ROCK ISLAND PARKWAY PLAN (2001)
QCIC (COLUMBIA PARK) VISION PLAN (2004)
The purpose of the Parkway Plan was to address real and perceived barriers between the northern and southern portions of the city which are connected by the Centennial Expressway (IL 92). The plan sought to find ways to effectively bridge the physical and visual divisions within the community through a unified corridor. The plan provides design recommendations to create this unified look through the use of gateways, lighting, color, wayfinding, bridges, stone, public arts, landscaping and pedestrian amenities.
This project established a new land use vision for the northern part of Rock Island’s Keystone Neighborhood. The plan sites the potential of the riverfront and the area’s underutilized industrial sites. The redevelopment of the Quad City Industrial Center (QCIC) site serves as the main catalyst for a transformation but also reaches into the adjacent residential neighborhoods and Augustana College. Furthermore, the vision calls for a new gateway entrance to Rock Island from the east of which the City can be proud.
3rd Ave..
St. 15th
4th Ave..
5th Ave..
North
Commercial
Industrial
Major Parkway Entrance
Residential
Open Space
Rock Island Parkway
Public/Institutional
Landscape Feature
Parkway Connection
Quad City Industrial Center, Rock Island, Illinois
ARSENAL ISLAND
S Y L V A N
S L O U G H
North Gardens
PARK QC Botanical Center
MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
MIXED-USE
E-W
ON
Mid America Energy
MED.
AY
Metro-Link Depot
ONE-WAY
P
HIGHDENSITY BUSINESS RESIDENTIAL COM
5th AVE
Jordan North Catholic School
4th AVE
SINGLE FAMILY
5th AVE
MIXED-USE
EDUCATIONAL
BUSINESS
MIXED-USE
6th AVE 6th AVE 32nd ST
34th ST
30th ST 29th ST.
31st ST
Weber Park
28th ST
27th ST
Moline Water Treatment Plant
BUSINESS EXPO
COMMERCIAL
The second area is the Urban Recreation which strives to create strong downtown urban characteristics. It works to ensure the Parkway becomes a part of the downtown fabric and not an obstacle that separates the downtown from the river. Recommendations for “Urban Recreation Zone” are as follows: 1) acquire easement on south side of 1st Ave for shade trees; 2) remove sidewalk on south side of 1st Ave; 3) enhance intersection at 20th St / 1st Ave; 4) screen parking lots and railroad corridor with urban garden wall; and 5) add decorative pedestrian scale lights and landscaping along 1st Ave and landscape railroad yard and dike edges.
SYLVAN ISLAND
ROCK ISLAND
District
MOLINE
18th St.
The
City Hall
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE
SINGLE FAMILY 7th AVE
0
100
200
MOLINE
Arsenal Bridge
1st Ave..
46th ST
Casino
Centennial Bridge
nnial Cente ssway Expre
The plan calls for three new access points to help with circulation throughout the area as well as landscaping as a buffer, similar to the Parkway Plan. Since the time this plan was created, the markets have changed considerably and should be taken into account while trying to implement developments. It is recommended that the two redevelopment and revitalization plans work together as they move forward and not compete for business and development.
MOLINE
Parkway Connection
ROCK ISLAND
Rock Island Parkway
Landscape Feature
45th ST
Major Parkway Entrance
Open Space
Public/Institutional
44th ST
Industrial
Residential
24th St.
Mississippi River
Commercial
43rd ST
North
41st ST
7th Avenue
44th St.
6th Avenue
42nd ST
Augustana College
30th St.
24th St.
5th Avenue
39th ST
Sylvan Slough
Botanical Center and Expo Center
The project is located just east of the Arsenal Gateway Neighborhood Revitalization Project area. Connections between the two areas should be strong and considered in any plan for either area. Development in both areas should complement each other while working toward strengthening Rock Island as a whole. This project faces similar challenges to the Arsenal project in that the locations must contend with the railroad and IL-92 while trying to respect and incorporate the beauty of the Mississippi River.
40th ST
Sylvan Island
38th ST
Rock Island Arsenal
Arsenal Bridge
35th ST
The Arsenal Gateway URBAN GARDEN ZONE 5TH, 6TH AND 7TH AVENUES Neighborhood finds itself in two of the areas denoted by this plan. The first is the Urban Garden Zone which is meant to build on the surrounding residential character and uses the neighborhood as a natural gateway URBAN RECREATION THE DISTRICT area for those entering and exiting the city. Recommendations for “Urban Garden Zone” are as follows: 1) gateway sign at 5th Ave / 24th St; 2) removal of two lanes of traffic from 7th Ave, north parking lane from 6th Ave, one west bound traffic lane and median from 5th Ave, underground utility lines along 5th Ave; 3) add street trees and decorative lights along main avenues; 4) screen railroad from 5th Ave; and 5) Add multi-use path on 7th Ave.
400
December 2004
Arsenal Gateway Revitalization Plan
Section 1: Introduction 7