END 350 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN WORKSHOP 1 UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SECTION 2 FA 2019 VOLUME 5

Final Portfolio Shameeq Willis

Table Of Contents Page 1. Introductory Essay

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2. Research In Planning

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3. Literature Review

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4. Data Analysis Report

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Data Analysis Visuals 5. Data Collection Memorandum Powerpoint 6. Case Study

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Powerpoint

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Powerpoint Script

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Powerpoint Handout

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Introductory Essay

Class Experience And What Will The Portfolio Show

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Shameeq Willis END350: Introductory Essay Professor Jonathan Bleuer 12/12/2019

Introduction The END350: Environmental Design Workshop is a very valuable course for anyone pursuing a career in the Urban Planning field. The course enhances students understanding of how to design and improve cities. Throughout the semester, students learned how to do hand on projects that required them to explore Buffalo beyond the campus and to collect data for several projects. There were multiple projects assigned to help students strengthen their skills in this field. The projects were: research in planning, a literature review, a data analysis report, a data collection memorandum, and a Case Study. Each project was beneficial in their own ways.

Learning how to collect data, work in small/large groups, work alone, write scholarly essays, properly format, and problem solve are essential skills one needs to learn to become a great planner. This course does a great job at creating and/or enhancing those skills.

Improvements on Writing The first assignment that was given was the research assignment. I approached this assigned like how I normally do short essays, but that approach left me with just an average grade. This assignment alone showed me how much work I needed to do, to become a better writer and citer. The next project was the annotated bibliography, which is something I had never

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done before. In this, the instructor taught students how to cite properly. APA citation was used, and each citation had a paragraph describing what the citation was about. Learning how to do that helped me when I had to write the literature review, as I didn’t have to look up why I picked each citation. The Literature review improved my writing skills, being able to properly cite made my papers sound and look better. As well as improving what I read to be more readable by adding sub headings. Little things like that make a paper better.

Improvements on Data Collection The data collection was one of the most beneficial parts of this course. The US Census Data and American Fact Finder gave lots of data that was used to create graphs, tables, and charts. Those websites are not known to most people, so learning how navigate and use those sites help assure the data for our graphs will be correct. Combining the graphs with a narrative was difficult but figuring out how to interweave them together gave me a new skill. After the analysis report, each student was put into small groups.

Group Lessons When put in groups there is always a thought that comes to mind about whether a group member will be bad. However, that wasn’t the case, both the small groups and the large groups had very active and big idea members. The small group I was part of worked on a memorandum.

Choosing traffic sites that weren’t too far was an idea each of us had as only 1 of us had a vehicle. The large group had the same mindset and ironically the same situation with only 1 person having a vehicle. Both groups gave different experiences where I learned lots of things. In the small group, further citation improvement occurred as well as learning how to create graphs in a way where it doesn’t look like too much! As for the large group, learning how to format was huge deal as each group member had their own strengths for that. Originally the way I formatted

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didn’t look professional so learning how to format in a professional way while keeping that create side was splendid.

Overall Experience Overall, this course did exactly what it said it would do. This workshop improved my skills so I can become a great planner. This portfolio will show how I’ve improved on writing citations, writing essays, adding sub-headings, and formatting. It will also show how I’ve learned how to use data collection from various websites and field work to create good graphs, tables, and charts. Throughout the semester, it was difficult learning how to do so many different things and seeing how I did them incorrectly. However, now that the semester is over, I’m confident that the work shown in this portfolio will show that I’ve made great improvements from the work I did throughout the semester.

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Research In Planning

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Research on Current Planning Issues, Subjects, or Initiatives

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Shameeq Willis END350: Research in Planning Professor Jonathan Bleuer 12/12/2019

Research Method

The topics that were found was Social Inequality and Loss of Character Within Cities.

These were found by researching urban planning issues in cities through various websites such as UB Library. At first it was tough to find a good topic that no one else in the class would use but after taking a deeper dive into what problems I see, I found those two topics. There weren’t many urban planning articles that spoke about those issues so using google scholar helped the most.

Social Inequality Social Inequality is an issue in the current era of urban planning. During the time I spent at University of Buffalo, in one of the first END classes I had, it was only briefly talked about.

After two semesters, the issue still wasn’t talked about enough. Growing up in Rochester, New York, I didn’t notice (until my family moved out the city) how in a way, it’s still segregated.

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While learning about urban planning, the social inequality within cities started to seem like it was an urban planning issue.

Badger and Bui discussed how where you live, shapes where you end up later in life (Badger, at. 2018). Planning has a part in that. With The way cities are designed, races are grouped into one area with much less opportunities. Most people live in the same area they grew up in, so if the city isn’t changing for the better, generations will stay the same. Cities are only going to grow bigger so inequality will only grow larger unless more planners realize this inequality issue (OCED, 2016). Inequality isn’t just a USA problem, it’s a world problem as every city deals with it. There’re other factors that goes into social inequality like jobs access, but urban planners can help fix the issue by making cities less segregated.

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Work Cited 1. Badger, E. & Bui, Q. (2018). Detailed Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life. The New York Times.

2. Burdett, R. (2016). Inequality and urban growth. London, UK: OCED. 3. Alter, R. (2016). Better planning could avoid cities becoming inequality traps. OECD.

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Shameeq Willis END350: Research in Planning Professor Jonathan Bleuer 8/28/2019

Loss of Character One key thing that makes a city outstanding, is how attractive it is. Attractive cities are what bring people into cities, keeps them within the city, and helps make life great! However, as time goes on, cities are starting to lose the very thing they were known for, their attractiveness!

How a city looks is stressed upon during many college courses, but everyone wants to work on the same city instead of going to other cities to make those more appealing. The loss of character in many cities is surely an urban planning issue that can be solved with more creativity.

A Ted Talk video that featured Mara Mintzer, featured something interesting, which was to ask kids, teenagers how do they think a city should look (TEDx Talks, 2018). I find that to be a great way for visioning how to fix a city that’s lost its character because kids are so creative, and a more creative city makes a city look better. The way a city looks can “increase the city’s economic success or give it economic success”. Public transport has a role in the look of the city as well (Self, 1981). Even though overall, more people will be living in cities, many cities face declining populations and the way the city looks plays a role in that, which is why more open spaces are added to cities nowadays.

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Work Cited 1. Mintzer, M. (2018). We let kids design our city – here’s what happened, Mara Mintzer, TEDxMileHigh. TEDx Talks.

2. McMahon, E.T. (2012). Character Is Key to an Economically Vibrant City. CityLab. 3. SELF, P. (1981). THE FUTURE OF URBAN PLANNING. Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, 130(5305), 30-40. Jstor.

4. Saunders, P. (2017). Where Educated Millennials Are Moving. Forbes.

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Literature Review

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Further Research on Current Planning Issues, Subjects, or Initiatives

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Shameeq Willis END350 Literature Review 12/12/2019

Social Inequality Within Cities Living in a lively, inviting city can help make life feel incredible. During the industrial revolution cities began to truly become what they are known as now and cities are where millennials flock to after they graduate college (14. Saunders, 2017). Suburbanization took a toll on cities as more highways began to be built in the 50s. That kept segregation intact, segregation remained intact because white people would move to the suburbs just to be away from black people. Nonetheless, the suburbs are becoming more diverse as the years go on. As population continues to rise more people of all races/ethnicities are beginning to choose cities over suburbs, which will soon lead to 70% of people around the world living in cities by 2050. However, the problem with this is social inequality will rise as cities grow bigger (1. Alter, 2016). When people are isolated into social classes within a city and one side soars (while the other one fails) that’s a sign of social inequality (15. Stephens, 1996).

Social Inequality is an issue that exists in every city, some cities more than others (5.

Burdett, 2016). There is a history of inequality within cities. What kind of solutions can be done to fix this problem? Will new cities be needed? Different people have different opinions on how to make social inequality less common than it currently is. There are many factors that go in to how to make a city better and social inequality is one of the more important issues that prevent cities from being great for the people and the economy.

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Segregations Impact on Inequality Inequality is common and is an important issue to the working class and the lower class.

This influences the city so how can a city truly be great, when there are many unfair advantages for those who are not wealthy? Even the wealthy will eventually suffer as the increased poverty rate will hurt them as well (10. Musterd. Ostendorf., 1998). Planners and designers can help fix this issue as this also is a city design flaw. Cities are at their best when the people are not isolated away from each other. A few decades after segregation (lawfully) ended, segregation was still an ongoing problem that had increased (16. Wodtke, 2017). Now, even in this current decade, the problem still exists. Minorities/lower class are grouped into one area of the city where there is less access to good resources and less access to great jobs. The better paying jobs, better health services, better education etc. are located on the other side of the city where much less minorities live. What makes these jobs that minorities can’t access good, is that they offer better salaries.

Something good can be subjective, but objectively when it comes to things accessible for minorities, the quality is severely inferior to the services accessible for those not in that group.

Without good paying jobs, it is hard for most to afford an automobile so there is no way to get better paying jobs without immense difficulties (12. OECD, 2018). So, when kids grow up in these poorer neighborhoods with limited access to resources, they will more than likely live there in that condition for their entire lives (2. Badger. Bui., 2018). Situations like the ones previously mentioned does not always have to be the result. Planners can have a role in changing the future for cities!

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Planning Solutions How can planners change this? What does the future hold for cities with social inequality on the rise? For starters, it’s difficult for planners to change the way a city is without making it even worse (5. Burdett, 2016). It may be difficult but there are possible solutions available that planners can do to lower social inequality within a city. For instance, making housing policies better coordinated with well targeted allowances can decrease the amount of inequality in a city.

This alone will help the working and lower class find better housing to live a better life within the city. As mentioned before, many can’t afford automobiles, so if planners design cities in a way that will make it easier to get to a route for the good jobs (with public transportation) more people can get positions from better paying facilities. Doing so can help lower the income gap between the rich and the poor as the resource of better transportation will be within their grasp (1. Alter, 2016). Increasing the amount of green spaces will help with more social interaction.

The more people that interact with each other can also make living in a city feel more comfortable (3. Banzhaf., Barrera., 2017). In 1973, 4 new cities were getting made, on average, every year and new cities are still being built in recent years. [As time goes on, more and more new cities will be made so knowing the causes and what solutions can be made to severely lower the amount of social inequality within a city will make the new/remaining cities become more economically and socially acceptable (6. Gibson, 1973)].

Research Method Researching problems, solutions from decades ago and in recent years, had its own challenges. Some of those challenges include citing every source and finding sources that weren’t completely bias or illiterate. Illiterate as in, sources that seem to be quickly debunkable

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and not scholarly. Citing came with its difficulties as there were many articles/journals, without publications mentioned. For topics like social inequality, obtaining publications from the 21st century was difficult as most of the research done for this topic was during the 20th century. That however was for academic presses and books, as the popular press and filmed sources were relatively easy to find in recent years. The weakness of publications like IEEE, is they are very hard to cite, citations were made but finding the papers is a tough task. The strength of certain publications as old as IEEE and new ones such as OCED is that despite those publications being 43 years apart, they speak on the exact same issues. Those issues include how the design of the city affects those who live in them. This literature has information that stretches over 50 years as an issue such as social inequality has carried the same problems decade after decade.

Nevertheless, the research done provides several methods to inspire more planners to take more action to lower the amount of inequality within cities.

Putting Solutions into Practice Inequality within cities will only grow greater as cities continue to grow, so finding a way to lower the social inequality problems is vital. Understanding how important social inequality is to cities is essential to knowing how to make a city great. Social inequality connects to planning issues such as transportation and highway/street design which still is a common planning problem. Reading this literature can give planners/designers and those who work for the government insight into why cities aren’t as great as they could be or why cities can fail. To plan/design cities to not be very segregated can help the city overcome things like high poverty rates. Putting these solutions into practice will make living in a city, better for anyone of any ethnicity and race!

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Shameeq Willis Annotated Sources END350 9/6/2019

1. Alter, R. (2016). Better planning could avoid cities becoming inequality traps. OECD. In the OECD media video, “Better planning could avoid cities becoming inequality traps,'' Alter talked about how important it was for governments to fix their cities. In 30 years from now, there will be 40% more people living in cities (70% of the population) so social inequality will increase as well. The more people living in cities is the reason why social inequality will rise. Segregation will continue to be an increasing problem for cities unless housing policies become better coordinated. Making life easier for everyone is the solution for making cities less unequal.

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Badger, E., & Bui, Q. (2018). Detailed Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children For Life. The New York Times.

The “Detailed Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children For Life” article written by Badger & Bui discussed how it’s important to not have children raised in poor communities. The likelihood of a kid growing up in a poor neighborhood and staying there for the rest of their lives is extremely high. When raised in a poor neighborhood, children/teenagers receive way less benefits than those who live in good/great neighborhoods. Trying to get areas like this to thrive is a difficult task as the resources are limited. It’s much more likely for a kid in a poor neighborhood to go to jail than to live a decent life.

