Lake Ellyn Park 2013 Master Plan

More documents

Recommendations

Info

2. site analysis & existing conditions Lake Ellyn itself was a wetland fen or seep, and the surrounding upland landscape was woodland and prairie. This upland landscape absorbed all of the rainwater that fell upon it, and it was then slowly discharged as springs and seeps around the base of the hills into the low lying area that is now near and under the lake. The natural filtering of the water as it moved through the ground provided clean, cool water and supported the habitat for the rich, diverse landscape. Cultural history The springs and the natural beauty of the valley drew people out from Chicago and beyond. The spring water was known to have healing and therapeutic values, and Lake Ellyn Park 1825 land survey Mastadon found in Sam Perry Nature Preserve the area immediately around Lake Ellyn was developed with a hotel as a spa/resort – the Lake Glen Ellyn Hotel, established in 1892. After European settlement, much of the DuPage County prairie landscape was plowed under to grow crops, and the Oaks and other hardwoods harvested to build plank roads that “floated” on the seasonally wet land. Lake Ellyn was created by impounding the water flow through the valley as an amenity. Eventually, the springs dried up as the landscape changed from woodland and prairie to streets, rooftops, and lawns. After the Lake Glen Ellyn Hotel burned down in 1906, the area was eventually subdivided into residential home sites. The land around the lake was given to Glenbard West High School, who in 1919 had the lake drained and a portion filled to develop Bill Duchon Field. The high school later dedicated the lake and north, east, and west shores to the Village to be used as a park. The Village subsequently made drainage modifications to direct storm drainage to the lake. An area to the north of the lake was dedicated to the Village for use as tennis courts, and two clay tennis courts were constructed and have been on the site since 1924. The Boathouse (formerly known as the Recreation House) was built in 1937 as a community facility and warming shelter for ice skating. Lake Glen Ellyn Hotel Lake Ellyn and the park that now surrounds it has been known and recognized for well over a century for its sublime beauty and many restorative qualities. 14 Glen Ellyn Park District
2. site analysis & existing conditions b. Site and context A number of factors helped shape the park to what it is today, and create the framework to consider viable enhancements or improvements. Cultural factors include existing uses, physical elements, and contextual relationships. Natural factors include geology, geography, hydrology, and landscape ecology. The following is a brief discussion of some of these features and qualities: 1. Adjacent land use and access Lake Ellyn Park is located just northeast of downtown Glen Ellyn, in an established, primarily residential neighborhood. It is bordered with local residential streets on the west, north, and sides, and shares the south property line with Glenbard West High School. The west boundary abuts two blocks of Lenox Road, a 25’ wide residential street with on-street parking on the east side of the road that serves residents and park users. The main park access is across Lenox from Linden Street at the mid-point. The main portion of the park, including the lake, is south of Essex Road, another residential street with on-street parking on the north side of the road. Essex road terminates on the east into the park. Single family homes line both streets, with front porches overlooking the park. The south end of the park is a narrow strip of land that wraps around the southern edge of Lake Ellyn. Duchon Field, Glenbard West High School’s legendary football venue and practice area are immediately south of the line. This land was formerly part of the lake, and was reclaimed by the school many decades ago. The field remains below flood elevation, and is occasionally incapacitated with ponding stormwater. The park is accessible from the perimeter roadways and sidewalks. Park visitors on foot or bicycle can enter the park informally along virtually the entire length of Lenox Road, Essex Road (including the crosswalk near the north end of the lake), and from the trail along Lake Road. The main (paved) walkway/bicycle entrance is from Lenox Road at Linden Street. This entrance allows for vehicular access, but is restricted to two handicap-accessible parking spaces, Park District staff, or service vehicle parking. Park visitors arriving by car are intended to park outside of the park on adjacent streets where on-street parking is permitted. A narrow “panhandle” of the park extends further north, including the Ruth Candy Parkway -the open space between Grand Avenue and the northern stretch of Lake Road - and the Sam Perry Nature Preserve. Sam Perry Nature Preserve is a triangle of open space north of Oak Street, and also has homes facing it on all three sides. The eastern boundary of the park is Lake Road, which extends south from Oak Street to the high school. The ground rises steeply to the east, and there are only three homes that are accessed from Lake Road adjacent to the park. The remainder of the frontage is rear-yard space of homes that face east onto Crescent Boulevard. Lake Ellyn Park Master Plan 15
Page 1 and 2: Lake Ellyn Park 2013 Master Plan A
Page 3 and 4: preface Lake Ellyn Park Master Plan
Page 5 and 6: table of contents 1. Background & I
Page 7 and 8: 1 background & introduction a. Proj
Page 9 and 10: 1. background & introduction OAK ST
Page 11 and 12: 1. background & introduction Sustai
Page 13: 2 site analysis & existing conditio
Page 17 and 18: 2. site analysis & existing conditi
Page 29 and 30: 3 the vision a. Overall planning &
Page 31 and 32: 3. the vision 3. Green infrastructu
Page 33 and 34: 3. the vision Enhance environment/L
Page 35 and 36: 3. the vision Canopy trees with tur
Page 37 and 38: 3. the vision Lake Ellyn Park Churc
Page 39 and 40: 3. the vision Floating Restorers Th
Page 41 and 42: 3. the vision 3. Landscapes and sys
Page 43 and 44: 3. the vision aquatic habitat. In m
Page 45 and 46: 3. the vision Bioretention along pe
Page 47 and 48: 3. the vision and will be located n
Page 49 and 50: 3. the vision 5. Site furnishings A
Page 51 and 52: 3. the vision Furnishings example f
Page 53 and 54: 3. the vision Furnishings example f
Page 55 and 56: 3. the vision One proposed alterati
Page 57 and 58: 3. the vision Boathouse Restrooms &
Page 59 and 60: 3. the vision Kitchen & South Patio
Page 61 and 62: 3. the vision Refuse & Recycling Th
Page 63 and 64: 3. the vision Conceptual renderings
Page 65 and 66:
3. the vision Outdoor performance a
Page 67 and 68:
3. the vision c. Implementation 1.
Page 69 and 70:
3. the vision Phasing priorities/ma
Page 71 and 72:
3. the vision 2. Maintenance, opera
Page 73 and 74:
3. the vision 2. Stormwater Retenti
Page 75:
Lake Ellyn Park Master Plan January
show all

Lake Ellyn Park 2013 Master Plan

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?