Small Town Big Heart Conceptual Masterplan
TOWN OF PRATT Conceptual Masterplan 2024
The Town of Pratt conceptual masterplan explores the rich history, regional context, and opportunities available. The process kicked-off with a site visit. The team was able to meet with the Mayor and town staff to discuss the goals for their community. This site visit also allowed for a tour of the community, where each area and the assets of the town were noted through a site specific inventory and analysis. The design team used this information, along with the regional context, to develop three site masterplans and a trail system linking each together.
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LEGEND
Historic Locations / Events
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Areas of Opportunity
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The Town of Pratt has a rich history and many of those remnants can still be seen today. Pratt is a unique community because most of that historic structure is in place. This is very rare and a huge advantage for the town. Incorporated in 1905 and named after the owner of the Charles Pratt Coal Company, the town has been home to a number of historical events during the Mine Wars from (1912-1913). The Town of Pratt served as a headquarters for mine guards and the National Guard and was home to a number of “bullpens”, where striking miners were held captive. One of the most notable events is the imprisonment of Mother Jones, one of the most famous advocates for unionization. Today, Pratt has experienced an economic decline due to a downturn in the resource extraction industry. However, the Town of Pratt is rich in history and opportunity. The community is well cared for, demonstrated by the quality of restoration, new development, and dedication by community and town staff. The town is situated along the Kanawha River and serves as the terminus for the Proposed Paint Creek Water Trail and Paint Creek Rail Trail. This, paired with its proximity to Charleston (30 minutes) and Fayetteville (46 minutes), makes the Town of Pratt a perfect Trail Town location. There is a tremendous opportunity to develop parks and trails throughout the community that not only serve the local population, but also attract visitors to stay in the area. Developing and enhancing existing amenities and providing additional overnight accommodations will also aid in visitor attraction. This conceptual masterplan outlines three primary project opportunities for park and amenity programming. The proposed ideas integrate Pratt into the regional trail system, restore and enhance existing pedestrian corridors, and create attractions that celebrate local history and culture. t
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This opportunity was made possible by the partnership between Kanawha County, Charleston Area Alliance, and the Town of Pratt. Special thanks to each of the partners for being a part of this important process.
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SITE VISIT The CEC Team spent the day with city officials and Mayor Andy Williams, as well as a team from Kanawha County and the Charleston Area Alliance. During our visit we discussed not only the Town of Pratt’s rich history, but also how they would like to move forward in the future. Together we identified three main areas of opportunity, as well as other opportunities throughout the community. Our visit left us with the following list of opportunities / needs for the community: • • • • •
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Improved Connectivity for the Community (Sidewalks / Trails) Park / Open Space Amenities / Community Center Direct Trail Connections - Proposed Paint Creek and Cabin Creek Water Trail - Proposed UKV Rim Trail Regional Trail Networks Nearby - New River Water Trail - Elk River Water Trail - Hawks Nest State Park Trails - Kanawha State Forest Trails - New River Gorge National Park Trails Commercial / Business Expansion Overnight Accommodation
These opportunities provide a tremendous amount of local development and benefits for the community while also opening up new areas of development for tourism and business. These opportunities can help to stimulate the economy, bringing additional revenue streams to the town for future improvements to infrastructure, amenities, public events, and other opportunities for the community.
Mayor Andy Williams and CEC’s Jon Michaux discuss the historic homes and buildings recorded as a part of Pratt’s rich history.
Mayor Andy Williams leads the team on a walk through the project sites to discuss potential opportunities.
The staff at the Town of Pratt developed a selfie station as a part of their fall decor across the city for community members are visitors to use. A wonderful example of the strength and pride throughout the community.
Project team admires the holiday decor, freshly paved roads and recently upgraded ADA sidewalk ramps.
One of the many local projects being completed in the Town of Pratt. The original town hall building which is undergoing a face-lift with new siding.
Project team and Mayor Andy Williams discuss the river front property that is owned by the city and the opportunity for developing it into a space for local residents to enjoy.
RIVER FRONT PARK
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River Front Park is one of the three key opportunity areas for the Town of Pratt. The park is broken down into five areas; “Town Swimming Hole”, “Riverfront Arboretum”, “Ferry Landing”, “Observation Tower”, and “Sidewalk and Road Improvements”. Each of the areas have distinct programming but are connected together with a multi-use trail that runs throughout the entire park, linking to other project areas. In addition to the park, opportunity for improving intersections and street parking were identified, as well as providing a new parking area around the town’s maintenance garage.