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Banzhaf, E., & Barrera, F.D.L. (2017). Evaluating public green spaces for the quality of life in cities by integrating RS mapping tools and social science techniques. 1-4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: IEEE In Banzhaf & Barrera’s short paper, the importance of green spaces was discussed in detail. Urban public green spaces have a wide range of positive outcomes such as increases in social interactions, biodiversity, and vegetation. When citizens have access to green spaces, it gives them a good quality of life and makes the city livelier. Different studies/tests were done to know how people react to green spaces and how they can improve on what they have already done.

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4.

Bickford, S. (2000). Constructing Inequality (City Spaces and The Architecture of Friendship). 355-371 California: Sage Productions Inc. In Bickfords essay, “Constructing Inequality (City Spaces and The Architecture of Friendship),'' he explains how using political theory in order to study cities will bring people together to make cities better. People's daily lives affect their political opinions and with that, different ideas formulated to form ideas on how to improve the built city. This essay is done from a more democratic perspective, but it seems to try to be a take on how different opinions from different parties can make the city better. It also tries to find ways to fix hyper segregation which is difficult as not everyone is trying to have more mixed communities. Hyper segregation is when black people are put in neighborhoods where it will be extremely rare to see anyone that is white.

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Burdett, R. (2016). Inequality and urban growth. London, UK: OECD.

In the short research report by Ricky Burdett titled “Inequality and urban growth”, Burdett disagreed with the way people were trying to solve the social inequality problems within cities around the world. Burdett believed that an “open form of urbanism” would be the best way for solutions to be found instead of even more problems created. Inequality is the reality for every city in the world and creating more gated communities are not helping to stop that. Planners are left with tough decisions on how to fix this problem as changing the city too much could do more harm than good.

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Gibson, J.E. (1973). Why Design A New City?. 1-10. IEEE

In J.E. Gibsons, “Why Design A New City”, he discusses why a new city should be designed and why a new city should not be designed. In general, the assignment he is given is to create 100 new cities so as the population grows more people could live in more places.

Although, well thought out points were given to why a new city should/shouldn’t be made, the reasons for both is the key to why new cities should be built. They argue that new cities shouldn’t be built because they wouldn't be economically viable. The other argument would be they should be built because new cities are destroying themselves and new cities will provide help. Social inequality is a huge problem in cities, some see that only getting worse, so designing a new city to prevent several problems would be a plausible option.

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Glaeser, E,L., Resseger, M., & Tobio. K. (2009). Inequality In Cities. 617–646.

Cambridge, MA: Journal Of Regional Science.

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Glaesser, Resseger, & Tobios paper has to be one of the most important papers about social inequalities. This paper discusses everything from segregation to health to income to education, as all of those problems are a direct link to social inequality among cities. When people are unhappy, they are more likely to commit a crime and that has to do with the local inequality within their city. Local inequality is just as important as national inequality, as everyone may have a different opinion on it as what affects them is their local city.

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McMahon, E. (2012). Character Is Key to an Economically Vibrant City. CityLab.

“Character Is Key to an Economically Vibrant City”, City Lab article explained how the visual representation of the city is the most important key to an economically vibrant city. Visually the city needs to capture people, when you make a city full of character, people will stay. Jobs are something people move city to city for but what will make citizens stay is how the city looks and how it makes them feel living there. Living in a city with lots of green spaces, beautiful buildings, and plenty of places to socialize, gives a city it’s character.

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Mintzer, M. (2018). We let kids design our city – here’s what happened, TEDxMileHigh.

TEDx Talks In the video, “We let kids design our city – here’s what happened,'' Minter gives a lecture on how kids could give planners ideas to make cities have more personality.

Children have an active imagination, so they think of the most amazing (sometimes impossible) ways to make a city great. Children could give planners hints to how they can design parks when they are constantly putting up barriers for their ideas. The kids are the next generation, who are going to grow up in this world, and having some insight into their minds will, maybe, make living in a city much better for everyone.

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Musterd, S., & Ostendorf W. (1998). Urban Segregation and the Welfare State (Inequality and exclusion in western cities). New York, NY: Routledge.

The book entitled “Urban Segregation and the Welfare State (Inequality and exclusion in western cities)” explains how major issues such as social inequality leads to less opportunities for those who fall into the group of those who are socially excluded in society.

Just like the USA, European countries also segregate african descendants in their countries. A major point in this book is that social inequality is increasing and it’s because

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of the access to resources certain ethnicities/races have. When segregated neighborhood poverty rate rises it’s not good for anyone.

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O’Connor, A., Tilly, C., & Bobo, L.D. (2001). Urban Inequality (Evidence From Four Cities). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation In Alice O’ Connors book entitled, “Urban Inequality (Evidence From Four Cities)”, Connor highlights how segregated cities are and how they impact everyone around them. After a few chapters, the inequality becomes clear. It’s harder for non-whites to get a job because of the education they have received and negative stereotypes. Even though more ethnicities and races are moving out to the suburbs, it’s harder to get a job there even if they’re qualified, as mentioned before, negative stereotypes. The city needs enhancing in its workers and firms in order to function the way it should.

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OECD. (2018). Divided Cities: Understanding Intra-urban Inequalities. Paris: OECD Publishing.

In the OCED video titled, “Divided Cities: Understanding Intra-urban Inequalities”, the main argument is making cities more inclusive will lower the social inequality within cities. When the rich isolate themselves from the poor, that increases the inequality within cities. In the poor areas of cities, fewer jobs are available, poor education is provided, and few health services. Dividing cities only makes the cities worse than what they are, cities that work for everyone are cities the world needs.

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Reuell, P. (2019). Cities’ wealth gap is growing, too. The Harvard Gazette.

In Reuell’s article, “Cities wealth gap is growing, too,'' the author explained how wealthy people and poor people are continuing to further isolate themselves. The rich living with the rich and the poor living with the poor is rising at alarming rates. Social inequality is continuing to have a negative impact on cities and the inequality is just growing. It’s difficult for many cities to grow when the good paying jobs are in the wealthier locations.

When the most skilled people in different fields all go to one area, the other area is left to fail.

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Saunders, P. (2017). Where Educated Millennials Are Moving. Forbes.

After someone graduates from college they usually move to the city where their college was located or move somewhere where they will get paid a lot more for their major.

In the popular press article, “Where Educated Millennials Are Moving”, Saunders wrote how educated millennials are “remaking” cities and are less likely to move to a suburb.

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Lots of data was shown to show how millennials were going to core cities and how cities overall are seeing a growth in population from this age group. Millennials moving to these cities are great for the economy.

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Stephens, C. (1996). Healthy cities or unhealthy islands? The health and social implications of urban inequality. 9–30. London, UK: Mike Cohen.

In this paper entitled “Healthy cities or unhealthy islands? The health and social implications of urban inequality”, the author discusses the direct impact of urban inequality on poverty, wealth, and health within a city. Half a century ago urbanization was seen as a huge positive for health to the world, which meant the harm that could happen is overlooked. When an entire social group is having health related issues and while the other social group is not, that’s a sign of social inequality within a city. The wealthy isolate themselves, while the poor remain ill and die. That’s a problem we are aware of and can fix.

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Wodtke, G.T. (2017). Social Class and Income Inequality in the United States: Ownership, Authority, and Personal Income Distribution from 1980 to 2010. 1375-1415.

University Of Toronto.

G.T. Wodtkes, “Social Class and Income Inequality in the United States: Ownership, Authority, and Personal Income Distribution from 1980 to 2010” is a study on social class and income inequality. Inequality seems to have only increased every year since the 1980s and didn’t recover in the 21st century. Social class inequality and income inequality have a positive correlation as they both problems have increased over time.

Further research is needed to be done to get to the solution for these issues impacting the country.

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Data Analysis Report

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Analytical Report which interweaves tables, graphs, and charts

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Shameeq Willis END350 Section 2 Fall 2019 Data Analysis Report 12/12/2019

The Fluctuating Population within Cities

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Introduction Some cities grow, some cities shrink, but the reasons for either, greatly depends on which city it is. There are many cities whose population is declining but some decline due to low opportunities while others may decline from industries leaving the city. There are many reasons for decline but that’s a couple of the reasons. Likewise, there are multiple reasons why cities grow. For instance, some grow due to a great deal of immigrants migrating to those cities or the city simply offers better and/or more opportunities (Wham, 2018). The cities that have receding populations are called no growth cities, while cities whose population rise more than 10% are called high growth cities. The cities being covered in this report is Rochester, NY and Columbus, OH.

No Growth City Rochester is a city located in Monroe County which is in Western New York State. Rochester is known as the “flower city’ (formally the “flour city”) because of the annual lilac festival event. The city is very diverse with a very similar population between Black & White people and the highest percentage of Puerto Ricans & Turkish Americans out all major U.S cities. There is also a huge Jamaican population in Rochester, which helps make the city even more diverse than it already was. Figure 1, shows the diversity of Rochester. However, Rochester is a no growth city as its population is slowly falling every year. Over a century ago, Rochester was one of the biggest cities in the country because of its flour mills on the Genesee River, but like buffalo, it reached an era of endless decline. A factor that contributes to the population decline is the poverty rate. Rochester’s poverty rate is higher than American average for every race and ethnicity, which is a bad look for the city. 23% of the white population lives in poverty (double the national average), 40% of the black population lives in poverty, and 44% of Hispanics live in poverty in Rochester.

Poverty is not the only problem in Rochester, crime is quadruple the national average, this alone has an impact on whether someone would choose to move there or not (World Population Review, 2019). A sour/sweet positive about this no growth city is that it’s not falling fast, fell only 1% from 2010-2017.

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Figure 1

High Growth City Columbus is a city located in Franklin County which is in Ohio State. Columbus was named after Christopher Columbus when it was founded. Centuries later the city overtook Cleveland as the biggest city in Ohio as its population continued to increase (US Census Bureau). The population increases are due to many reasons, one being it’s attraction for millennials. Educated millennials are choosing to move to cities nowadays and one of the cities they are choosing is Columbus, Ohio (Sanders, 2017). This help makes Columbus a high growth city, as its population has risen higher than 10% from 2010-2017. In Columbus there are many job opportunities, the city itself was ranked top 15 on the Glassdoors business website for “Best Cities for Jobs”. For a big city, it is very affordable to live in compared to cities such as New York City or Los Angeles. There are many fun activities to participate in as well as high walkability and automobiles aren’t really a necessity (Unpaktblog, 2017). The competition for new citizens is high as Ohio also has growing cities such as Cincinnati but with over 2 million more people predicted to live in Columbus by 2050, it doesn’t seem like the population won’t stop rising any time soon (Namigadde, 2019). Columbus is the only city in Ohio that is growing at the fast rate it currently is.

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Rochester V Columbus Why do people choose to live in cities like Columbus over cities like Rochester? Why is Rochester’s population declining? While collecting data on these two cities, many observations were made. The clear observation would be their population. In 2010, Rochester’s population was 211,977 while Columbus population was 770,407. By 2017, Rochester’s population had fell to 209,463 which a 1.19% decline from 2010 (see figure 2.1). Meanwhile, Columbus 2017 population rose to 852,144 which is a 10.61% increase from 2010 (see figure 2.2). So the question comes across again as, why? Why is Rochester’s population declining? Since Columbus is a high growth city, a comparison between that cities data and Rochester could possibly give a reason for why Rochester’s population continues to decline.

Figure 2.1

Figure 2.2 Let’s take a look at the gender population and means of travelling first. Both cities populations rounded are 51% women & 49% men. Millennials are the ones who are moving to cities with their families (or alone) and their ages are 21-36. 14.4% of women and 13.8% of men are millennials in Rochester (see figure 3.1). In Columbus, 14.6% of both men & women are millennials (see figure 3.2). Gender population is a nonexistent issue for a decline or increase in population since both Rochester & Columbus have nearly the same amount of millennial percentage living within them (Saunders, 2017). As seen in figure 4, the means of travelling within each of the cities are very similar as well.

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People would rather drive their vehicle than use any other form of transportation. With all these similarities, what’s the difference? Why does one city grow by 10% and the other city decline by 1%?

Does education play a role in which city is a no growth or high growth? In Rochester 21.8% of the population has an associate’s degree or higher while in Columbus 27.6% of the population has that degree or higher. 51% of Rochester’s citizens has at least a high school degree while 58% of Columbus has at least a high school degree (See figures 5.1 & 5.2). The education between the cities aren’t too far apart but the little makes a difference as Rochester unemployment rate is more than twice the size of Columbus. Although both their unemployment rates have lowered since 2010, they are ranked completely different among other US cities. Rochester’s 6.8% (see Figure 6.1) unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country while Columbus 3.2% (see Figure 6.2) unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country. Since the likelihood of being unemployed in Rochester is greater than most cities, less people would want to live there while Columbus would have the opposite reaction. That is a huge reason for the population decline in Rochester, people leave Rochester for better job opportunities. It’s hard to live a comfortable life when you’re unemployed.

