72 PRECEDENTS LOCAL POCKET PARKS & GREENWAYS In accordance with the Los Angeles River Master Plan, the addition of pocket parks and greenways along the river corridor provides the surrounding communities with access to open space and facilitates the opportunity to reconnect with a forgotten River. MARSH STREET PARK RATTLESNAKE PARK Located in the park-poor region of Elysian Valley, Marsh Street Park, Rattlesnake Park, Egret Park, and Oso Park offer local residents venues for recreation adjacent to one of the few soft-bottom (or naturalized) portions of the Los Angeles River. Activities that might take place in the parks include picnicking, bird watching, reading, walking, jogging, and other exercise related activities. The spaces may also provide more intangible benefits such as chance meetings between neighbors and a greater sense of community and ownership among local residents. North East Trees Brett Goldstone (gate) 1997 The spaces also provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species that live within or near the river corridor. In many cases, the native vegetation within the parks can be utilized by species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians as a source of food, shelter, and nesting material. As a network of pocket parks connected by enhanced greenways, which can include recreational activities such as bike paths and pedestrian trails, the system might act as a transit route which connects larger habitat patches along the river corridor creating a more contiguous ecological framework. The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust Los Angeles Conservation Corps Art Share Los Angeles Brett Goldstone (gate) 2006 5.4 acres $300,000 (Phase I), 0.25 acres N/A The newest pocket park in the Elysian Valley region continues the tansformation of the Los Angeles River corridor into a viable location for recreation and wildlife habitat. Decorative entry gates and public art elements, such as a large sculpture of a rattlesnake, provide the park with a unique sense of identity. Plans for a skate park are also a possible addition to Phase II of the park which would offer local youth a venue for alternative recreation and exercise while diverting their attention from other potentially harmful influences. One of the showcase elements of Marsh Street Park is its ability to filter stormwater runoff before it reaches the river, thus allowing for percollation and the subsequent recharging of the underground aquifer as well as cleansing water that enters the Los Angeles River. This is achieved by a designated retention basin that acts as an intermediary between the street and the River. (lacounty.info, www.lanlt.org) POCKET PARK LOCATION MAP The Great Heron Gates, designed by sculptor Brett Goldstone, are an artistic interpretation of the wildlife of the Los Angeles River. Located at Fletcher Drive and the Los Angeles River in Rattlesnake Park, the gates welcome visitors to the Greenway and its series of river parks. (, www.lamountains.com)
PRECEDENTS 73 STEELHEAD PARK ARROYO SECO BIKE PATH North East Trees 2000 0.25 acres $125,000 Oso Park provides a community enhancement along Riverside Drive. In addition to native plantings including leafy California sycamore trees, Oso Park features sculptures of wildlife that once roamed the river. (, www.lamountains.com) North East Trees 1997 0.25 acres $100,000 LOS ANGELES COUNTY Los Angeles County Department of Public Works In Progress Approx. 3 miles N/A Department of Transportation Steelhead Park provides a small but significant community enhancement alongside the Los Angeles River. The park features a viewpoint, native plantings, and interpretive displays on the Los Angeles River Greenway including wildlife still able to be viewed on the river. (, www.lamountains.com) At a total length of nearly 3 miles, the Arroyo Seco Bike Path passes through some of the oldest and most interesting Los Angeles neighborhoods as it traces the route of the Historic Horace Dobbins Cycleway (c. 1900). Communities surrounding the Arroyo Seco Bike Path include South Pasadena, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, Highland Park, and Montecito Heights. The path also passes Ernest E. Debs Regional Park and the Audubon Center providing further access to outdoor recreation opportunities. The current Class I bike path lies within the channel, however, an extension of the path is currently in progress which may relocate the path to run along the outside edge of the channel allowing for a safer route, especially during times of potential flooding. (www.labikepaths.com, www.arroyoseco.org) vii. precedents OSO PARK
74 PRECEDENTS CHERRY CREEK DENVER, COLORADO Wenk Associates Civitas, Inc. 1996-2002 4.2 miles $74 million City of Denver Cherry Creek + South Platte Confluence, 1924 For 40 years, one of Denver s major drainageways, Cherry Creek, has lain underutilized, encased in concrete. Cherry Creek along Speer Boulevard is a major tributary in Denver, providing flood control for the city. As part of a comprehensive urban renewal plan in Denver, Wenk Associates modified the channel and took steps to revitalize creekfront neighborhoods. Cherry Creek + South Platte Confluence, 2003 The project both improved the flood control attributes of Cherry Creek and created recreational opportunities along the stream. First, they daylighted portions of the covered stream. Parts of the concrete walls were removed and civic spaces, including a major urban plaza, were installed, allowing for access to the bottom of the creek. Bike trails were built along the creek. Drop structures provide a series of informal pedestrian seating areas that are oriented to the stream. At the same time, these structures stabilize Access ramp the channel bottom and protect the channel walls. The project successfully improved the ecological and floodwater conveyance function of Cherry Creek, while creating a pedestrian, cyclist, and development-friendly multiuse resource in downtown Denver. CHERRY CREEK Pedestrian bridge Mixed-use development facing creek Pedestrian bridge Access stairs + seating In-channel bikepath Bikeway + adjacent park