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River Front Arboretum
Ferry Landing
Town Swimming Area 1
Beach
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Paddle Launch / Landing
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Shelter / Pavilion
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River Access Ramp
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Hillside Meadow
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River Trail
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Exhibition Landscape Beds
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TOWN SWIMMING AREA
Town Swimming Area
at Pratt River Front Park
River Front Park introduces publicly accessible beach and paddle access directly behind the existing Town of Pratt maintenance building. This calls back to the historic town swimming hole. In addition to the beach and public paddle access there is also an opportunity for the beginning of a passive park space with trails, a pavilion for local events or rentals, and seating areas. This plan also suggests removing the existing water plant infrastructure to create a new parking area and connecting road which would allow for visitor parking and additional space for the Town of Pratt.
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THE ARBORETUM
Existing Conditions
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There are many existing assets already in place, such as an existing private boat dock that could become a partnership between the Town of Pratt and the private owner. The use and upgrade to this dock could be seen as a historic reference back to the times of Show Boats docking throughout communities along the river. The proposed dock, lawn, and hillside area can be used for Pratt to host events today, drawing on the site’s cultural heritage and land use. By creating an enhanced riparian buffer through the implementation of native garden areas and trails, the lawn areas will become defined and easier to maintain as open public space. This will provide a beautiful passive park space for the community and visitors. River Front Park boasts a number of large native trees that can be identified to create an arboretum. There are some trees that could even be checked to see if they belong on a list as some of the largest trees in the state. The River Front Arboretum includes a connection back to the community and features an observation tower that provides an opportunity for interpretive signage and views of the historic landmarks, community, park, and river.
Beach Areas
Event Lawn
Native Plantings
Observation Tower
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River Front Arboretum
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Label / Identify Trees
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Exhibition Landscape Beds • Featuring Native Riparian Plants
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A BIG Tree in the River Front Arboretum!
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THE FERRY LANDING
Ferry Landing
at Pratt River Front Park
This area utilizes the historic Ferry Landing area as a paddle launch / takeout location, which adds yet another access point for paddlers and swimmers. Similar to remembering Pratt’s cultural heritage in the design of the arboretum event lawn, this can be a call back to the historic ferry and the era of show boats and river boats. A grand outdoor stair case takes you down to the historic ferry landing area. Each of the programs proposed in River Front Park is projected to bring visitors from the surrounding areas and increase local activity. To accommodate this increase in visitation, parking will be added through additional street parking. This can be created through organization of the surrounds roads. Two new parking areas, one by the Observation Tower and the other by the Town Garage, will also help accommodate visitors. One of the potential opportunities throughout the project was connection. The trail that runs throughout the park continues along the Kanawha River, utilizing a parcel currently under ownership of Eastern Associated Coal. This trail connects other key project areas together for pedestrian access as well as to other parts of town.
Existing Conditions A.
KANAWHA RIVER
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Grand Staircase
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Parking Area
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River Trail to Community Center Park
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Historic Ferry Kanawha River
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COMMUNITY CENTER PARK
One of the main opportunities that was identified was an space for community activities and recreation. This site belonged to the Board of Education and was the location of a school building and gymnasium. The buildings were recently demolished, leaving a wonderful riverside space with the opportunity to develop an amazing community asset. This design proposes a 5,000 square foot community center and amphitheater that can be used for events, farmers markets, and many other community events. In addition to these spaces, there is an opportunity to introduce 5 pickleball courts and 2 sand volley ball courts, which creates an opportunity for everyday use and recreational clubs. The Community Center Park is located along the confluence of Paint Creek and the Kanawha River. This creates an opportunity for a rental business that could provide kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, bikes, etc., to locals and visitors alike. Not only does this create an amenity, but also a business opportunity that would support the Town of Pratt through taxes. To support this area, a beach area and paddle launch area would be developed. This also provides opportunities to create fishing and picnic areas along Paint Creek and the Kanawha River. Each of these spaces also have dedicated parking so that local residents do not experience problems with the increased visitation. Throughout the site is a connecting trail that links together the three project sites.
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Community Center 1
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5,000 Square Foot Community Building
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30x20 Shelter / Pavilion
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Entry Plaza
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Amphitheater
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Stage Area
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Parking Areas (51 spaces)
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Cross Walks
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Landscape Buffers
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Recreation Areas 10
Pickle Ball
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Volley Ball
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Sled Riding / Rolling Hill
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Pocket Park
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Drop Off Loop
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Picnic Grove
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Trail Connections to River Front Park
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Trail Connection to River Rat Campground
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RIVER RAT CAMPGROUND
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Paint Creek Trail
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Paint Creek Campground offers a unique opportunity to develop a campground / trail head that can add local amenities while bringing in visitors through tourism. The project site is adjacent to the proposed Paint Creek Trail Head. This provides the chance for additional guests to enjoy that amenity while also benefiting the Town of Pratt. This campground provides RV spaces, walking loop trails, spots for ‘Park Model Units’, and river-side camping. In addition, this space also provides a playground, seating area and other amenities that could be shared between the local community and visitors to the park and campground. The site contains a connecting trail that leads to Community Center Park. A Historic train heritage trail with interpretive signage and train watching platforms celebrates local heritage.