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Figure 3.1

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Figure 3.2

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Figure 4

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Figure 5.1

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Figure 5.2

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Figure 6.1

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Figure 6.2

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Conclusion To summarize, No growth cities like Rochester, NY have a high poverty and unemployment rate. The city may be more diverse than Columbus (see Figure 7) but people leave because the city lacks job opportunities that cities like Columbus can provide. High growth cities like Columbus, OH have low unemployment rates and more educated citizens. Columbus may be 9.1% more expensive to live in than Rochester, but it’s still an affordable place to live (Best Places, 2017). For Columbus, the job opportunities are grand and with the city being more affordable than other big cities makes it a major attraction for Millennials. That is why Columbus is a growing city. The opportunities present in any city can determine whether it grows or shrinks.

Figure 7

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Work Cited 1. World Population Review. (2019). Rochester, New York Population 2019. World Population Review. Retrieved from

http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/rochester-population/ 2. Best Places. (2017). Economy in Rochester, New York. Best Places. Retrieved from

https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/new_york/rochester 3. Unpaktblog. (2017). Why Millennials are moving to Columbus, Ohio. Unpaktblog. Retrieved from

https://www.unpakt.com/blog/millennials-moving-columbus-ohio/ 4. Millsap, A. (2018). Columbus, Ohio Is Booming But Will It Last? Forbes. Retrieved from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adammillsap/2018/08/06/columbus-ohio-is-booming-but-will-itlast/#7b502e0125be 5. Namigadde, A. (2019). Columbus Expects 3 Million Residents By 2050. Where Will They Live? WOSU Public

Media. Retrieved from https://radio.wosu.org/post/columbus-expects-3-million-residents-2050-where-will-theylive#stream/0 6. Wham. (2018). Study: Rochester among top U.S. cities people are moving away from. Wham abc. Retrieved from

https://13wham.com/news/local/study-rochester-among-top-us-cities-people-are-moving-away-from.

7. Saunders, P. (2017). Where Educated Millennials Are Moving. Forbes. Retrieved from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/petesaunders1/2017/01/12/where-educated-millennials-are-moving/#416836cfd3cc

35

Data Collection Visuals

36

No Growth City: Rochester, NY Year

Population

2010

211,977

2017

209,463

7 Year Growth Rate (%)

-1.19%

High Growth City: Columbus, OH Year

Population

2010

770,407

2017

852,144

7 Year Growth Rate (%)

+10.61%

Data Source: US Census Bureau

37

2017 MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK IN ROCHESTER, NY Transportation

WORKED AT HOME TAXICAB, MOTORCYCLE, OR OTHER MEANS BICYCLE WALKED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (EXCLUDING TAXICAB) CARPOOLED DROVE ALONE

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

Population

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

2017 MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK IN COLUMBUS, OH Transportation

WORKED AT HOME TAXICAB, MOTORCYCLE, OR OTHER MEANS BICYCLE WALKED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (EXCLUDING TAXICAB) CARPOOLED DROVE ALONE

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

Population Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

38

Means of Transportation to Work in Rochester, NY Transportation

Population

Source:

Drove Alone Carpooled Public transportation (excluding taxicab) Walked Bicycle Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means Worked at home

144,529 21,365 19,270 14,034 2,304 2,094 5,655

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

Means of Transportation to Work in Columbus, OH Transportation

Population

Source:

Drove Alone Carpooled Public transportation (excluding taxicab) Walked Bicycle Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means Worked at home

681,715 70,727 26,416 24,712 5,965 85,214 32,381

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

Population Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

39

6,936

2,080

2017 Population BY Race in Rochester, NY

73

White Black or African American 85,277

American Indian and Alaska Native Asian

97,563

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate 423 1,627 44,715

2017 POPULATION BY RACE IN COLUMBUS, OH

White 240,920

Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian 515,163

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

40

2017 Population by Race in Rochester, NY Race White

Population 97,563

Black or African American

85,277

American Indian and Alaska Native

2,080

Asian

6,936

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

2017 Population by Race in Columbus, OH Race White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

73

Population 515,163 240,920 1,627 44,715 423

Source Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

Source Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate 515,163 Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

41

Age Range (In Years)

2017 POPULATION BY GENDER - ROCHESTER, NY 85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

15,000 10,000 Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

5,000

0

5,000

10,000

Female

Male

Female

Male

15,000

Population

Age Range (In Years)

2017 POPULATION BY GENDER - COLUMBUS, OH 85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

60,000

40,000

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

20,000

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

Population

42

2017 Population by Gender – Rochester, NY SOURCE 7,122

6,842

7,564

6,424

6,565

6,882

7,682

6,993

10,038

10,273

11,146

11,398

7,918

8,655

6,290

6,691

5,133

6,040

5,882

6,313

6,490

6,655

5,979

6,264

5,120

5,603

3,434

3,979

2,494

3,108

1,413

2,078

901

1,460

825

1,809

Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau Data Source: US Census Bureau

43

Population

Education attainment for Population 25yrs+ in Rochester, NY 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, High school no diploma graduate (includes equivalency)

Some college, no degree

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Graduate or professional degree

Education Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

EDUCATION ATTAINMENT FOR POPULATION 25YRS+ IN COLUMBUS, OH 160,000

Population

140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Less than 9th grade

9th to 12th grade, High school no diploma graduate (includes equivalency)

Some college, no degree

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Graduate or professional degree

Education Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

44

Education Attainment for Population 25yrs+ in Rochester, NY Education

Population

Source Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

Population

Source Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate Data Source: US Census Bureau 2013-2017 Community Service Estimate

Education Attainment for Population 25yrs+ in Columbus, OH Education

45

Observation Data (Yearly Avg)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: ROCHESTER, NY 12.00% 10.00% 8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year Data Source: US Department Of Labor

Observation Value (Yearly Avg)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: COLUMBUS, OH 6.00% 5.00% 4.00% 3.00% 2.00% 1.00% 0.00% 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year Data Source: US Department Of Labor

46

Unemployment Rate: Rochester, NY Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Observation Value (Yearly Average) 10.80% 10.60% 10.80% 9.60% 8.10% 6.90% 6.50% 6.80%

Source: US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor

Unemployment Rate: Columbus, OH Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Observation Value (Yearly Average) 5.10% 4.10% 3.60% 3.80% 2.90% 2.70% 3.10% 3.20%

Source: US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor US Department of Labor

47

Data Collection Memorandum

K

Memorandum comparing traffic sites

48

MEMORANDUM Rotary and Intersection Comparison: Buffalo, NY

Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO - 2019

49

To: City Board of Planning Authors: Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis Cc: Professor Jonathan Bleuer, Andrew Schaefer Date: October 18th, 2019 Subject: Buffalo Rotary and Intersection

Executive Summary A concise Memorandum comparing and contrasting the rotary intersection of Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo New York, with the nearby standard fourway intersection of Franklin Street and Court Street. The data on the two intersections was gathered on a busy weekday in the middle of the day, using observation. The main comparison made is between the amenities available for pedestrians at both locations, as both are in an area frequented by pedestrians, and in the safety, usability, and traffic flow of each intersection. The conclusions reached are that although the four-way intersection at present seems safer, the rotary is actually a safer design due to its lack of high impact crash points.

However, it is currently made unsafe by the lack of proper signage or direction.

This safety concession, coupled with the fact that the rotary provides significantly more amenities to pedestrians, Niagara Square is the superior intersection, and deserves more consideration.

Introduction The memo concerns the comparison of two intersections in downtown Buffalo, New York. One is a large traffic circle, the Niagara Square rotary, which sits directly in front of city hall, and is the root of Buffalo’s radial grid system, designed by Joseph Ellicott. It speaks to the legacy of both of Buffalo’s great designers, Joseph Ellicott who initially laid out the radial grid, and Frederick Law

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50

Olmsted, who built on that grid with a system of parks, parkways, and circles. In the center of the rotary there is a large statue, surrounded by a public square and park; on the outside of this park is a wide traffic circle into which 7 surrounding streets converge. The second Intersection discussed is much simpler. Nearby, Franklin, a two-lane road bisects Court Street, a four-lane road, in a standard fourway intersection controlled by traffic lights.

We observe this intersection in conjunction with the rotary in order to compare methods of traffic control, amenities for pedestrians, and how the rotary might be re-thought why retaining its historical and geographical significance.

This issue is of relevance because downtown Buffalo, and Buffalo as a whole, is starting to bounce back from its rust belt legacy. Canal Side, the Theater District, the silo’s, Allentown, and other areas are beginning to see new life. In order to continue this development, inspire new population growth, and keep Buffalo on a list of cities to visit and live in, we must ensure that all of our public space work for everyone in the city. Especially in a location as important as right in front of City Hall.

Data Sources and Methods of Analysis The data source we used was a navigational system (google maps), and our data collection analysis form. The data we collected from google maps was the directions to get to the location of the Niagara Square rotary, and Franklin/Court Street intersection from Hayes Hall of the University at Buffalo’s South Campus. This allowed us to commute to our destinations in a safe and timely manner. It consisted of critical comparisons of a signalized intersection to a rotary through observation.

Our team collected and analyzed data by firsthand account and counting. We observed site conditions and behavior analysis for pedestrians and various transportation modes; vehicle, bicycle, skateboard, wheelchair, etc.

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51

There were different types of behavior analysis data for pedestrians we collected for such as; walking and crossing speed, waiting time, visual acuity, route and crossing choice, perception reaction time, and gap acceptance. For behavior analysis for vehicles and other modes of transportation we analyzed; speed, behavior, reaction time, etc. The purpose of the data was to analyze the differences in traffic flow, size, safety, and design efficiency.

The limitations of our research was that we only went to the sites once and only for an hour. The data collected was solely based on observation and counting. Because we only went for a limited time, the amount of pedestrians, cars, and traffic/speed on the streets would be meaningfully less compared to visiting the sites more than once. The day of the week and time we observed was the middle of a working business day. There would be a higher amount of data to collect compared to a weekend. If we stayed at the sites longer, or visited multiple times, we would have collected more data.

Findings After doing field work on two sites, a large quantity of data was collected to identify which site is safer and has greater quality than the other site. The two sites were Niagara Square rotary and an intersection between Franklin & Court Street in Buffalo, New York. The goal for this field work was to spend an hour at each of these locations to see what was good about them, what changes could be done to make them better, and which were better for both drivers and pedestrians (with their current conditions). While visiting each site there were notable similarities but also notable differences. One similarity they both have was controlled traffic. Controlled traffic is signalized or unsigned traffic that has signs and/or traffic lights to keep traffic controlled. Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court Street intersection have qualities about them that makes them great but some of those qualities make some better than the other.

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52

Niagara Square The first site we travelled to was Niagara Square. Niagara Square is, as discussed, located in Buffalo, NY directly in front of City Hall (See Figure 1). Visiting this site from 1:15 PM to 2:17 PM was an excellent choice as we were able to collect enough information in order to identify why this could potentially be a safer option for both pedestrians and drivers.

This site is known as a rotary which is much bigger than the roundabouts frequently seen while driving around the city. A rotary is large and fast while a roundabout is small and slow. The reason the type of site Niagara Square is, is brought up, is because while walking around Niagara Square rotary and seeing the problems it has, turning this rotary

into

a

roundabout

could

potentially be better for everyone.

However, turning this rotary into a roundabout could remove what makes Figure 1: Niagara Square, North towards City Hall

Niagara Square attractive. This rotary resembles

a

park;

it’s

beautiful

landscaping, statues, and greenery. While observing this site, there were 5 information boards about the city and a time capsule that was put into the ground in 1999. The area is a beautiful site (See Figure 2), so in turning this rotary into a roundabout keeping the park-like aspect of the site, it is ensured that it will not lose all of its historic value.

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53

Franklin/Court Street Intersection The second site travelled to was the Franklin/ Court Street intersection. The Franklin/ Court Street intersection is a 4way intersection near both City Hall and Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York. This site was visited the same day as the Niagara

Square

trip

on

October 11th, 2019 and going

Figure 3: Franklin and Court, facing south west.

to this site around 2:23 PM was a great time because traffic was relatively busy and there were many pedestrians walking down the streets. Unlike Niagara Square rotary, this intersection had street parking. There was street parking available on both sides of each street and a parking lot near as well. (See Figure 3). There were lots of surrounding land uses such as a bike rack, bus stops, street lights, pedestrian lights, and meter parking.

There was some greenery at this site like potted trees but it was not as grand as the rotary (See Figure 4). Adding more greenery to this site could make it feel more welcoming.

Sidewalk

was

present on every street on both sides which means pedestrians can walk up and down these streets

without

worrying

of

mistakenly crossing the fog line. Both the Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court intersection

have

a

few Figure 2: Niagara Square from above, facing south.

5

54

problems that needs to be fixed in order for them to become better sites.

Similarities As

previously

stated, the two sites have

similarities

differences

&

that set

them apart from one another.

A

few

similarities they have are multiple trash cans in sight but they both Figure 4: Franklin and Court facing North towards Niagara Square.

do not have recycling bins (See Figure 5 & 6).

