A Master Plan for Silver Lake Park

Prepared for the Town of Athol, Massachusetts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Introduction Community Engagement A Deep Dive in Time The Rich Recent History of Silver Lake Existing Conditions Park Use and Community Demographics Access to Open Space Access and Circulation Slopes and Views Soils and Geology Drainage and Watershed Vegetation and Wildlife

Designers: Bo Carpen, Robbe Verhofste Conway School of Landscape Design June 2019

13 14-18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Sun/Shade Design Alternatives Final Design: Overview Fish Street Entrance Main Activity Hub Slopes to Ballfields Slopes to Ballfields: Grading Plan Drainage Basin Pond and Stream Corridor Meadow and Peninsula A New Path and Stabilized Shoreline Hiking Trail and Steps

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Lincoln Street Entrance Beach and PicnicAreas Plant Palette Management Precedents Phasing Schedule Cost Estimates I Cost Estimates II Funding Support and Grants Way-finding Works Cited

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Introduction & Goals Time for Revitalization

The park has been a cherished community space for many decades since its formation during Athol’s period of industrial growth in the early 1900s. Like many mill towns in the North Quabbin region, Athol has experienced an economic recession that began in the 1950s due to shifts in regional transportation practices and national trends in manufacturing. This resulted in fewer funds for maintenance of downtown parks such as Silver Lake. More recently the Town initiated efforts to link economic stimulation with the ecological assets of their downtown area, including revitalizing the park system and seeding projects such as the Silver Lake Park Master Plan. This Master Plan project seeks to return Silver Lake Park to its former glory as the “gem of Athol.�

Community Goals Reorganize access and circulation within the park by increasing delineation of vehicle and pedestrian circulation; creating clear pedestrian paths; improving universal access along the lake loop road; and organizing parking areas to improve efficiency and safety.

Minimize erosion related to stormwater while maintaining access to the water for fishing and swimming, and preserving views of the lake from the lake loop road.

Enhance safety and the perception of safety Silver Lake Master Plan Committee and Community Process This project was initiated by the Silver Lake Park Master Plan Committee, a group composed of representatives from the Town of Athol Planning and Development Department, Open Space

by improving visibility between activity areas and the navigation of pedestrians and vehicles within shared spaces.

Mitigate water quality issues

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Silver Lake Park, a 42-acre park containing a 9-acre pond, is a natural gem in urban, downtown Athol, Massachusetts.

including threats to human health due to goose overabundance

and Recreation Committee, Conservation Commission, Board of Planning and Community

and concerns about the aesthetic/quality of park experience

Development, Health Department, Department of Public Works, and the Lions Club. The

affected by rust bacteria growth.

committee gave shape to the project by articulating goals and overseeing the community of Athol and visitors to the park. Community members participated in the process in multiple community meetings.

Site new park features and amenities that may allow the park to better serve the community while including low maintenance materials and plants.

Improve wayfinding to the Park from downtown, the surrounding neighborhoods, and nearby open spaces with a focus on supporting walkability and bike-ability.

Introduction & Goals

meetings that have been part of the design process. Additional stakeholders include the residents

1

Two community meetings were conducted, on May 9 and May 30, 2019. In the first meeting, the community members identified problem

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Community Engagement

Community-Identified Favorite Areas

Community-Identified Problem Areas

areas, favorite locations, and views to showcase within the park; discussed challenges; and voted on new features that might help the park to better serve the community. In the second community meeting, participants gave feedback on preliminary design concepts and articulated their priorities. Both meetings were organized as design activities where community members generated information that was then compiled into maps used to inform designs, as shown to the right. The feedback from these meetings confirmed and solidified the

requests to restrict drivers on peninsula

project goals developed by the Master Plan Committee including limiting car traffic around the lake loop road, preventing vehicles from driving on the beach and peninsula, and addressing the area of the concrete slab and nearby stagnant water. The meeting also offered additional insight on community requests, to rebuild the old bridge across the pond in the cemetery and to preserve the shaded fishing

concrete slab bridge at pond

spot on the north side of the lake. pavilion not used often

Safety Issues in the Park

meetings. While no violent crimes have been reported

good views from fields to lake

in the park in the past twenty years (according to the Athol Police Department), concerns over vandalism,

dangerous entrance

drug use, and cars after dark have been expressed

requests to open bathrooms

by community members. Recently, photos of needles washed up on the beach circulated through town social media, leading many community members to

Community-Identified Fishing Locations

think twice about using the space and the quality of the park. Accordingly, the Master Plan Committee set the goal of addressing safety and perception of safety. Spatial constraints and design implications

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

How could the park better serve community members?

Safety was widely discussed in the community

relevant to this issue are considered throughout the and views, and vegetation.

*Graph created with data from community meeting questionaire feedback.

family fishing spot in north

fishing cove near peninsula

fishing spots near pavilion

Community Engagement

following analyses of access and circulation, slopes

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Post-Glacial Vegetation

Glacial History

Hemlock

Yellow Birch

Silver Lake is a nine-acre kettle pond, formed when a large chunk of ice broke away from a larger

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Silver Lake: A Deep Dive in Time Bracken Fern

receding glacier. 10,000 years ago, the Laurentide Glacial Ice sheet reached its maximum size and

Sugar Maple

covered Athol (and most of New England) in a thick, sometimes two-miles-thick, sheet of ice (Dyke et al.). This ice sheet bulldozed the landscape, bringing with it heaps of boulders, stones, and sand.

Beech

The ice chunk became trapped between sediment deposits. When the ice melted, it left a large depression in the earth with steep slopes on all sides, the bottom of which is present-day Silver Lake.

1000 1000 yrsBP BP250 yrs BP

Additional former “ice chunk” locations are scattered in the northern portion of the park, where there are currently three large depressions, elevated relative to Silver Lake, that do not hold water.

A study by Foster et al. used mud samples from deep within Silver Lake to study the pollen and ash residues of the past, in order to identify how vegetation around Silver Lake evolved over time. Following glacial retreat, forests regenerated, and were dominated by sugar maple, hemlock, and beech. Disturbances to the forests included naturally occurring fires and intentional subtle alteration by the Nipmuk people, which induced a gradual decline of hemlock, beech, and sugar maple. This period (1000 yrs BP-250 yrs BP) saw an increase in the amount of bracken fern, an edible understory species that the Nipmuk may have used and cultivated.

Sediment Deposits

White Pine

Black Birch

Mafic Bedrock

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Limited Understory

North-South Section through Athol (10,000 BC) NTS

Red Oak

N

Red Maple

S

Jamaica Pond, Boston MA

Trapped ice on present-day Silver Lake

Miller’s River

Walden Pond, Concord, MA

Fresh Pond, Cambridge, MA

250 yrs BPPresent day Dense Understory

Arrival of Europeans in Athol 250 years ago marked a transitional moment for the forests in the region. Clearing of the forests for agriculture led to decreases in beech and hemlock populations and a rapid increase in understory herbaceous species, as the thinned canopy allowed shrubby species to take hold. Birch and oak levels increased, and red maple did also, while bracken fern populations rapidly decreased. The result is a homogenization of species, with lesser difference between regional areas that were formerly distinct ecotypes, as widespread land use change fractured ecosystems and allowed for the colonization by a few successful pioneer species (Foster 1998).

Other kettle ponds in Massachusetts include Fresh Pond, Jamaica Pond, and the famous Walden Pond. These lakes have similar sandy, acidic soils and vegetation composition.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Planting plans should draw upon historic species, such as yellow birch and beech, for species that are adapted to local soils and environmental conditions, and, to increase local biodiversity, look to species in analog environments with similar conditions, like Fresh Pond, Walden Pond, or Jamaica Pond.

Silver Lake: A Deep Dive in Time

Retreating glacier on present-day Sportsman’s Pond

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Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

The Rich Recent History of Silver Lake The town of Athol was settled by five European families in 1735, and in the 1740s shared uneasy peace with the local Nipmuck Indians, who called the Millers River the Pequoiag. Local history tells that natives had wigwams and some food cultivation on the shore of Silver Lake (Chassim 1985).

The milling industry grew rapidly, powered by the Miller’s River, and so did the desire for parks and public spaces. Silver Lake Park was founded in the early 1900s, and town developers saw the value in Silver Lake Park and quickly bought land around the park to develop it into residential homes and lots. In 1870, land was purchased near the lake for the cemetery, and in 1889 Lucien Lord bought 35 acres west of the lake and cleared the forest for 217 building lots for sale. This development brought more interest in the lake, and it was with this development that locals began stocking the lake with fish.

The First Master Plan of Silver Lake (1916)

\

Bridge to Island Tennis Courts Amphitheater Bath House

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Native American wigwam, which may have stood at Silver Lake just 300 years ago

Map of original subdivision around Silver Lake (left), and local advertisement for lots around Silver Lake (right), early 1900s.

Between 1892 amd 1893 development and activity increased around the lake, as Lucien Lord built a cafe overlooking the lake and bought a “fleet of pleasure boats” for the lake. As more people visited the lake, the town extended Exchange Street to the lakeshore. Lucien built an ice

Dock

Arched Entry

cream stand and pavilion with lights at what is now Lincoln Park; the pavilion was frequently used for concerts and the area was called Unity Grove. Between 1912 and 1913, the town bought the remaining land around the lake and recognized the lake as an official town public park, celebrating the formal dedication of the park with a huge parade from Fish Park to Silver Lake, an all day concert, carnival, and canoe battle.

Calvin Coolidge (not yet president) made the dedication speaking on the importance of civic space and the public spirit (Chassim, 1985).

Silver Lake Park was created in 1916 with its first master plan designed by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, faculty and students. The plan

Postcard from 1907 of Silver lake, before the area was officially

included a boathouse and bathhouse, tennis courts, amphitheater, and large

recognized as a park. Kayakers and people fishing are observed, and

arched entryways into the park. While the amphitheater and arched entryways

the edges of the lake are grown with thick forest.

were never realized, other components, like the bath house, boat house, and tennis courts were created but were later removed due to lack of funding for maintenance. In the 1950s, there were ball fields, fishing coves, a winter warmup shack, and an outdoor fireplace where the pavilion now stands. Funding and maintenance for some park features declined, over time, and some residents fondly recall them, and hope to see some of the features brought back.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

The Rich Recent History of Silver Lake

Boat House

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Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Existing Conditions Main Entrance

Pavilion

1 Parking

Fish St. entrance

Pond (drains cemetery)

Concrete Slab (former

Pavilion

bea

water

3

Fish St. entrance (two-way)

Beach Area Lincoln Park

0

250

500 ft

St. Ent (on ran ew ce ay)

St ge an

4

Stagnant

ch

Ex ch

Beach

Pond

Silver Lake is a slightly acidic 9-acre lake within the 42-acre Silver Lake Park. The park borders the town-owned cemetery to the north, and a Department of Public Works facility to the southeast, and is surrounded by forests and medium-density single-family residential homes. The park contains a variety of features, including 3.5 acres of sports fields near the entrance, 2 additional acres of sports fields in Lincoln Park, a beach area used seasonally by both visitors and geese, a pavilion built by the Lions Club in 2010, and unofficial hiking trails. Between the cemetery and the lake is a drainage pond which has recently expanded into a larger area of standing water, and nearby is a concrete slab formerly used as a skatepark. Two bathrooms are within the parcel, one at Lincoln Park, and one at

Beach

4

Lin

col n

Unnofficial trail

1-foot contours

3

2

sports fields

Department of Public Works facility

Sand

Stagnant water

Standing water

skatepark

Silver Lake

5-foot contours

2

Slab Area

Peninsula

Impervious surfaces

Concrete slab

Cemetery entrance

Parking

Water

1

il

Peninsula

Lincoln Park

Entrance parking

tra

H

Lincoln St. entrance (one way)

Sports fields

DPW

Richard C. Phillips Pavilion Community members and Lion’s Club members constructed the Richard C. Phillips pavilion with help from donations from individuals, local companies, and banks. The pavilion includes many picnic tables, large

Richard C. Phillips Pavilion

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Stone wall

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grilling pits, and a couple of barbecue stands.

Stone Wall The 3-foot high dry-stacked stone retaining wall, which supports the steep 33% slope that extends from the baseball fields to the parking area, was

the southern edge of the ball fields, and dilapidated play structures border the western edge of the

built in the 1960s. Erosion, weathering, and hydrostatic pressure may have

beach.

decreased the integrity of the wall, and a 50-foot portion of the 700-foot long wall was rebuilt in 2018.

A structural engineer should assess the integrity of the wall to determine whether it poses a safety hazard.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

g ikin

Silver Lake Cemetery

5

Existing Conditions

Lincoln St

Concrete slab (former skatepark)

6

5

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Park Use and Community Demographics

A

Over 20% of Athol’s population lives within a ten-minute walk of Silver Lake Park. The park has the potential to serve a large percent of Athol’s population due to its central location amid high-density residential neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are home to many families with young children who benefit from having a recreational space nearby. The park’s close proximity to downtown may also provide a connection to those working nearby, including employees of the Starret manufacturing facility, the

Sportsmans Pond

largest employer in town, and those working along Main Street.

