ATHENS NEW PARK CITY: PURITAN DISTRICTLeveraging Infrastructure with Ecology

Jonas Hopkins + Molli Hummel

A Senior Design Project

Presented to the College of Environment and Design

University of Georgia

Under the Direction of: Douglas Pardue, Assistant Professor

In partial fulfi llment of the requirements for the degree of

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Athens, Georgia

Spring 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Existing Systems

Considering Stakeholders

Land Cover

Systems Map

Site Analysis

Masterplan

Site Program

Site Systems

Puritan Mill Bridge

Point of Observation

Bridge+Creek

Details

Hydrology Operations

Ecology Operations

McNutt Wetland

1-2

3-4

5-6

7-8

9-10

11-12

13-14

15-16

17-18

19-20

21-22

23

24

25-26

27-28

LARGE SCALE ANALYSISExisting Systems

INFRASTRUCTURE

PARK SPACES

NEW MIXED USE

NEW PARK CITY

ECOLOGY

SOCIAL

ECONOMY

ECOL

OGIC

AL S

TUDY

URB

AN S

TUDY

ECO PATCHES

ECO EDGES

CORRIDORS

HIGHWAYSRAILROADSURBAN EDGESURBAN PATCHESROADS

Eco Patches: Park spaces + ecosystems along rivers

Eco Edges: Interact with outlying ecosystems + contrast with artifi cal edges

Eco Corridors: River corridors + wildlife corridors + connectivity

Urban Patches: High activity nodes + neighborhoods

Urban Edges: Political + artifi cial boundaries

Urban Corridors: Major highways + utility lines + railroads

1

CRIT

ICAL

OVE

RLAP

S

OVER

LAPS

+IN

FRAS

TRU

CTU

RE

EDGESPATCHESOVERLAPPED PATCHES

HIGHWAYSRAILROADS

PATCHESOVERLAPPED PATCHESCHOSEN SITE

URBAN EDGES

ROADS

Black areas of overlap represent areas that fall under both ecological

and urban patches. Points of intersection along edges and patches

become critical points for interaction between both systems.

Analyzing the urban and ecological overlaps with existing infrastructure

highlights areas that have potential for future development. The boxed

area calls attention to a gap in the existing corridor. It’s close proximity to

both systems provide an opporutnity for linkage within the area.