Recycling bins are just as important as trash cans, as putting recyclables into a recycling bin can help reduce the load on the United States landfill. Putting more of these bins around sites like these helps reduce mining which contributes to air pollution. Not having any of those bins in sight was a nonsensical move by planners, as this increases the carbon footprint of many citizens, which is not healthy for the environment (Bliss, 1.). That alone makes these sites not as safe as it could be

because

air

pollution

causes

damage to a pedestrian’s brain and lungs. Damage is more likely to happen

Figure 5: Amenities at Niagara Square

6

55

to those who are more vulnerable to air pollution like the elderly (bodies are weaker) and children (they breathe faster) (Moms Clean Air Force, 2.). Recycling Bins are more useful than most people realize, it’s a safety hazard to not have them around.

Figure 7: Behavior Analysis 40

Miles Per Hour (mph)

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Rotary 4-Way Intersection

Drivers Speed 35 30 Rotary

Walking Speed 2 3

Crossing Speed 3 3.2

4-Way Intersection

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56

Figure 6: Amenities 14 12

# OF AMENITIES

10 8 6 4 2 0

Benches Recyle Bins Trash Cans Rotary 12 0 4 4-Way Intersection 1 0 2 In Addition to the recycling similarity, the two sites also have similar pedestrian and vehicle behavior (See Figure 7). The vehicles go 30 mph at each site and most of the time the car comes to a stop when a red light comes.

Drivers typically waited less than 30 seconds for pedestrians to walk across the street and then the light turned green and they sped off. Another great thing these sites have in common is the fact that they both have cross lights and cross walks. However, the 4-Way Intersection utilizes them better.

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57

Comparisons Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court Street intersection designs are completely different and altercations to one of these sites can immediately make it the superior design. Niagara Square is a rotary and changing it to a roundabout will make it safer for drivers as well as pedestrians. Something the intersection has on the square is size; the 4-Way intersection is much smaller than the rotary so it doesn’t take up as much space where greenery can be placed. Although it is smaller, it doesn’t have as much greenery as the rotary which already makes it inferior to the rotary despite its size. The rotary has 2 less lanes than the intersection but also less crosswalks (See Figure 8). The few crosswalks are a disadvantage because of how large the rotary is. With this site being as large as it is means there

Figure 8: Crossing Saftey Number Of Crossing Lights

Number Of Crosswalks

0 4-Way Intersection Rotary

1

2

3

Number Of Crosswalks 4 2

4

5

6

7

8

9

Number Of Crossing Lights 8 4

are only 2 ways for pedestrians to get onto/off the square when there is an opportunity for it to be at least 4 ways. Adding more crosswalks would be beneficial to this site because it will give non-drivers more ways to get onto the square which will lower the amount of J-walking done to get across the street.

9

58

Another difference between the sites would be their lanes. Neither site has turning or bike lanes (See Figure 9). Although this isn’t much of a problem for the intersection, it’s a problem for the rotary because it causes confusion. There may be yield signs but there are no arrows or turning lanes that let drivers know how to remove themselves from the rotary (See Figure 10). Installing more signs could make driving safer and less of a headache for those driving within them.

Figure 9: Site Conditions NUMBER OF BIKE LANES NUMBER OF TURNING LANES NUMBER OF LANES CONVERGING STREETS 0

4-Way Intersection Rotary

Converging Streets 2 7

1

2

3

Number Of Lanes 4 2

10

4

5

Number Of Turning Lanes 0 0

6

7

8

Number Of Bike Lanes 0 0

59

After travelling to the two sites, from reading what was discovered on the field study, it would seem the 4Way intersection is the better design. In reality, it is not. The intersection is jolting with all the traffic lights it has and it is Figure 10: Niagara Square Rotary, note lack of crossing.

statistically not as safe as a rotary or roundabout. There is a huge reduction in overall

collisions and by changing the rotary to a roundabout it will reduce at an even faster rate (Intersection Safety, 3.). Niagara Square rotary has a more welcoming environment than the intersection does with its beautiful landscaping and warm atmosphere. In its current state, Niagara Square rotary is a better design than the Franklin/Court intersection but with the changes that were previously mentioned, it would become the superior design.

Conclusions and Recommendations It should be acknowledged that these two intersections work in their placements for a reason. Franklin and Court is a much smaller area than Niagara square, so a traffic circle would likely not be the best for anyone, and the intersection there does not need to be as grand or complicated. Niagara Square combines too many streets to be a standard intersection, and having a light at the mouth of every street would likely bring traffic grinding to a halt which is the opposite of what any planner intends.

Although the four-way intersection at present seems safer, the rotary is actually a safer design due to its lack of high impact crash points. However, it is currently made unsafe by the lack of proper signage or direction; coupled with

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60

the fact that the rotary provides significantly more amenities to pedestrians, Niagara Square is the superior intersection, and deserves more consideration. It is the heart of the design of the city of Buffalo, stands in front of one of the most Iconic and important buildings in the city, and could be improved so easily it seems pointless not to take that step. This is not to say the Franklin and Court is perfect. It needs to be repainted at some point soon, and the lack of bike lanes on a major Buffalo road should be remedied to make the environment more welcoming to cyclists. Additionally, the bus stops near the intersection should be equipped with at least benches, preferably benches and some sort of structure for shelter.

Sensitive to real world budgets and schedules, these intersections do not need to be completely redesigned, just tweaked slightly to work better with the needs of the traffic that each zone observes. Buffalo is once again a city on the rise, and it is imperative that the infrastructure of the city reflects that reality.

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References Bliss, H. (2018). “Advantages of A Recycling Bin”. Sciencing. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/about-5380850-advantages-recycle-bin.html Intersection Safety - Safety: Federal Highway Administration. (2019).

“Roundabouts and Mini Roundabouts”. U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved from: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/ Moms Clean Air Force. (2017). “How Air Pollution Harms Your Body”. Moms Clean Air Force. Retrieved from: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/how-pollutionharms-body/ Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

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Appendix: Data Collection Form (Intersection) Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names

Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis, Becky Szeto

Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time

Franklin Street and Court Street Control (Four Way Intersection) 68 Court Street Buffalo, NY 14202 10/11/2019, 2:23 p.m.

Description of Site

A busy four-way intersection in Downtown Buffalo, experiencing moderate levels of both automobile and pedestrian traffic. Surrounded by mostly multi-story buildings, right in the finance/government area of downtown, a few blocks from the metro.

Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.

Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes

Two streets converge.

Four way intersection.

Traffic lights and crossing lights.

Four lanes (Court Street), crossing two lanes (Frankilin Street).

No turning lanes or turning lights All sides of the streets have sidewalks, there are no bike lanes.

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63

presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking

Four crosswalks, one at every corner, all have crossing lights.

presence of landscaping, amenities

Benches, trees, a hot dog stand, one bike rack, street lights and pedestrian walking lights are present.

Multi-story office and government buildings, a parking lot, a parking garage, and a few store fronts surround the intersection.

surrounding land uses

Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration

turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance

Two bus stops, one on Court, one on Franklin; all sides of the street have metered parking.

The bus stops do not have benches or cover, just the sign indicating a stop.

Speed limit for the City of Buffalo is 30mph, most cars obsereved this. Due to the stop start nature of the traffic at the intersection, vehicles generally went between 15 and 35 mph.

No turning lanes, so most vehicles have to wait at least a few minutes to turn as traffic passes.

Each light is on a three minute cycle.

There's not much space in or around the intersection in which to change lanes, it would likely be necessary for the driver to know ahead of time if a turn was necessary.

braking behavior

Brake 20 feet before the intersection. Soft brake, most vehicles just came out of another intersection not far away. perception reaction time Quick, but a few close encounters. distance to leading vehicle and Three to four feet of distance, 2-3 seconds of headway headway.

Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time

Brisk but relaxed pace for the most part, pedestrians feel relatively safe in the daylight.

Again, brisk but relaxed, with the crossing lights there is reduced risk.

Average waiting time between 30 seconds and two minutes.

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64

visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

Most elements clear and easy to read, road paint fading.

At the crosswalk, during crossing time or with a lull in traffic.

Quick, not even any near misses.

Room to mauver around cars.

Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed No bicycles, skateboards, wheelchairs, ect. were observed. crossing speed N/A waiting time N/A visual acuity N/A route and crossing choice N/A perception reaction time N/A gap acceptance N/A Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability

The four way intersection is the standard intersection in the U.S., thought to control traffic efficently while providing safe windowns for pedestrians to cross.

Same as above.

Traffic is jilting, most collisions are at the deadliest angles.

Due to the stop start of the lights, traffic is not smooth.

Colliosns at the deadliest angles, cars often do not slow enough Intended to be safe, in reality are often unsafe.

Easy to use, lights and sinage clear for the most part. Ease of use mostly because people are used to this type of intersection.

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65

Appendix: Data Collection Form (Rotary) Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site

Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis, and Becky Szeto Niagara Square Rotary 1 Niagara Square Buffalo, NY 14202 10/11/19 ---- 1:12 P.M. Time Capsule, 5 information boards, lampposts, statues, and fountain were located inside the rotary.

Sketch of Site:

Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes

7 Rotary Traffic Lights, Crossing Lights, Yield Signs 2 No Turning Lanes Wide Brick Pedestrian Walkway and no bike lanes

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66

presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior

2 Crosswalks and 2 Crossing Lights There were several bus stops located around Niagara Square. Peripheral parking 4+ trashcans, trees, flowers, benches, lampposts Street lights, Share Bike Lots,

30 to 40 mph No turning signs 20 seconds 3 seconds Brakes were only done at traffic lights when on red 5 seconds

perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and 3 seconds headway Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

3.1 miles per hour 14-15 seconds 25 seconds Normal Some may J-walk, but most will wait for crossing lights to give the right to walk 5 seconds Some people walked closed together so 1-10 seconds

Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other No one riding a bicycle, skateboard, or in a movement speed wheelchair crossing speed N/A waiting time N/A visual acuity N/A route and crossing choice N/A perception reaction time N/A gap acceptance N/A

18

67

Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control

To enter and weave within a rotary in a controlled manner To manage a yield system for performance with traffic/crossing lights Crosswalks help prevent pedestrians from getting hit No arrows on the streets to direct traffic

Flow of users

We went to the site at a calm time so the flow was pretty great and calm.

Safety of users

Crosswalk countdowns are loud for those who are deaf. Yield Signs are visible

Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability

Intention was to be a controlled fast circle, Reality is it needs more direction The Rotary could be very confusing for newer drivers

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68

Appendix: Charts and Graphs Amenities Benches Recyle Bins Trash Cans

Rotary 12 0 4

4-Way Intersection 1 0 2

Behavior Analysis Drivers Speed Walking Speed Crossing Speed

Rotary 35 2 3

20

4-Way Intersection 30 3 3.2

69

Crossing Safety Rotary Number Of Crosswalks 2 Number Of Crossing 4 Lights

4-Way Intersection 4 8

Site Conditions Converging Streets Number Of Lanes Number Of Turning Lanes Number Of Bike Lanes

Rotary 7 2

4-Way Intersection 2 4

0

0

0

0

21

70

Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019

Figure 1

Figure 2

22

71

Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019

Figure 3

Figure 4

23

72

Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019

Figure 5

Figure 10

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73

Powerpoint

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Rotary and Intersection Comparison: Buffalo, NY Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis 10/18/2019

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ROTARY V. INTERSECTION

Franklin Street and Court Street

V. Niagara Square Rotary Willis, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”

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DATA COLLECTION Niagara Square

Franklin/Court Street

Location

Location

1 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY, 14202.

Directly in front of City Hall

68 Court Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202. Near Niagara Square & City Hall

Time: 1:12 PM to 2:17 PM

Time: 2:23 PM to 3:30 PM

Date: 10/11/2019

Date: 10/11/2019

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

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Data collection

Niagara Square Rotary

Franklin and Court Street Intersection

These Sketch's give a wider view of how the traffic sites look. There’s a lack of crosswalks in the Niagara Szeto, B. (2019). Niagara Square Sketch.

Szeto, B. (2019). Intersection Sketch.

Square Sketch 78

Findings: Intersection GREAT CONDITION

MEDIOCRE CONDITION

• Trash Bins • Street Lights • Street Parking

• Bus Stops • Greenery • Crossing Walks

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

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Findings: ROTARY GREAT CONDITION

MEDIOCRE CONDITION

• Trash Bins • Abundant Greenery • Statue

• Crossing Lights • Cross-Walks • Traffic Signs

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.

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NOTABLE OBSERVATIONS Rotary: • Lack of signs like Yield, which creates confusion for drivers • Not enough crosswalks to get to Niagara Square. Have to walk all the way around the rotary to get to one

Intersection:

• Despite Restaurants being there, there are no recycling bins present which could lead to litter (Bliss, 2018) • No Biking Lanes were present

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conclusion

In order to resolve development issues, to inspire new population growth, and keep Buffalo on a list of cities to visit and live in, we must ensure that all of our public space work is for everyone in the city.

There is an issue of relevance in downtown Buffalo, as Buffalo (as a whole), is starting to bounce back from its rust belt legacy.

The rotary (Circle) and intersection (Yellow Lines) whereabouts downtown Maps Data. (2019). Niagara Square. Google Maps.