Residents currently use the park for walking, dog walking, fishing, softball leagues, sports practices, and swimming. In the winter, the loop road is used by cross-country skiers. However, on an average day, visitor numbers remain consistently low, in the range of 10 to 15 people at a given time, even in good weather. While residents report that this current park use is lower than in past

decades, there are still a number of events hosted at the park including the Lions Club annual car show and Halloween haunted hayrides, adult coed softball leagues and regional tournaments, youth soccer leagues, the annual Seniors Picnic, and other small

places, outside of the private and commercial

downtown Athol

realms, that are open to all and can provide space for community building. Public parks are open air

Athol Population: 11,800 lle

rs

Riv

er

communal spaces and are important bastions of social

People living within 10-minute walk (0.5-mile

infrastructure. Parks also provide public health and

radius) of the park: approx. 2600

social benefits by providing recreational opportunities,

Multi-family Residential

free play areas for families, and active learning

People living within 5-minute drive (2.5-mile

environments for people of all ages. Investments in

radius) of the park: approx. 10,500

public parks can strengthen communities, can support

Average age range of adults living around

economic stimulation, and encourage a more connected

the park: 20-60

A’

Commercial District/ Main Street

Fish Park

Mi

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Social infrastructure is a term that describes public

Silver Lake Park is 0.35 miles from

society by creating space for meeting, sharing, and building relationships.

Commercial zoning

Multi-family residential development

Single-family residential development

Single-Family Residential Development

Silver Lake

Multi-Family Residential Development

Downtown

Contextual Section (NTS): Silver Lake Park’s proximity to both residential neighborhoods and downtown makes it a potential resource to many residents and visitors.

Residential Development

A’

A

Sportsmans Pond

Open Space

Park Use and Community Demographics

Public Parks as Social Infrastructure

Park and Community Statistics:

Silver Lake Park

conditions and facilities.

Single-Family Residential

Silver Lake Cemetery

parties held at the pavilion. These events show that the community still enjoys the space and would benefit from improved

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Athol is rich in open space with 6,064 acres of publicly accessible protected land, much of which is conveniently located near the downtown area (Athol OSRP, 2008). In

Cass Meadow

Downtown Athol

Millers River Park/Library

Fish Park

Silver Lake Park

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Access to Open Space The Flats/ Millers River WMA

recognition of this resource base, the Town participated in the UrbanRiver Visioning initiative, a community planning process that sought to link community well-being and downtown revitalization with nearby ecological resources, such as the Miller’s River and nearby green space (UrbanRiver Athol, 2005). A number of new river parks were built and the goal to improve walkable connections between downtown green spaces for both residents and visitors

The goal of improving pedestrian and bike access to Silver Lake Park is part of this town-wide plan. Assessing sidewalk conditions along the Greenway Network, a series of proposed walking routes between parks marked by information kiosks, and along adjacent streets revealed a number of large sections of missing sidewalk reducing the network’s accessibility and effectiveness. The Master Plan Committee would like to utilize recently received state funding from the Complete Streets Initiative to improve pedestrian infrastructure connecting to recreational spaces. Installing and repairing sidewalks in areas where pedestrian infrastructure is missing can

trail connections

increase the accessibility of the park network to the community and future visitors.

Proposed Greenway Network routes (multi-color) seek to connect the downtown parks to trail systems in nearby conservation areas

conservation area trails kiosks

*Proposed pedestrian Greenway Network in multicolor

Environmental Justice Communities near Silver Lake

Cass Meadow

Fish Park

Millers River Park/Library

Silver Lake Park

The Flats/ Millers River WMA

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

emerged from this planning initiative (Athol Town Website).

Athol and the neighboring town of Orange contain income-based Environmental Justice communities located within a 15-minute drive of Silver Lake Park. Among other criteria, Environmental Justice

Orange

communities are defined by Massachusetts as lower-income and/or

Silver Lake Park

communities of color who are affected by a disproportionate share of environmental burdens or lack access to environmental resources in their neighborhood. This program is designed to help ensure

Athol

protection from environmental pollution and promote “equal access to to live, learn, and work” (EPA). Improving walking connectivity within the parks network and improving safe access to Silver Lake Park is part of the local effort to provide safe, outdoor recreational spaces for

Environmental Justice communities

(NTS)

people of limited means who may lack outdoor space at their home.

conservation area trails Proposed Greenway Network

no sidewalks

Missing sidewalks near Silver Lake Park entrances potentially restrict pedestrian access and create safety issues, especially for park visitors with children.

Access to Open Space

the decision-making process to have a healthy environments in which

7

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Access and Circulation Silver Lake Cemetery

A Hidden Gem Near Downtown Despite Silver Lake Park’s proximity to downtown and a number of fairly direct routes from primary Main Street intersections, stakeholders report concrete ond P slab

Silver Lake Park

peninsula

lack of wayfinding downtown and nondescript park entrances.

Fish St

Shared Park Road

2

3 Lincoln Park

h

pedestrian access around the full perimeter of the

Silver Lake

lake; vehicles can access three-quarters of the

DPW

prevent vehicles from driving along the beach. pedestrians and vehicles sharing the same road

parking

Main St. / Crescent St.

loop. Bollards to the north and a gate at the south Park users express concerns about the safety of

sports fields

ac be

Within the park, the 0.6-mile loop road provides

Lincoln St. Entrance (one-way)

Cemetery Entrance (prohibited access)

1

Main St. / Exchange St.

Fish St. Entrance (two-way)

and how it detracts from pedestrians’ natural park

Bollard/gate

experience, especially in north of the lake where the road narrows from 30 feet to less than 20 feet. Increasing the delineation of space between

Parking

vehicle and pedestrians may require different

The designated parking area comprises the two compacted sand lots on

design interventions depending on road width

either side of the pavilion and extends along the length of the retaining wall

allowance for sidewalks.

adjacent to the sports fields. Without painted lines, parking is disorganized and often vehicle are scattered here as well as along the loop road. These

A

B

spaces are shared with pedestrians, which can create a confusing and dangerous experience for both drivers and walkers. While the expansive parking areas may be useful for event days, they rarely reach capacity on average days. Reorganizing and delineating parking may improve efficiency

The Fish Street entrance is nondescript, leading to an uncertain sense of arrival.

official park entrance/exit, yet it is too narrow (17 to 20 feet in width) to safely accommodate two-way traffic. Additionally, poor visibility and a lack of sidewalks in this area present safety issues for pedestrians. Fish Street is essentially a blind entrance due to its position at the top of a hill. Visitors ascend Fish Street then descend down into the park where they enter the ambiguous, unpaved parking

Former Roads

regrading and adding sidewalks and traffic signs.

hiking trail running along the northern ridge, which may be a remnant of the original park road from the 1916 design. Other forest openings form unofficial access points to the park. In their current condition these steep openings/

A view of the Lincoln Street entrance road.

[1 on map above, photo A to left], to access the park by car. This is the only

area near the pavilion. There is a need to improve safety and the sense of arrival.

around the lake [photo B]. Many of these openings extend from an unofficial

Unofficial trail/former roads descending from the ridge north of the lake.

Community feedback indicates that most visitors use the Fish Street entrance

and navigability of the space.

A number of forest openings punctuate the northern and western slopes

C

Confusing Entrances

former roads direct runoff flows into the lake, increasing lakeshore erosion, though they also provide some opportunities for pedestrian access to the park.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

hidden to many residents and visitors due to the

Widening this entrance and providing safe passage for pedestrians may require At the cemetery entrance [2 on map above], signs prohibit pedestrian access to/ from the cemetery. Stakeholders report that skaters riding down the hill into the park through this entrance has caused conflicts and create a circulation issue.

The Lincoln Street entrance [3 on map above, photo C to the left] is one-way, only providing entry, resulting in confusing circulation patterns. Cars driving around the lake must turn around in this location and return to Fish Street to exit, adding to congested two-way traffic along the narrow loop road (approx. 14 foot-wide) in this area.

Access and Circulation

that the park remains underused and is visually

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steep slopes (x > 33%)

slope percentage

Slopes Delineate Space Much of the park’s character is defined by an extreme landform resulting from its glacial past. The lake sits at the bottom of the park’s bowl-like topography, surrounded to the north and west by steep wooded slopes. These steep slopes (indicated

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Slopes and Views Views Are Limited by Topography

moderate slopes (5 - 33%)

The visual perception of space is influential to the park

Silver Lake Cemetery

gentle slopes (x < 5%)

experience for many visitors. Open, scenic views imbue visitors with feelings of expansiveness and safety. Good

in orange on the map to the right), range from 33% to 50% and

visibility is also essential for safe circulation in spaces of

effectively confine access into the park to the official entrances.

concrete slab

Steep slopes also characterize the transition from land to water around the lakeshore and may be contributing to soil loss and

shared use between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Pond

Adversely, lack of visibility can contribute to feelings of isolation, danger, and confusion. Within Silver Lake Park,

peninsula

sparse vegetation along the shore. Erosion control techniques

visibility is largely limited by its topography. Views in and Silver Lake

C

more shallow slope may be necessary for achieving improved stormwater management and water quality goals.

out of the park are restricted by the park’s location at the

C’

sports fields

bottom of its bowl-like topography, making the park visually isolated from the surrounding neighborhoods. As the

Lincoln Park

To the north, west, and south of the lake steep slopes may limit

extreme topography cannot be altered without considerable

parking

expense, the perception of safety in Silver Lake Park may

the potential of widening the road to better accommodate both car and pedestrian traffic, without extensive regrading and/or

DPW

retaining walls.

be improved by thinning vegetation along the ridges of the steep forested slopes surrounding the lake, though it may

Slopes

also require non-spatial solutions such as increasing park use.

To the east of the lake, a band of steep slopes separates the main parking area from the sports fields at higher elevation, restricting access for the mobility impaired. Regrading may be necessary

Within the park, the sparsely vegetated shoreline grants

Views Within the Park

to provide universal access to the fields and integrate these two spaces for more fluid park circulation.

walkers and drivers moving along the loop road clear views

area visible from the lake loop road

across and around the lake, while the concrete slab area, situated in a forest clearing, and the sports field, which sits

visually isolated areas

Current park use is concentrated within the limited gently sloping spaces. If new features require level ground, designs should focus

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

that stabilize the ground and/or regrading the shoreline to a

at a higher elevation, are not visible from the loop road.

In order to improve the perception of safety and facilitate

good views

on re-purposing existing gently sloping areas and/or creating

surveillance of the space, designs should seek to maintain

multi-use, flexible spaces. Another alternative is to create new

existing sight-lines around the lake and reduce areas of

features that can be built into slopes, such as amphitheaters.

isolation by opening views between activity spaces.

C’ Views are limited by bowl-like topography

residential neighborhood

Lincoln Park

wooded >30% slopes

beach

Silver Lake

pavilion/ parking

stone wall

sport fields

DPW area

residential neighborhood

Slopes and Views

C

9

Bedrock Geology

Basaltic Bedrock Underlies Athol

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Soils and Geology Soil Types

Nearly all of Athol is located atop basalt bedrock, a type of mafic rock. This bedrock was

Sudbury fine sandy loam

created when hot magma melted and cooled millions of years ago, and was later covered by thick sediment when the glaciers retreated.

Mafic bedrock is rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium, and these elements are easily picked up by fluctuating groundwater levels. Silver Lake is fed only via precipitation and groundwater, and so it is likely that the water in Silver Lake is

Merrimac fine sandy loam soils on site

Hinkley loamy sand

enriched with iron, calcium, and magnesium.

Standing Water: A Smelly Problem

Soils

An area between the cemetery and the lake (right) is periodically inundated

All of the soils on site are very deep, sandy, moderately to excessively well drained,

with water flowing over and eroding the road. In December of 2018,

formed from glacial activity, and are very friable, meaning the soil is very loose and

community residents reported a strong and unpleasant, sewage-like smell

plant roots can take hold very easily. The soil types on site differ slightly in their

coming from this area. Water quality assessments indicated the cause

typical vegetation.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Silver Lake Park

was iron-reducing bacteria, a species that feeds on iron, oxygen, and water. This is likely a result of both the underlying bedrock geology and

Hinkley soils typically have Northern red, black, white, scarlet and scrub oak, Eastern

the record-breaking rainfall in 2018 as raised groundwater from the region

white and pitch pine, Eastern hemlock, and gray birch. Unimproved pasture and

picked up iron from the iron-rich bedrock and carried it towards Silver

idle land support hardhack, little bluestem, bracken fern, sweetfern, and low bush

Lake.

blueberry. Tree seedlings are difficult to establish.

Merrimac soils are often forested with mostly white pine, grey birch, hemlock, red maple, and red, black, white, and scarlet oaks.

The bacteria thrive in areas with highly fluctuating water levels, and they the area has unsightly characteristics and presents a drainage concern, as

The loose well-drained soil is appropriate for creating rain gardens and bioswales,

the water erodes the existing road. Designs to reduce the presence of the

which are tools to help infiltrate surface water before it reaches the lake. Vegetation

bacteria could include converting the area to a deeper wetland, drainage

is critical for pollutant absorption, as pollutants can pass through soils and ultimately

basin, or pond which could filter water, or converting the area to a stream

reach Silver Lake.

to guide water into Silver Lake, rather than keeping it standing.

