Eastern Edge Use Analysies + Alternatives for Human Use

Eastern Edge Use Analysis + Alternatives for Human Use Maria Martinez July 27, 2018

RESEARCH FOCUS THE RESEARCH PROJECT AIMED TO ANALYZE THE RELATIONSHIPS AND EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE EASTERN EDGE AS IT APPLIES TO PEOPLE, PLACE, AND USE TO AID IN DESIGN ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL SUGGEST THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT PHASES OF THE MASTERPLAN TO THE EASTERN EDGE.

ELEMENTS OF A CITY ▸

5 ELEMENTS : PATHS, EDGES, DISTRICTS, LANDMARKS AND NODES

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NODE: “S TRATEGIC S POTS IN A CITY WHICH AN OBS ERVER CAN ENTER … WHICH GAIN THEIR IMPORTANCE FROM BEING THE CONDENS ATION OF S OME US E OR PHYS ICAL CHARACTER...” , (1960) KEVIN LYNCH, IMAGE OF THE CITY

PROJECT GOALS 1. COMPLETE STREET DESIGN: INTEGRATING VARIETY OF LAYERS BETWEEN PARK + ADJACENCIES 2. BOUNDARIES:BRING PEDESTRIANS INTO THE PARK, KEEP PRIVACY OF NEIGHBORS 3. USER SAFETY:DISTINCTION FOR DIFFERENT TYPE OF CIRCULATION (PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES, BIKES)

EASTERN EDGE CONDITIONS ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

STREET EDGE ENTRANCES TO PARK EXISTING HIKING / BIKING TRAILS SIDEWALKS (FORMAL PATHS) INFORMAL PATHS TRANSIT (EXISTING / PROPOSED) PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOR

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PET BEHAVIOR AREAS OF STATIONARY ACTIVITY INTENSITY OF DAILY USE SITE AMENITIES USER CLASSIFICATION (PERCEIVED AGE / GENDER) GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

SITE SELECTIONS ▸

5 NODES ALONG THE EASTERN EDGE

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THE IMAGE SHOWS THE EASTERN EDGE AND THE FIVE SITES THAT WILL BE EXPLORED AS PART OF THE RESEARCH ANALYSIS .

SITE A: INTEREST + CONDITIONS ▸

NORTHEAST ENTRANCE TO MEMORIAL PARK AND LIES ALONG MEMORIAL LOOP DRIVE.

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POPULAR AND DIRECT ENTRANCE INTO THE PARK WITH OFF STREET PARKING IN VARIOUS SPOTS.

SITE B: INTEREST + CONDITIONS ▸

FOCUSES ON THE FOOT TRAFFIC AND FLOW INTO THE PARK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADJACENT AND HASKELL STREET.

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CLOSED OFF ENTRANCE FROM THE PARKING LOT AND THE STREET IS A POPULAR CROSSING POINT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PARK.

SITE C: INTEREST + CONDITIONS ▸

LIES AT THE INTERESTING 5 POINT INTERSECTION OF ARNOT STREET AND HASKELL.

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LOCATION OF A SCHOOL TO THE SOUTH EAST DIRECTION OF THE MAP ALLOWS AN INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WALKERS IN AND OUT OF THE PARK.

SITE D: INTEREST + CONDITIONS ▸

LIES AT THE INTERSECTION OF BLOSSOM ST AND CRESTWOOD.

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SITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION TO CREATE A PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ENTRANCE INTO THE EASTERN GLADES REDEVELOPMENT.

SITE E: INTEREST + CONDITIONS ▸

EDGE OF CRESTWOOD NORTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE AND CREATES AN EDGE CONDITION IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

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THE BEHAVIOR OF CYCLISTS IN THIS AREA AS WELL AS VEHICLES COMING SOUTH OF CRESTWOOD IS OF INTEREST.

RESEARCH

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

WILLOWS WATERHOLE, HOUSTON

LINCOLN PARK, CHICAGO

CHEONGGYECHEON STREAM, SEOUL

COUNTRY PARKS, HONG KONG

CORNFIELD PARK, LOS ANGELES CITY PARK, DENVER

METHODOLOGY: GEHL + MPC ▸ RETROFITTED GEHL METHODS TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF DATA NEEDED BY MPC ▸ SITE SUITABILITY

