Save the County Riverwalk
Clay, NY
Summary Document
Fall 2006
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
Center for Community Design Research
Prepared by:
Katy Johnson, Student Assistant
Maren King, Assistant Director
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
Center for Community Design Research (CCDR)
402 Marshall Hall
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-4721, ccdr@esf.edu
June 13, 2007
Funded by:
Helen R. Brady Trust
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
SUNY ESF LSA327 Design Studio, Fall 2006:
Faculty:
Dr. Robin Hoffman
Professor Dan Reeder
Professor Kathy Stribley
Dr. Thaisa Way
Students:
Peter Acciavatti
Nicholas Bozzo
Evan Brady
Diane Burkard
Sarah Costich
Michael DiCarlo
Karlie Donlon
Terence Fitzpatrick
Kelsey Haigh
Jonathan Holden
Katy Johnson
Shirley Knight
Katelyn Koury
Jonathan Lak
Kimberly Louis
Tim Mayhew
Chris McGee
Dennis Moore
Avery Myers
Helena Myers
John Quattrocchi
Dustin Radley
Matthew Renkas
Matthew Schebaum
Amber Schladebeck
Dylan Stevens
Jeffrey Tunkey
Michael Volpe
Andrew Zimmerman
Introduction and Process Overview
In Fall 2006, community officials from the Town of Clay, members of Save the County
Land Trust, and Michael Bragman and Michael Bragman Jr. of the Bragman Companies
met with 29 third-year landscape architecture students and studio faculty from the State
University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) to initiate
the development of design ideas for a public “Riverwalk” trail located adjacent to the
Oneida River and a proposed subdivision. The project is part of a larger piece of
property owned by the Bragman Companies to be included in their proposed subdivision,
but was offered to Save the County Land Trust (STC) upon learning that it is a state and
federally designated wetland for which development is prohibited. This document
describes the process and findings of the collaborative project and can be used as a
foundation to guide further design development for creation of the public trail.
Richard Smardon, a member of Save the County Land Trust’s Board of Directors and
chair of the Environmental Studies Faculty at ESF, initiated the design process. He
contacted ESF’s Center for Community Design Research (CCDR) to request design
assistance from landscape architecture faculty and students to help prepare design studies
in advance of engaging a professional design consultant. It was important to Save the
County, the Bragman Companies, and the Town of Clay that there be a working
partnership from the very early stages of the process.
The Design Process
The design process occurred over the course of eight weeks in the fall 2006 semester.
For the ESF students, the inventory of the site was completed in teams. Each student was
then individually responsible for analysis, development of the program, and creating a
schematic design for the Riverwalk.
The first stage involved introduction and initial exploration of the site and meeting with
clients and stakeholders. A meeting between the students and the three main groups
involved, the Town of Clay, the Bragman Companies, and Save the County Land Trust,
took place on October 13, 2006 at the Clay Town Hall. The meeting outlined the
concerns and goals of each of the parties involved in the project and recognized the need
for strong partnerships to exist among the three groups for the success of the project.
The Town of Clay is the largest town in Central New York and is a growing community
of approximately 60,000 residents. Town officials at the meeting described the town’s
future as a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential uses and hope that the new
development will attract more people to the Town of Clay. They also recognize the need
The Riverwalk’s waterfront location on the Oneida River, which connects to the Erie Canal and
Oneida Lake, provides a range of opportunities for users.
1
for bike or pedestrian trails, which are currently lacking within the municipality, and
understand the benefit of the creation of a publicly accessible trail on this property.
The Bragman Companies, represented throughout the process by Michael Bragman Sr.
and Michael Bragman Jr., are the land developers that originally sought to develop the
site as part of their proposed subdivision. According to the Bragmans, the NYSDEC and
Army Corp of Engineers designated the northern portion of their property that connected
to the Oneida River as a protected wetland, so their plans had to be reworked. They
elected to offer this portion of the property to Save the County who would be better able
to delineate and preserve the site for uses that were compatible with the proposed
subdivision. The Bragmans stated their intention to provide their support for allowing the
project to come to fruition.