Area of standing water bordering Silver Lake.

The loose nature of the soil may increase erosion during construction activities, so temporary stabilization methods, like sediment barriers, should be placed while establishing plant cover.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Soils and Geology

prefer shallow water. Though the bacteria pose no risk to human health,

10

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Drainage and Watershed Analyses

B

Mapping the watershed using Lidar data revealed the drainage area to be 83 acres, which includes much of the Silver Lake Cemetery, Silver Lake Park, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) facility. The watershed is small compared to that of most lakes because Silver Lake is an endorheic, or “closed,” lake. This means the lake has no outflow. Endorheic lakes are more susceptible to pollution, as they have limited ability to flush out polluted water, other than via the slow process of exchanging water with the ground. Additionally, because endorheic lakes have no point of outflow, the water levels are highly susceptible to fluctuations in both the amount of precipitation and local groundwater levels. During heavy rain events, most lakes can expel excess water through outflows, and during droughts, many lakes still receive some water inflow through streams. Having neither inflows nor outflows, Silver Lake’s level will likely continue to fluctuate in the future.

These fluctuations may become more intense as New England is expected to receive more intense rain events and longer dry periods with climate change (Mass.gov).

B’ A Ball Fields

DPW DPW Facility

Mapped drainage channels within the watershed show where water is draining from suggesting areas to consider for erosion control measures. Knowing the volume of water draining through these channels helps to estimate the minimum size and capacity of green infrastructure tools and techniques like bioswales and drainage basins.

Without an outflow, salts used on park roads or stored at the DPW and toxic residues from asphalt and vehicles may become concentrated within the lake over time, reducing the lake’s ability to support the wildlife that community members report enjoying so much. Polluting human and animal activities, like urinating in the water and using synthetic fertilizers on land within the watershed, and dog and geese feces are particularly threatening to water quality, because these all are potent sources of phosphorus (a contributor to algea blooms), and E.coli. Education efforts via signs and community events may help to increase awareness of Silver Lake’s sensitivity to pollution and the ecological and recreational value.

Decreasing erosion by stabilizing slopes, vegetating the periphery of the lake, and reducing impervious surfaces that contribute high velocity, high volumes of runoff, can further help to preserve the long-term ecological functioning of Silver Lake by reducing sedimentation and nutrient inputs.

The Department of Public Works active working area, outlined in black above,

Section (to scale)

comprises roughly three acres of impervious surface

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Drainage and stormwater management within the park were major concerns of stakeholders. The steep topography, wet climate and anticipated regional increases in precipitation due to climate change (mass.gov), compounded by sandy soils, contribute to current drainage issues. Water quality testing has found consistently high levels of E. coli in the water over the past several years, which have led to beach and swimming closings.

100 ft

280 ft

Ball Fields

Lake, with only a 5 to 10

240 ft

foot vegetative buffer at the lake’s edge. Thus, any activity carried out by the DPW, from

200 ft

storing salts, spilling oil, and using any other potentially harmful compounds, can have direct impacts on the lake’s water quality and ecosystem.

160 ft

A

Flow of water

This highly eroded area between the lake and the ballfields was identified by both GIS analyses and on-the-ground site visits. Water was seen flowing from the baseball infields to these eroded areas. During an average one-inch rain event, and after subtracting for estimated infiltration, the 20,000 square-foot infields alone send over 10,000 gallons rushing down these eroded channels. During a 4-inch rain event, the volume reaches 40,000 gallons, the volume of a medium-sized swimming pool. Erosion control measures should slow and infiltrate this water before it reaches the channels, or armor the channels to prevent erosion.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Playing Fields

B

Mixed Hardwood White Pine Forest

Unofficial parking

Beach

Silver Lake

B’

Vegetated slopes, like the slope depicted above, are less likely to erode than slopes that are unvegetated or covered in asphalt, concrete, or gravel. Though water tends to move faster over steep slopes, most of the slopes within the park are covered in thick forest, which helps to infiltrate, filter, and slow the water. The immediate perimeter of the lake, as noted above, is heavily used (either for parking, driving, or recreation) and minimally vegetated, which increases the erodability of the entire shoreline.

Drainage and Watershed Analyses

that drains directly into Silver

11

Vegetation and Wildlife Land Cover in Silver Lake Watershed

but direct it downslope. High volumes and velocities of runoff increase erosion of downslope surfaces. Currently 11% of Silver Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watershed is covered in impervious surfaces. Scientific studies have indicated a strong relationship

forest, predominantly consisting of deciduous trees, covers approximately

between the amount of impervious surface and water quality. Watersheds with

41% of Silver Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 83-acre watershed. These wooded areas surrounding the lake offer shelter and nesting sites for many bird species using the park, including bald eagles (Small, 2019). The second greatest vegetation type is maintained turf grass (approximately 24%). These large areas of turf, such as the sports fields, provide ideal habitat for Canada geese, due to their proximity to the lake. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are

impervious surfaces between 10-25% can have degraded water quality due Decreasing the amount of impervious surface in the park by converting road and/ or paths to permeable materials paired with increased shoreline vegetation can help to improve water quality and prevent further erosion of the lake. A decrease in runoff into the lake and increased aquatic shoreline plants may also improve fish habitat and the health of the species frequently fished for consumption in the

sports fields

to bodies of water. Geese prefer clear sight lines in transition from land

park.

h

ac

be

shoreline of Silver Lake provides this ideal condition for geese. Increasing

to excess sediments, nutrients, and pollution carried in runoff (Brabec, 2002).

es lop st s e ted w es and r o f h ep ort ste the n to

grazing animals that prefer low, open grass for forage and easy access to water to protect themselves from predation. The sparsely-vegetated the structural diversity of shoreline vegetation including fruiting shrubs

Reptiles

and aquatic plants may improve habitat for a greater variety of bird

The following species have been observed at Silver Lake during site visitors or reported by local naturalists.

species and decrease geese habitat.

Increasing shoreline vegetation may also help to prevent erosion and

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

improve water quality. The roots of shoreline vegetation weave together

Watershed

Shrubland

and act like mats that hold the soil in place and stabilize slopes. Shoreline

Park Parcel

Grass Open Space

Impervious

Freshwater Forest Wetland

Deciduous Forest

Freshwater Aquatic Plants

Evergreen Forest

Barren Land/Sand

plants also absorb nutrients from both surface runoff and groundwater before it enters the lake. Increasing vegetation, specifically along steep slopes near the road and shoreline may help to reduce erosion.

Water

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

sparse shoreline

long

tran

Sunfish (Lepomis spp.)

Perch (Perca flavescens)

Birds

upland forest

ion a

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Pickerel (Esox niger)

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

upland forest

eros

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Fish

Eastern Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

sparse shoreline

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

surrounding a shallow lake (approximately 15 to 20 feet deep). Mature

impermeable to water. When rain falls, impervious surfaces do not absorb water

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

transitioning quickly to a sandy and/or sparsely vegetated shore,

Impervious surfaces are hard materials such as asphalt and concrete that are

Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

sitio

n

The narrow transitional area between the steep slopes of upland forest and a largely bare sandy shoreline lacks vegetation except for selectively remaining shade trees. Root networks formed by trees, shrubs, and grasses can help to hold soil and stabilize slopes, and may improve habitat around the lake.

Blue Jays (Cyanocitt cristata)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Vegetation and Wildlife

The park environment is characterized by forested steep slopes

Impervious Surfaces and Water Quality

12

The sun/shade analyses below illustrate the hours of direct

The intense sun exposure on the ball fields and parking lot may be of

sun exposure of every area within the park during the spring/

concern, as these areas are heavily used and may present heat-stroke and

fall equinoxes and the summer/winter solstices. Areas that

other risks. The establishment of shade via trees or structures in the ball

receive between 8 and 12 hours (full sun) in the springtime and

fields and parking lot would provide cool relief to visitors.

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Sun/Shade Surface Runoff from Hot Asphalt

fall include the ball fields, much of the parking lot, the concrete slab, and some of the beach area. These areas receive sun

Sunny areas should be planted with species that can tolerate intense heat

exposure into the evening and early in the morning, and could

and droughty conditions.

be used for recreating during these hours in the absence of supplemental lighting.

Many expanses of impervious surface correlate with high sun exposure. A

In the wintertime, some people use the park for cross-country

surfaces, can send hot water into the lake. Many aquatic organisms, at

skiing. Noting the limited sun exposure in winter, planting

different stages of their lives, are vulnerable to even small increases in water

deciduous trees may take precedent over evergreens, as

temperature. Warm temperatures can cause a variety of problems for fish,

deciduous trees provide summer shade but let in winter sun

including decreased egg survival, increased susceptibility to disease, and

which may be desired by skiers.

decreased ability of young fish to compete for food and to avoid predation (Frazer, 2005). Asphalt can leach toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Hours of Direct Sun

8-12 hrs 6-8 hrs 3-6 hrs 0-3 hrs

(PAHs) which can release from asphalt with exposure to heat and water

Structure

Paved areas close to water bodies pose significant threat to the local ecology.

runoff (Townsend, n.d.).

Road Tree Canopy

Sun Exposure in Silver Lake Park (Summer Solstice)

Sun Exposure in Silver Lake Park (Spring/Fall Equinox)

Sun Exposure in Silver Lake Park (Winter Solstice)

Concrete Slab

Concrete Slab

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

sudden summer rainstorm at Silver Lake Park, striking the sun-baked asphalt

Concrete Slab

Lincoln Park Island Ballfields

Lincoln Park

Ballfields

Beach

Lincoln Park

Parking lot

Ballfields Parking lot

Parking lot

Beach

Beach

0

60

120 ft

Sun exposure during the summer solstice is intense, with many of the frequently used areas devoid of trees and receiving 8 to 12 hours of sunlight.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

0

60

120 ft

A partially shaded microclimate emerges around the island during the spring and fall, as the area transitions to full sun to partial sun.

0

60

120 ft

Canopy trees and the bowl-like topography of the park create shade by blocking the lower angle of the sun in wintertime.

Sun/Shade

Lincoln Park

13

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Preface to Design Alternatives Strategies for Manging Storm Water and Geese The following illustrations provide conceptual descriptions of stormwater management and ecological geese control techniques that are utilized throughout the following preliminary design alternatives. Specific construction details for live staking and other slope stabilization methods are provided within the final design details section. Additional information on integrated goose management recommendations are found in Management, sheet 32.

Similarities between Preliminary Design Alternatives The preliminary design alternatives on the following sheets were presented at the second community meeting on May 30, 2019, to gather feedback from residents and park users.

Both designs: •

Reduce the amount of asphalt at the bottom of the Fish Street entrance road, vegetate what is now the sandy parking area south of the pavilion in order to create around the re-organized parking areas in the north of the pavilion.

•

Increase shoreline vegetation as an ecological method for stabilizing the shore and filtering particulates, nutrients, and pollution from runoff before entering the lake.

Bioswales are designed to concentrate or remove

Live stakes are recent cuttings from quick-rooting

debris and pollution from surface runoff. They consist of

species like willow or dogwood. Stakes are a cost-effective

a drainage course with gently sloped sides (less than 6%)

alternative to planting fully-rooted trees or shrubs, and are

filled with vegetation, compost and riprap when slopes

easier to plant. Live stakes secure the soil with a thick web

are greater than 1:3 vertical to horizontal. Bioswales

of roots, and can be used alongside rip rap, which consists

can help capture silt, nutrients, pathogens, metallic

of large stones between 6 and 12 inches in diameter. Riprap

compounds (like mercury or lead), and organic matter

helps to absorb and dissipate the impact of rushing water,

(Purvis 2017).

which would otherwise erode soils (Soil Conservation

•

Control erosion and manage geese using plants.

•

Add lighting to the main parking areas for improved safety.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

a greener, more attractive arrival experience, and create separate pedestrian paths

Service, 1989).

Vegetative Barriers/Goose Maze

Plan View

Creating physical boundaries along the shore can

Section View

and rushes (Juncaceae) create important habitat

access to the water for humans. Short-growing stone steps to water

plants (3 to 5 feet tall) reduce geese sightlines, consist of woody shrubs and aquatic vegetation,

where cattails, rushes, and other wetland species are present, levels of E. coli, fecal coliform, excess

because they are less palatable to gooe, and should measure at least ten feet wide (Doncaster

vegetative barrier

swimming while still deterring geese. Similarly, docks

nutrients, and toxins, like herbicides or pesticides, are greatly reduced (Karim, Glenn, & Gerba, 2008).

2000). Elevated stone steps into the water lined by vegetation can provide access for fishing and

for microorganisms which can significantly improve water quality. Studies have found that, in wetlands

stone steps to water

Creating vegetative buffers along the Silver Lake

dock over water

raised above water level can create a physical barrier to geese while allowing human access to the water.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

shoreline that include both upland (shore) plants dock over water

and aquatic (in water) should be considered to filter runoff before it reaches the lake.

