Charles River Skate Park Project

Transcription

1 Charles River Skate Park Project East Cambridge Planning Team Meeting December 12, 2012, 7:00 p.m. 9:00 pm East End House Basement Meeting Room 105 Spring Street, East Cambridge, MA

2 Mission To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources Mission We re making the Charles River Parklands more active, attractive, and accessible for all.

3 Meeting Objective Project update to the East Cambridge Planning Team

4 Meeting agenda Provide project overview and update Present 50% design and obtain input and feedback Review of Next Steps

5 ❶ Project Background

6 Project location

7 Project History Sculptor Nancy Schon approached the State (then the MDC) about building a skate park the CRC was founded and immediately began working toward transforming this vision into a reality the current site was selected and planning was underway with support from the State, the City of Cambridge, and the City of Boston. The New Basin Citizens Advisory Committee received regular updates on the skate park project a series of public meetings aimed at engaging the local skater community attracted input from over 400 skaters. Fundraising officially began and to date $2.5 million has been raised for the project.

8 Project History (cont.) with the financial recession bringing about state budget cuts, DCR became increasingly concerned about their ability to provide long-term maintenance of the skate park DCR announced Big Dig mitigation funds from the Central Artery Project could be used for skate park construction if funding remained after the completion of the five required outstanding mitigation measures. DCR and CRC developed an operations and maintenance plan for a third party contractor, but this approach would have delayed the skate park by several more years Education First (EF) announced their intention to build a new building on the land adjacent to the skate park site, which will have a restaurant and restrooms that will be available for public park and skate park users.

9 DCR / CRC Partnership DCR agreed to assume responsibility for skate park operation and maintenance and CRC will be responsible for the design and construction. July CRC and DCR signed a Memorandum of Agreement, making these roles official.

10 Design team selection In August 2012, CRC contracted with Action Sports Design (ASD) / Stantec to update and finalize the project design and oversee construction of the skate park.

11 Property access In September 2012, CRC signed a preconstruction access agreement with MassDOT, the current property owner, to gain access to the site. A similar agreement will be required for construction. MassDOT and DCR are currently preparing the legal documents to transfer the land to DCR.

12 ❷ Design Initiation

13 Work-to-date Design workshops w/ pro skaters 9/12-10/18 Site visit w/ pro skaters on 9/19 CRC public meetings held 9/19 and 10/10 Geotechnical field work completed 9/19 Survey field work completed 10/19 25% Presentation to NCRB CAC 10/23 Informal presentation to Cambridge Conservation Commission 11/19 50% Presentation to NCRB CAC

14 Soil borings completed 9/19/12

15 Pro-skaters Andy Macdonald and Anthony Shetler reviewing the design with Kanten Russell. Pro-skater workshops 9/10, 9/19, and 10/18

16 Pro-skater / designer site walk 9/19/12

17 9/19/12 Concept

18 CRC sponsored public meeting 9/19 & 10/10

19 Survey results Skaters supported a combination of Street/Flow/Bowl

20 10/10/12 design concept

21 10/10/12 rendered images

22 ❸ 50% Project Design

23 Guiding Components Develop a world class skate park Provide a diverse mix of skill levels Combine street / flow / bowls Integrate design into park context Consider green solutions (integrated LID storm water management, recycled materials, etc.)

24 Contextural design elements Circulation / parking / access North Point Park interface EF Building / restrooms Spectator viewing MassDOT highway maintenance / inspection access Storm water management Landscaping

25 Circulation / parking / access

26 25% design site plan

27 50% design site plan

28 Parking Bike Racks Skate park entry

29 Inclusive Access

30 MassDOT maintenance / inspection access

31 Existing drainage system

32 Bowl drainage

33 Plaza drainage

34 Storm water management areas

35 50% design site plan

36 ❹ Next Steps

37 Outstanding Issues Soil preloading requirements Hours of operation Final apron design (landscaped area surrounding skatable surface) Maintenance regime Friends Group(s) EF building (e.g., facilities, storage, etc.) Lighting

38 Permits / Approvals Notice of Intent to Cambridge Conservation Commission MassDOT Coordination & Approval Soil Remediation / Mass DEP 21E compliance Utility easement reviews (electric, sewer, phone)

39 Project Schedule 75% Design Submission Early January 100% Design Submission Mid April Project Bid Mid May

40 Planned Future meetings Cambridge Conservation Commission o NOI Public Hearing January 2013 Citizens Advisory Committee o 75% design review January 8, 2013 o 100% design review Mid April 2013

41 Questions & Answers