SUMMER + WEEKLY OBSERVATION SCHEDULE WEEK 1:PROJECT PROPOSAL OBSERVATION WEEK 3: WEEK 2: PRELIM RESEARCH SITE A+B - MORNING WEEK 3: OBSERVATION WEEK 1 SITE C - NOON WEEK 4:OBSERVATION WEEK 2 SITE D+E - EVENING WEEK 5:OBSERVATION WEEK 3 WEEK 6: OBSERVATION WEEK 4 OBSERVATION WEEK 4: WEEK 7:RESEARCH + DATA ANALYSIS SITE C - MORNING WEEK 8: RESEARCH ALTERNATIVES SITE D+E - NOON WEEK 9: ALTERNATIVES SITE A+B - EVENING WEEK 10:PROJECT FINAL DELIVERABLES

OBSERVATION WEEK 5: SITE D+E - MORNING SITE A+B - NOON SITE C - EVENING

OBSERVATION WEEK 6: SITE A+B - MORNING SITE C - NOON SITE D+E - EVENING

SURVEYING ▸

PARTICIPANTS: MPC INTERNS

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OBSERVED RAIN OR SHINE

DATA COLLECTION

GEHL DATA RESULTS

VEHICLES:11,312 WALKERS: 410 STROLLER:8 JOGGERS/RUNNERS:228 OFF LEASHED DOGS: 172 ON LEASHED DOGS:40 TOTAL COUNTS: 12,900

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MAJORITY OF COUNTED USERS WERE MALE ADULTS AND MALE SENIORS

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VERY LITTLE STATIONARY ACTIVITY WERE RECORDED; COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY (WORK RELATED) MADE UP 64% OF ACTIVITY

DATA RESULTS : ISSUES OF SITE A

RESIDUAL SPACE NEEDS BETTER PROGRAMMING

UNMARKED ENTRANCE

6:30 - 7:30 AM WEEKLY, FAMILIES DUE TO FIELDS, OFF STREET PARKING USED

DATA RESULTS : ISSUES OF SITE B

FREQUENT TURN AROUND SPACE, NO RULES FOR DRIVERS

EXCESS SPACE CREATES UNSAFE CONDITIONS, GATEWAY TO PARK BY NEIGHBORS

DATA RESULTS : ISSUES OF SITE C

OVERMOWED ZONE CREATES AWKWARD SPACE

PASSING SPOT, HISTORY UNNOTICED, PATH ENDS ABRUPTLY, RESIDUAL SPACE

DATA RESULTS : ISSUES OF SITE D 13 NEAR ACCIDENTS OCCURED ALONG THIS SITE

FALLING FENCE CREATES UNWANTED PARKING BUFFER

MOST UNSAFE SITE, PACE DIFFERENCE, DETERIORATED, UNMARKED BIKE ROUTE

DATA RESULTS : ISSUES OF SITE E NEED BETTER WAYFINDIN G

FREQUENT SPACE FOR MEETINGS FOR BIKERS AND RUNNERS

POPULAR MEETING SPOT, TRASH AND WATER USED MOST FROM ALL SITES

ALTERNATIVES

ALTERNATIVES: SITE A ▸ MAIN ISSUE: SLOW DOWN PEOPLE AS THEY ENTER THE PARK ▸ CREATE A BETTER SENSE OF SPACE ▸ TRANSIT POTENTIAL

ALTERNATIVES: SITE B ▸ MAIN ISSUE: COMMUNITY ▸ BRING PEOPLE IN BUT DON’T IMPEDE ON NEIGHBOR’S PRIVACY ▸ ACCESSIBILITY ▸ PARKING REDESIGN

ALTERNATIVES: SITE C ▸ MAIN ISSUE: DIRECTION + WAYFINDING ▸ HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ▸ PASSERBY SPACE

ALTERNATIVES: SITE D ▸ MAIN ISSUE: DETERIORATING EDGE GROUND COVER ▸ USER SAFETY ▸ BIODIVERSITY ▸ BIKE ROUTE

ALTERNATIVES: SITE D ▸ MAIN ISSUE: DETERIORATING EDGE GROUND COVER ▸ USER SAFETY ▸ BIODIVERSITY ▸ BIKE ROUTE

ALTERNATIVES: SITE E ▸ COMMUNITY HUB/MEETING AREA ▸ NORTH AND SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE ARE POPULAR TRAIL HEADS ▸ VESTIBULE INTO THE PARK

ALTERNATIVES: SITE E ▸ COMMUNITY HUB/MEETING AREA ▸ NORTH AND SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE ARE POPULAR TRAIL HEADS ▸ VESTIBULE INTO THE PARK

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT + COLLABORATION

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HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY MPC STAFF MPC INTERNS