Promenade Hill Park

Promenade Hill ParkFinal Concept DesignCity of HudsonCommon Council HearingOctober 13, 2020

Final Design & Costing

S O N D

PROMENADE HILL PARK Project Schedule

Project Schedule

Stakeholder & Community Outreach

J

2020

A

Concept Design

J A

Schematic Design

A S

Construction

2021

D J F M A M J J A O N D

7/13/20: Project Kick-Off Public Event

8/25/20: Concept Design Public Open House

9/23/20: Public survey closed and summary shared

10/07/20: DRI Committee approval of final concept design

(Photos courtesy of the Hudson Area Library History Room)

PROMENADE HILL PARKSite History

Site History - Early 1800sPark Formation

“1795, March 9th. It was voted ‘that the certain piece of land, known by the name of the Parade, or Mall, in front of Main street, and on the banks fronting the river, should be granted to the Common Council forever, as a public walk or Mall, and for no other purpose whatever.’From Stephen B. Miller’s “Historical Sketches of Hudson,” 1862

From before it was an official park and well after, it was a “favorite spot for the city’s local military companies to perform their drills”: “Gano’s Artillery”; “Frothingham’s Artillery”; “Haxton’s Artillery”; “Hathaway’s Infantry”; “Wigton Artillery”; “Hudson Greens”; “Hudson Rangers”’; “Hudson City Guards”; “Scotch Guards”; “Scotch Plaids”



Site History - Late 1800sMain Site Features

Seating and an open promenade extend the length of the site. Ornamental plantings, trees and lawn panels are seen in numerous historic postcards of the park.

St. Winifred

Statue of St. Winifred Fountain added in 1896. The statue was a gift from John Watts DePeyster of Tivoli by American Sculptor George E. Bissel.



Site History - 1970sUrban Renewal Plan

The footprint of the lower plaza today is more or less the same as it was as implemented during a period of urban renewal. The southern edge of the site was once the play area with a merry go round, see-saw and open seating areas.

The brick walls are similar in character to those found in front of the municipal building on Warren Street.

PROMENADE HILL PARKPublic Outreach Summary

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA

HISTORIC ACCESS POINT

TRANSITION NODE

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA


TRANSITION NODE

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA


TRANSITION NODE

UPPER PROMENADE UPPER PROMENADE UPPER PROMENADEInitial Concept Diagrams illustrate simplified approaches to incorporating a ramp into the landscape in order to bring visitors through approximately 14’ of grade change from the Front. St. sidewalk to the Upper Promenade level at an accessible slope.

In order to be considered accessible by ADA standards, a ramp must remain below a 1:12 (8.33%) slope, have handrails and a landing every 30’.

Project Kick-Off Public Event - July 13, 2020

• Public outreach and engagement is a critical component of this project, with the goal of hearing from a wide and diverse array of local residents and stakeholders.

• Initial project kick-off public outreach event was held at Promenade Hill Park on 7/13/20, at which three general concept diagrams were presented, along with an inspiration board of precedents to gauge public interest in various potential design directions.

PROMENADE HILL PARKPublic Outreach Summary

Two concept design plans were presented for feedback at the 8/25 public outreach event.

The “Meander” features a winding accessible route through a central plaza, a small lawn, picnic area and sitting grove.

The “Terrace” included a more compressed ramp sequence connecting a larger plaza and lawn to a secondary seating terrace connected to the existing playground.

Both designs featured amphitheater style seating.

Concept Design Public Open House - August 25, 2020• Based on feedback received at 7/13/20 event, along with numerous

focused Zoom, phone and in-person outreach presentations, the design team developed two distinct concept design plans.

• Public outreach event held at Promenade Hill Park on 8/25/20, at which two concept design plans were presented for feedback.

• Over 85 survey responses were collected, and a cumulative outreach summary was compiled and shared on 9/23/20.

PROMENADE HILL PARKDesign Feedback & Response Summary

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA


TRANSITION NODE

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA


TRANSITION NODE

FRONT ST.

STREET-FACING PLAZA


TRANSITION NODE

UPPER PROMENADE

UPPER PROMENADE

UPPER PROMENADE

SW to COH 09/23/20 Page 3

APPENDIX A: Summary of Survey Results The following word clouds were generated based on written responses to the questions below. What are your favorite features of Concept 1? Please Comment.

SW to COH 09/23/20 Page 4

What are your favorite features of Concept 2? Please Comment.