Save the County Land Trust (STC), the client for this project, is a non-profit organization
that aims to preserve land and its ecological integrity while providing access and
education to the public. At the time of the design project, STC had yet to accept the
donation from the Bragmans, but were confident that they would take on the project. The
Bragman property is an ideal piece of property for STC as it is a protected ecosystem, has
access to and from the Oneida River, and is easily accessible by the public.
From this meeting, there was an obvious consensus among the parties involved about the
needs the design of the Riverwalk must address. The design must take into consideration
Save the County’s small budget and liability concerns, the relationship of the Riverwalk
with the residents in the proposed subdivision and greater contextual area, community
resources and participation, and protecting the ecological integrity of the site. These
needs evolved into the design goals for the project, which are described in fuller detail
later in this document.
Following the meeting, Michael Bragman Sr. and
Michael Bragman Jr. guided the ESF students on
a walking tour of the site. Students were able to
observe the boundaries of the site and proposed
subdivision, the wetland delineation markers, and
the natural and physical character of the site. This
also provided an opportunity to explore initial
design possibilities and constraints posed by the
site.
Michael Bragman Sr. (shown second
An additional meeting took place on October 18,
from left) helped the students gain a
2006 on the SUNY ESF campus between the
basic understanding of the site.
students and Richard Smardon. This meeting
served as an introduction to Save the County, their mission, previous projects, and what
they envisioned for the Riverwalk project. Interest was expressed in creating an
interpretive and educational site that would attract users over and over again. The
mission and budgetary constraints of STC also helped to establish a framework for the
intensity of development and the volume of users the site would be designed to support.
2
Ultimately, minimal natural impact with low-volume, daytime use was determined to be
most appropriate.
Inventory & Analysis Findings
The in-depth research done by the students revealed
a rich natural and cultural character, both past and
present. The majority of the inventory also
included the site of the proposed subdivision due to
its close relationship with the STC site. The
inventory of the site was done in groups and the
findings were presented to Richard Smardon and
Jeff Devine from Save the County Land Trust and
Maren King from the Center for Community Design
Landscape architecture
Research (CCDR) on November 17, 2006.
students from SUNY ESF
Inventory posters were prepared that documented
invested many hours gathering
inventory on the site.
factors that may impact or be impacted by the
project. These are attached to this document. The
students used the information that was presented to generate individual site analyses for
use in their Riverwalk designs. Following is a summary of the inventory and analysis
results.
•
Cultural and Physical Context
The Save the County property is in the Town of Clay, a growing municipality
approximately 20 minutes north of Syracuse, NY. The Town of Clay itself is the
largest town in Onondaga County and is experiencing a rapid expansion in
development and population, with young middle class families dominating the
population of approximately 60,000 people. The site abuts the Oneida River and
is in close proximity to the Erie Canal, Seneca River, Oneida Lake, Fort
Brewerton, and Cicero Swamp. Interstate 81 and Route 31 are in close proximity
to the site and would provide easy access to and from the Riverwalk on a larger
scale. Direct access to the site will be provided through Guy Young Road, a
moderately busy street defining the southern edge of the property. The site will
also be accessible from the Oneida River,
allowing the programming of the riverwalk to
take advantage of fishing, sailing, and other
water-based activities that are popular in the
area.
The Riverwalk will ultimately become a
part of a larger network of Save the County
properties that are already established
throughout Onondaga County. Existing users
The project site is located off of Guy
of other Save the County properties, schools,
Young Road in Clay, NY, a suburb of
and area residents are the targeted
Syracuse.
demographic of people who will be using the
Riverwalk.
3
•
History
Geologically, the site sits in the greater context of the Central NY region with
its characteristic rolling landforms and limestone bedrock left by the recession of
glaciers during the last ice age.
