Jim Dietrich Park & Riverside Basin Park Master Site ... - Berks County

Introduction
Jim Dietrich Park and Riverside Basin Park provide a diverse natural setting, each with unique qualities.
From the fertile agricultural fields at Jim Dietrich Park to the successional woodland growth within the
Riverside Basin Park desilting basins, the sites, connected by the Schuylkill River, offer landscapes for
recreation, relaxation, and exploration of nature. The master site plans were developed to provide a blueprint
for the future of each site. An extensive inventory and analysis was completed to gain an understanding of
each site’s natural resources, built structures, and recreation opportunities. This inventory and analysis is
critical for the following reasons:
Context
To evaluate the sites’ natural resources and determine appropriate protection and enhancement
strategies.
To evaluate the sites’ man-made resources and determine the potential for re-use.
To evaluate the ability of the parks’ natural resources to sustain and thrive with the introduction of
recreation opportunities and public use.
To explore the natural resources that contribute to the park user’s experience.
Good design is born of good analysis.
To become familiar with the context of the region and the sites.
Development costs are greatly influenced by the ease of construction and compatibility of the
proposed development with the natural systems of the park.
To understand each site within the context of its’ immediate location and location within the
Township and the Schuylkill River Greenway.
Jim Dietrich Park is a 109.25-acre parcel bordered by the Schuylkill River on two sides, located in the
northwest corner of the Township. Riverside Basin Park is located, about two miles downstream on the
Schuylkill River from Jim Dietrich Park, across the river from the Reading Regional Airport.
Jim Dietrich Park and Riverside Basin Park Master Site Plan Chapter 3-2