The Meander

Compiled Survey Written Response Word Cloud

Overall Preference

The Terrace

N/A

Refined ConceptsInitial Approaches

4

4634Concept 1: The Meander

Concept 2: The Terrace

PROMENADE HILL PARKDesign Principles

Design Principles

Based on public feedback and further refinement of the concept, the design team developed the following principles to guide the final conceptual approach:

• Provide universal access to the historic upper level of Promenade Hill Park from Front and Warren Streets

• Integrate the accessible route into an open and welcoming landscape.

• Reinforce the visual relationships between Warren/Front Streets and the upper promenade.

• Provide a suitable visual and programmatic terminus for Warren Street.

• Create easily accessible, family friendly open spaces for all abilities and ages.

• Include a multi-purpose plaza for events, performances, etc.

• Enhance the existing planting while prioritizing ease of maintenance.

• Improve safety by maintaining clear sight lines from Front Street and additional light fixtures along the southern edge of the site adjacent to the new accessible route.

• Encourage exploration and discovery through materials and circulation patterns.

• Celebrate and connect to the materials and geometries of the historic upper promenade.

PROMENADE HILL PARKThematic Framework

N

HISTORIC PROMENADE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FRONT ST.

VISTA

WOODLAND

GLADE

DISCOVERPOLLINATE

REFLECTEXPLORE

PICNIC

SURPRISE

RESPITE

COOL OFFREADCONNECT

PARADE

PERFORM

OBSERVE

EATPARTICIPATE


PROMENADE HILL PARKFinal Concept Plan

N

EXISTING ROCK OUTCROPPING

EXISTING LIGHTPOLE TO REMAIN

SPRAY SHOWER

AMPHITHEATER SEATING STEPS

NEW LIGHTPOLES (3)

RAISED CURB

SLOPED LAWNS

OPEN PLAZA

0 5 10 20

SEATING BOULDERS

EXISTING CANOPY TREE TO REMAIN

PROPOSED CANOPY TREE

PROPOSED UNDERSTORY FLOWERING TREE


PROPOSED LIGHTPOLE

HISTORIC PROMENADE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EXISTING PARKING

EXISTING PLAY AREA

BENCH SEATING

FRONT STREET

PROMENADE HILL PARKMaterials

POURED-IN-PLACE CONCRETE UNIT PAVERS STONE BLOCK SEATING SETTEE BENCH

OPEN LAWN CANOPY SHADE TREES UNDERSTORY FLOWERING TREES LOW-MAINTENANCE GROUNDCOVER


PROMENADE HILL PARKPhasing Diagram

N

PHASE I• ADA Access• Family-friendly spaces• Multi-purpose plaza & event space• Relocated spray shower in playground• Tree planting• Increased park lighting

PHASE II• Full reconstruction of play

area• Reuse of parking lot for

expanded recreational programming

• Connection to existing playground

• Improvements to Chamber of Commerce entrance

PHASE III• Further improvements to pavement and pathways to

expand accessible areas.• Tree planting• New seating• Reconstruction and repair of historic walls• Fence restoration

HUDSON CONNECTS

• ADA Ramp access• Painted bumpouts• Flexible bollards• Mural• Crosswalk improvements

0 5 10 20

Proposed Phasing• Input which fell beyond the

scope of work of the accessible route has been noted and is suggested as a future phase for the park.

• Phase I is the core of the park and will be completed as part of this DRI-funded project with the primary directive of achieving accessible access to the upper promenade.

• Phases II and III outline key community priorities as determined from public feedback and design analysis. This future work will require further funding and design planning.

• Hudson Connects, a DRI-funded project running concurrently with this project, is shown for coordination purposes.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FRONT STREET


PROMENADE HILL PARKFinal Concept Plan

N

EXISTING ROCK OUTCROPPING


SPRAY SHOWER

AMPHITHEATER SEATING STEPS

NEW LIGHTPOLES (3)

RAISED CURB

SLOPED LAWNS

OPEN PLAZA

0 5 10 20

SEATING BOULDERS

EXISTING CANOPY TREE TO REMAIN

PROPOSED CANOPY TREE

PROPOSED UNDERSTORY FLOWERING TREE


PROPOSED LIGHTPOLE

HISTORIC PROMENADE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EXISTING PARKING

EXISTING PLAY AREA

BENCH SEATING

FRONT STREET

Documents

Promenade Hill Park