The Riverwalk site reveals an extensive history of human manipulation of the
landscape. The earliest known use of the site was by the Onondaga Indian
Nation, as there is evidence of an ancient Native American burial ground on the
site. When Europeans settled the area in the 1600’s, use of the site revolved
around logging for use in the salt industry, defense (proximity to Fort Brewerton),
and construction of the plank roads throughout the area. Once the Erie Canal was
opened in 1825, the Syracuse area experienced rapid growth in trade and
commerce. It was this period of growth that
allowed many suburbs of the city to flourish,
including the Town of Clay.
The Riverwalk site and the Bragman
property have dominantly been devoted to
agriculture, a use that continued until the last
few decades. The Young and Anthony
families, for which the roads near the property
are named, farmed the area with a variety of
crops including tobacco, corn, and apples.
The ESF students presented their
Agricultural use of the site continued right up
inventory findings to members of
until the late 20th century after which the fields
Save the County and the Center for
were left to succession, resulting in the
Community Design Research.
conditions we see on the site today.
•
Physical Character
The portion of the Bragman property to be devoted to the subdivision is
predominantly successional growth from previous agricultural uses while the
northern portion that was offered to STC is forested wetland extending to the
Oneida River. The Save the County site is a state and federally designated
wetland; therefore, environmental law prohibits intensive land development from
taking place. The soils are completely saturated most of the year, with surface
water levels fluctuating on a seasonal basis. Due to the poor drainage of the soils,
the majority of the site is not suitable for community and recreational
development. The protected status of this land and the seasonal variability of
water levels pose unique design challenges and opportunities with the
development of a trail system.
The topographic character of the site is relatively flat with a downhill gradient
running from Guy Young Road north towards the Oneida River. Vegetation
aside, this allows for broad viewsheds within the site and creates a general pattern
of water flowing from the southern portion of the site north to the river. It was
acknowledged through this process that the physical character of the site would
likely change once the proposed subdivision is completed due to changes in the
landscape that would reduce existing viewsheds and water infiltration.
4
Utilities on the site are minimal, with a single electrical power line running
parallel to the western border of the site from Guy Young Road. Stormwater
management ponds are proposed to be installed on the site to accommodate the
runoff from the proposed subdivision, though the ownership of the ponds was still
under negotiation at the time of the project.
•
Natural Character
The majority of the Save the County site is deciduous forest wetland habitat.
Other ecosystems present on the Save the County property in smaller volume
include the beech-hemlock grove, the dogwood stand, shrub-scrub upland, and
river habitats. The vegetative character of the site is dominantly native, although
a few invasives such as buckthorn and Japanese barberry were discovered in
isolated areas. With the construction of the housing development and increased
water run-off into the site, there will be greater opportunities for other invasive
vegetation to enter the site and become established. Currently, the site of the
proposed subdivision is dominantly shrub-scrub upland.
There is a variety of wildlife typical of Central New York that inhabits the
forest, field, wetland, and river ecosystems in or around the site. The site
potentially provides critical habitat for endangered and threatened species such as
the Indiana bat, wood frog, spotted turtle, bald eagle, and ambystoma salamander.
Vernal pools, small, impermanent bodies
of water, are scattered throughout the site
and are of special concern because many
wildlife species depend on their existence
within a network of other vernal pools to
survive. For this reason, they should all be
preserved in the process of trail design and
construction. Poison ivy and mosquitoes
are problem species that may conflict with
pedestrian activities on the site if not
The Save the County site is
addressed or highlighted in educational
predominantly
wetland, a threatened
elements along the trail.
and protected ecosystem
Design Goals
Following the process of inventory and analysis, basic goals were developed to guide the
design process. Goals help to create a framework for approaching a design while
establishing the basic needs that it must address. Design goals are useful to maintain
focus in a project and can be used as a reference tool when creating the program for a
site. The design goals developed for the Save the County Riverwalk are as follows:
•
Protect the ecological integrity of the site. It is in the interest of all
stakeholders in this project that the existing landscape be protected. The
longevity and appeal of the Riverwalk itself is dependent upon the vitality of the
ecosystems that exist throughout the site. The site is a wetland, which is
intrinsically valuable, but it is also a threatened habitat, so it is critical that it be
5
preserved. The Town of Clay, residents in the proposed subdivision, and Save
the County members and users would all benefit by protecting the ecological
integrity of the site.