2

LARGE SCALE ANALYSISConsidering Stakeholders

STRENGTHS

ECONOMIC

.Current infrastructure systems provides many potentials for

development, especially in dense areas

ECOLOGICAL

.Existing successful park systems

SOCIAL

.Largest clusters of bus stops are in most urban, populated areas

ECONOMIC

.Little uniform connectivity throughout regional Athens

.People are forced to go to dense hubs to shop and eat

ECOLOGICAL

.Lacking connection between large green systems

SOCIAL

.Athenians who rely on public transit have limited acces to natural spaces

ECONOMIC

.Utilize existing infrastructure as a guide for linking

ECOLOGICAL

.Integrate transit access with existing infrastructure as well as green space

SOCIAL

.Renewable population due to the University

.Room to establish safe pathways for all stakeholders to access natural

systems

ECONOMIC

.Commercial and business factors that drive insensitive land use

ECOLOGICAL

.Continuous urban development and sprawl

SOCIAL

.Parks are inaccessible to students via safe passages

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

ACCE

SS TO

PAR

KS+

NAT

URE

SCH

OOLS

+PA

RKS

CLU

STER

OF

BUS

STOP

S

BUS

STOP

CRIT

ICAL

OVE

RLAP

S

LACK

OF

GREE

NSP

ACE

SCH

OOL

CRIT

ICAL

OVE

RLAP

S

3

INFR

ASTR

UCT

URE

ECO

-COR

RIDO

RS

UTI

LITI

ES

RAIL

LIN

ES

CRIT

ICAL

OVE

RLAP

S

CRIT

ICAL

OVE

RLAP

S

BEN

BU

RTON

PAR

K SAN

DY C

REEK

BOT

GARD

ENS

4

LARGE SCALE ANALYSISLand Cover

OAK+

HAR

DWOO

D+PI

NE

AGRI

CULT

URA

L VE

GETA

TION

RUDE

RAL

FORE

ST

5

RECE

NTL

Y DI

STU

RBED

URB

AN+

DEVE

LOPE

DW

ET+

VERN

AL V

EGET

ATIO

N

6

7

8

MASTERPLAN

MIXED USE

McNUTT WETLAND

QUONSET UNDERPASS

QUONSET UNDERPASS

BRT DROPOFF

PARKING DECK

PARKING DECK

OBSERVATION DECKROOKERY

DNR OFFICE

OBSERVATION DECK

OBSERVATION DECK

CANOPY W

NATURE EDUCATION CENTER

EPA OFFICES

BARBER CREEK

EXISTING HOMES

CREEK TRAIL

WETLAND BOARDWALK

LOOP 10

HWY 441

HWY 441

WETLAND BOARDWALK

11

WALK

ECOLOGICAL

EDUCATION CENTER

CREEK BOARDWALK

McNUTT CREEK

MILL DAM

OLD PURITAN MILL

EXISTING HOMES

CREEK TRAIL

CREEK TRAIL

MACON HWY 12

SITE PROGRAM

MIXED USE PURITAN BRIDGE

13

MCNUTT CREEK WETLAND

OLD PURITAN MILL

RETAIL COMMERCIAL ECO-FOCUS LIVING PARKING

14

SITE SYSTEMS

ECOLOGY

ACCESS

WATER SYSTEMS

15

MCNUTT CREEK

FLOODPL

MCNUTT CREEK WETLAND

QUONSET UNDERPASS

BOARDWALK

16

WALKING TRAILS

EXISTING MATURE CANOPY

LAIN

BARBER CREEK

PURITAN MILL BRIDGE

BRT

STAT

ION

PARK

ING

DECK

OBSE

RVAT

ION

PAR

K

OBSE

RVAT

ION

PAR

K

LIVE

+ W

ORK

ECO

FOCU

S

ECO

FOCU

S

17

PARK

ING

DECK

OBSE

RVAT

ION

PAR

K

OBSE

RVAT

ION

PAR

K

PURI

TAN

MIL

L VI

EWS

LIVE

+ W

ORK

LIVE

+ W

ORK

ECO

FOCU

S

18

The cantilevered observation deck draws visitors from the bustling street directly

into the forest canopy. This transitional space off ers an experience like no other

on the site. As visitors walk along the avenue, views of the mature vegetation,

McNutt Creek, and the historic Puritan Mill are available at any vantage point.

POINT OF OBSERVATION

19

20

PURITAN BRIDGE+McNUTT CREEK21

BRIDGE TREE PIT

WATER RETENTION

22

ILLUSTRATIVE DETAILS

Bridge Tree Pit

Water Retention Planting Area

23

PERFORATED PIPE

HYDROLOGY OPERATIONSWorking with an existing highway brings about inherent stormwater runoff

issues. Poor water quality problems are mitigated through a number of natural

processes. Slow soil infi ltration, biotic water remediation, and water aeration

helps to improve water that recharges McNutt Creek.

McNUTT CREEK

AERIATION

BRIDGE TREE PIT

HWY 441

WATER RETENTION PLANTING AREAINFILTRATION

REMEDIATION

24

ECOLOGY OPERATIONSEX

ISTI

NG

CO

ND

ITIO

NS

WET

LAN

D C

REA

TIO

N

POOR WATER QUALITY

McNUTT CREEK

HEADWATERS

FECALS

RUNOFF

EROSION

25

RECREATION

NATIVE SPECIES

PURITAN MILL WETLAND

REMEDIATION

26

27

28