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recommendations Rotary: • Split single lane into two • Proper signage and paint in the rotary • More cross walks across for pedestrians

Intersection:

• Voice signals for crosswalks for blind walkers • Improve bus stops by giving them a cover so pedestrians won’t have to stand in bad weather 83

references Bliss, H. (2018). “Advantages of A Recycling Bin”. Sciencing. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/about-5380850-advantages-recyclebin.html Intersection Safety - Safety: Federal Highway Administration. (2019).

“Roundabouts and Mini Roundabouts”. U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved from: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/ Moms Clean Air Force. (2017). “How Air Pollution Harms Your Body”.

Moms Clean Air Force. Retrieved from: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/how-pollution-harms-body/

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Case Study

K

Bassett Park Mini-Master Plan

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Acknowledgements END 350 Class of 2019 David Tabak Leslie General Letao Shen Shameeq Willis Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

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Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................

History ........................................................

Background ..............................................

Content ........................................................

4 5 5 6

Observations ........................................................

Conditions ..............................................

Challenges ..............................................

Opportunities .................... ..........................

8 9 12 15

Data Analysis & Collection ....................................

Demographics ..............................................

16 17

Recommendations & Best Practice….....................

Layout .........................................................

Accessibility ...............................................

Programming ……......................................

22 24 26 27

Reference List

.........................................................

28

Appendix ...................................................................

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3

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Introduction

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History Bassett Park is currently a 35-acre community park in the Town of Amherst. Residents from the surrounding community visit Bassett Park to enjoy the walking paths and free concerts in the summer.

However, just 50 years earlier, Bassett Park and the surrounding 31.5 acres of land was owned by Charles K. Bassett, as seen in Figure 1.

This 66.5-acre plot of land, named “Hidden Hills Farm”, was thought to be ideal for horseback riding by Bassett due to the rolling land (Sherman, 2019). Bassett was a key staple in the community, and was considered a civic leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. He not only

Figure 1: Charles K. Bassett

served in World War 1, he also donated his land in order to build a hospital for the community. In 1974, the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital was opened due to Bassett’s generous donation of his land. Next to the hospital, Bassett Park was created for the community as well.

Background Bassett Park is now a staple of the Williamsville community. In June of 2016, the Bassett Park Amphitheater had its grand opening. The amphitheater was part of a renovation initiative to upgrade the existing band shell building, improve path accessibility, and remediate the pond. In October of 2018, a sculpture was also added to the park as part of the Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative. Built by artist Shayne Dark, the sculpture titled Tanglewood, 2006 was previously on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The addition of this instillation was meant to promote public art and culture and an image can be seen below in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Tanglewood sculpture

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Content Public parks provide many benefits to their communities, and offer opportunities that can improve the physical and mental state of the residents. When people visit these public parks, a sense of happiness comes upon them, since connecting to nature can reduce stress, which improves their mental health. Most public parks have large open spaces where residents can enhance their physical health by walking, running, and playing a variety of sports. Bassett Park is a good example of one with lots of open space. The park fits fairly well into its neighborhood and because of the way it’s currently designed, has opportunities that can improve one's physical and mental health. This neighborhood has a senior center (Elderwood) which means there are many senior citizens in this neighborhood, so a park that’s senior friendly is necessary. Bassett Park is indeed senior friendly as it’s not like other parks that are just playgrounds and sports fields. There are multiple spots where the elderly can just sit down to enjoy nature or go on a walk. Bassett Park fits into WNY well as the park can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what age bracket they are in.

Context Map This is a context map that highlights the high residential use within the surrounding areas of the park. It works to depict the close proximity of the school, hospital and church in relation to the park.

Figure 3: Digital map created by David Tabak

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Observations

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Conditions Overall the appearance of Bassett Park is clean and predominately well maintained. The park has been configured through practice and design to require a very minimal amount of upkeep but makes a positive effort to keep the park clean. The park provides basic amenities whose conditions vary.

Bassett Park Amphitheater

Walkways/Trails

The newly renovated amphitheater provides

The paved walkways in the park are

park users with a clean and well-kept space to

limited in number but are well

hear music or watch movies.

maintained and in good condition.

There is no formal set of trails going

Grounds

through the park but there are areas

Majority of the grounds in the park are left in a

where trails have developed over time

natural

from usage. They are not maintained

state

that

provides

a

tranquil

atmosphere for park users to enjoy. The

and they are uneven but that natural

grounds are well cared for but there are areas

development is part of their charm.

that have been taped off for safety or due to excessive areas of mud.

Entrances The official entrances are designed at the Northside of the park where the parking lots.

They are well maintained and clean but are not easily located for people who are not familiar with the park. This is in part because of some confusion from google maps with the address of the park.

Figure 4: Park path Picture taken by Leslie General

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Bathrooms/ Water fountain

Trash Cans

The bathrooms are closed for the winter but

All of the trash cans have been removed from

when open provide one women’s restroom and

the park to prepare for winter. This has caused

one male’s restroom. The water fountain has

for litter and trash to be found lying around the

been shut off.

park.

The building that both

amenities are located in is checked on a regular

Benches

basis and is in good condition.

Throughout the 35-acre park there are only 5

TangleWood Sculpture

benches. They are all located on the Northside of the park and are all in good condition.

Although the blue sculpture is a newer addition to the park and in good

Ponds

condition it clashes with serene environment of the park in a negative

The previous pond in the park that was once a

way.

spot where people could come and fish was recently replaced by a new pond with fountains but no fish. Another small pond was also installed next to the larger pond.

Lighting The lack of lighting available creates safety issues for people who use the park at night or during winter when it gets dark earlier.

Bassett Park Amphitheater The newly renovated amphitheater provides

Figure 5: Tanglewood sculpture Picture taken by David Tabak

park users with a clean and well-kept space to hear music or watch movies.

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Parking Lots Playground

There are two parking lots that provide an ample amount of parking spaces.

They do

not reserve any specific handicap spaces but

The playground at Bassett Park is very

the asphalt and paint are both in excellent

small and has been poorly maintained.

condition.

There are holes in the turf. Some of the equipment is damaged.

Figure 6: Playground conditions.

Picture taken by Leslie General

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Challenges Bassett Park is a simple park with several basic amenities. Several of these include a playground for kids, a bathroom, water fountains, benches, and a few trash cans. Bassett Park is a largely undeveloped park, which adds to the natural aspect of the area. With so much undeveloped land, there are many challenges regarding funding, accessibility, safety and overall layout. According to one visitor, Bassett Park used to be a place where kids were able to ride their dirt bikes and fish in the large lake. Currently, the park mostly exists to serve the elderly population and as a dog park. A handful of concerts are held in the summer, yet programs for children and teenagers is severely lacking. Increasing accessibility while capturing the interest of both younger and older people to visit the park is important to sustain the parks vitality. The biggest challenge Bassett Park faces is to create a space that balances the preservation of open and natural spaces, while attracting more visitors.

Funding Bassett Park receives the lowest amount of funding out of all the parks in the area, according to the Town of Amherst Recreation and Parks Master Plan of February 2018. Improvements for the park would have to rely solely on external sources in forms of donations, grants, and volunteer programs.

Accessibility Entrances Upon arrival at the park, it was not clear where the entrance was as there were no noticeable signs.

Using google maps, the GPS location guides visitors to the south entrance of the park. After arriving on the more developed side of the park, there were still no noticeable signs near the parking lots telling us which park it is. After further inspection it was found that there is a sign located on the corner of Young Street and Klein Road. This creates a challenge for anyone who is unfamiliar with the park or neighborhood who wishes to visit Bassett Park, they would have drove right past as there’s no signs telling you where the entrances are or revealing the parks name.

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Mobility/ Transportation Issues Most of the activities are located on the north end of the park, while the senior housing is located on the south end. This is especially difficult, since there are no paved paths for people with mobility issues to reach the location of the activities without driving. As seen in Figure 7, the parking lot offers no designated handicap accessible spaces. Public parks should be inviting for everyone, so handicapped parking should have been a mandatory design. The area surrounding the

Figure 7: Parking lot in Bassett Park Picture taken by Leslie General

park offers very little public transportation. The nearest bus stop is near the Millard Fillmore Hospital, which is about a 1 mile walk to reach the park.

Amenities Currently there is no access to the restrooms and water fountain since they are closed for the winter season.

During our site visit to Bassett Park, it was noticed that there was a distinct lack of access to recycling bins. There was access to two trash cans, however, no dedicated recycling bins. As seen in Figure 8, since there were no recycling bins, cans and plastic cups were strewn across the grass after the bag broke. This not only creates a poor Figure 8: Litter in Bassett Park Picture taken by David Tabak

aesthetic, it also contributes to local pollution, since these recyclables will most likely end up in a landfill. The existing trashcans are all located around the amphitheater, where

there would be the most activity. While the rest of the park does not have any trashcans or recycling bins, there was surprisingly no litter, which led to the feeling of a clean park.

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Layout Visiting Bassett Park multiple times reinforced the discovery of how disconnected it is. When visiting the park, it becomes apparent how different each side looks. The park looks like there are three different parks, instead of one. Almost all of the paved paths, amphitheater, playground, and amenities are located on the north end of the park. All of the benches for people to sit and relax are also located on the developed north end of the park. There’s an area that has a random blue statue called Tanglewood that stands out in contrast to the surrounding trees, which is located towards the middle of park. There is a clear distinction between areas that were recently renovated, or added, that are disconnected from the open and natural space of the rest of the park.

Safety There is very limited lighting available within the park.

This creates a dangerous situation for people who use the park in the evening. During the winter season, it will be dark outside as early as 5 p.m. So, for many people who come to walk their dogs after work they end up navigating the park in the dark. The lack of lighting increases the potential for more serious injuries or incidents to occur. Another issue with safety is a lack of crosswalks across sections of the park where paved paths lead to sidewalks across

Figure 9: Crosswalk conditions Picture taken by David Tabak

streets as seen in Figure 9.

Challenges Create Opportunities No park is immune to having issues, but with every challenge comes an opportunity, and that opportunity can inspire change. Yes, there are no recycling bins, yes there is some litter, yes there is no handicap accessibility but there can be. Bassett Park is a beautiful park and if certain changes are made, it can benefit the park in various ways.

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Opportunities There are a number of aspects found in Bassett Park that provide opportunities for the future development of the park. One of the biggest benefits of Bassett Park is the amount of open space it provides.

The natural, green, and

undeveloped landscape is a rare asset in such a heavily developed area.

Figure 10- Open Space of Basset Park.

Picture taken by Leslie General

The existing infrastructure can easily be modified or updated with relatively low cost.

It also allows for less time and energy to be spent on new construction. The amphitheater was recently renovated. The bathrooms and water fountain are clean and well maintained.

There are two parking lots that provide ample spaces for parking that would require very

Figure 11 – Bassett Park Amphitheater.

Picture taken by Leslie General

little to improve their design.

The mixed use neighborhood surrounding the park provides opportunities to create stronger relationships with the park. Close proximity with a hospital, elder community, school, and a church increase potential for programs and Figure 12- Natural and undeveloped area of Bassett Park

other interactions to occur.

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Data Analysis & Collection

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Demographics Understanding the community surrounding Bassett Park helps to develop a better perspective of how to further develop the park to benefit the area. Focusing on demographics of population, age, income, housing, and transportation helps to understand park users, growth, access, as well as relevant funding impacts. The census track 90.08 where Bassett Park is located was the focus while collecting data.

Key Findings: •

The population has slowly increased since 2009

•

There is a high elderly population in the area

•

There are more individual households than family households

•

The Median income is 73,103

•

Primary mode of transportation is by car

Population As seen in Figure 13 the population surrounding the park has continued to grow since 2009. The population grew by close to 600 people. This provides an increase in potential park users for the area. Steady growth combined with steady incomes provides an increase in potential funding for the park in the future.

# of Individuals

Population Trend for Census Track 90.08 5,200 5,000 4,800 4,600 4,400 4,200 2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year Figure 13 Graph made by Leslie General

Estimated Total Population

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Age The largest age group in this community is made up of people ranging from 85 and older. There are roughly 2,033 residents who are 60 or older. The neighborhood consists of 885 children under the age of 18. Adults ranging from 19 to 59 consists of approximately 2,202 people. Due to the high concentration of residents over 60 it is important to evaluate and design the park with the physical limitations and implications of this age group as a priority to increase accessibility. It is equally important to understand that while the concentration of elder people is high for the area there are more people under the age of 60 so it is equally important to provide higher physical activity levels, designs, and programs that will entice the younger demographics to utilize the park.

Age Demographics for Census Tract 90.08

38% 15%

47% Population under 18 Years Population between 19 years and 59 years Figure 14 Graph made by Leslie General

Population over 60 Years

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Income As seen in Figure 15 approximately 63.9%

Yearly Income for Census Tract 90.08

of the households in this community make under

$100,000

yearly.

The

highest

Estimated Percent of Households

Income Range

percentage of income for households was between $100,000 to $149,000.

This

establishes that there is a wide range of incomes in the area and that funding for the park may be reduced with the higher concentration of income being under $100,000.

Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $14,999 $15,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $34,999 $35,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $149,999 $150,000 to $199,999 $200,000 or more Mean Income Median Income

3.40% 5.60% 10.30% 8.60% 9.60% 13.40% 13.00% 15.60% 12.20% 8.40% $106,322 $73,103

Figure 15 Chart made by Leslie General

Housing In the area surrounding the park, there are less families and more individual residents. As seen in Figure 16 there are approximately 104 less family households.

For improving Bassett

Park,

means

this

activities

focused

that on

engaging Individuals

should be a top priority but should still include family oriented designs and activities since the amounts are closely related.

Figure 16 Graph made by Leslie General

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Transportation The primary mode of transportation in the area is by car which is depicted in Figure 17 titled Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08. It provides insight into the issues with public transportation or bicycles as modes of transportation to access the park. Based off of these figures it is important to understand the availability of public transportation available in the surrounding areas to understand the accessibility options for the park. Promoting multi-mobile transportation within the design of the park would encourage healthier habits and better environmental practices.

Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08 Drove alone

1,423

Transportation Mode

Carpooled

62

Bus

0

Subway or elevated

14

Bicycle

0

Walked

56

Worked at home

239 0

200

400

600

Figure 17 Graph made by Leslie General

800 1,000 Population

1,200

1,400

1,600

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Recommendations & Best Practice

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Recommendations & Best Practice Redesigning the layout should focus on: •

Increasing accessibility with more inclusive design practices

•

Develop and maintain more green spaces within the developed urban environment

•

Further develop the trails and integrate them through the park

•

Work towards developing a new design for the park that encompasses the entire park rather than the sectioned off aspect of the current design

•

Connect one side of the park to the other

•

Clear up confusion on entrance points and location with updated and easier to use information for the public

Implementing Programs should focus on: •

Integrate nature programs to increase awareness of the benefits of outside space

•

Develop strategies to attract younger demographics to utilize the park.

•

Develop stronger ties with the surrounding community, more specifically the church, school, hospital and senior living center within close proximity.

•

Develop stronger integration of events and activities available within the park to

•

Create a more successful system of communicating upcoming events to a broader base of park users.

Improve safety conditions within the park by adding: •

Lights

•

Crosswalks

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New Layout for Bassett Park: The new layout as seen in Figure 18 for Bassett Park should include low intensity nature-oriented walking paths or trails that promote movement through the entirety of the park. Integrated playground equipment along the trail system should be installed. A paved section to allow for accessibility from one end of the park to the other. Designated space for a community garden.

Additional benches spread throughout the park. Designated parking spaces for handicapped parking. Planting additional trees, shrubs, and plant varieties in the landscape.

Figure 18 Digital sketch of New Layout for Bassett Park made by Leslie General

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Walking Paths/ Trails Adding natural walking path or trails to the park would encourage more movement within the park.

It would benefit the people who jog and walk dogs in the park, as well as all different ages who wish to be a little more active. The trails should be constructed with natural materials like gravel, dirt, or mulch to help establish an initial trail that over time could develop on its own. Paths should be focused on the outer edges of the park to conserve the amount of open space provided within the park as much as possible. This is an extensive project with a higher cost.

Playground The existing playground should be removed and smaller play area stations should be placed throughout various sections of the walking trails to encourage the movement between the spaces.

They should be composed of naturalistic materials as much as possible with a minimalistic design that incorporates activity with nature. An example of a park that has implemented similar ideas with “nodes of natural play� is Hyland Woods Natural Park located in Beaverton, Oregon. The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District revamped the park in a similar fashion with soft surface trails incorporating the natural play areas (Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District,2019)

Community Garden Community gardens are becoming a popular trend in urban areas because of the benefits of not only eating healthier but also for the therapeutic benefits the act of garden provides. There are a number of similar projects throughout Buffalo but a few examples that have been successful are Fargo Estate Community Garden, West Utica Community Garden, and Food Bank Community Garden.

A small area in the southeast corner of Bassett Park should be converted to designated space for a community garden. Close proximity to the Elderwood Senior Living would allow for increased accessibility for the aging communities involvement in the care of the garden. There is a minimal cost to create this space and additional funding for the project could be available through outside organizations like Grassroots Gardens WNY or Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants.

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Accessibility To increase accessibility a paved asphalt path should be incorporated from the south side of the park near Elder wood along the outer edges of the park to connect with the paved section near the Amphitheater and continue on to access the playground areas. This would allow access to larger sections of the park for anyone with mobility issues while still maintaining the open space within the park. Adding designated handicap parking spaces to a select number of the current parking spaces available could easily be achieved with little effort or cost and would further increase the accessibility to the park.

Lighting Lighting is scarce in Bassett Park, especially in the winter months when the sun sets much earlier than normal. Solar lighting is a great and usable option in this condition. It not only uses clean green energy, but also has a relevant cheaper price, which is about $5,500 for 10 years. Compared to traditional lights which cost $8,300, solar lights are a great alternative. The lights would collect energy during the day, and turn on once it gets dark enough. The lights could also be set with a timer to turn off at 10pm, which is when the park closes.

Green Spaces To further develop the park with a forest atmosphere trees should be planted along the outer northeast section of the park. Additional trees, plants, and pushes should be periodically added throughout the paths to develop a natural regeneration over time. This would create a high cost outside of the existing budget and is a long-term project for Bassett Park. Costs could be offset by community involvement through fundraising, donations, and labor. In addition to community efforts funding is available through organizations like NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

Benches There are currently no benches on the Southside of the park. There should be additional benches added near the community garden and paths on the Southside of the park. The bench by the playground should be relocated with the new playground equipment. When the funding is available picnic tables should be added for additional seating. This is a relatively low scale project and relies on the existing and future budget of the park.

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Programming for Basset Park Basset Park’s greatest asset is the natural, unaltered land. Since Charles Basset donated the land, it has been mostly undeveloped, with the exception of the Amphitheater and the surrounding area. The best way to capitalize on the natural beauty of the land, and to attract more visitors to the park, is to expand the programming. When interviewing one visitor, he recalled a time when local kids would visit the park to fish in the small lake and ride dirt bikes. Since then, the lake was split up into several small ponds, and the fish were removed. Currently, there are several programs which utilize the Amphitheater, such as movie nights and summer concerts. While these events are great for the community, there aren’t many more enticing opportunities for kids and young adults to come to the park. With the proposed change in layout, as well as the utilization of the natural land, there are many opportunities for community involvement for people of all ages.

Programming Recommendations Winter -Community snowman competition: Great way for kids and young adults to show off their creativity by trying to build the best snowman. The Amphitheater may be used as a hub to serve coffee and hot chocolate

Spring/Summer -Garden upkeep: With the proposed layout change, a community garden would allow kids to learn about gardening. The residents at Elderwood may also be asked to volunteer to help teach and aid in the upkeep.

-Sports Program: Hire instructors to teach certain sports. Different instructors may be hired to teach baseball, soccer, volleyball, archery, and yoga.

-Environmental Awareness: Bring in a park ranger to teach kids about wildlife, how to build a shelter, and how to help preserve the environment. Since Bassett Park is 35-acres, and is mostly undeveloped, it would be a great way for kids to learn about the environment.

Fall -Pumpkin carving and crafts: Set up tables and chairs in the Amphitheater and have stations for different crafts varying in age groups. May include pumpkin carving, paper turkey decorating, and bracelet/necklace making.

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Reference List

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Reference List Beautification Grants. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2019, from https://gardensbuffaloniagara.com/about/beautification-grants/.

Depriest, K. T. (2016, June 8). Concert, event to celebrate Bassett Park renovations. Retrieved November 11, 2019, from https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/concert-event-to-celebrate-bassett-parkrenovations/ Home: Grassroots Gardens WNY. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://www.grassrootsgardens.org/.

The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. (2019).Hyland Woods Natural Area. Retrieved November 21, 2019, from http;//www.thprd.org/park-and-trails/detail/hyland-woodsnatural-area.

Kaleida Health.(2019.) Hospital History-Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.kaleidahealth.org/suburban/vistors /history.asp Nature Play Areas. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2019, from http://www.thprd.org/parks-andtrails/nature-play-areas.

Sherman, D. F. (2019, July 10). Family with ‘Mayflower’ roots has long legacy of giving. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/family-with-mayflower-roots-has-longlegacy-of-giving/.

University at Buffalo. (n.d.). Picture of Charles K. Bassett. Retrieved from https://ubbulls.com/hof.aspx?hof=11

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Appendix

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Photos Taken by Leslie General

1

2

4 3

5

6

31

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8

7

10

9

12

11 32

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13

14

15 16

33

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17

18

20

19

21

22

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23

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27

28

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Photos taken by Leslie General: 1. Open Space Northeast Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

2. Trees in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

3. Tangle Wood Sculpture in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

4. Open field Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

5. Paved Path South end Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

6. Foliage of Bassett Park #2 in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

7. Big Pond View Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

8. Parking Lot #1 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

9. Big Pond View #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

10. Parking Lot #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

11. Bassett Park Amphitheater in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

12. Bench located near Big Pond in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

13. Bassett Park Playground in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

14. Kids Playground Equipment of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

15. Basset Park Playground #2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

16. Broken Playground Equipment in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

17. Bocce Sign of Bassett Park in in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

18. Bocce Ball Court Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

19. Natural Trail #1 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

20. Bocce Ball Court #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

21. Bassett Park Open Space# 1 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

22. Bassett Park Open Space # 2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

23. Bassett Park Signage South end #1 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

24. Foliage of Bassett Park #2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

25. Bassett Park Signage South end #2in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019 26. Developed Aspects of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

27. Path around Pond of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019 28. Seating around Bassett Park Amphitheater in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

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Photos taken by Letao Shen

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3 4

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8

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10 11

12 13

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Photos Taken by Letao Shen 1. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

2. Small parking space of the Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

3. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

4. Look toward the Bassett Park during night time. November 3, 2019.

5. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

6. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

7. Central area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

8. Pedestrian path of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

9. Water area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

10. Drinking fountain and restroom of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York.

November 4, 2019.

11. Ball area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

12. Sign of Play Area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

13. Play area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

14. Large vacant area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

15. Natural path in trees of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

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Photos Taken by David Tabak

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5 41

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6 7

9 8

11 10 42

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Photos Taken by David Tabak 1.

2.

3.

4.

Wooded area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Tanglewood sculpture in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Pond in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Water fountains in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

5. Tanglewood plaque in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

6. Field with trees in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

7. Litter near the amphitheater in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

8. Informational sign in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

9. Amphitheater seating in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

10. Paved path in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

11. Entrance to Basset Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

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Charts, Tables, Graphs, Digital Sketch Figure 3: Context Digital map created by David Tabak of the Erie County Census Tract 90.08. using Vector Works.

Figure #13 Population Trend for Census Track 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5- year estimates through 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table SO101, ACS Age and Sex, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019

Figure #14 Age Demographics for Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table SO101, ACS Age and Sex, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019)

Figure#15 Income in Past 12 Months for Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, ACS Income in The Past 12 Months (In 2017 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars), generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

Figure #16 Family Households and Non- Family Households U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1101, ACS Households and Families, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

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Figure #17 Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801, ACS Commuting Characteristics By Sex, generated by David Tabak using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

Figure # 18 Digital Sketch of New Layout for Bassett Park made by Leslie General using AutoCAD.

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User Surveys

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Powerpoint

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Bassett Park Master Plan 2019

David Tabak Shameeq Willis David Tabak Shameeq Willis Letao Shen Leslie General Letao Shen Leslie General Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

145

END 350

Table of contents: Introduction Observations Demographics Recommandations References

146

Introduction and XXX Introduction

147

Name and Location Bassett Park Master Plan

• Bassett Park is a community park located in Williamsville, New York

148 Google Maps

Area and Context Bassett Park Master Plan

• Close proximity to: • Elderwood, a senior care living facility • Maple East elementary school • St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Parish • Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

149 Google Maps

Context Map made by David Tabak

History Bassett Park Master Plan

• Land was originally owned by Charles K. Bassett for horseback riding • In the early 1970s, he donated a 35 acre plot to the Town of Amherst for Bassett Park • Donated another 31.5 acres for the Millard Fillmore Hospital

Picture of Charles K. Bassett from the Amherst Bee

150

Background Bassett Park Master Plan

Tanglewood • In October of 2018, a sculpture was added to the park as part of the Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative • Built by artist Shayne Dark, the sculpture is titled Tanglewood, 2006

Amphitheater • In June of 2016, the Bassett Park Amphitheater had its grand reopening • Part of a renovation initiative to upgrade the existing band shell building, improve path accessibility, and remediate the pond

151 Picture taken by David Tabak

Picture taken by Leslie General

Observations 152

Conditions Bassett Park Master Plan

Overall the appearance of Bassett Park is clean and predominantly well maintained Poor

Excellent

Bassett Park Amphitheater

Tanglewood Sculpture

Walkways & Trails

Playground

Bathrooms/Water Fountains

Lighting Picture taken by Leslie General

153

Walkways and Trails Bassett Park Master Plan

Picture taken by Leslie General

Picture taken by Letao Shen

154

Challenges Bassett Park Master Plan

Create a space that balances the preservation of the natural and built environment

Accessibility

Funding Limited

Picture taken by Shameeq Willis

Entrances

Mobility

Picture taken by Leslie General

Layout Amenities

Safety

Picture taken by David Tabak

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Funding Bassett Park Master Plan

Budget Item

2015

2016

2017

Amherst Recreation Complex

$527,956

$617,806

$672,316

Clearfield Recreation Center

$466,012

$515,000

$528,981

Basset Park

$9,044

$17,750

$21,852

North Amherst Community Center

$155,785

$229,352

$196,750

Recreation Joint Project

$3,234,720

$3,273,664

$3,299,723

Ice Rink Facility

$3,337,460

$3,256,382

$3,090,292

North Forest Park

$29,633

$36,824

$32,574

Golf - Audubon

$127,363

$132,097

$84,181

Town Of Amherst. (2018). “Recreation and Parks Master Plan February 2018”. P. 58. Buffalo, New York: Town of Amherst.

