Chapter 2: form and character 2.2.1 Parks Right: One of Uptown’s greatest 2.2 landscape and public realm assets is historic Central Park, a The neighborhood park system has been conceived as a series of true urban park: surrounded by small highly specialized parks within 5 minutes walk of all resi- and within easy walking distance of residential neighborhoods and dents within Uptown. The specialized parks will concentrate on civic amenities, able to accommo- specific needs such as playgrounds/ tot lots, athletic courts, and date a variety of passive and active gaming areas. The plan recognizes that many of the parks will human behaviors (e.g. sitting, play- remain open space for impromptu athletic uses for all ages such ing, music), and with a variety of Hadley Street as soccer/kickball, throwing and playing. Designs for the parks landscape (e.g. shaded , open should include structures or bosques for cool shady seating air lawn, planters, paved areas). areas. material selections for parks shall emphasize native, drought tolerant and naturalized plantings for cultural and edu- cational values, as seen in the following lists of acceptable plant

Park Street materials:

A. Trees C • Cercis occidentalis / Western Redbud A • raywoodii / Raywood Ash bailey Street • Fraxinus velutina / Modesto Ash • Platanus racemosa / Sycamore Tree • Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak • Quercus douglesii / Douglas Blue Oak • Schnius molle / California Pepper • Umbellularia californica / California Bay • Washingtonia filifera / California Fan Palm A 0 25 50 100 ft B. Tall Shrubs • Abelia grandiflora / Glossy Abelia Above: Proposed park on the Philadelphia Street • Buddleia davidii / Butterfly Bush south side of the site between • Heteromelies arbutifolia / Toyon Milton Avenue, Bailey Street, and • Escallonia fradesii / Escallonia Comstock Avenue. The park could • Pittosporum tobira / Tobira be part of a mixed-use development • Pittosporum undulatum / Victoria Box on the larger site, and would serve B • Photinia fraseri / Photinia the northwest quadrant of Uptown. • Rhus ovata / Sugarbush The tenor of this park would be • Rhus integrifolia / Lemonade Berry more passive, with a large grassy • Romneya coulteri / Matilija Poppy areas and pockets for sitting and gathering shaded by trees and a wardman Street trellis in the center. C. Low Shrubs and Groundcovers • Arctostaphylos Sp / Manzanita • Camellia sasanqua / Camellia • Ceanothus Sp. / California Lilac • Cistus salvifolius / Rockrose Key • Carpenteria california / NCN • Erigeron karvinskianus / Santa Barbara Daisy Right: Proposed park mid-block Proposed park (exact location/configuration to be determined) A • Euryops pectinatus / Golden Shrub Daisy Above: The City of Whittier has a number of small parks, such as Broadway on the site south of Philadelphia • Felicia amelliodes / NCN Park, in a residential neighborhood just north of the Uptown Specific Plan Street, between Milton Avenue and fr i ends avenue B Proposed park (exact location/configuration to be determined) • Hemerocallis Hyridus / Hybid Daylily area. This park accommodates a small children’s play area, for the many Comstock Avenue, incorporating penn Street • Heuchera sanguinea / Coral Bells families which reside nearby, and is surrounded by numerous shaded trees an existing building. The park is which provide welcome respite from the warm summer sun. C Existing park: Central Park • Kniphofia uvaria / Red Hot Poker intended to be easily accessible from • Lavandula stoechys / Spanish Lavender the southwest quadrant of Uptown, and contains a basketball court in Proposed park (exact location/configuration to be determined) • Lavandula angustifolia / English d • Pittosporum ‘Wheelers Dwarf’ / Dwarf Tobira addition to shaded trees and grassy fields. B newl i n avenue avenue m i lton comstock avenue greenleaf avenue br i ght avenue wash i ngton avenue p i cker ng street d pa i nter avenue 0 25 50 100 ft n D. Grasses An illustrative plan of the public realm, especially the landscape of open spaces, parks and street trees, including connections to the Greenway Trail and Whittier Boulevard. • Juncus patens / California Grey Rush 0 200 400 800 ft • Heliototrichon sempervirens / Blue Oat Grass • Miscanthus sinensis / Maiden Grass • Muhlenbergia rigens / Deer Grass 2:17 upTOWN wHITTIER SPECIFIC pLAN, City of Whittier, California • Pennisetum setaceum ‘ rubrum’ / Red Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists: July 10, 2014 2:18 Chapter 2: form and character 2.2 landscape and public realm

2.2.2 Street Trees

The role of the street tree plan is to establish a visual and envi- ronmental order within the framework of Uptown. Future tree planting and streetscape work will be guided by the objectives and standards in this section, ensuring that individual projects will Hadley Street contribute to the overall public realm in a coherent manner.