PRECEDENTS 75 GUADALUPE RIVER SAN JOSE. CALIFORNIA Hargreaves Associates AN West AGS H.T. Harvey and Associates 2002-2004 3.6 miles $242 Million Santa Clara Valley Water District GUADALUPE RIVER Guadalupe River Park is a threemile ribbon of park land that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San Jose from Highway 880 at the north, to Highway 280 at the south. It is a resource of regional importance to the people of Santa Clara County and the Bay Area. The area known as Guadalupe Gardens lies south of the San Jose Airport and immediately west of the river park. Beginning in 1975, over 630 homes were removed from this 240-acre area be- San Carlos Street Bridge cause of airport noise and safety concerns. Funding was provided by the Federal Aviation Agency. In 1986, Mayor Tom McEnery proposed the creation of an open space and recreation area within this airport approach zone. A Citizens Task Force formed in 1990 developed a Master Plan for the land that calls for extensive gardens that reflect the history of San Jose as the Garden City, promotes environmentally-sensitive gardening, and recognizes the need for low density, passive development. The Guadalupe River Park is an excellent example of a recent collaboration between City government and the Army Corps of Engineers. Indeed, it is a glimpse of what Compton Creek might look like if it had been constructed in the last decade. The Park offers a diversity of open spaces, recreation opportunities, and habitats to it s users. Path To Floodplain Area Coleman Outlet Plaza Downtown
76 PRECEDENTS CHEONG GYE CHEON SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA Hyundai Engineering LG Engineering Daerim Engineering July 2003 ~ September 2005 3.8 mile $ 375 million The City of Seoul Before, 2000 During construction, 2001 After, 2005 Perhaps the most striking river-oriented redevelopment in recent decades is the excavation of the Cheong gye cheon River in Seoul, South Korea. The Cheong gye cheon is a 6.8 mile river that once ran through South Korea s capital city. Between 1958 and 1961, however, South Korea raced to catch up with the rest of the world economically, without regard for the environmental cost. To this end, the Cheong gye cheon was paved over, and a two-story expressway was built above the river bed, featuring a total of 12 traffic lanes. In 2004, however, despite public opposition to the removal of the expressway, Seoul s mayor, Lee Myung Bak, decided to bring back a river that a generation of South Koreans had never seen. Over the course of two years, a 3.7 mile stretch of the expressway was demolished, revealing the stream still flowing beneath. The channel was restored and greened. Twenty-two bridges, some with foundation stones from as early as 1412, now span the river, connecting North and South Seoul. Elevated sidewalks connect nearby highrises. A noisy dilapidated neighborhood has been reborn. The project was completed in October 2005, and is widely considered a resounding success, creating a nature and human-centered, environmentally friendly public urban space. The scheme has not only reduced air pollution in the area, it has also encouraged more people to use the city s subway and other forms of public transport. The Cheong gye cheon River now connects South Koreans with 600 years of history which had been paved over, and is fast becoming a cultural center of Seoul. The surrounding areas have been economically revitalized, and the project has catalyzed sustainable redevelopment throughout the city. CHEONG GYE CHEON Creek Festival, 2005 Transition from hard to soft path
PRECEDENTS 77 Parc Fluvial del Besòs BARCELONA, SPAIN Alberto Sito Alarcon Ferran Puig Bert de Sola 1990-1992/2002-2004 Barcelona Regional Biologist Landscape Architect 4.7 miles $32 million Barcelona Regional 1 Impossible to navigate, the Rio Besos was nonetheless a link between the Catalan coast and the interior. Its waters were used to irrigate the Barcelona plain. For this purpose, around the tenth century, the Rec Comtal was built. Opening Of Bikepath As it passes through a highly industrialized area (Barcelona metropolitan region), it had the dubious honor of being the most contaminated river in Europe during the 1970 s and 1980 s. Since the mid-1990 s, it has been thoroughly cleaned. The Fòrum Universal de los Cultures, which took place in Barcelona during 2004, allowed the creation of a recreation area called Parc Fluvial del Besòs between the cities of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià del Besòs. The project suggests a compelling and successful balance between riparian habitat and informal recreation needs. On the East bank, people can picnic, bike ride, and enjoy a pick-up soccer game. The West bank is reserved for a more delicate use. It is nesting grounds for indigenous birds. 4 Access Communication Signage Safe access to the channel is controlled with gates and with an LED screen that communicates to users at each point of entry. Parc Fluvial del Besòs Channel Access Ramp Panorama looking South Bikepath + Adjacent Linear Parks