Preface to Design Alternatives

Aquatic plant species such as cattails (Typha spp.)

help to limit goose movement while maintaining

making them feel unsafe. Vegetative buffers should

Aquatic Plants as Water Filters

14

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Design Alternative 1: Urban Refuge Overview Circulation Diagram This preliminary design creates a pedestrian and bike-friendly park and integrates into the landscape educational programming about nature and ecology using signs. The beach shoreline is re-vegetated to block geese from using this flat area; the begetation helps to filter runoff before it reaches the lake. The concrete slab is removed and replaced with a meadow and a natural play area.

Side entrances indicated with signs

Stairs connect to existing unofficial trail along existing routes

Lincoln Street entrance converted to pedestrian only

Vehicle access ends

P P

Play area and meadow replaces skate slab Added pedestrian access points

Parking Vehicle access Pedestrian access Park entrance

Veiwing platform Car access ends at north end of lot, becomes 10’ wide bike, ADA, and walking path

Bioswale slows runoff and minimizes erosion

Path extends to parking lot, lined by new trees

Dock Large trees provide shade on the ball fields

This design improves safety by delineating space between cars and pedestrians. Car access is limited to the Fish St. entrance driveway and parking area, ending north of the wall. A pedestrian-only path loops around the lake. The parking lot accommodates 62 parking spaces along the wall and three universally parking spaces at the DPW. Lighting from the Fish Street entrance to the end of the parking lot creates a welcoming and safe evening environment for late night ball games or events at the pavilion. The Lincoln Street entrance becomes pedestrian only (with the exception of emergency vehicles). The design details on the following page further explain this concept.

Benefits •

Beach vegetated

This design seeks to improve water quality by heavily reducing

impervious surface cover, as three quarters of the road is removed

Low-growing wildflowers and wetland species (max height: 5’)

and replaced with a more narrow and pervious pedestrian path.

• Three accessible parking spaces placed at DPW

It increases the number of pedestrian access points to the park

via four long sets of stairs along 30 to 50% slopes, which serve as new pedestrian entrances.

Stair entrance from Exchange and Unity Street

• Entrance narrowed to slow traffic, asphalt areas removed and seeded with low growing grasses

Added vegetation may deter geese around the beach.

Drawbacks Fish Street Entrance

0

30

60 ft

•

Fewer areas of the park are accessible by car, which may

discourage visitors who enjoy driving around the lake.

•

This design removes the beach and replaces it with a dock.

Some visitors may miss the beach and have difficulty entering the water from the dock.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Design Alternative 1: Urban Refuge Overview

Safety/Circulation

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Fish Street entrance

15

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Design Alternative I: Urban Refuge Details Road converted to 10-foot wide pedestrian path beyond this point

Educational Play Space (based on Atholâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history as a mill town) Dock

Ball Fields

Re-vegetated shoreline

Pavilion Two parking areas vegetated

Vegetated Bump-outs

Volleyball nets Check-dams Culvert

ADA Parking

0

30

Outdoor exercise equipment

60 ft

0

Meadow Replaces Concrete Slab This design replaces the concrete slab with a natural play area, 0

20

40 ft

seeds the former slab area with native meadow species, and creates a stream with check dams and a culvert under the road

Parking Reduced in Main Entrance

to drain the pool of standing water. Replacing the concrete slab

Three accessible parking spots, created in the current DPW parking

with vegetation reduces runoff, and existing parking areas are

lot, allow access to the baseball fields. A portion of the parking area

replaced with wildflowers.

directly north and south of the pavilion is vegetated, and parking spaces are assigned along the wall. A bioswale along the new path to the north of the pavilion collects runoff from the ball fields and parking area. The vegetated area south of the pavilion includes large boulders for children to play on and educational signs about the local geological history. Vegetated bump-outs extend from the stone wall along both sides of the sets of stairs and help to infiltrate water that formerly drained from the ball fields over the road.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

20

40 ft

Dock Replaces Beach A new pedestrian access point to the beach is added by siting stairs to the beach area from Lincoln Park, a currently used parking area with limited pedestrian access to the park. The set of stairs is 150 feet long and has 100 6-inch steps, offering a challenge to local hikers. The beach itself is replaced with wetland plants to filter runoff and dissuade geese from using the area. A dock allows continued access to the lake for swimmers and others. Several volleyball nets and outdoor exercise equipment are located to the southwest of the beach area, an area with afternoon shade. Walking distance to the beach is currently 220 feet (parking at the Lincoln Park entrance) and would increase to 350 feet using the stairs from Lincoln Park, or 675 feet if approached from the pavilion parking.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Stairs

Design Alternative I: Urban Refuge Details

Silver Lake

16

Concept: The park may better serve the community if it has a greater capacity for events. Reorganization of the park is focused on creating new features that attract a greater diversity of community members, in both age and interests, and improving existing spaces to better host events such as concerts and sports tournaments. Vehicle traffic remains around the lake loop road with the reasoning that increased activity from events may require more fluid vehicle circulation and multiple exits. Hosting more events at the park and creating more features chosen to attract more people to the park may increase security through increased use and community presence.

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Design Alternative II: Eventful Park Overview

Circulation Concept Car traffic is similar to existing conditions except the road becomes one-way after the

P

main parking area at the end of the stone wall. This configuration provides more fluid

P

Lincoln Street exit only

vehicle circulation and multiple exit points for event days.

Vehicle Access Pedestrian Access

concrete slab re-purposed for sports

Park Entrance

P

Parking Area

NTS

two-way

beach parking improved picnic area

Lincoln St becomes exit only

picnic area

approx. 100 parking spaces

activity space around pavilion

shade and seating added to fields

beach access remains, terraced amphitheater sited for events on the beach

accessible ramp to fields DPW

pedestrian sidewalk added, asphalt reduced past entry

entrance green connects by crosswalk to ADA ramp to fields near DPW

The design improves safety by separating cars and pedestrians within the arrival zone (Fish Street entrance, pavilion, and main parking) in the east, and simplifying and slowing vehicle traffic in the north/west. The Lincoln Street entrance is converted into an exit only, removing two-way vehicle traffic along the narrow, problematic stretch of the road in the north. Along the one-way portion of the road, share-the-road signs and speed bumps slow vehicles, and a designated pedestrian/bike lane is painted to visually separate modes of traffic. This reorganization with one-way traffic and a painted lane is less expensive than widening the road and/or constructing a new pedestrian path, allowing funds to be used for constructing new features for events.

Benefits •

This design offers the most parking (100 parking spaces).

•

The beach remains and is enhanced with more family-focused activities.

•

Creating new features for events may appeal to a wider audience and generate business partnerships for funding park improvements.

•

One-way vehicle traffic may be more efficient for event days

•

Constructing a universally accessible path in an existing gently sloping area may be a less expensive option than regrading steeper slopes elsewhere.

Drawbacks •

More events in the park may increase the amount of park maintenance.

•

There is less separation of pedestrians and cars compared to the Urban Refuge concept.

Design Alternative II: Eventful Park Overview

small pond expanded to contain bacteria, perimeter walk added

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Safety/Circulation

pond

17

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Design Alternative II: Eventful Park Details double front-loading parking north of pavilion solar-powered snack bar; slab remains for sports

beach-shore access reduced

new vegetation on the slope reduces erosion

deck with paddle boats extends off pavilion

terraced amphitheater bioswales, shrubs along slope

stone step fishing piers

vegetative barrier discourages geese from beach

ay le

hic

ve ffic

tra

lake view revealed flowering shrubs

winding accessible path to fields

cemetery entrance converted to pedestrian only path

vegetated picnic area on peninsula small pond expanded, overflow culvert added under road

view of lake delayed to guide driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on road

A Defined Entrance and Re-organized Parking The tree canopy is extended along the entrance road to delay views of the lake to guide driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; focus while descending the steep entrance road. At the bottom of the hill the view is revealed and flowering shrubs mark the arrival and beautify the entrance experience. Designated parking shifts to the area north of the pavilion and along the stone wall, and is painted with lines to improve parking efficiency. This reorganization frees up space to increase activity space around the pavilion, including a green for lawn games, stone fishing piers, and a dock for paddle-boats. A crosswalk connects the entrance green to a winding universally accessible ramp created in the DPW driveway area, providing access to the fields where more shade and seating is added along the sidelines.

natural playscape

road delineates sandy beach and grassy picnic area, while providing universal accessible access

Repurposed Concrete Slab and Cascading Ponds

Less is More Beach Redesign

A network of new, connected drainage ponds are constructed to contain runoff, reducing the conditions that encourage rust bacteria. The clearing behind the concrete slab is forested to reduce erosion along the slope and remove the isolated area, thereby improving the sense of security.

The cemetery entrance pavement is replaced with a pedestrian-only path, inhibiting skaters from riding down the hill. The slab is re-purposed for sports and a snack bar, with a picnic area nearby on the vegetated peninsula. All activity areas are visible from the road for an improved sense of safety.

Low vegetative barriers planted along the sides of the beach deter geese from using the beach by reducing sightlines while maintaining swimming access for people. The vegetation results in a slight reduction in beach size, which may decrease the need for maintenance and sand replenishment. A terraced amphitheater, built into the natural slope in the back half of the beach, is constructed to host concerts. A natural playscape replaces the aging playground equipment in the southern back half of the beach. Designated beach parking remains at the base of the Lincoln Street entrance road. The distance from parking to the beach remains 220 feet from designated beach parking and 800 feet from the main parking area along the stone wall, similar to existing conditions, though the path is regraded and resurfaced to become wheelchair accessible.

Design Alternative II: Eventful Park Details

e-w

on

entrance green

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

stage for concerts on the beach

18

Circulation Concept

The final design incorporates elements from both preliminary alternatives, creating a park that prioritizes the pedestrian

The lake loop becomes a pedestrianonly path. Vehicle access is restricted to parking areas.

Lincoln St. entrance becomes two-way

experience around the lake while still accommodating a large volume of parking for event days. Circulation issues are

P

Vehicle Access

P

resolved by converting the northern half of the road to a pedestrian-only path, regraded to provide universal-access around

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design: Overview

Pedestrian Access

the full perimeter of the lake, and converted to permeable material to decrease erosion-causing runoff. The pavilion and

Access Point

peninsula are improved by vegetating sandy areas to create green spaces for picnicking and lawn games. The beach is

P

restructured to discourage geese white maintain swimmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; access to the water. Natural playspaces are created to provide

Parking Area

more family-focused activity and gathering areas to host educational programming. Throughout the park, vegetation-based erosion control techniques are employed to improve stormwater management and lake water quality. Stone retaining walls

NTS

are used only when necessary, to decrease costs of installation and future maintenance needs.

Navigation and safety of the main park entrance at Fish Street is improved by widening and leveling the entrance threshold and incorporating a pedestrian sidewalk that connects the neighborhood to the perimeter path around the lake. This separates pedestrians and vehicles traveling down the

ail hiking tr

po

nd

entrance road.

2

The main parking area is reorganized to improve parking efficiency and create a welcoming arrival destination around the pavilion. A new universally accessible path traverses the regraded slope

peninsula

between the sports fields and the pavilion and connects the areas with a painted crosswalk. This configuration provides more activity space around the pavilion by concentrating parking and more

5

area for shoreline vegetation to help manage stormwater. The lot has 70 parking spaces, including three universally accessible spaces. A separate pedestrian sidewalk navigates around this high-

4

traffic area and solar lights improve the safety of this area after dark.

Silver Lake

Lincoln Park

3

3

the full perimeter of the lake while remaining wide enough for emergency vehicles.

ch

bea

4

6

Vehicle access ends at the northern end of the stone wall then transitions into a pedestrian-only path marked by a gate and material change. The fine gravel path provides universal access around

sports fields

Pavilion

The area of stagnant water is regraded to form a stream corridor with check dams and vegetation to aerate and filter water before it feeds into the lake. A pedestrian path weaves around the babbling

2

brook, over the reconstructed bridge, connecting to the meadow.

5

DPW

The Lincoln Street entrance is opened to two-way vehicle traffic, providing access to designated beach parking at the base of the hill. Painting lines to reorganize this flat space creates parking for nine vehicles (including three accessible parking spaces). The short path to the beach is resurfaced

main entrance

to create a convenient, universally accessible connection to the beach.

1 6

The beach is redesigned to offer more family-focused activity areas, including a picnicking green, shaded barbecue area, and natural playscape. Low shrubs are added along the shore to reduce goose impact on the beach, slightly narrowing human access to the lake edge to 80 feet and decreasing beach maintenance needs.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

1

Final Design: Overview

Final Design

Fish Street Entrance widened

19

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design

Fish Street Entrance Community members voiced concerns about access and safety at the main park entrance at Fish Street due to the narrowness of the road and lack of pedestrian infrastructure. To create a more accommodating entrance for both cars and pedestrians, the Fish Street entrance is widened to provide space for two 12-foot vehicle lanes and a pedestrian sidewalk. Two constraints/potential challenges to widening the road include proximity to neighboring property lines (see map right) and steep slopes. A small curving retaining wall is created to widen the entrance, requiring regrading of Fish Street outside of the park. Farther down the entrance road, landscape-based traffic-slowing techniques help to organize vehicle navigation and beautify the entrance experience.

