale Station industrial waterfront to diverse public spaces BRONX •Dodge Dock Parks & Open Spaces •Spuyten Duyvil (greenways, piers, meadows, promenades) Habitat preserves Station and Penn Economic investment opportunities MANHATTAN Central Triangle QUEENS • 3000 acres of vacant city land on waterfront •Bronx River Revitalization BROOKLYN STATEN ISLAND

Open Space System NEW YORK NY http://www.nylcv.org/Programs/WPC/blueprint/ Major Components

CONNECTIVE CORRIDORS

ANCHORS Pioneer Square Park

NEIGHBOR- HOOD PARKS IraEsplanade Keller Fountain Plaza

CIVIC SPACES

PORTLAND, OR Urban Green Spaces Institute

Portland seeks “…a full spectrum of • Integrate or “interdigitate” streams into city fabric diverse, high- quality parks, open • Watershed analysis drives restoration priorities spaces, natural areas, recreation facilities and • “Curbs are evil” excellent education programs bring • Integration of urban environmental education through joy, fulfillment and growth to the lives of Portland’s the City Nature Program residents.” • Understand urban system through varied mapping

scales

Open Space System PORTLAND OR Vancouver, BC Lively and Diverse by Nature

NOTABLE • Independently elected park FEATURES board

Vancouver Parks • Community Amenity Mission Contributions through rezoning Provide, preserve and Roundhouse Community Center advocate for parks and • Connective corridors at multiple recreation services to scales benefit people, Linkage of Schools, Community communities and the environment. Centers and Parks

Open Space System VANCOUVER BC City Greenways Plan What’s Worked, What Hasn’t

LESSONS • Keeping waterfront space public vastly improves neighborhoods and is crucial to connectivity. LEARNED • Combine parks, community centers and schools to increase the "Few cities' value of each. possess such a combination of • Within an overall vision consider zoning of projects case by case nearby natural in order to capitalize upon the unique aspects of particular sites resources, a for the public benefit. splendid harbor, a terrain ideally suited for urban • Density requires pedestrian connectivity and scale and use, an equable downtown amenities. Increasing these, in conjunction with seeing climate, and a congestion as an ally promotes downtown living. setting of great natural beauty." • An independent parks board increases the significance of parks - Harland and improves system-wide coordination, but limits ability to Bartholomew 1928 integrate with other city initiatives.

• Connectivity is well-established in Vancouver but opportunities to Open Space System establish urban ecology could be better exploited. VANCOUVER BC Open Space Precedents

Boulder Chicago Copenhagen Minneapolis New York Pittsburgh Portland San Francisco Vancouver Open Space Types

Botanical Gardens Community Gardens Environmental Learning Parks Green Structures Habitat Corridors Healing Gardens Parking Strip Gardens Playgrounds Pocket Parks Public Art Rooftop Gardens Streets/Trails Water Streets Waterfronts Woonerfs Environmental Learning Parks

Botanical Gardens • Elements Community – Natural Environmental Gardens Experience Environmental – Recreation Opportunities Learning Parks – Modeling of Sustainable Green Structures Development Habitat Corridors – Stewardship Healing Gardens – Learning Center Parking Strip – Educators Gardens – Partnerships Playgrounds Pocket Parks • Contexts Public Art – Close to schools, Rooftop Gardens communities, and natural environments Streets/Trails – Highlight a local natural Water Streets element Walnut Creek Urban Wetland Waterfronts Education Center, Raleigh, NC Woonerfs Habitat Corridors

Botanical Gardens • Habitat Community fragmentation Gardens threatens species Environmental Learning Parks • Types of Habitat Green Structures Corridors Habitat Corridors – Riparian Ribbons Healing Gardens – Road verges Parking Strip – Hedgerows Gardens – Woodlands Playgrounds • Designs Pocket Parks – Necklace, spider, loop Public Art Rooftop Gardens • Size, vegetation, Streets/Trails topography varies Water Streets with species Waterfronts targeted Woonerfs Pocket Parks

