REVISED SHORELINE DESIGN: WALDO LAKE BOARDWALK

Wander along a wide, wooden boardwalk with built-in seating and lookout points. Hot, crumbling asphalt is replaced with lush vegetation, creating a biodiverse wetland habitat teeming with life.

B

The parkway is now pulled away from the waterfront and includes a separate, elevated bike lane. Branching away from the road is a wide wooden boardwalk over a new vegetated area planted with shade trees and native shrubs.

A Cars can now parallel park in one of 8 permeable spots. Formalizing and expanding parking areas to the north and south of the site may help accommodate overflow. There may also be an opportunity to create more parking to the west if an abutting parcel is acquired.

C

A bridge to the boardwalk connects the parking area with the waterfront, bringing visitors to one of the wider stretches of boardwalk with benches and space for wheelchair users to pull up next to them.

D After exiting the shady boardwalk, visitors can soak up the sun on a broad deck or continue wandering along a formalized path near the water’s edge. Pedestrians also have the option to rejoin the parkway loop.

The popular duck feeding point is transformed into a broad landing with a raised platform and benches. Visitors can learn about wetland ecology from interpretive signs and observe wildlife around the lake through tower viewer binoculars.

Strengths

• Increased vegetation benefits wildlife

• Raised boardwalk discourages trampling of the shoreline and educational signs help park visitors learn about the benefits of wetlands

• Wetland vegetation, swales, and porous pavement all work together to sink and filter runoff before it reaches Waldo Lake

Potential Drawbacks

• Gathering spaces are relatively small and seating is limited

• Parking capacity is cut by approximately half, which may require additional parking options to be explored north, south, and potentially to the west of this destination pending an additional land acquisition.

• Views of the waterfront are reduced for cars and bikes