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Realigning the at Bear Mountain: Master Plan and Stylebook

1 The participatory design charettes produced a Master Plan and Stylebook for .

2 The mission of the Master Plan and Stylebook is to create guidelines and standards that welcome a diversity of users while actively promoting environmental stewardship and respect for the resource that is Bear Mountain State Park and the Appalachian Trial.

3 Master Plan

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4 Analysis and discussion expanded the scope of the project beyond the refurbishing of the park’s trails. Overarching priorities were created for the project, as well as park and trail-specific goals.

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The inventory and analysis, along with feedback from the charettes, demonstrated that scope of the project grew beyond the trail, and that there were priorities for the project overall, priorities for the park, and priorities for the trail. All of these priorities influenced the design recommendations.

5 Project priorities ranged from publicizing the project, the process, and the partners, to involving the community through education.

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Project Priorities: •Identify opportunities for improved sustainability in the park •Publicize the project, the process, and the partners •Encourage Volunteerism •Encourage enthusiasm among institutional partners •Involve community through education •Create a marketable design incorporating a website

6 High among the list of park goals was addressing the needs of all users, and •highlightingPark specific the Appalachian Trail experience.

Park Goals: •Address the needs of all users •Develop a transportation master plan •Create a model trail-building program •Acknowledge the park’s historical and regional significance •Highlight the Appalachian Trail experience •Unite the park’s numerous features •Incorporate educational and interpretive experiences •Inspire volunteerism •Encourage environmentalism •Incorporate accessibility in all forms

7 Trail goals included developing an extremely high quality hiking experience and creating connectivity between the Appalachian and other trails.

Trail Goals: •Develop an extremely high quality hiking experience •Create clear and consistent signage •Offer adequate directional signage •Offer a variety of trail experiences •Maintain safe trails •Include accessible areas •Create connectivity between the Appalachian and other trails •Protect sensitive habitats •Control grading and drainage •Restore unused and abandoned trails

8 The arrival sequence, where visitors see their destination, arrive, and park their car is where the Master Plan begins.

The arrival sequences should be clearly defined from all major arrival points. •Develop and frame the view across the courtyard lawn to the Inn from Seven Lakes Drive approach. •Enhance existing view of Hessian Lake from the 9W traffic circle. •Install stone “beacons” along route to the north and south of entrance and at traffic circles. •Establish consistent and clear signage at Seven Lakes and Palisades traffic circles including plantings of low, native shrubs, herbaceous plants and grasses around signs.

9 The approach to the park should heighten a visitor’s sense of excitement and expectation.

The arrival sequences should be clearly defined from all major arrival points. It should: •Develop and frame the view across the courtyard lawn to the Inn from Seven Lakes Drive approach. •Enhance existing view of Hessian Lake from the 9W traffic circle. •Install stone “beacons” along route to the north and south of entrance and at traffic circles. •Establish consistent and clear signage at Seven Lakes and Palisades Parkway traffic circles including plantings of low, native shrubs, herbaceous plants and grasses around signs.

10 Visitors should know when they have arrived at their desired destination.

11 An Entrance Garden at the front of the Bear Mountain Inn will welcome the guests who arrive there.

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The Entrance Garden will honor the history of the site through interpretive signage, sculpture, and native plantings.

12 Because the parking lot is often a visitor’s first experience of the site, these areas will be visually enhanced and made more environmentally sustainable in order to better reflect the over-arching goals of the site.