•
Provide inventory about the natural systems and other characteristics of the
site to assist in Save the County’s decision about accepting the site. Save the
County aims to provide user education while protecting natural systems and are
limited by financial means as far as the cost and liability associated with taking
on a project. Depending upon the flexibility of the site with the aforementioned
issues, recommendations should be made for the most appropriate decision
regarding STC’s acceptance of the project.
•
Foster user education through the inclusion of interactive and interpretive
elements. The Riverwalk site should create a fun and engaging experience for
users in which they gain knowledge and appreciation for the environment.
Signage and other elements along the trail should be implemented to engage site
users and educate them about existing features, narratives, or issues on the site.
•
Promote pedestrian access into the site
for a diversity of users. The trails and
associated physical and interpretive
elements on the site should be designed to
accommodate individuals with a range of
abilities, including the design of ADA
accessible trails. Physical access from Guy
Young Road, the proposed subdivision, and
the Oneida River should be considered as
well.
The Oneida River is accessible from
the northernmost edge of the
property
•
Promote a cooperative relationship
between the Riverwalk and neighboring
land uses. Since the Riverwalk property will abut the backyards of many of the
homes in the proposed subdivision, the relationship between these two areas
should be considered. The northern edge of the property is bordered by existing
riverfront residences along the Oneida River. Agricultural activity also takes
place close to the property and should not be hindered by on-site activities.
Cooperation with neighboring land uses will help to foster long-term use and
stewardship of the property.
•
Create a design that can be implemented within the financial ability of Save
the County. Save the County Land Trust is a “land-rich, cash-poor”
organization, so short and long-term costs must be considered in the design of the
Riverwalk. The design needs to be cost-effective and find an appropriate balance
between the initial cost of construction and long-term costs associated with
maintaining the property. In addition to construction and maintenance costs,
another concern is the liability that would accompany the property. Care should
6
be taken to ensure that the design provides the safest conditions possible to
protect the individuals who will be using the property and reduce insurance costs.
Design Studies
Using the information gathered from the stakeholder meetings and the inventory and
analysis phases of the project, the ESF students were ready to set forth in creating
individual designs for the Riverwalk. Students presented their final site designs for the
Save the County Riverwalk on December 6, 2006 to Jeff Devine, Richard Smardon,
Michael Bragman Jr., Maren King, and faculty from ESF’s landscape architecture
department. Six student designs are reproduced in this document and copies of the digital
files of those projects and six others not reproduced are contained on the CD-R provided
with this document. The designs provide different examples of activities and supporting
elements, location and organization of activities and elements, and character and
appearance of the trail system. Though some designs appear to be ready to take to the
next stage of design development, it was never the intent to select any single proposal as
a final approach, but rather to provide alternative ideas that could serve as the basis for
discussion.
The designs all have a similar basic trail system organization, but are highly variable in
their treatment and layout. These similarities exist because of the constraints posed by
the irregular size and shape of the property created by the wetland and property
boundaries. The main entry to the site was predetermined to be from an area just west of
the Bragmans’ proposed subdivision off of Guy Young Road. All of the designs include
a small parking area at this entrance to accommodate the users that would reach the site
by motorized transport. The designs all provide access to and from the Oneida River,
which requires the integration of boardwalks due to the increasing water level
encountered as one moves north towards the river. Most of the designs also include a
trail going to the easternmost point of the property that features an upland area with an
abandoned apple orchard, which has a distinctly different character from the rest of the
site. For these reasons, the majority of student plans feature this tripartite trail system
stemming from Guy Young Road to the south, the Oneida River to the north, and the
upland orchard area to the east.