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Opportunities Bassett Park Master Plan

Create a space that balances the preservation of open and natural spaces at a low cost Modifications Can Be Made

Recently Updated

Potential for Programs

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Demographics

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Census Tract 90.08 Bassett Park Master Plan

90.08

159 Social Explorer

Population Bassett Park Master Plan

â—?

With a growing population, an increase in funding is possible

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Age Bassett Park Master Plan

● ● ●

Total population is around 2,000 Largest percentage of the population in 60 or older Less than 900 children who are 8 years old or younger

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Income Bassett Park Master Plan

â—?

More than 70% of population in this area has more income than the median household income of Buffalo

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Transportation Bassett Park Master Plan

â—?

â—?

Driving is the primary transportation for people living in this area Public transportation and biking are not as popular in this area

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Introduction and XXX Recommendations Recommendations 164

Recommendation Goals Layout

Bassett Park Master Plan

• Preserve Natural and Open Spaces • Increase Accessibility • Unify Layout • Engage Park User with More Physical Activity

Programming ●

Encourage Interactions with Nature

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Promote Better Environmental Practices

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Create Stronger community interactions

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Attract Wider Range of Park Users

Illustration made by Leslie General

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Redesigning The Layout Bassett Park Master Plan

Designate handicap parking spaces

Creating a new paved path that connects to existing paved areas

Add additional benches

Illustration made by Leslie General

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Redesigning The Layout Bassett Park Master Plan

Add solar powered lights Add Recycling Bins

Add Bike Racks Add Crosswalk

Illustration made by Leslie General

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Redesigning The Layout Bassett Park Master Plan

Remove existing playground and replace with integrated sections of natural play equipment along walking path

Formally develop low intensity nature oriented walking paths

Plant new trees, plants, shrubs Create Community Garden

Illustration made by Leslie General

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Hyland Woods Natural Park • Located in Beaverton, Oregon.

Bassett Park Master Plan

• 30 Miles • 1 mile of trail with “nodes of play” • Simple style to encourage natural play

Picture of kids playing on a natural play structure located in Hyland Woods Natural Park. Taken from Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Website

Picture of a walking trail in Hyland Woods Natural Park taken from Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Website

Picture of Hyland Woods Natural Play Area sign taken from Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Website

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GameTime A Playcore Company Bassett Park Master Plan

The Gametime A Playcore Company manufactures commercial playground equipment with natural aesthetics that can be utilized in similar ways to their Play Trail design below

170 Digital Image taken from GameTime A Playcore Company of their design Forest Creatures: Cul-de-sac Trail

Community Gardens Bassett Park Master Plan

Fargo Estate Community Garden

Vermont Triangle Garden

Photo taken from Grassroots Garden WNY

Photo taken from Grassroots Garden WNY

Pelion Community Garden

Photo taken from Grassroots Garden WNY

Possible funding sources: Grassroots Gardens WNY or Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants

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Recommendations Programming Bassett Park Master Plan

Kids Week with Urban Park Rangers from nycgovparks.org Logo from Tifft Nature Preserve where adult only pumpkin carving event occurs

The best way to capitalize on the natural beauty of the land, and to attract more visitors to the park, is to expand the programming

Photograph from Montgomery Park’s snowman competition 172

Recommendations Costs & Renovations Bassett Park Master Plan

Tier 1 New Programming Handicap Parking Additional Benches Community Garden Recycling Bins Bike Racks Crosswalk

Tier 2 Remove Existing Playground Equipment Remove Tanglewood Sculpture Solar Lighting New Paved Path

Tier 3 Develop Nature Walking Paths or Trails Integrated Play Areas and Equipment Plant New Trees, Plants, & Shrubs

Tier 1: Requires Minimal Cost or Renovations to Implement Tier 2: Requires Moderate Cost with Some Renovations Tier 3: Requires More Extensive Cost & Renovations

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References

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References Bassett Park Master Plan Beautification Grants. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2019, from https://gardensbuffaloniagara.com/about/beautification-grants/.

Home: Grassroots Gardens WNY. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://www.grassrootsgardens.org/.

Hyland Woods Natural Area. (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2019, from http://www.thprd.org/park-and-trails/detail/hyland-woods-natural-area.

Kids Week with the Urban Park Rangers. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2019, from https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/kids_week Nature Next Door. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2019, from https://www.tifft.org/.

Natural Playgrounds: PlayTrails. (2016, July 5). Retrieved December 6, 2019, from https://www.gametime.com/playtrails.

Pelion Community Garden photos. (n.d.) Retrieved December 6, 2019, from

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pelion-community-garden-buffalo?select=CBU9QXvS7RHiDEo_Nbby9A. Sherman, D. F. (2019, July 10). Family with ‘Mayflower’ roots has long legacy of giving. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/family-with-mayflower-roots-has-long-legacy-of-giving/

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Thank you!

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Powerpoint Script

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Script – Shameeq Hello, I am Shameeq Willis and I am going to talk about the observations that were made on trips to Bassett Park (Flips to the Condition Slide) Conditions…..The overall appearance of Bassett Park is clean and for the most part well maintained.

Two sections define the condition this park is in which is Excellent and Poor.

For Excellent we have the amphitheater, the trails, and the bathrooms.

For Poor we have the lighting condition, the playground, and the sculpture.

The amphitheater provides entertainment on certain occasions and the bathrooms are checked on regularly. Both are well kept.

One of the many complaints about the park is the statue which doesn’t fit the parks theme and is off putting.

The playground as you can see from this picture is falling apart (Flips to the next slide) Here are pictures of the walkways…trails. The natural development is a part of the parks charm. Also, from these pictures there are no lighting in sight which is needed for when the sun starts to set.

(Flips to the next slide) Some Challenges the park faces would be the low funding, the accessibility, and the layout.

For Accessibility there is a lack of handicap parking, a lack of trash and recycling bins.

For Layout there aren’t any crosswalks to get to and from the park for those who walk which creates a safety challenge.

Parks are meant to be inviting for everyone with these barriers it makes it difficult. The lack of funding increases the difficulty (Flips to next slide) Bassett Park has the lowest amount of funding, which is a challenge to make this park better. But where there is a challenge comes an opportunity.

(Flips to next slide) There are several aspects found in Bassett Park that provide opportunities for the future development of the park. The existing infrastructure can be modified.

There are two parking lots that provide ample spaces for parking that would require very little to improve their design.

178

There is potential for programs and interactions with the nearby school, hospital, and elder center to occur here.

Creating a space that balances the preservation of open and natural spaces at a low cost is a possibility that can happen, to make Bassett Park better than it currently is Now to talk about the demographics here is: Lateo

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Powerpoint Handout

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Bassett Park Master Plan Handout David Tabak Shameeq Willis

Leslie General Letao Shen

Bassett Park is located 359 Klein Road in Williamsville in New York

END 350 Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

Bassett Park Context Map

Within close proximity to: •

Elderwood, a senior care living facility

•

Maple East elementary school

•

St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Parish

•

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

Conditions Overall Bassett Park is clean and well maintained but there are a few areas that could be improved upon.

Challenges Bassett Park is a largely undeveloped park, which adds to the natural aspect of the area. With so much undeveloped land, there are many challenges regarding funding, accessibility, safety and overall layout.

181

Bassett Park Master Plan Handout David Tabak Shameeq Willis

Leslie General Letao Shen

END 350 Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

Recommendations

Recommendations Costs and Renovations

182

Photo taken by Letao Shen

Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................... 2 2. Research in Planning ....................... 5 3. Literature Review ........................... 11

and Annotated Bibliography

4. Data Analysis Report ....................... 19 5. Data Collection Memorandum ..... 33 6. Case Study Assignment ................. 57

1

Introduction END 350 is the most important course I have for my first semester as a junior. This course is a workshop only for majors, the assignments take us half a week, a week or longer depending on the workload. we get assignments focusing on different skills we need to have in our further environmental design studies, including information retrieval, analysis and visualization. In the Data Collection Memorandum assignment and Case Study assignment, we are working in groups, for the Data Collection memorandum assignment each group have 2-3 group members and 4 group members for the Case Study assignment. Students are working as larger groups and smaller groups intentionally, this is for practicing our skills of working as a group, which is a very important skill when students graduate and become an employee.

Students taking this course have 5 assignments overall, which are Research in Planning assignment, Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography assignment, Data Analysis Report assignment, Data Collection Memorandum assignment(group of 3) and Case Study assignment(group of 4) with presentation.

Overall this is a very intersting course, the Research in Planning assignment allows us to search for planning issues whatever we are intersted in, and the professor Jonathan Bleuer will choose one that is the most related to the class and ask us to dig into it in the Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography assignment. For the Data Analysis Report assignment, we need to find data online by ourselves and make many different 2

kind of graphs based on those data. Those three assignments are the cornerstone that help us better finish the forth and fifth assignment. In both Data Collection Memorandum assignment and Case Study assignment, we need to use all the skills we learned in the previous assignments and finish the case study

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Research in Planning

Table of Contents The problems of slums

6

References

7

The problems of Parking

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References

5

The problems of slums Based on data from UN, there are about 24% of Indian population are living in slum, which is about 100 million people. In order to rectify this situation, the India’s government has made a policy to give land to people living in slums, and the house are located near the edge of the city. Does it work? Saudamini Das, a researcher with the Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi, says this strategy isn’t working. She thinks that since people do not work near that area and people are not familiar with that place, people are more tending to sell the house given by the government and stay in the slums. The problem of slums is not only a problem about housing. According to the idea of Charles Kenny, one of the reasons why people choose to live in slums is because slums are better then the alternatives, which could be living in the countryside. For those people, rural areas are the places that have more population but less jobs provided, they are coming to urban areas to find jobs to make money. If the government gave them apartments near the edge of the city to live, the government should provide a whole complete set of facilities to support their living. Or, there could be supports from government to help people living in slums.

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References challengedkidsinternational. (2012, September 4). Why millions

of people choose to live in urban squalor? Retrieved from https://challengedkidsinternational.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/ why-millions-of-people-choose-to-live-in-urban-squalor/ Fisher, J. R. (2019, August 8). Urban Slums: How and Why They

Form. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/massive- urban-slums-1435765 Johnson, D. (2018, January 10). Where and Why do Slums Exist?

Retrieved from https://borgenproject.org/slums-exist/ Kirk, M. (2017, June 12). There's a simple reason why Indians

return to the slums after they've been given better housing.

Retrieved from https://qz.com/india/1003519/

attached-baths- running-water-street-lights-what-indias- slumdwellers-seek-in-a-home/ Nianias, H. (2016, September 28). Four myths about slums:

'Don't assume people want to leave'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development- professionals-network/2016/sep/28/four-myths-about-slums- dont-assume-people-want-to-leave Roser, M., & Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2013, May 25). Global Extreme

Poverty. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/extreme- poverty

un.org/ruleoflaw/files/Challenge%20of%20Slums.pdf

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The problems of Parking Since the car was invented, it was one of the most popular transportation for people. When people need to go to school, office or supermarket, people usually choose to drive their own vehicle instead of taking any other kind of transportation. Once the people arrive the destination, the vehicles are parked and become “useless� since people do not use it at that time. However, the owner of the destination corporation needs to pay for the parking lot, which will raise their cost. Same thing happens in living areas, usually build parking lots will cost some money, it is no doubt that it will raise the rent fee depends on how many parking lots they build.

On the other hand, once the number of parking spaces decrease, people will face serious problem with parking and that will clearly decrease their efficiency. For example, people in New York spend 107 hours on searching a parking space annually (Inrix, 2019).

The starting point of decrease the number of parking lots is provide more economy support for citizens, no matter apartments parking lots or supermarket parking lots, if people feel more restrict and inconvenience, the design of the parking lots deviated from the original intention.