Street trees provide numerous environmental and cultural ben- efits for citizens and visitors. The greatest of these is spatial defini- tion of the street, which is created by the continuous and regular spacing of trees close to the curb. This results in an alteration of the scale of the street and a perceived reduction of street width. Visual cues and context of the street is improved. Street trees cre- ate a humanizing experience, informing us that a place is walkable and pedestrian friendly. Environmental benefits of trees include: bailey Street (a) trees provide shade in summer and sun in winter, reducing heat islands and cooling the ambient temperature; (b) trees reduce sun glare from paving; and (c) precipitation falling on , branches and bark is intercepted by trees and tempo- rarily stored in the leaves, branches and bark, effectively reducing stormwater runoff. Cultural benefits include: (a) mature street trees can increase property values; (b) enclosure provided by street trees signals drivers to reduce speed. As the context of the Cl Gp Gts Gtm street becomes more human, people naturally slow down; (c) pro- Cc Cinnamomum Camphora Cassia Leptophylla Gejiera Parvifoia Gleditsia Triacanthos Sunburst Gleditsia Triacanthos Shademaster Kp Koelreuteria Paniculata duce oxygen and improve local air quality; and (d) tree canopies Philadelphia Street have a calming effect, reducing the perception of traffic noise. A. Cinnamomum camphora B. Cassia leptophylla C. Geijera parviflora D. Gleditsia triacanthos “Sunburst” E. Gleditsia triacanthos F. Koelreuteria paniculata Camphor Tree Gold Medallion Tree Australian Willow Sunburst Honey Locust “Shademaster” Golden Rain Tree Shademaster Locust This beautiful broad dome evergreen Gold Medallion Tree is an evergreen This evergreen tree reaches a height A deciduous tree reaching a height This is a medium-sized tree which Key tree has glossy foliage that is light subtropical tree that reaches 30’ tall of 35’ and 30 ‘diameter with 3-6” long, of 25’-40’ with a 35’-40’ spread. The A deciduous tree reaching a height of produces lacy foliage and upright yel- scientific name of tree green in color. The new foliage comes and 35’ wide, with glossy leaves and medium green colored leaves that are golden yellow color of new foliage is 25’-40’ with a 25’-40’ spread. Leaves low clusters in the summer. It is Cc Cinnamomum camphora ‘Camphor’ in with a tinted red color. Eventually, upright, 1’ long clusters of large, bright narrow. Its main branches sweep up characteristic of this variety. Its leaves pinnately compound and late leafers tolerant of both urban conditions and Cl Cassia leptophylla “Gold Medallion’ this tree becomes quite large in size yellow . Its bloom period occurs and out, while the smaller branches turn green when they mature, which are in spring. Light shade during sum- various soil types. This is an excellent wardman Street 50-60’ tall and 60’ wide. This excellent in the summer. The plant should be tend to hang down. The form of the showy against a dark background. It is street tree for retail areas due to its Gp Geijera parviflora “Australian Willow’ mer months. Golden fall color. boulevard tree can create a full canopy grown in sun with average to little leaves produces a weeping effect excel- a thornless and seedless variety. drop causes no litter. This is a thorn- open lacy nature. Tree size 30-40’ tall Gts Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ over most streets. Provide ample 8 summer watering. lent for softening residential neighbor- less and seedless locust, which grows with 35-40’ spread. Gtm Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Shademaster’ foot wide parkway for tree. hoods. faster and in a more upright fashion. Kp Koelreuteria paniculata ‘Golden Rain’ Soak twice monthly during the heat of Mg Magnolia grandiflora ‘Majestic Beauty TM’ summer in low desert. Drought toler- P Pinus canariensis ‘Canary Island Pine’ ant as well as soil adaptable.