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Park Module Units / Movable Cabins (12 Spaces)
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40’x75’ RV Spaces (18 Spaces)
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Creek Side Eyebrow Spaces (3 Spaces)
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River Rat Campground 13
Paddle Launch / Landing
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Parking Area / Turn Around
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Fire Pit Gathering Area
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Hammock Grove
Train Campground 18
40’x40’ Tent Camping Sites (3)
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Parking Area
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Observation Platform
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Interpretive Signage
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Train Heritage Trail
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Pedestrian Bridge
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Bathhouse
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RIVER RAT CAMPGROUND RV Campground 1
Park Module Units / Movable Cabins (12 Spaces)
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40’x75’ RV Spaces (18 Spaces)
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Creek Side Eyebrow Spaces (3 Spaces)
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Amenity Area (Playground, Shelter, Picnic Area)
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River Rat Campground
40’x20’ Tent Camping Sites (5)
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Hammock Grove
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There is an opportunity to develop Paint Creek Park into a campground with diverse overnight accommodation options, including RV Spaces, Park Model Units, and Tent Camping Areas. The Town of Pratt does not currently offer overnight accommodation at this level. This opportunity would help bring people into the community and generate revenue for the town. The River Rat Campground offers 41 spaces for overnight accommodations; 18 standard RV spaces, 12 park model, 8 tent camp sites, and 3 creek side RV spaces. These sites can be equipped with full service hookups. In addition, the tent sites feature a bathhouse. The park model cabin locations are out of the floodway and welcome visitors in. In addition, there is opportunity to create amenities for those camping, such as playgrounds, trails, picnic areas, and more. Each of these areas are linked together with pedestrian and vehicle circulation to create a friendly environment and access to all amenities.
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40’x40’ Tent Camping Sites (3)
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Park Model Units
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THE TRAIN HERITAGE TRAIL at Pratt River Rat Campground
In addition to the RV and park model unit spaces, this park also offers tent camping sites. This provides diverse experiences for visitors to enjoy the area. This design also creates opportunities to introduce spaces that become community gathering areas and amenities for the campground. Programs, such as community fire pits and hammock grove, create wonderful spaces that can be used throughout the year for local community members. This serves as both a quality of life amenity for the Town of Pratt and as amenities for visitors of the campground. This site also provides another paddle launch / takeout. This creates a series of put-ins and takeouts throughout the Town of Pratt which creates opportunities to bring visitors in, and creates small paddle trips for local community members to enjoy. Just as River Front Park offered the opportunity to embrace the history of Pratt, this site provides a unique program that celebrates local culture and heritage, as well as the ongoing use of rail in the region. This project introduces a rail-side trail and viewing platforms which all link together and provide an opportunity for train watching. This trail would be known as the Train Heritage Trail. There would be opportunities for interpretive signage to describe how the rail was beneficial in developing the Upper Kanawha Valley. Viewing platforms allow train watching enthusiasts to view the passing trains safely. This trail, and others throughout the project, create a continuous trail system that links together not only the project sites but the community. This would serve as an asset to visitors and community members alike.
Existing Conditions
Example Images
Historic Elevated Rail
Train Watching Platforms
Interpretive Signage
Current Railway
Paddle Access
Camping Amenity Area
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Train Campground 1
40’x40’ Tent Camping Sites (3)
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Parking Area
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Observation Platform
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Interpretive Signage
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Train Heritage Trail
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Pedestrian Bridge
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Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (CSX) 0’
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SUMMARY This masterplan showcases the tremendous potential and opportunities that are available to the Town of Pratt. While the projects may seem large, they are all easily phased and doable as a community. There is opportunity for community service work as well as grant opportunities to continue planning and construction efforts. Pratt has a wealth of existing infrastructure and resources which help make these projects possible. As these projects get built it will continue to benefit the community through not only increasing the quality of life amenities but also create the opportunities for tourism and economic development throughout the community. These opportunities can help to stimulate the economy to help bring revenue streams for the town to continue to make future improvements infrastructure, amenities, events, and other opportunities for the community. This masterplan was made possible through a partnership between the Town of Pratt, Kanawha County, Charleston Area Alliance, and Civil and Environmental Consultants.
Images from Town Hall showing cultural resources being discovered during a town project.
Existing structure that once served as the towns general store. Has been modified and is now programmed as apartments.
One of the many historic homes that are a part of the historic district in the Town of Pratt. This is the Marshall Hansford House 1856.
Historical signage describing the legacy of Mother Jones and her imprisonment in Pratt during the mine wars.
Pratt’s Bicentennial Book. Written by locals and preserved by Town Hall. Contains a wealth of spoken and historical context for the Town of Pratt.
Previously the Water Treatment Facility, the Town of Pratt was able to restore this building to serve as the garage and maintenance building for the Town.