KEY PLAN (NTS) fishing pier

3

1

to main parking

The entrance road is widened by creating a small retaining wall to hold the regraded slope just east of the entrance. A curbed sidewalk on the west

DPW property

Silver Lake Park Parcel

town-owned

ime

ter

road crossings.

rain garden

2 pavement reduced

2

Parcel Diagram (left) indicates the neighboring properties that

Down the hill, the pavement is narrowed to two driving lanes to prevent

constraint space around the

parking in this high traffic zone and provide space for a rain garden to Fish Street

per

catch and filter water from the road before it enters the lake. The rain

sidewallk joins perimeter path

garden also marks the arrival to the lake with a view of flowering plants Neighboring private property

entrance roa d

and an expanse of water beyond.

3

Fish Street entrance.

Car traffic is directed east to the parking area while the sidewalk forks, offering pedestrians the option to continue to the pavilion or join the perimeter path to the west to the beach. Stone stairs lined by low slopestabilizing vegetation at the lakeshore preserve access to a favorite

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

side of the road connects to the pedestrian paths below without requiring h pat

fishing location.

retaining wall and entrance sign

revegetate slope immediately after grading to prevent erosion retaining wall 30â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

vegetative screening

25 ft for two-lane vehicle traffic

min. 1:3 slope where reconnecting

1 regraded to approx. 10% slope

1 1

A conceptual rendering of the widened entrance road with new pedestrian sidewalk and enhanced park sign to direct visitors to the space.

Grading Plan Widening the Fish Street entrance requires regrading an extensive amount of the street outside of the park to create safe and accommodating slopes.

Final Design: Fish Street Entrance

sidewalk

20

Main Activity Hub

Vehicle turn around

The Fish Street entrance road leads to the main parking area, ball fields, and pavilion. The design enhances the entrance experience, organizes parking, and improves the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water quality.

Before and After Renderings

A one-way, 18-foot-wide and 100-foot-long crescent-shaped drop-off location, with a small vegetated island in the center, allows four to five cars at a time to parallel park and pick up passengers walking on the new sidewalk. The curved form of the sidewalk and drop-off create 20-foot triangular pockets on each end can be planted with additional greener. Drivers can turn around to exit back towards the Fish Street, rather than cluttering the parking lot. A widening of the road west of the drop off area provides a 60-foot turning radius, sufficient for larger cars.

3

A 5-foot-wide universally accessible path, at 5% maximum slope, extends from the bathrooms to the northern ball field, and large red maple trees fill in the space between the existing sugar maples at the top of the slope, around the bathrrom, and line the fencing of the DPW. These resilient trees help absorb additional runoff, stabilize the slope, and provide habitat and shade.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

6

Play Area/ Gathering Space

Bathroom

2

1

1

After: Proposed walking path through play area, in the same location

DPW

Play Area & Drop-off Section (NTS)

0

20

40 ft

Silver Lake

Geology-based play area

Road

Drop-off

Slope to ball fields

Final Design: Main Activity Hub

Vehicle access is cut off at the north end of the wall, and a hammer-head turn-around is created, large enough to accommodate school buses. The path becomes a 10 foot-wide crushed stone, accessible path beyond this point, and extends around the lake. This reduces the number of vehicles scattered around the lake (a safety concern after dark) and concentrates vehicle activity in the main activity hub. This also helps to protect vegetation and wildlife around the lake that might otherwise be parked on, and accentuates the pedestrian experience by offering a space solely for bikers, swimmers, and walkers. A removable bollard, signs, or other means deter other vehicles.

Southern ball field

Pat h

5

Pavilion

Before: Existing expansive parking area with ambiguous parking

d

A boardwalk extends from the shore of Silver Lake to the island, which allows visitors to view the lake from a new perspective and creates a new fishing location.

1

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Northern ball field

Parking capacity with the redesigned lot is 70 vehicles, front loaded along the stone wall and north of the pavilion. Parking spaces north of the pavilion (16 total) are permeable grass or concrete pavers, increasing infiltration of surface runoff. The grass pavers provide a cooling effect near the pavilion during hot summer days.

4

6

KEY PLAN (NTS)

Roa

3

4

Visitors pass through the main entrance and see the expansive Silver Lake, additional vegetation, and a play area (south of the pavilion) with large boulder specimens, based on Silver Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geological history. This area is shaded with large trees to the west, and to the east flowering shrubs separate the space from the road. This flexible space can be used during larger events at the pavilion.

Loop

2

5

Fish St.

1

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

21

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

Main Activity Hub: Slope to Ball Fields 2

Street lights, at intervals of 50 feet, light the pavilion, the edges of the slope, and the length of the stone wall, effectively illuminating the entire parking area.

3

A small wooden or stone platform allows for fishing and viewing

KEY PLAN (NTS)

of the water directly outside of the pavilion.

3

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

A 100-foot portion of the steep, 35% slope between the ball fields and the entrance road is regraded to 15% and extended 20-feet towards the pavilion. A 195-foot accessible path traverses the slope at 5% maximum slope along with a set of stairs with 16 steps and four landings that leads directly to the ball fields. The path has flat, 5-foot wide landings at each intersection with the stairway (four total), and at each turn in the path (three total). The gradual slope and frequent landings, spaced 20 feet or less apart, mean the slope does not need a hand-rail. The regrading leaves the road wide enough for two-way traffic (20 feet) with 5 feet for a pedestrian path on each side of the road. The narrowing in the road signals to drivers to slow down, and a crosswalk is painted between the ramp and the pavilion.

2

Pavilion

Rip rap

1

1

Accessible Path

2

Pavilion

0

15

30 ft

Rain Garden Section 1

Rain gardens filled with colorful native woody plants to the north and south of the pedestrian path collect and infiltrate water before it reaches the road.

A pedestrian walkway extends from both sides of the extended slope towards the beginning of the stairs and path, crossing over a small wooden or stone platform over the raingardens. A culvert may need to take overflow stormwater to the lake during heavy rains. The culvert is to be designed by others.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

1

Parking

Rain garden at bottom of slope collects the runoff. A small fivefoot bridge allows water to pass freely under the path and can be made from either a slab of stone (e.g. Goshen stone) or as a short boardwalk.

Path continues

Final Design: Slope to Ball Fields

Perspective rendering of accessible path, extending east of the pavilion

22

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

Main Activity Hub: Slope to Ball Fields (Grading Plan) This grading plan describes how to modify the existing slope to create the accessible path. The asphalt under the new slope will need to be removed to allow infiltration of plant roots and water. Soil can be used from other re-grading projects on site like the infiltration basin or stream restoration (following sheets) to regrade this slope.

KEY PLAN (NTS)

STAIRS TOP LANDING 10’ WIDE 6’ LONG

5’ PATH

GRADING NOTES: ALL ACCESSIBLE PATHS TO BE ≤5%

RIP-RAP STABILIZED AND VEGETATED

EXISTING STONE WALL

WITHOUT HANDRAILS AND A 2% CROSS SLOPE. GRADING SHOULD BE NO STEEPER THAN

5’ PATH

1:3 UNLESS SUPPORTED BY STONE, RIP-RAP, OR A RETAINING WALL. ACCESSIBLE PARKING

RAIN GARDEN

SMALL BRIDGE OVER RAIN-GARDEN (Goshen Stone or wood)

LANDINGS (5’ x 5’) 20’ minimum distance for road

5’ PATH

PAVILION

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Final Design: Slope to Ball Fields (Grading Plan)

SMALL BRIDGE OVER RAIN-GARDEN (Goshen Stone or wood)

RAIN GARDEN

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

STAIRS

23

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

Main Activity Hub: Drainage Basin Currently, the infields from the ballfields release an estimated 10,000 gallons of water over either side of the stairs and one other eroded channel just north of the stairs during an average one-inch rain event. This is because the infields are compacted and coated in clay, which prevents the infiltration of water. In the final design, erosion and runoff in this

KEY PLAN (NTS)

area is greatly reduced with a retention basin, which is constructed under the surface of a

Grass or Impervious Armored overflow Pavers channel

universally accessible path at the western edge of the ball fields.

KEY PLAN

A

To create the continued path/retention basin, a long, rectilinear trench is carefully excavated

wall

(an arborist should be consulted to protect existing sugar maple roots) 3 feet deep, 6 feet

Dugout 1

A’

estimated infiltration rate (0.7) of the well-draining soils on site, the drainage basin size,

r pa

th

and the void space of crushed stone, this basin will hold and infiltrate up to 13,000 gallons

Ped e

trench, which is filled to ground level with crushed stone, allowing water draining westward from the ball fields to quickly infiltrate into the basin before reaching the path. This eliminates any erosion on the steep slope during most rain events, and allows the water

3’

6’

Baseball infields

to slowly filter into the ground before reaching Silver Lake. This also greatly reduces the amount of water draining over the loop road, eroding the asphalt, picking up toxins and heat,

Landscape fabric prevents sediment deposition in basin

Crushed stone

Bas

stria

aggregate is compacted above it. This leaves one foot of space on the east side of the

Surface Inflow through one-foot gap filled with stone

5’ path

in u

n pa

th

fine sediments, and a two-inch deep and 5 foot wide path of finely crushed ADA-compliant

Length of Basin: 150 ft

nde

Stairs

during each storm. Geotextile fabric is placed on top of the 6 foot-wide basin, to filter out

INFILTRATION BASIN UNDER PATH

1

Dugout

NOT TO SCALE

and eroding the shoreline. The basin is also able to absorb and neutralize some of the E. coli washed off the ball fields by geese, further benefiting water quality at Silver Lake.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Ston e

wide, and 150 feet long, and filled with crushed stone with a void ratio of 0.4. Given the

Staked plank holds gravel

During rain events greater than one inch, water overflows into a channel armored with check dams, live stakes, and rip-rap. This channel is located along the existing eroded channel

Catchment area

(section A-A’) 20 feet north of the stairs to reduce disturbance to existing tree roots. The west end of the channel along the stone wall is filled to two feet below ground level with gravel to allow water to seep down rather than pressing into the wall infrastructure.

2

Existing grade

1

Surface Runoff 2

A’

Excess flows over armored drainage channel Armored Channel

A

Water collects under path

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

ARMORED CHANNEL NOT TO SCALE

Note: the depth or length of the basin could be reduced if there are resource constraints. Reducing it’s size would decrease it’s capacity to store water, but it will continue to function to reduce erosion and

Infiltration basin

A Section cutting through armored channel and drainage basin

4’’ perforated pipe slope 2% to daylight

A’

SECTION A-A’ EDGE OF PARKING & PLAYING FIELD

filter water.

Final Design: Drainage Basin

Check dam slows and infiltrates water Crushed stone or Rip-Rap is behind wall to reduce hydrostatic pressure.

24

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design

The stagnant water near the concrete slab has been identified as high-priority problem area. While the iron

Pond & Stream Corridor

bacteria in this area does not pose a threat to human health, it is an aesthetic issue that may affect the quality of the park experience and the perception of park safety for many visitors. Restructuring the area into a vegetated stream corridor with a pedestrian walking loop can provide more controlled drainage, reduce the conditions for iron bacteria growth through natural processes, and convert this undesirable area into an attractive park feature.

reforested slope

1

KEY PLAN (NTS)

A stream channel is created by regrading the area with stagnant water near the road into a 2% slope that consolidates and directs drainage to the lake. The rocky stream bed aerates the water, which inhibits rust bacteria growth while vegetation helps to filter out particulate matter to help reduce nutrient-loading and sedimentation of the lake.

pond 2

meadow

A small gate marks the end of vehicle access and beginning of the pedestrian-only loop road. To the south, a turn-around large enough for school buses (40 foot) utilizes the pavement of the cemetery entrance area. To the north, the pedestrian path continues

C

cemetery roads

3

Removing the connection between the cemetery roads and the park provides for more well defined separation of space while a potential pedestrian path winding around the stream corridor allows visitors to enjoy a walking loop around the brook to the meadow.

1

4

th

pa

t er

3

lv

cu lake

2

doubling the holding capacity of this drainage basin. This would better accommodate wet season rains and future increases in precipitation as projected by the Northeast Climate Adaption Science Center. The check dam also helps to create a small 1 foot waterfall and babbling brook effect for the stream, thus creating a enjoyable destination out of a what was once a problem area.

nd

u aro rn-

tu

The degraded, old bridge is rebuilt as a bridge over a stone and berm weir, allowing an increase in the pondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water elevation and

Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

1

berm to contain higher water elevation

tall shade trees with lower branches

bridge over weir

pruned for clear sight lines across the understory

10 ft wide streambed, minimum of 2% slope necessary for drainage

culvert under path

fern understory stream joins lake

1

C - Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Perspective section: The stream corridor is revegetated as a grove of tall shade trees with a clonal fern understory, chosen for easier long-term maintenace and to maintain clear sight lines within the understory for safety.

spot grade for pedestrian path

GRADING PLAN

The stagnant water area is re-graded into a defined small stream corridor (10 foot wide). A small berm on the northwest side of the pond is created to contain the higher water elevation of the small pond (drainage basin). Creation of the proposed weir may require a grading plan from a licensed engineer.

Final Design: Pond and Stream Corridor

4

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

around the remaining perimeter of the lake. A culvert under the path connects the stream to the lake.

25

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design

Meadow and Peninsula In response to community request, the peninsula and area of the concrete slab are converted into vegetated spaces for picnicking with improved habitat for songbirds and nature-based activities such as outdoor education and wildlife viewing.