Pc Pistacia chinensis ‘Chinese Pistache’ fr i ends avenue

Pa Platanus acerifolia ‘Yarwood’

Py Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ penn Street Sj Sophora japonica ‘Japanese Pagoda’ Height: 50-60 feet Height: 30 feet Height: 35 feet Height: 35-70 feet Height: 35-70 feet Height: 30-40 feet Cercis canadensis ‘Eastern Redbud’ Ce Urban Form: Vase Urban Form: Umbrella Urban Form: Ball Urban Form: Oval Urban Form: Oval Urban Form: Vase L Lophostemon confertus ‘Brisbane Box’

Ta Tabebuia impetiginosa ‘Pink Trumpet’ newl i n avenue avenue m i lton comstock avenue greenleaf avenue br i ght avenue wash i ngton avenue p i cker ng street pa i nter avenue F Ficus (existing) Uptown Specific Plan Area Boundary n

0 200 400 800 ft

2:19 upTOWN wHITTIER SPECIFIC pLAN, City of Whittier, California Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists: July 10, 2014 2:20 Chapter 2: form and character 2.2 Landscape and Public realm

Mg Magnolia Grandiflora P Pinus Canariensis PC Pistachia Chinensis Pa Platanus Acerfolia Py Pyrus Calleryana SJ Saphora Japonica Ce Cercis Canadensis L Lophostemon confertus Ta Tabebuia impetiginosa F Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’ Above: Neighborhoods in Whittier have a historic tradition of intensive tree planting along streets.

G. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Majestic H. Pinus canariensis I. Pistachia chinensis J. Platanus acerifolia ‘Yarwood’ K. Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ L Sophora japonica M. Cercis Canadensis N. Lophostemon confertus O. Tabebuia impetiginosa O. Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’ Beauty TM’ Canary Island Pine Chinese Pistache London Plane Tree Bradford Callery Pear Japanese Pagoda Tree Eastern Redbud Brisbane Box Pink Trumpet Tree Indian Laurel Fig Southern Magnolia This graceful, slender-growing pine has The Pistacia chinensis is a deciduous This tree is 50’ high x 40’ wide and has The ‘Bradford’ is a deciduous tree that The Japanese Pagoda Tree is a decidu- This small, deciduous tree with a This evergreen tree will grow 30-45’ tall This slender-trunked tree will grow Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’ reaches a This broad tree will reach about 40’ a pyramidal form to about 70’. Its nee- tree with broad, spreading growth to a broad pyramidal to rounded shape. grows to a size of 30-35’ with equal ous tree that grows to 25’ with a round rounded head is covered with small and 25’ wide. It has leathery, glossy dark 25-50’ high with 25-30’ spread and pro- height of 50’-75’ with a spread of 50’- tall with equal spread, its large, simple dles are long and drooping in bundles 50’ in height. Its leaves have 10-16 Its very large leaves show off fall colors spread. Profuse clusters of single white head and green bark. In the late sum- flowers of a rose pink color in the green leaves and inconspicuous white duces beautiful purplish/pink blooms 60’. The growth rate is fast and has a leathery appearance makes the pyra- of 3. The foliage is a blue-green color, leaflets, and the fall coloring arrives of yellow and brown, and it has a very flowers are borne in the spring from mer, lovely panicles of white flowers spring before the appearance of heart- flowers in summer. The reddish brown, in spring. It does best in full sun and rounded, spreading or vase shaped midal magnolia grandiflora perfect for maturing to a dark green shade. in beautiful shades of red, orange high resistance to powdery mildew. noticeably sweeping branches. This is will be seen. This plant is a depend- shaped leaves. Broads shaped tree flaky bark resembles Eucalytpus, while moist soil. urban form. The tree is evergreen either a street or lawn tree. Its leaves and yellow. The young trees are often an excellent flowering tree for streets. able, small shade tree and shoule be reaching a height of 25 feet with a the foliage resembles Ficus. with leaf litter continuously dropping are 4-8” long, and its powerfully fra- gawky, but some become shapely with grown under sunny conditions. spread of 30-35 feet. though out the year. This plant tol- grant blooms are carried throughout age. erates drought, occasional wetness the summer and fall. If these and some salt. Suitable soil is well- are grafted, they are more predictable. drained/loamy, sandy or clay. Restricted root areas or heavy soils will slow the growth process.

Above: Street trees of the same species not only provide aesthetic pleasure Height: 50-60 feet and shade in the California sun, they also serve one of the catalytic strategies Urban Form: Vase of this Specific Plan by creating a sense of identity, for example as distinctive Height: 40 feet Height: 70 feet Height: 50 feet Height: 50 feet Height: 30-35 feet Height: 25 feet Height: 25-50 feet Height: 100 feet Height: 50-75 feet Height: 50-75 feet street edges to the Uptown area. Urban Form: Oval Urban Form: Pyramid Urban Form: Vase Urban Form: Pyramid Urban Form: Vase Urban Form: Ball Urban Form: Ball Urban Form: Ball Urban Form: Ball Urban Form: Ball

2:21 upTOWN wHITTIER SPECIFIC pLAN, City of Whittier, California Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists: July 10, 2014 2:22