Botanical Gardens • Qualities: Community – Small Size Gardens – Serve local Environmental Learning Parks neighborhood Green Structures – Often community or Habitat Corridors foundation-developed Healing Gardens – Uses • Play Parking Strip • Rest, Relaxation Gardens • Events Greenacre Park Playgrounds Post Office Square Pocket Parks • Scatter throughout Public Art the urban Rooftop Gardens environment Streets/Trails Water Streets Waterfronts Paley Park Woonerfs Rooftop Gardens

Botanical Gardens • Ecological Function Community – Temperature moderation Gardens – Insulation Environmental www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof Learning Parks – Stormwater management Green Structures – Wildlife habitat Habitat Corridors • Urban Open Space Healing Gardens – Accessible green space Parking Strip Gardens – Urban agriculture www.greenroofs.com/projects Playgrounds • Sustainable Pocket Parks Showcases Public Art – Location and visibility Rooftop Gardens – Research Opportunities Streets/Trails Water Streets Waterfronts Woonerfs www.greeninggotham.org Pedestrian + Bicycle Oriented Spaces

Botanical Gardens Benefits Community • Enhances livability Gardens • Enhances citizen health Environmental Learning Parks • Promotes social interaction Cat Street Green Structures • Habitat corridors Tokyo, Japan Habitat Corridors • Reduces reliance on cars Healing Gardens Recipe Parking Strip Gardens • Linked walkways and bike paths Playgrounds • Pedestrianized intersections Herald Square Pocket Parks • Visible signage New York City Public Art • Night lighting Rooftop Gardens • Simplified median crossing Streets/Trails • Safe access to commercial areas Water Streets • Auto/Parking Restricted Zones Waterfronts • Walking/bicycling transit lanes Cycle lanes Woonerfs Newbury, Berkshire Pedestrian + Bicycle Oriented Spaces

Botanical Gardens • Variation On A Community Green Street Gardens – Water flow from Environmental surrounding Learning Parks surfaces Green Structures – Water treatment Habitat Corridors – Fits well in space Healing Gardens limited areas Parking Strip • Design elements Gardens – Street runnels Playgrounds – Fountains, art Pocket Parks – Water walls Public Art – Paving patterns Rooftop Gardens • Examples Streets/Trails – Vine Street Water Streets – SEA Streets Waterfronts Woonerfs Waterfronts

Botanical Gardens • Development Pattern Community – Sites of Settlement Gardens – Industry: Shipping and Environmental Learning Parks Manufacturing Green Structures – Transportation Habitat Corridors – Decline Healing Gardens – Revitalization Parking Strip • Edge-Zone Energy Gardens – Habitat Edge Playgrounds – Human Edge Pocket Parks Public Art – Design and Open Space Rooftop Gardens • Examples Streets/Trails – San Francisco Water Streets – New York City Waterfronts Woonerfs Woonerfs

Botanical Gardens • Fusion of Car & Community Pedestrian Space Gardens Environmental • Quality Details Learning Parks – Floor Green Structures – Bollards Habitat Corridors Healing Gardens • Obscure Sight Parking Strip Lines Gardens • No Grade Playgrounds Pocket Parks Separation Public Art • Self Regulating; Rooftop Gardens Ambiguity Streets/Trails Water Streets • Less Private Waterfronts Open Space Woonerfs Open Space Types

Capital Campaigns • Fee Waivers Conservation Easements Fee Waivers – Incentive, such as tax reduction German Environmental – If project meets sustainability goals, Law fees waived Grants: Municipal/State/Federal Intermediary Agency • Sales Tax – Earmarked Matching Grants Military Decomissioning – Designation of part of sales tax for Mitigation, Brownfields open space acquisition (ex. .25%) Non-profits Real Estate ExciseTax (REET) • Transfer of Development Sales Tax-Earmarked Rights Tax Increment Financing (TIR) – Voluntary transfer of growth from Transfer of Development “sending areas” to “receiving areas” Rights (TDR) Open Space Seattle: 2100 Designing Seattle’s Green Network for the Next Century

MAPS EXISTING PLANS Systems and Structures for SYSTEMS Livable Cities INCLUSIVE NEEDS TYPOLOGIES Report to the Guidance and Executive Committees METHODS December 13, 2005

University of Washington Landscape Architecture 561 Professor Nancy Rottle