1

KEY PLAN (NTS)

The peninsula is vegetated with trees to shade a newly constructed picnic area

E

and a shrubby vegetative buffer to discourage geese from using the space.

2

A meadow grows in the previous location of the concrete slab. Habitat is restored

eter

perim

path

me

ado

with groupings of shrubs and bird houses to create a wildlife viewing area. A

w

gathering area just off the lake loop path is constructed under the shade of programming.

3

learning lab

Artificial islands are created in the cove close to nearby favorite fishing spots to improve fish habitat by providing shelter and absorb nutrients for improved water quality.

At the northern edge of the meadow the sandy eroded slope is reforested using on-contour logs (see construction detail on Hiking Trail and Steps sheet on following sheet).

artificial islands

E’

ALTERNATIVE

p1 4550 sq. ft. skate park hall

4

k

oo br

picnic area

p2

pedestrian loop path

Section E - E’: A view of the concrete slab removed and the area revegetated into a meadow with an outdoor classroom with bird-watching and pollinator stations.

p3

An alternative option is to repurpose the concrete slab for multiple sports.

Three, 20’ x 44’ pickleball courts could be created, leaving the rest of the space available for rebuilding the skate park.

According to the Tony Hawk Foundation, a 4550 square-foot skate park could accommodate 30 skaters.

Final Design: Meadow and Peninsula

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

newly planted trees to create an outdoor learning lab for hosting educational

26

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

A New Path and Stabilized Shoreline hub, replacing the existing asphalt road. The new crushed aggregate path is more narrow than the existing asphalt, and reduces impervious surface by 10,000 square feet around the lake.

the path is then re-vegetated, reducing the slope and reducing the speed of surficial flow. The slope from the path to the shoreline is stabilized with rip-rap or live stakes and geotextile fabric at current eroded sites (see inset and details below).

KEY PLAN (NTS)

Most asphalt roads are built upon an aggregate base. It may be possible to use the

In areas where slopes are eroding on either side of the road (like the one depicted in the conceptual section below) the path should be placed on the portion of the road closest to the lake, to leave room to regrade and fill steep portions of the uphill

existing aggregate base below the asphalt road directly under the new accessible path, reducing the cost associated with sourcing new materials to build the path. Existing asphalt may also be able to be recycled and applied throughout Atholâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown, as

Path

Highly eroded shoreline

the town begins adopting complete streets.

Bio-degradable erosion control fabric

Eroding slope uphill

Existing road

Eroding lakeside slope

Silver Lake

New fill is added to decrease slope

Existing slope

New multiuse path

Bio-degradable stake secures fabric, installed shingle-style Stabilized with rip rap and/or live stakes

2 to 3 feet (triangular spacing)

Existing road around the lake cuts into the slope at many locations,

New path reduces impervious surface, regrades the uphill slope with

worsening erosion.

fill added to decrease slope to <30%, and increases vegetation.

Uphill erosion (relative to road)

Silver Lake

Silver Lake

Live cutting (0.5 to 1.5 inches in diameter) installed dormant as whips.

1

Downhill lakeside erosion

LIVE STAKES AND GEOTEXTILE

Erosion can be reduced both uphill and downhill from the road

Note: rooted/leafed condition of the living plant material is not representative of the time of installation.

NOT TO SCALE

using live stakes and geotextile or live stakes and rip rap.

Live staking is a cheap and easy process, and volunteers could use existing willow or dogwood trees on site to source the stakes. Geotextile fabric staked into the ground with dead stakes helps to stabilize the slope until the live stakes take hold.

6-9â&#x20AC;? stone size Note: if there are existing trees or vegetation along a slope take caution not to damage their bark or roots and place rocks around them.

Rip rap should be limited to areas that appear most eroded and/or on slopes with greater than 1:3 verticle to horizontal, where vegetative stabilization methods are less effective.

Bio-degradable erosion control fabric Bio-degradable stake secures fabric, installed shingle-style 2 to 3 feet (triangular spacing)

Silver Lake

If the area needs to be filled, fill with rip rap smaller than six inches should be used. The slope should be tightly compacted before placing the rip rap (USDA 1996).

2

VEGETATED RIP-RAP NOT TO SCALE

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

north end of the main activity hub around the lake to the southwest end of the main

slope which are currently unvegetated, steep, and eroding. The regraded slope above

Live cutting (0.5 to 1.5 inches in diameter) Must be longer than with biodegradable erosion control fabric to penetrate rip rap layer.

Final Design A New Path and Stabilized Shoreline

A 10-foot-wide, 2,250-foot long universally accessible path extends west from the

27

erosion area

trail begins at Lincoln St/Twichel St

North Ridge Trail

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Hiking Trail and Steps In the final design, the existing hiking trail that runs along the ridge north of the lake is opened as an formal trail and the trailhead at the corner of Lincoln Street and Twichel Street [1] is opened as a formal pedestrian park entrance. This creates an additional

trail connects to cemetery

clearings on steep slopes

recreational trail in the park while increasing access to the park for residents north of the park. Wooden steps create a connection from the trail to the beach parking area at the base of the Lincoln Street entrance road [2]. Formalizing this trail requires some additional maintenance and erosion control [3]. This may require a slight rerouting in

4

certain sections and will require spot grading to make the trail universally accessible if desired. Steep slopes to the south of the trail make creating a new trail connection to the park difficult, though steps could be constructed to connect the trail to the meadow area. t.

el S

connection to the cemetery roads [4].

ich Tw

Steps

3

Silver Lake Cemetery

1

Constructing additional steps at the corner intersection of Exchange Street and Lincoln

perimeter path

from Main Street to the park as envisioned in the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original 1916 design. This increases the accessibility of the park and creates more walkable connections within the downtown. Additional steps from Lincoln Park to the beach could allow visitors to park at

Lincoln S

the park. Creating steps from Exchange Street provides a direct walking connection

meadow

t.

Street and from Lincoln Park to the beach creates more pedestrian access points into

2 cemetery entrance

the Lincoln Park parking lot and enjoy quick access to the beach, playground, and picnic

Silver Lake

areas below.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Alternatively, if the cemetery were open to pedestrian traffic, visitors could use the trail

Timber cribbed steps, which use a frame of bars for support (see photos below) and are very stable and long lasting, are suggested for the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steep slopes. Backfilling the steps with a mixture of soil and crushed stone can help with drainage of runoff.

hiking trail clearings on steep slopes proposed steps proposed pedestrian park entrance

Space 60 feet apart on co

ln

steep slopes ranging

Steps

St

.

between 20 to 50% (* detail from USDA)

1

ON-CONTOUR LOG EROSION CONTROL

Ex ch

an ge St .

NOT TO SCALE

Key of final design indicating location of steps extending from Lincoln St./Exchange St. and Lincoln Park to the beach.

Cribbed steps along the Connecticut River in Northampton, MA

This method is a cost effective way to stabilize steep forest clearings such as the sandy slope north of the meadow and the clearings with steep slopes running down from the hiking trail. Fastening logs on contour creates micro-terraces where vegetation has a better chance of becoming established. There are a number of recommended tree species in the plant palette (see sheet 21) that can be used to vegetate these slopes.

Hiking Trail and Steps

Lin

28

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design gsdfgsdfg

Lincoln Street Entrance ir s St a

The 22-foot-wide Lincoln Street entrance road is converted to two-way traffic, and visitors arrive to a direct view of the water, unimpeded by vehicles, which park to either side.

Lincoln St. en

trance

KEY PLAN (NTS)

3

2

Silver Lake

1

The Lincoln Street entrance road is converted to two-way traffic, and trees are planted south of this point to increase shade for Lincoln Park.

1

2

The sight-line of the steep curve in the road is improved by thinning trees along its southern edge.

3

Nine parking spaces, including three accessible parking spaces, make up this lot, similar to the existing

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

capacity. The distance from this parking lot to the beach remains the same, about 220 feet. The square footage of the paved asphalt parking area is reduced by 35% from 6,500 square feet to 4,000 square feet (including sidewalks and paths), substantially reducing the amount of storm water runoff and erosion downslope from the parking area.

Lincoln Park

Silver Lake

Former Bathrooms

4

Runoff from the steep road is captured and slowed in bioswales around the edges of the parking lot (see section below). These bioswales overflow into the lake through small culverts under the 10-foot-wide accessible path on both sides of the parking lot.

5

A universally accessible path extends from the parking spaces south toward the beach, and a path (5a) extends from the lot toward steps which connect to the trail to the north. This trail allows for increased

Lincoln St. Access Road

pedestrian access from Twitchell Street, where the trail begins.

4 6

A portable toilet allows visitors to the beach to use the bathrooms before heading to the beach.

5a

Section A-A’ Through the Parking Lot

Bioswale Lincoln St. entrance

Bioswale 4

5

6 A’

Beach Parking Lot Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Existing Slopes A

Bioswale

Path

Crowned parking area, Clear sight-line of Silver Lake upon arrival

Path

Bioswale

Existing Slopes A’

Final Design Lincoln Street Enrance

A

29

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Final Design

Beach and Picnic Areas 1

Low vegetative buffers, consisting of woody shoreline and aquatic plants (maximum 3 feet tall) deter geese from the beach by blocking their sight-lines, resulting in a slightly smaller beach that requires less maintenance. Sand is replenished on the remaining

a rk ing

area of the beach. Boulders mark the boundary between vegetation and sandy beach to

hp

facilitate maintenance and provide natural play structures. Allowing aquatic plants, such

KEY PLAN (NTS)

eac

as cattails that absorb E.coli and excess nutrient, to grow along the shore may help to

to b

maintain better water quality and limit future beach closings 4

2

A natural playscape constructed with logs in the shaded back half of the beach increases the diversity of family-

3

A grassy picnic area is created in the more shaded, back half of the beach by removing the aging playground equipment and overseeding with low-mow groundcover. The center section of the vegetative goose buffer and universally accessible path neatly delineates the grassy area from the sandy beach.

4

The existing picnic area beneath the canopy of pine trees is improved with more picnic tables and new

vegetative buffers

barbecue grills. Gaps in the vegetative buffers maintain shoreline access for fishing.

F’

3 grassy picnic area

80 ft x 60 ft beach

1

2 natural playscape

Conceptual render of the vegetated beach shoreline and shaded picnic area. The popular beaches at DAR State Forest in Goshen, MA and Savoy Mountain State Forest in Florida, MA, which are a similar size with tall trees nearby to create shaded picnic areas, are supportive examples for this redesign.

path

grassy picnic area Section F - F’: East to West view of the beach (2:1)

center of vegetative buffer

sandy beach

3’ tall vegetative buffer

Final Design: Beach and Picnic Areas

F

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

focused activities at the beach.

barbeque area

30

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Plant Palette/Species Recommendations Plants recommended are appropriate for the nutrient-poor, sandy soils characteristic of the site, and particular conditions of the zones for which they are suggested. Plants selected for the Fish Street entrance can withstand heavy shade. Bioswale/rain garden plants can withstand temporary inundation and periods of drought. Low woody shrubs with deep roots are selected for the slope near the sports fields for their ability to handle the hot and sunny conditions of the southwest exposure of the area. Plants selected for the stream corridor can withstand occasional flooding, including the tall stand trees and fern understory. Meadow species that attract butterflies, birds, bees, and

Zone

Common Name

Scientific Name

Vegetation Type

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Light Requirement

Function

Entrances

Oak Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Herbaceous

6 inch - 1 ft

7 inch - 1 ft

Full to part shade

Aesthetic/Slope Stablization

Entrances

Appalachian Sedge

Carex appalachica

Herbaceous

6 inches

1 ft

Full to part shade

Aesthetic/Slope Stablization

for livestaking can be harvested from on-site specimens including willows and

Entrances

Maple Leaf Viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Shrub

3 - 6 ft

4 - 6 ft

Part shade

Screening

some species of dogwoods and viburnums. This reduces material costs and may

Entrances

Hobblebush

Viburnum lantanoides

Shrub

6 - 12 ft

6 - 12 ft

Part shade

Screening

ensure greater establishment rates by using plants already proving to do well in site

Activity Hub

New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae

Herbaceous

3 - 4 ft

2 - 3 ft

Full to part sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

conditions. Seed mixes are recommended for vegetating areas after regrading such

Activity Hub

Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Herbaceous

2 - 3 ft

1 - 2 ft

Full sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

as the stream corridor, meadow, and peninsula areas. Seed mixes should be sourced

Activity Hub

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Herbaceous

2 - 5 ft

1 - 2 ft

Full to part sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

Activity Hub

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Herbaceous

1 - 2 ft

1 - 2 ft

Full sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

Activity Hub

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Herbaceous

2 - 4 ft

2 ft

Full sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

Activity Hub

Jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

Herbaceous

2 - 5 ft

1 - 2 ft

Full/Part Sun

Bioswales/Rain Garden

Activity Hub

Creeping Juniper

Juniperus horizontalis

Shrub

6 inch - 1 ft

5 - 8 ft

Full sun

Slope stablization (fields)

Activity Hub

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Shrub

6 inch - 1 ft

3 - 6 ft

Full sun

Slope stablization (fields)

Stream Corridor

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Tree

60 - 80 ft

40 ft

Sun to part shade

Tall shade tree

Stream Corridor

Yellow Birch

Betula alleghaniensis

Tree

50 - 70 ft

30 - 50 ft

Sun to part shade

Tall shade tree

Stream Corridor

Sweet Gum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Tree

60 - 70 ft

40 - 50 ft

Sun to part shade

Tall shade tree

Stream Corridor

Eastern Bracken Fern

Pteridium aquilinum

Fern

5 - 7 ft

6 - 8 ft

Sun to part shade

Shore stablizer

Stream Corridor

Hay Scented Fern

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Fern

1.5 - 2 ft

2 - 3 ft

Part to full shade

Shore stablizer

Stream Corridor

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Fern

3 - 6 ft

5 - 8 ft

Sun to shade

Shore stabilzer

Beach/Lakeshore

Broadleaf Cattails

Typha latifolia

Aquatic plant

4 - 6 ft

4 - 6 ft

Full to part sun

Water quality

Beach/Lakeshore

Narrow Leaf Cattails

Typha angustifolia

Aquatic plant

3 - 7 ft

3 - 6 ft

Full to part sun

Water quality

Beach/Lakeshore

Lesser Bur Reed

Sparganium americanum

Aquatic plant

2 - 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

2 - 4 ft

Full to part sun

Water quality

Beach

Willow

Salix spp.

