Main Beach Park and Heisler Park - Friends of the Charlestown ...

Main Beach Park and Heisler ParkLaguna Beach, CAPoints of InterestTwo-acre waterfront park linkedby Heisler Park (greenway alongbluffs• Variety of uses and recreationtypes with activity centersconnected by pathsRole of Art• Artist-designed site specificbenches, created through citysponsoredcontestArtist designed benches give spaces a unique feel• Integration of public art inunusual places – allows fordiscovery

Other ExamplesUtilization of Infrastructure to welcome visitors to Granville Island, VancouverRocking chairs done by various artists dottedthe landscape of Charlotte NC

Battery Park CityNew York City, NYRector Gate – festive archway marking intersectionof Rector Place and Hudson River EsplanadesPylons – designed to be viewed from land or water, assymbolic portal connecting the twoSitting/Stance consists of five separate pieces situated at thejunction of West Thames Street and the EsplanadeThe Upper Room marks the entrance to theEsplanade at Albany Street

Winter Programming Possibilities• Facilities of Public Accommodation – offer interior alternatives for publicrealm• Ice Skating –• Outdoor Art Installations – E.g. 28 Days of Grey, Portland, OR• “Snow Day” – city provides sleds, music & cocoa;• Interpretive Displays change in winter to illustrate winter habitats, viewingof animals outdoors• Winter Kite Festival – in conjunction with other activities (wagon ride,marshmallow roast, etc)• Snow slide – 4 lanes, ride on rubber ring• Ice Sculpture – contests – Perhaps a way to involve the rest of theCharlestown neighborhood in an annual tradition• Holiday Markets• Ice Fishing – simulate in a fountain or water feature on site?• Sledding/Snow Shoeing/XC Skiing• Kiosks selling hot soups and hot drinks – special lighting and heatingtechnologies can help make better use of potential of winter spaces

Summary of Lessons Learned…1. No singe case serves to guide the CNY Waterfront Activation Project- This project is challenging and has the potential to be a landmarkcase in waterfront development and activation2. Successful cases often involve multi-level partnerships, usually withpartners at state and local levels (sometimes national as well – NationalPark Service)3. Winter weather does not necessarily create dead space – instead, itdemands thoughtful programming as well as physical attention (eg.Plowing)4. Infrastructure can be incorporated into the design through symbolicand/or actual physical connections (i.e. signage hanging from beams)5. Scheduled programming that is of interest to area residents will drawboth youth and adult residents and visitors6. Public art plays a vital role in creating a marketable/recognizable senseof place

Where we are…• Finishing organizational/group interviews• Incorporating case study information intopossibilities for CNY waterfront activation• Reviewing existing agreements with CNYdevelopment (open space, Harborwalk, publicamenities, programming, access)• Continuing public conversation tonight…

Questions for Discussion…• What areas are most accessible to the public andwhy? How would you improve public access?• Barriers/challenges to public access andenjoyment of the Navy Yard waterfront?• What are the hidden gems? Other potentialaccess points and areas of interest?• Ideas for public programming (for any or all of thefour seasons)?• How can we implement and maintain theplan/program as a traditional neighborhoodbenefit?

Next Steps…• Formulate a range of recommendations for theNavy Yard waterfront public network• Existing and future public destinations andamenities (interior and exterior)• Public art• Signage• Programming• Identify challenges to implementation• Phasing and temporary uses• Public workshop on Saturday January 29 th from10am – noon at the Constitution Inn - 5 th floorfunction hall - 150 2 nd Avenue Navy Yard