Beyond this basic form, the students each had unique approaches to the treatment, layout,
and character of their Riverwalk designs. This variability provides a great spectrum of
possibilities to be considered for the final design of the Save the County Riverwalk.
Basic Approaches
The students generally approached their projects with focus upon interpretation or
ecology to guide the overall layout and design of their trails.
• An interpretive approach was utilized by many of the students to guide the
overall layout and design of their trail systems. Many student designs were
focused upon designing interpretive trails. Tim Mayhew’s Riverwalk design is
one such example that touches on a variety of interpretive and educational
elements along the trail.
7
•
An ecological approach was commonly used, with designs being guided by the
variety of ecosystems that exist in the site. While some concentrated on habitat
protection through low-impact trail design around ecological communities, as
shown in Katy Johnson’s “Wandering Wetland” design, others promoted access
through the variety of ecosystems to foster appreciation and stewardship, which is
evident in Avery Myers’ design.
Physical Form
The physical layout of the trails varied a great deal among the different student designs,
but featured some very basic commonalities.
• Many students utilized loop systems throughout the layout of their trails. This
approach is evident in Tim Mayhew’s plan, which is almost entirely composed of
looping trails. The loop system tends to create a better experience because user
psychology dictates a preference to continually view new spaces rather than
having to backtrack on trails that end without looping around. While better for
user psychology, loop trails are generally higher impact trails due to the added
trail length and the increased amount of space needed for a trail to loop around on
itself.
• Some student designs featured a trail system of entirely non-loop paths, such as
the foot trails in Kelsey Haigh’s project. These paths have a lower environmental
impact than loop trails, but require backtracking to traverse the site.
• The majority of the studio utilized a combination of loop and non-loop trails.
This solution aims to achieve a balance between user experience and the trail’s
environmental impact to the site. This variety in trail layout is evident in the
majority of designs that were submitted.
Off-site Relationships
• Some students maintained a strong connection, visually and/or physically, with
the proposed subdivision. Karlie Donlon’s project shows this approach with trails
running close to the property boundaries and direct physical and visual
connections to the development.
• Other students elected to design the Riverwalk as an element separated from the
surrounding context. Avery Myers’ project is one such example as it utilizes
vegetation for visual screening and ecological buffering between the STC site and
neighboring residences, both existing and proposed.
Unique Design Details
Some unique design details were integrated into different student designs that provide a
range of possibilities when creating a program for the final Riverwalk design. The
designs being referenced below that are not attached to this document can be found in a
digital format on the CD-R.
• Karlie Donlon’s design for the Riverwalk includes the installation of a playground
and restrooms.
• Chris McGee’s project works with viewsheds by including several tree houses
and observation towers in his design.
8
•
•
•
Bat houses are included in Katy Johnson’s design to serve as a natural means to
control mosquito populations in the summer months and potentially create habitat
for the endangered Indiana bat.
Evan Brady and Kelsey Haigh both expanded their trail systems to nearby off-site
areas (the NYS property and woodland area to the northwest, respectively) to
explore the potential expansion of Save the County’s property to adjacent
undeveloped areas.
Kelsey Haigh’s design features ski trails to allow for seasonal use of the site.
Next Steps
Members of the ESF Landscape
Architecture Department and STC
participated in the review of the
students’ final design alternatives
The collaboration between the landscape architecture
students, Save the County, the Bragman Companies,
and the Town of Clay has produced a number of useful
outcomes, including a site analysis and inventory,
preliminary activities and program, and alternative
design ideas around which to base in-depth design
proposals. Confirmation of the program and desired
activities might be an appropriate initial next step. The
student designs may be used to help understand the
possibilities and provide alternative ideas that could
serve as the basis for discussion during preparation of
the final site design and management plan.
9
APPENDIX I: Inventory Posters
APPENDIX II: Design Posters