Neighborhoods Park Circle Improvements • Reduce center traffic circle diameter to place park next to neighborhood. • Design new North Charleston iconic landmark in center. • Build new Community Center, based on programming input from the community. • Build hierarchy of pavilions ranging from shade structures to picnic shelters to semi-enclosed for small vendors. • Create an amphitheater for use by community theater, musical events and local gatherings. • Develop parking near each major function for easy access. • Create new landscaped areas with trails, naturalized plantings, gardens and open lawn panels. • Design lighting, planting and communications with visual accessibility for security and safety. • Plan for seasonal festivals with open space, landscaping patterns, parking, and power requirements including needs for temporary facilities. • Blend into neighborhood for easy access with pedestrian crossings, lighting, paths, landscaping and uses that create value for adjacent properties. • Create a naturalized stormwater system that integrates water into the landscape.
Proposed Vision
View of vehicular movement around Park Circle at intersection
View looking across traffic toward Park Circle
View of residential road adjacent to Park Circle
View of community center
5.10
Catalysts for Change
The master plan proposal seeks to increase the potential of Park Circle as both a symbolic center, and functional parkland. This is achieved by rethinking the distribution of the space, and the relationships of the parts to the whole. Rather than the singular central space surrounded by eight passive buffer parks, the plan proposes a smaller central space reserved for symbolic value, and four more usable larger parks. These four parks will each have an individual character, and be thoughtfully designed to enhance the adjacent residences. As such, landscaping will be added, lighting will be carefully placed, and no additional access to civic parking lots will occur on the existing outer roads. These parks will connect more directly to the neighboring community. The new layout provides a safer pedestrian environment, by placing the major functions on the outer sections of the park, more closely related to the neighborhoods. Park users will not need to cross throughtraffic at the circle, except for special events anticipated to be focused around the symbolic center. In these cases, the road could be closed, re-directing traffic around the outer square, allowing the street itself to become an extension of the public space. At these times the outer road will handle traffic while also accommodate on-street parking. Diagonal streets will stop at the outer edge of streets, and not penetrate to the center. This will simplify traffic and orientation for drivers that are moving through the Circle. It will also
reinforce the existing street hierarchy, where the diagonal roads carry fewer cars, and are more pedestrian in nature. The exception to this pattern is the southwest approach of Durant, where the important connection to Rivers is maintained. The four quadrangle parks, and the center should be named, to reflect important cultural heritage and civic leaders. Careful consideration and work with the community has resulted in these recommendations, intending to increase the potential of this great asset to the community.
Southwest Quadrangle
It is envisioned this area will create an elegant aspect of street-life within the park, allowing some diagonal parking along Durant (promoting slow moving traffic), and flanking seasonal kiosks for refreshments, souvenirs, equipment, or supporting activities, such as chess games. Linked with adjacent playgrounds, this strategy offers easy access for elderly and adults with strollers, resulting in a complement to the choices in other areas. This park would also be a perfect place to incorporate interpretive projects dedicated to commerce, industry, or the naval base, acknowledging the importance of this aspect of community life.
Northwest Quadrangle
This area is the most open, intended as a public green that allows it to accommodate a variety of ad-hoc ac-
tivities, such as an occasional game of touch football, or simply being in the sun. A walking trail around the perimeter would be a replacement for the old inner circle walking path. The quadrangle is large enough so that three laps would equal a mile, continuing the tradition of walking for exercise in Park Circle.
Northeast Quadrangle
This quadrant is considered the prime location for a new community center, bringing back the strong architectural qualities of the original USO building which was taken away by Hurricane Hugo. It also is closer to the Old Village, and the old Garco site, but most importantly stands across from the approach from Durant, and will thus provide a much needed orientation device for those traveling around the circle.
Southeast Quadrangle
This quadrangle was originally part of a finger of the Noisette Creek watershed, and as part of the overall green space and infrastructure strategy, will represent the aesthetic of the indigenous Lowcountry landscape. Stormwater can be retained, and linked to a series of other green spaces to the southeast, such as the “Duck Pond” at Quarterman Park, and the Noisette Preserve beyond. Trails through these more natural areas can be educational and enjoyable, providing places of rest and solitude.