Parking lot improvements: •Tree plantings around lot perimeters to provide enclosure and soften edges •Installation of tree islands to provide shade, break up continuous paving, and reduce pollution and heat island effects •Installation of porous paving materials and bio-swales to minimize run- off •Promotion of Anthony Wayne parking lot as hike-in parking area •Collection of parking fees at exits of lots to reduce peak-traffic back- ups •Informational kiosks at lot entrances/exits that include: • site highlights • park amenities

13 Site Features

• Entrance Garden • A.T. Trailhead • Trail-building Demo • Education Center • Zoo and Museum • Trails

14 Entrance Garden

Highlight the rich history of: Bear Mountain State Park and the Trailside Zoo & Museum The Appalachian and other trails The volunteers (stewards) that made it possible Featuring: Bright seasonal floral displays and native shrubs Wide paths to accommodate large crowds Shady rest areas with plenty of seating Site orientation materials including the nearby Hiker’s Lounge

15 Trail-building Demonstration Plaza

Featuring: •Trail-building techniques presented in a well-developed courtyard that is enticing to visitors •Areas in which to encourage hands-on exploration •ADA Accessibility The Trail-building Demonstration Plaza will include examples of trail-building techniques: Pinned stone stairs Wooden stairs Wooden bridge Stone crib wall Improved trail surfacing Water-bars Other design features: Rustic “rock-climbing” wall Textural Pebble River ending in climbable, sculptural boulder pile that echoes Bear Mountain Ample seating and gathering space

16 Tyler Clark Mike Dwyer Olivier Giron Alison Beeghly Jason Berks

17 Tyler Clark Mike Dwyer Olivier Giron Alison Beeghly Jason Berks

18 Tyler Clark Mike Dwyer Olivier Giron Alison Beeghly Jason Berks

19 Tyler Clark Mike Dwyer Olivier Giron Alison Beeghly Jason Berks

20 AT Trailhead

Scale model of Bear Mountain Sunken into the ground for bird’s-eye viewing Surrounded by step-down seating

21 Provide History of the area’s trails Encourage stewardship Offer Fun and informative facts about hiking and the environment Utilize and expand existing building

22 Education Center Education Center: Directing and Educating Tunnel Entrance

Park is dissected by U.S. 9W

The Education Center will Increase pedestrian flow to Trailside Zoo and Museum Which is currently being redeveloped.

23 Education Center: Directing and Educating Provides direction at the convergence of two ‘halves’ of Bear Mountain

Associated with existing pavilion structure

Educational program will educate visitors about: Regional context of park and trails Natural and cultural history Present ecology of the area History of A.T., other trails and managing organizations

24 Education Center: Directing and Educating

Other Educational Elements: Stamp Collecting Program For the Appalachian Trial and National Park Service From the site’s attractions Education Center Entrance Garden Demo Area Trailhead Trailside Zoo and Museum Volunteers as Educators Program Site Tours

25 Trails

Through areas that provide a variety of experiences or challenges Touches other major trails on Bear Mountain Through areas with vistas, overlooks, resting spots, etc. Avoid ecologically sensitive areas Reduce road crossings Redevelop Old Perkins Drive as trail option Provide nature trail loop options at base and top with possibility of greater accessibility

The trail should incorporate areas of pause and repose at intervals along the route. These areas, however, should leave enough space for other hikers to pass, not encourage the widening of the trail.

The Appalachian Trail is of primary significance, but other trails on the mountain, including the Major Welch, Suffern-Bear Mountain, 1777E, and Cornell-Mine trails will be upgraded and integrated into the larger trail system.

26 AT RE-ROUTE HERE

The Appalachian Trail: More accessible on Inn side with wider more developed paths and shallower slopes More challenging on the southern decent. Reroute including pass-by of Hiker’s Lounge

Power Point Notes: Use animation to show -where existing trail is used -where old A.T. is used -where new construction is need -where restoration sites are along existing A.T. that will no longer be used -South face 2 options eliminates reducency of trails (Major Welch and existing A.T.) -Peter Jensons benefits and constraits ( in his power point)

27 Trail Features

•Trail experience in areas closer to Inn will be more hardened than others •Areas of ADA and novice accessibility •Challenging areas on A.T. for the avid hiker •Group friendly experiences around high volume areas (Hessian Lake, Hiker’s Lounge, Tower) •Experiences on the trail allowing solitude and reflection

The trail should be designed to offer a diversity of experiences, be accessible to a variety of user abilities, which includes areas of ADA accessibility, and provide sections of ease as well as sections of challenge. Because the trail passes through both minimally and highly urbanized areas, it offers both very solitary and very social experiences. The varied experiences can offer inspiration and education, not only from Bear Mountain itself, but from the people who come to enjoy its many recreational offerings.

