2012 NYASLA Chapter Design Awards Landscape Architectural Design Merit Award Stantec Consulng | Thomas Balsley Associates 2012 NYALSA CHAPTER DESIGN AWARDS Macombs Dam Park, Bronx, New York CATEGORY A: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN February 8, 2012 Project Name and Location: Macombs Dam Park, Bronx, New York Project Purpose: When the City agreed to allow the Yankees to build a new stadium in the Bronx, they promised the community that the former site would be redeveloped to not only replace any parkland lost to the new structure, but also to enhance and even improve on the community resources available to the neighborhood. In doing so, the history and heritage of the original site could not be forgotten, making proper commemoration of the original Yankee Stadium another top priority of the new site’s design. As such, the plans for Macombs Dam Park took shape, focusing on intensive community involvement to create a public recreation area that would be resilient against yet accommodating of the many visitors and seasonal fluctuations of the site, attractive as a neighborhood centerpiece, and reflective and respectful of the site’s history. The resulting design for the 11-acre section of the park included several ball fields, area for track and field events, and other amenities such as a new public restroom and landscaped berms, overlooks, and built-in bleachers for visitors and spectators. As part of the project, the pedestrian corridor along 157th Street was upgraded and Ruppert Plaza, which unites the lower area of Macombs Dam Park with the adjacent rooftop park, was transformed into an exciting gathering space and promenade with distinctive pavement, a playground, and access to major park features, the new stadium, and public transportation. Throughout the area, artifacts and nods to the site’s former use mark the landscape and pay proper homage to its history. Project Team Roles: Given the scope and high profile of the project, the team was large and diverse, making project management especially important to its success. The entrant landscape architect was not only a partner on the park’s design itself, but also served as the project manager of the overall effort, coordinating the design and construction of the park, its amenities, its connections to other community resources, and the commemorative program. Another landscape architecture firm worked with the entrant on the park’s design, and a number of consultants and contractors provided services on the commemorative program and construction. Special Factors: A number of unique factors and challenges make this project award-worthy: Community involvement and benefits: The city had been faced with strong community concern over the demolition of neighborhood park space when the new Yankee Stadium project began. The design team worked closely with the local community board in soliciting their input on the park’s aesthetic design and interpretive elements to ensure it met their expectations and reflected the community’s charm, while also harmonizing with the site’s part-time role as a tourist destination. Historic preservation: The interpretive program was not meant to place the entire site’s attention on the Yankees, but rather to reflect on the history of the site and instill pride in neighbors in a subtle, passive, and deferential way. The resulting treatments include two frieze panels from the original stadium, plaques, a series of viewfinders showing photographs of past events, and an indelible field overlay woven into the turf of the main baseball field to very faintly outline where The House That Ruth Built once stood without disrupting an active playing field. Public use/access: This community park must be accessible and useful for the neighborhood but also accommodate the millions of visitors each year and harmonize with the history and use of the adjacent stadium. The design accomplished these goals by seamlessly connecting the park to the adjacent street and rooftop park, a grade change of nearly 14 feet. The design team addressed the challenge by adding grand stairs, a sloped walkway, and a sledding hill to create a subtle, free-flowing ascent that was also a purposeful part of an integrated park. This elevation issue was also addressed in intuitively connecting the park to the street, involving raising the park 3 to 6 feet in some places and using slightly sloped and instinctively aligned walkways rather than intrusive ramps. Sustainable design: Redeveloping an urban site as community green space is at the heart of sustainable design. The Macombs Dam Park effort not only “recycled” an existing urban site into a neighborhood centerpiece but also provides recreational opportunities and a playful and educational tribute to the community’s past. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Site Plan MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Landscape design establishes one cohesive park between at-grade and rooftop levels while distinctive materials define public gathering spaces and Ruppert Plaza. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Lush landscape plantings frame this view of the restored frieze salvaged from the top of the old stadium and installed prominently near the new little league baseball field. Fans and visitors can walk right up to the 50,000 lb frieze of both the park and street sides and appreciate one of the most recognizable features of the former stadium. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York An indelible field overlay woven into the turf of the main baseball field faintly outlines where The House That Ruth Built once stood without disrupting an active playing field. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Distinctive pavement define public gathering spaces and the promenade while providing access to major park features, the new stadium, and public transportation. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Large expanses of pavement were transformed into planted areas with access paths linking the street grid to the interior of the park. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Landscaped berms with built-in bleachers provide field enclosure and spectator viewing areas for park events while buffering neighboring noise. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Landform provides spatial enclosure, informal seating and spectator areas and large volume of topsoil for extensive plantings. MACOMBS DAM PARK Bronx, New York Macombs Dam Park is a community park with recreation opportunities for people of all ages, interests and abilities. A new playground with a vibrant color scheme, a water play feature, seating, and universal accessibility situated in the center of the new park, easily accessible from the neighboring residential community. .