Shrub

na

na

Full to part sun

Shoreline buffer

Beach

Sheep Laurel

Kalmia angustifolia

Shrub

1 - 3 ft

3 ft

Full to part sun

Shoreline buffer

Beach

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Shrub

2 - 3 ft

3 ft

Full to part sun

On-beach buffer

Beach

Sweetfern

Comptonia peregrina

Shrub

2 - 3 ft

2 - 3 ft

Full to part sun

On-beach buffer

Steep Slopes

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Tree

60 - 80 ft

40 ft

Shade Tolerant

Vegetate steep slopes

Steep Slopes

White Pine

Pinus strobus

Tree

70 - 90 ft

40 - 50 ft

Shade Tolerant

Vegetate steep slopes

Meadow

Sweetfern

Comptonia peregrina

Shrub

2 - 3 ft

2 - 3 ft

Full to part sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Bayberry

Morella pensylvanica

Shrub

5 - 10 ft

5 - 10 ft

Full to part sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Shrub

6 - 12 ft

6 -12 ft

Full to part sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Witherod

Viburnum casanodis

Shrub

5 - 12 ft

5 - 12 ft

Full/Part Sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Herbaceous

2 - 4 ft

3 ft

Full sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Herbaceous

2 ft

1 ft

Full to part sun

Pollinator plant

Meadow

Aromatic Aster

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Herbaceous

1 - 3 ft

1 - 3 ft

Full to Part Sun

Pollinator plant

beach. All of the selected plants were chosen for their low maintenance requirements.

Increasing shoreline vegetation may be achieved by simply making changes to the mowing regime, as described on the following Management sheet. Plants

from reputable restoration companies. The following seed mix is recommended: New England Showy Meadow Mix at application rate of 1 lb. per 1900 square feet, from

Butterfly.com/milkweed-30-seeds-AsclepiasTuberosa-butterfly-attracting-Comb

New England Wetland Plants Nursery.

Oak sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is an effective and attractive slope stabilizer.

Bufferfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a host plant to monarch butterflies and provides habitat for many other pollinators and beneficial insects.

Colony-forming ferns such as bracken fern, hay-scented fern, or ostrich fern (pictured here growing near the Connecticut River) protect the ground and suppress other woody plants with allelopathic chemicals, making maintenance easier.

Plant Palette/Species Recommendations

withstand very sandy conditions are chosen for increasing the shoreline buffer of the

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

bats are selected to improve habitat in the area of the concrete slab. Species that can

31

Vegetation Management

Integrated Goose Management every other year, instead of annually, to maintain clear sight-lines around the park for safety, while allowing vegetative barriers to persist throughout more of the year for goose and stormwater management. In many areas in the park, the higher elevation of the loop path above the shoreline gives visitors clear views above shoreline vegetation, making vegetation less of a safety concern. To achieve successful establishment of new vegetation, plants should be allowed to grow for two years before the first mowing.

A Note on Ticks: Allowing more growth of shoreline vegetation through changes to the mowing regime may increase tick habitat within the park. Creating a 3-foot-wide clearing between vegetation and pedestrian paths by cutting vegetation and/or creating a mulched edge can help to reduce the likelihood of tick transfer to humans (Stafford, 2007). Information signs should be added to the park kiosk to teach park users how to protect themselves from tick borne disease in all open spaces, due to Massachusetts,

The most lasting method of resolving issues with geese is to change the habitat so that is no longer suitable to them.

Increasing woody vegetation barriers along the shoreline and additional trees along the north slope to the fields create inhospitable conditions for geese by obstructing their movement between their grassy foraging grounds (shoreline and sport fields) and the water. Increased shoreline vegetation also helps to control erosion, filter nutrients, improve water quality, and improve habitat for fish, turtles, and songbirds. Additional trees near the sports fields also provides more shade for players and viewers.

Current turf areas are seeded with rye grasses, which are a preferred food source of geese. Transitioning to tall fescue, which is not eaten by geese, may help decrease the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goose population by reducing their food source (Humane Society).

Other geese management techniques that have been discussed by stakeholders include decoys of geese predators and sprays. While decoys could have value as additional play structures for children, they have not been proven effective for goose management. Sprays with active ingredients such as methyl anthranilate are toxic (digestive irritants) to all bird species.

Studies indicate that fog drift from spray application can damage non-target bird species in adjacent habitat (NY DEC, 2009).

At Silver Lake this could result in damage to the various other bird species in the park, including eagles and herons. Studies also indicate that geese sprays must be reapplied after exposure to water or, when applied to grass, reapplied after mowing, making them an impractical solution for the beachshore and high-use sports fields. Finally, goose repellents are known to cause skin irritation in humans and are therefore not recommended for an area used by children such as the beach. For these reasons, goose repellent spray cannot be recommended as an effective and safe control method.

high deer tick population.

Floating Islands

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Mowing shoreline vegetation is recommended

http://midwestfloatingisland.com/technology/

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Management

Floating islands have numerous benefits, such as providing growing material for plants that absorb nutrients and pollutants, and providing cover for fish.

Dr. Joshua McGrath of the University of Maryland found that a 300-square-foot floating island could filter a highly polluted half acre pond and remove 183 pounds of nitrogen and 25 pounds of phosphorus per year. (Kintija Eigmina-Chemali, 2013). Floating islands are composed

Left: Geese congregate along the shore in an area with sparse vegetation. Right: Converting the sports fields to nongoose forage grass species could greatly reduce goose habitat surrounding the lake.

of three components: a base, an anchor, and plant material. The base should be buoyant and made of a non-toxic material that will not break down and be ingested by wildlife, the anchor can

Road/Path Maintenance

resistant to goose browse. Costs range from $4 to 30 per square foot from organizations like

Fine stone dust (3/8 inch minus) is recommended for surfacing of the lake loop path to convert the loop road into

FloatingIslandInternational, Biomatrix Solutions, BioHaven, and BioHabitats. Floating islands can

a universally accessible pedestrian path. This semi-permeable material is suggested for improved stormwater

also be built by community members using instructions available from the open-source patent

management (see New Path sheet) and because it is easier to maintain in appearance with occasional maintenance

number: US20070209277A1.

as compared to patching asphalt, which can create a look of disrepair. Where possible, it is recommended to remove asphalt and resurface with stone dust on top of the existing aggregate of the road. Hot in-place asphalt recycling is recommended for resurfacing the designated parking areas using material extracted from the lake loop road north of the lake.

Management

be a durable rope attached to a submerged boulder, and the plant species should be native and

32

Removable bollards

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Precedents gsdfgsdfg

Removable bollards used to prevent vehicles from using the pedestrian path.

https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/ltu/watershed/ pervious-surfaces.htm

youtube.com/watch?v=Wj-lLKmJrh8

paversearch.com/grass-pavers-menu.htm

https://www.reliance-foundry.com/bollard/removable#gref

https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/removable-bollards/

Permeable Pavement

Concrete pavers (1) allow grass to grow, infiltrating water. Porous pavement (2) has small micropores which allow infiltration. Grass pavers (3) are usually made of durable plastic that prevents compression of grass and soil.

Bioswale

Natural playscapes incorporate natural materials to play on and blend into the landscape.

Bioswales, like this one at the Athol Public Library, help protect water resources by filtering water.

Floating Islands

Floating islands that are smaller in size are easier to upkeep from a kayak. They can be grouped together, or stand as singular isolates islands.

An outdoor classroom could provide a space for field trips and summer camps for K-12 children as well as adults.

Precedents

Outdoor Education Spaces

http://baybackpack.com

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/268949408967332319/?lp=true

https://iisd.org/story/floating-treatment-wetlands/

http://blog.dhec.co.za

Board walks can be used over areas that are currently wet and may be helpful as the park experiences more intense rains.

http://www.floatingwetlandsolutions.com/

Boardwalk

http://www.floatingwetlandsolutions.com/

http://www.floatingwetlandsolutions.com/

Small check dams and weirs can help to slow water near the small pond by the cemetery

http://baybackpack.com

Weirs with Bridges

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

https://evolveplay.net/boulders/

playvinton.com/natural-playscape-area

Natural Playscapes

33

Phasing of the master plan at Silver Lake will allow portions of the park to be improved

of the plan are likely to shift over time based on community input. The schedule below describes

while maximizing access to park users. Priority is given to park areas that pose health

three major phases. Some components, such as installing floating islands, seeding the ball fields

concerns, impact water quality, or limit access to the park. These phasing steps are

with goose-resistant species, letting vegetation around the park increase in height, or building

dependent in part on community priorities and available funds. Later phases may take

a dock, a boardwalk, or a viewing platform, to name a few, are action items that can be initiated

priority if grants or other funding sources allow for their earlier development, and,

during any phase of development as they require less machinery and time investment. Tree

because improving Silver Lake is an ongoing community driven process, components

planting in areas with minimal future construction activities should begin as early as possible.

Phase Two: The Main Activity Hub

Phase Three: The Concrete Slab, Accessible Path, Meadow, and Stairs

-way

One Lincoln St Entrance

Path

built

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Phase One: Beach, Creek, and Lincoln Street Entrance

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Phasing Schedule gsdfgsdfg

Concrete Slab

Hu

b

Stream

nc tra M ain

En

Path built

e&

M

ain

Ac

tiv

ity

Beach

The beach is narrowed with vegetation to reduce goose activity here,

The park is temporarily closed off-season (fall through

As part of the last phase, the road is removed from the north

and an accessible path is sited from the main activity hub to the beach

spring) in order to allow all construction activity in the main

end of the stone wall to Lincoln Street, and an accessible path

through to the Lincoln Street entrance. The Lincoln Street entrance is

activity hub to occur as quickly and safely as possible. This

is built in its place. Removable bollards are installed at the end

converted to two-way by thinning some of the southern trees along the

phase greatly enhances the entrance experience to Silver

of the parking area near the cemetery and at the Lincoln Street

sloped curve to increase sight-lines, and the parking at the bottom of the

Lake Park by widening the entrance, re-organizing parking

entrance to prevent unauthorized car access. The concrete

Lincoln Street entrance is re-arranged to offer visitors a view of the lake

around the pavilion, grading the slope from the pavilion to the

slab is removed during this phase, and stairs are built from

upon arrival. The puddle is converted to a stream, with a bridge over (or

ball field, building the infiltration-basin at the northernmost

the intersection of Unity and Exchange Streets, and from the

culvert, under) the road to allow visitors to cross. The road from the north

staircase, installing grass pavers, and delineating a turn-

existing trail.

end of the main hub to Lincoln Street entrance becomes one-way during

around for vehicles on the northern end of the wall. Lights are

this time, as Lincoln Street entrance is now two-way. This first phase

installed along the wall and the main parking area during this

requires temporarily closing the Lincoln Street entrance to clear trees and

time. The entire main activity hub becomes more vegetated.

paint street lines, but the park can otherwise remain open. This phase tackles the worst health and accessibility issues limiting use of the park.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

Phasing Schedule

Stairs

34

The following spreadsheets are preliminary cost estimates for each of the zones of the final design. Costs are quoted high and include rough labor estimates. To reduce

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Cost Estimates I

costs, where possible, management of vegetation already growing on site could reduce costs of planting new shade trees and shrubs. Costs do not include engineering or permitting expenses.

Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Material

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Silt fence

100

Linear foot

4

400

Tree removal

1

Lump sum

2,000

2,000

Tree removal

1

Lump sum

1,500

1,500

Grading

3,500

Square feet

0.3

1,050

Grading

16,300

Square foot

0.3

4,890

Spot grading

750

Square feet

0.3

225

River rock

25

Ton

400

10,000

Asphalt 2”

150

Square feet

5

750

Rip rap

44

Square yard

45

1,980

Jute mesh

16,300

Square Foot

0.14

2,282

Base course 6”

8.5

Cubic yard

70

595

Fern plugs

400

Each

2.4

960

Striping

1,000

Linear foot

0.5

500

Shade trees

10

Each

500

5,000

Retaining wall, stone veneer

60

Square feet

10

600

Culvert

1

Lump sum

1,200

1,200

Concrete sidewalk

1,600

Square feet

9

14,400

Weir

74

Cubic yard

2,000

2,000

Base course 6”

89

Cubic yard

85

7,565

Entrance sign

1

Lump sum

500

500

Vegetation

1

Lump sum

500

500

Cemetery Entrance Demo cemetery entrance

114

Cubic yard

3.5

400

Shade trees

3

Each

500

1,500 Total $1,900

Peninsula

Total

$28,685

Beach Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Demolish playground equipment

1

Lump sum

500

500

Overseeding

1

Lump sum

50

50

Sand replenishment

94

Ton

60

5,640

Silt fence

500

Linear foot

1

500

Tillage

0.5

Acre

1,000

500

Topsoil 3”

388

Cubic yard

30

11,640

Playground mulch

111

Cubic yard

90

9,990

Seeding

14,000

Square feet

0.08

1,120

Specimen boulders

5

Each

500

2,500

Shade trees

10

Each

500

5,000

Natural playground

1

Lump sum

3,000

3,000

Mulch path

22

Cubic yard

40

880

Vegetation

1

Lump sum

1,000

1,000

Total $19,640

Meadow Concrete removal

533

Cubic yard

3.5

1,865.5

Tillage

30,000

Square feet

0.05

1,500

Topsoil 3”

833

Cubic yard

30

24,990

Mulch path/gathering area

9

Cubic yard

40

360

Shade trees

2

Per tree

500

1,000

Seeding

30,000

Square feet

0.04

1,200

Geese netting

30,000

Square feet

0.15

4,500 Total

$35,415.5

Total $22,680

Lincoln Street Entrance and Beach Parking Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Tree removal

5

Lump sum

200

1,000

Regrade bioswales

400

Square foot

0.3

120

Culvert

3

Culvert

500

1,500

Bioswale seed and plantings

1

Lump sum

200

200

Accessible Porta-Potty

1

Lump sum

1,500

1,500

Traffic sign

2

Traffic sign

50

200

Welcome sign

1

Welcome sign

300

200

Paint parking spaces

200

Linear foot

0.5

100

Paint street lines

400

Linear foot

0.5

200

Accessible parking symbols

3

Parking Symbol

40

120 Total $5,140

Cost Estimates I

Total $30,212

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Fish Street Entrance

Stream Corridor

35

Floating Islands

Accessible Slope** Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Demolish asphalt

240

Cubic foot

3.5

840

Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Demolish stone wall

200

Face foot

3

600

Floating Island

Size dependent

Square foot

$4-30 per square foot

Dependent

Demolish existing stairs

1

Lump sum

1,000

1,000

Fill soil

500

Cubic yard

12

6,000

Grading

3,000

Square foot

0.3

900

Top soil

10

Cubic yard

30

300

Accessible path

900

Square foot

7

6,300

Stairs

250

Lump sum

16

4,000

Stair landing pads

4

Lump sum

250

1,000

Stairs (steps)

1

Lump sum

12,000

12,000

Asphalt curb

130

Linear Foot

6

780

Rip rap on both sides

2

Cubic yards

100

200

Universally-Accessible Lake Loop Path Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Demolish asphalt

6,000

Cubic foot

3.5

21,000

Gravel base course - 4â&#x20AC;? depth

12

Cubic yard

80

960

Gravel top course - 3â&#x20AC;? depth

300

Cubic yard

100

30,000

Total

$51,000

Erosion Control Methods (per 50 square feet) Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Rip rap

1

Cubic yard

60

60

Plants

1

Lump sum

1,000

1,000

Biodegradable geotextile fabric

50

Square foot

5

250

Crosswalk painting

1

Lump sum

200

500

Live stakes

5

Live Stake

1

5

Accessible parking symbol

40

Lump sum

1

40

Total

$315

Total $36,060

Drainage Basin Under Path Lighting* Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

8 ft lamp

27

Each

1500

40,500

Total

$40,500

*Lighting estimated for 8-foot street lights spaced 60 feet apart along the length of the 700-foot

Object

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Excavate soil

100

Cubic yard

30

3,000

Fill with crushed stone

100

Cubic yard

25

2,500

Landscape fabric

750

Square foot

1.5

1125

Path above basin

6

Cubic yard

5

30

Rip rap drainage channel

2

Cubic yard

50

100

stone wall equaling 14 lights. Cost estimate also includes 3 lights at the Fish Street main entrance and 10 along the lake side of the main parking area. Total 27 lights. **The ADA slope will extend from an existing slope that is 8 foot high, 33%, and is cut off at 3ft

Total $6,755

Concrete/Grass Pavers Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Grass or permeable pavers

3,000

Square foot

4

15,000

high. Cost could be greatly reduced if fill soil was used from material excavated from drainage basin and/or stream corridor.

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

Main Activity Hub Costs

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Cost Estimates II

Total $15,000

Preliminary cost of rebuilding the remaining sections of stone wall after the construction of the

Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

accessible slope, which in total measures approximately 590 feet, would be $88,500. This cost

Tillage

11,000

Square foot

0.05

550

uses the estimation $50 per face foot based on the reuse of materials for the original wall and local

Accessible gravel path

1,000

Square feet

2

2,000

labor. This total is not included in the sum total of all features below.

Large specimen boulders

5

Each

500

2,500

Shrubs

32

5 gallon shrub

50

1,600 Total $6,650

Sum total of all features $309,952.50

Boardwalk to island Item

Amount

Unit

Unit Cost

Cost

Boardwalk

200

Square Foot

50

$10000

Cost Estimates II

Geology Play Area

36

The following is a small sampling of funding opportunities available for community park projects such as the revitalization of Silver Lake Park. Community engagement would help to strengthen grant applications by demonstrating community support for proposed projects.

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Funding Support and Grants Municipal American with Disabilities Act Improvements Grant A grant program administered by the Massachusetts Office of Disability (MOD) supports municipalities to improve ADA access to public spaces. Grant amounts range to a maximum of $250,000. [www.mass.gov/municipal-americans-with-disabilities-act-grant]

community ownership and stewardship of the park. These organizations can help organize volunteer service days, fundraising and host events. The National Park and Recreation Association Park Advocate Handbook can be a useful guide, [www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/Americas_Backyard/park-advocate-handbook-100711.pdf].

Developing working relationships with local non-profits and businesses with compatible values can create opportunities for mutual benefit, community activation, and funding support. These partnerships can take many forms; they can be organized around a single or annual event, seasonal cultural programing such as nature camps and outdoor education classes, be based on trade of services and in-kind donations, and/or financial support in the form of a park sponsorship program. Partnering with organizations and business to create cultural activities can help better serve the community and get more people enjoying the recreational opportunities within the park. Events can help to kickstart fundraising campaigns and generate community buy-in.

Massachusetts DCR Recreation Trails program provides financial support to municipalities and non-profit organization for projects that create, expand, or enhance new or existing trails and trailheads. The Educational Grant program focuses on educational trails and environmental protection projects that benefit the greater public. Interpretive signs and outdoor educational spaces would help qualify the park for this grant. [www.mass. gov/guides/recreational-trails-program] Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant Program The PARC Program supports municipalities to acquire land for recreation, build new parks, and/ or to make improvements to existing parks. Athol may qualify under its small towns provision, which offers maximum grant amounts of $400,000. An up-to-date OSRP is one eligibility requirement, potentially requiring Athol to update their planning document. [mass.gov/service-details/ parkland-acquisitions-and-renovations-for-communities-parc-grant-program] National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

Federal and State Grants Patronicity/Commonwealth Places A platform that pairs civic crowd-funding with matching state support. In Massachusetts the Commonwealth Places Program assists municipalities to achieve community-focused projects. [www.patronicity.com/commonwealthplaces#!/] Massachusetts Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) The EJSG program awards grants to community-driven projects designed to “engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities.” Grants are awarded by EPA region, with maximum funding of $30,000 [www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-small-grants-program]

The National Park Service offers financial support to community groups, nonprofits, state and local governments to design trails and parks, conserve and improve access to waterways, protect land, for the purpose of improving recreation opportunities. [www.nps.gov/orgs/rtca/index.htm]

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

There are many resources online for organizing a “Friends of the Park” citizen committee that can help to build

DCR Recreational Trails Program & Educational Grants

Urban Waters Small Grant The EPA’s Urban Waters Program assists municipalities and non-profits to restore urban waterways in ways that benefit community and economic revitalization. The program specifically seeks to support under-served communities, in recognition that healthy and accessible urban waters can assist local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, social, and employment opportunities. Grant amounts have been awarded up to $60,000. [www.epa.gov/urbanwaterspartners/urban-waters-small-grants-101] Water Quality Stormwater Management Grants (604b) and (319) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts administers these grant as part of the EPA’s Federal Clean Water Act Section 604(b). The 604b grant assists municipalities and regional planning organizations to develop water quality assessment and stormwater management planning. In Massachusetts the 319 grant is an associated grant for implementation of non-point source water pollution prevention and stormwater management practices.

These grants could assist in the construction of intervention related to improving water quality around the lake and in the Silver Lake cemetery. [mass.gov/info-details/grants-financial-assistance-watersheds-water-quality]

Funding Support and Grants

Community & Local Business Support

37

Wayfinding Downtown

Educational Signs in the Park

Placing signs at key downtown intersections can greatly improve wayfinging to

Creating the opportunity to learn about the natural history of Silver

nearby Silver Lake Park. It is recommended to add signs at the main downtown intersections of Main St/Exchange St. and Main St./Crescent St. These intersection effectively mark the beginning and end of the downtown commercial zone and experience heavy pedestrian traffic.

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe

Wayfinding Lake may enhance the park experience for visitors and strengthen View of the downtown commercial district commercial buildings

the cultural programming offered within this community resource area. Natural play spaces and gathering areas are intergrated throughout the park in the final design. Creating eduactional signs in these locations can turn these play areas into learning opportunities for all ages as well. The following list offers recommendations of

M

how self-guided nature-based education can be integrated into the

ille râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

various play areas. Signs should be durable to withstand weather

Ri r ve

conditions and situated at a height accommodating to various ages

Cresce

e Street

nt Stree

compliance.

4 ft

Main Street

2 ft

Recommended sign height for universal access (Alta Planning and Design, 2015)

Main/Exchange St. Sign

Main St/Crescent St. Sign

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

t

Exchang

and abilities, including wheelchair users (4 feet max height) for ADA-

Geology/Boulder Play Area A rock-based play area created in the revegetated parking area south of the pavilion could offer kids a chance to learn about the geology of Silver Lake, including its glacial history and kettle pond formation.

Log Play Area 0.5 mi

Educational signs added to the log-based natural playscape located at the Silver Lake Park

beach could teach kids and visitors of all ages about Atholâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local forests and mill town history.

Pollinator/Bird Station

Distance to Silver Lake Park: 0.5 miles

Distance to Silver Lake Park: 0.35 miles

Estimated walk time from Main St./Exchange St: 10 - 15 minutes

Estimated walk time from Main St./Crescent St: 10 - 15 minutes

Estimated drive time from Main St./Exchange St: 5 minutes

Estimated drive time from Main St./Crescent St: 5 minutes

wildlife that use the park created in the meadow can provide a space for outdoor education and self-guided learning. Bird boxes build into the groupings of shrubs within the meadow can provide more habitat for cavity nesting birds. Building bird boxes could be an educational activity for volunteers and kids.

Wayfinding

Bird viewing stations and educational signs teaching about the native

38

P

Athol History Trail. (1976). Brochure.

Portland Parks and Recreation. (2009, May). Trail Design Guidelines. Retrieved June 9, 2019, from Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland

Athol Police Department. (2019). Conversation [Telephone].

website

B

R

Brabec et Al. “Impervious Surfaces and Water Quality: A Review of Current Literature and Its Implications for Watershed Planning.”

Rebecca A. Purvis. (2017). Evaluating the Water Quality Benefits of a Bioswale in Brunswick County, North Carolina (NC), USA. Case

Journal of Planning Literature, Vol. 16, No. 4 (May 2002). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276949444_Impervious_

Report.

Surfaces_and_Water_Quality_A_Review_of_Current_Literature_and_Its_Implications_for_Watershed_Planning [accessed Jun 21

S

2019].

Small, David. (2019, May 30). eBird--Silver Lake Park, Athol. Retrieved June 20, 2019, from eBird website: http://ebird.org/

C

Stafford III, Kirby. “Tick Management Guidebook: An integrated guide for homeowners, pest control operators, and public health officials

Chaisson, Richard. Hometown Chronicles. Millers River Publishing Co: Athol, MA, 1985.

Climate Change in Massachusetts and Its Impacts | Mass.gov. (n.d.)

edu/eip/projects/completed/handbook_54964_284_8219_v1.pdf

D

T

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Works Cited

Silver Lake Park Master Plan Athol, Massachusetts Client: Town of Athol, MA

A

Designers: Bo Carpen & Robbe Verhofste

Works Cited gsdfgsdfg

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on legal survey.

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