28 Style Book

NEED A BLURB TRANSITION…

29 Built Structures

• Rustic – Stone – Rough-hewn wood • Low profile • Of native materials • Use existing structures when possible

30 Signage

Educational/Interpretive signage •Enhanced at major site features and along nature loops •Limited on the actual trail

Directional signage •At all major junctions and site features •Enhanced at points of possible confusion (summit, road or pavement crossings, places where blazes are not eye level, etc.).

Structures should be unobtrusive but clearly visible and state their message succinctly. Landscape elements fitting with the character of the place will surround signage.

Whether major or minor, the trailheads should be unobtrusive, informational and educational and should, in as few words as possible, impart information on trail etiquette, directions, regulations, and safety. Educational information on hiking, history, volunteerism, and the many trail systems throughout the park should also be included.

31 Major trailheads •Include map of site •Provide detailed information regarding hiking options, trail difficulty and duration of hikes. •Inform about Leave No Trace Philosophy •Trail etiquette guidelines •Trail safety •Directions •Park regulations

Major trailheads: Located at the , the Inn, the summit of Bear Mountain, and at the Anthony Wayne Parking Area intended for all; park visitors, hikers, etc. Major site features visible from trailheads Includes areas to sit, gather and regroup Large enough to allow 5-10 people to gather comfortably Visible from nearest parking lot, building or site feature

32 Minor Trailheads Intended for trough and day-hikers

• Unobstructed sightline from trail head to nearest trail blaze in both directions • Defined by human scaled signage, seating, paving and landscaping • Discourage vandalism or use as shelter

(These would be true for all, also)

33 •Promotes courteousness between hikers and other park users •Encourages responsible use of the park and trails •Encourages support for organizations that manage and maintain the A.T. • Provides information about different opportunities of exploration in the park, like Museum, Zoo, Tower, Carousel, Rink, etc.

34 35 Signage Characteristics Constructed of indigenous materials wherever possible Minimally intrusive Low maintenance materials Secured to prevent safety hazards and vandalism

Trailhead structures should incorporate the feel of the surrounding environment and match the rustic character of the architecture in the area. Preferably, the lowest maintenance, natural materials should be used. Additionally, vandal-resistant designs and materials should be selected whenever possible.

Rustic in appearance Wooden display panels Durable plastic “glass” protecting message board

36 37 Trail System

- Areas of High Accessibility - - Trail width is larger - More “constructed” - Less challenging hike - Allows for high volume of visitors - Areas of Low Accessibility - - Trail width follows narrower A.T. guidelines - Less “constructed” - More challenging hike - Allows for naturalistic A.T. feeling

This might be style book info

38 Trail System

Goals of the Trail System - •Clearly defined edges and location •Exemplify trail buildings techniques •Provide “real” A. T. experience •Allow for more accessible portions of the trail •Use materials that reflect area aesthetic •Create naturalistic feeling

39 40 41 42 Nature Trails

43 Nature Trails

44 Materials

Photo by Peter Jensen

45 Materials

http://www.und.nodak.edu

http://www.hike-usa.com/

46 The final trail design should •Rely on the expertise of trail building consultants for construction details •Be built in consideration of guidelines and standards governing A.T. building and maintenance •Reuse and incorporate existing structures •Restore areas of trail phased out of use •Fit the character of the surrounding natural and built environments

47 Style Book Landscaping •Plantings of low, native shrubs, herbaceous plants and grasses around signage •Use of indigenous stone BEACONS to create a consistent style for site elements and to accent plantings and draw attention to major site features •Employ dissimilar paving designs to define pedestrian vs. vehicular areas •Consistent, distinct treatment of AT throughout site •Favor the use of materials that are more sustainable

Environmental sustainability? HAVE WE INCLUDED THIS INTO ALL ASPECTS?

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