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References Inrix. (n.d.). Searching for Parking Costs Americans $73 Billion a Y

ear. Retrieved from http://inrix.com/press-releases/parking- pain-us/ Spivak, J. (2018, October). People Over Parking. Retrieved from https://www.planning.org/planning/2018/oct/ peopleoverparking/ Stamler, B. (1999, June 13). The Space Race; Why Is It So Hard

to Find a Parking Spot in Manhattan? Retrieved from https:// www.nytimes.com/1999/06/13/nyregion/the-space-race-why-

is-it-so-hard-to-find-a-parking-spot-in-manhattan.html W. (2019, January 8). Where Can I Park in Washington, DC?

Retrieved from https://washington.org/dc-faqs-for-visitors/ where-can-i-park-in-washington-dc

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Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography

Table of Contents The problems of slums

12

Bibliography

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11

The problems of slums Between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of the urban population in developing countries living in slums decreased from 39 percent to 30 percent (Cates, 2018). This shows a positive situation that it is getting better, but globally, there are still 828 million people living in slums today. This means that one in eight people in the world suffers from poor living conditions. Usually people living in slums are facing some kinds of poor basic living services, for example clean water access, lack of sanitary facilities, poor waste collection, street lighting. Also, some people do not have easy access to public spaces like schools or hospitals (Cities Alliance, 2019).

Approximately 6% of the Brazil population are living in the shanty town, and today there are about 1,000 favelas in Rio De Janeiro and 1,600 favelas in SĂŁo Paulo, the later one is considered as the seventh largest city in the world (Meyer, 2010). In Rio De Janeiro, people living in the richest part of the city are expected to live 12.8 longer than people living in deprived areas. Moreover, for older people more than 65 years old, they are expected to live twice as high if they are living in the richest part of the city than living in the slum areas (Szwarcwald et al., 2011). There might be life differences between people living in different areas of the city due to different living facilities and environment, but poor people are experiencing a large disadvantage living in poor areas in Rio de Janeiro. There should be policies that help poor people getting out of this situation.

One of the reasons that people living in poor areas have lower average lifetime could be explained by its high homicide rate in Rio’s slums, which is associated with many conditions that generate violence, for example drug issue.

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Based on a study released by Sao Paulo Federal University, Brazil is the world’s largest consumer of crack cocaine, and the second largest consumer of cocaine and derivative drugs after the US. Most of the crack cocaine consumers in Brazil are from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds and they are going to continue living in this condition. The recent epidemiological National Survey of Crack Users in Brazil, which conducted over 7300 interviews throughout the country, found that over 80% of crack cocaine users had not reached a high school level degree and about 80% of them are considered as non-white. Only 36% of users lived in their own houses or apartments, 18% of them live with friends, and 39% of them are living on the streets, which is more than people living in their own houses. Moreover, 97% of population that participate this interview had no formal employment, about 68% of them are in temporary jobs, 13% of them are beggar, and 8% of them are involving in illicit activities such as drug dealing and muggings. The users of crack cocaine rarely use the federal health-care network, which is a health system that opened to all the citizens providing free health care service. The survey documented that only 27% of participants had utilized some type of health service in the month before the interview. In the United States, people that use crack cocaine usually carried particularly elevated stigma, because this was attributed to poverty, unstable housing and other elements about marginalized groups (Galea & Vlahov, 2002). Same thing happens in Brazil, the media claim a recent serious epidemic was caused by crack cocaine users, which lead to a similar result.

People that use crack cocaine are afraid of letting others know their history of drug, usually they choose to keep away from those healthcare services, which leads much higher illness rate.

But people who are using crack cocaine actually do want to stop or reduce their intake of the drug. There are people choose to take this drug to reduce the pain of living or the high pressure. Some people 13

start to use cracked cocaine after they have access to the crack cocaine for a long time, and sometimes a family member’s using drugs will also promote this. Based on the words from one of the research takers, in Rio de Janeiro most respondents expressed frustration and cynicism regarding care at public health centers due to their identity of drug taker, most of them experienced discrimination from the staff of the health center, including being ignored or treated rudely or with disgust (Huguet & Szabó de Carvalho, 2008). Also, there are drug users being self-blaming because they are users of crush cocaine, they desire recovery but at the same time they hope to use drug to help relief themselves from being self-blaming. But there are still respondent’s cocaine users have successfully stopped using for as long as 7 years.

To help those people get out of this situation, there should be multiple treatments provided with a combination of abstinence and harm reduction strategies are already being used, other than this, there could be more kinds of health and social services for marginalized drug users in line with other successful housing first intervention-based programs for homeless and mentally groups and help them get out of pain (Bastos et al., 2014).

Infrastructure is another issue that people living in slums are suffering. One uniformly characterized by inadequate provision of basic infrastructure and public services necessary to sustain health, such as water, sanitation, and drainage, moreover, those will directly influence people’s living quality, for example, if there is an issue about drain water, the drain water may stay for one place near people’s house and result health issues, also, buildings made of fragile materials are easy to ignite, often collapse, and provide little protection to components, making their residents vulnerable, violent, and dying (Sclar, 2011). Slum housing has a high occupancy rate in the multi-purpose hall. Cook, sleep, and live with a living 14

room of 14.4 people every 45 square meters in India (Kundu N, 2003), people living there are experiencing high risk of respiratory infections, meningitis and asthma. The quality of housing is also important. In Bam, Iran, the poor quality of the housing structure led to the main cause of 32,000 deaths in the 2003 earthquake.

However, a similar earthquake in California caused only two deaths.

The built environment is also directly related to accidental injuries, such as falls and burns (Bartlett SN, 2002). In this situation, the physical characteristic of slums not only magnify the consequences of natural or man-made disasters, but also hinder relief efforts due to its high population density (Sapir D, Lechat M, 1986). The determinants of slum health are too complex to be defined by any single parameter. It is even more important to making slum dwellers a partner. In Mumbai, residents help manage community toilets in a national project supported by the World Bank. In Rio de Janeiro, community members educate their neighbors about HIV infection and distribute condoms on the market, this not only helps solve the original problem of health, but it helps those poor residents get out of bad situations and helps correct social exclusion, inequality and deprivation rights.

The interventions to improve the health of slums is never one single policy, the illness need to be cured, the psychological problems also need to be solved, the housing needs to be upgraded, and the outer infrastructure need to be fixed. Hope one day no one needs to live in the slum.  

15

Bibliography

Bibliography: About Slum Upgrading: Cities Alliance. (n.d.).

Retrieved from https://www.citiesalliance.org/about. slumupgrading#What_are_slums Bartlett SN (2002) The problem of children's injuries in low-income

countries: A review. Health Policy Plan 17: 1–13.

Bastos, Monteiro, F. I. P., Bertoni, & Neilane. (2014). Pesquisa

nacional sobre o uso de crack : Quem são os usuários

de crack e/ou similares do Brasil? Quantos são nas capitais brasileiras?

Retrieved from https://repositorio.observatoriodocuidado.org/ handle/handle/562 Butala, N. M., VanRooyen, M. J., & Patel, R. B. (2010). Improved

health outcomes in urban slums through infrastructure

upgrading. Social Science & Medicine (1982),

71(5), 935–940. Retrieved from https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.037 Cates, J. (2018, March 22). Poor Living Conditions for Those

Who Live in Slums. Retrieved from https://borgenproject.org/ poor-conditions-in-slums/ Daniel J Hoffman, Ana L Sawaya, Ieda Verreschi, Katherine L Tucker, Susan B Roberts, Why are nutritionally stunted children

at increased risk of obesity? Studies of metabolic rate

and fat oxidation in shantytown children from São Paulo,

Brazil, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume

72, Issue 3, September 2000, Pages 702–707, https:// doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/72.3.702 Fisher, J. R. (2019, August 8). Urban Slums: How and Why They

Form. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/massive- urban-slums-1435765 16

Galea, S., & Vlahov, D. (2002). Social determinants and the

health of drug users: socioeconomic status, homelessness,

and incarceration.

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12435837/

Huguet, C., & Szabó de Carvalho, I. (2008). Violence in the

Brazilian favelas and the role of the police.

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/18855326 Kirk, M. (2017, June 12). There's a simple reason why Indians

return to the slums after they've been given better housing.

Retrieved from https://qz.com/india/1003519/attached-baths- running-water-street-lights-what-indias-slumdwellers-seek-in- a-home/ Kundu N (2003) Urban slum reports: The case of Kolkata, India.

Nairobi: United Nations.

Loewenberg, S. (n.d.). Tackling the causes of ill health in Rios

slums. The Lancet, 365(9463), 925–926. doi: 10.1016/s0140- 6736(05)71062-x Meyer, A. (2010). brazil.org.za.

Retrieved from https://www.brazil.org.za/sao-paulo-city.html Oliveira, L. G. de, & Nappo, S. A. (2008, August). Characterization

of the crack cocaine culture in the city of São Paulo: a

controlled pattern of use.

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/18641794/ Sclar, E. D. (2011, October 10). Slums, Slum Dwellers, and Health.

Retrieved from https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/ full/10.2105/AJPH.93.9.1381 Szwarcwald, C. L., da Mota, J. C., Damacena, G. N., & Pereira,

T. G. (2011). Health inequalities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

lower healthy life expectancy in socioeconomically

disadvantaged areas. American journal of public health,

101(3), 517–523. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2010.195453 17

Data Analysis Report and all Data Analysis Visuals

Table of Contents Introduction

20

2010~2017 Growth Rate

21

Population by Gender

21

Population of Race

24

Population by Gender

26

Means of Transportation

28

Unemployment Rate

30

Conclusion

31

Reference

31 19

Introduction There are two cities in this data analysis report, which are Cleveland, OH and Seattle, WA. Cleveland is a city has a population of 388,812 in 2017, making it the second largest city in Ohio and the 53rd largest city in the United States.

However, in 2010, Cleveland is the 48 largest city in the United States with 396,815 people, 2.02% of the population leaved the city in 7 years.

The Cleveland City is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the maritime border between the United States and Canada, about 60 miles west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Cleveland is a city that witnessed the rapid growth after the American Civil War, as a transportation hub between the East Coast and the Midwest, New York City’s main geographic location plays an important role in its development as a business hub. By the beginning of the 20th century, Cleveland had become the main manufacturing center in the United States, it was the 6th largest city in the United States been called the “Sixth City”.

Seattle is a city has a population of 688,245 in 2017, it is the largest city in the state of Washington and even the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Based on the data of US Census Bureau, Seattle, WA is the 22nd largest city in the United States, since 2010, Seattle has a population growth rate of 13,07%. In July 2013, it was the fastest growing major city in the United States and remained in the top 5 in May 2015 with an annual growth rate of 2.1%. in July 2016, Seattle was still the fastest-growing major U.S. city with a 3.1% annual growth rate.

The same as Cleveland, OH, Seattle is also a port city located between Golden Bay, Washington State, between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, about 174 km from the US-Canada border. The city was focusing on logging industry at the very beginning, but in the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century, the city became a commercial and shipbuilding center on the way to Alaska. By 1910, Seattle had become one of the 25 largest cities in the United States. But the economy development was highly influenced by the Great Depression that after the late 20th century, Seattle start to back into people’s sight as a center of biotechnology, software and Internet, and the population was increased more than 50,000 in the 10 following years.

20

2010~2017 Growth Rate 　 Seattle, Washington

2010

2017

Growth Rate

608,660

688,245

13.07%

Cleveland, Ohio

396,815

388,812

-2.02%

Source: U.S. Census Bu- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Demographic reau, 2013-2017 American Profile Data, table DP-1 Community Survey 5-Year 2010, Profile of General Estimates, table DP05 2017, Population and Housing ACS Demographic and Characteristics: 2010, Housing Estimates , genergenerated by Letao Shen ated by Letao Shen

Population by Gender In Cleveland, OH 25.7% of the population are less than 20 years old, 47.8% of the population are between 20 to 55 years old and 26.5% of the population are older than 55 years old. There was a noticeable population lack between the population of 30 to 49 years old, that was the period of Dennis Cochinic as the mayor, Cleveland became the first major US city to default on federal loans since the Great Depression. By the early 1980s, a number of factors, including savings and loans crises, international free trade policies and inflation, all had severely affected economic recession in Cleveland.

In Seattle, WA 18.18% of the population are less than 20 years old, 59.4% of the population are between 20 to 55 years old and 22.4% of the population are older than 55 years old. There were a large number of people are between 20 to 44 years old, 20 to 44 years ago, that was the time when Seattle start to develop rapidly as a technology city. 60 to 64 years ago which was about 1960, there was a population growth influenced by the World War II and the settlement of Boeing manufacturing center.

21

2017 Cleveland, OH population by gender 85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 20,000

15,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Yea r Estimates, ta ble S0101 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

10,000

5,000 Male

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

Female

2017 Seattle, WA population by gender 90 years and over 85 to 89 years 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 40,000

30,000

20,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Yea r Estimates, ta ble S0101 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

10,000 Male

0 Female

10,000

C l e v e - Ohio land 2017 AGE Under 5 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 to 54 years 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 69 years 70 to 74 years 75 to 79 years 80 to 84 years

Male

P e r c e n t - Female age

Percentage Total

Percentage

13,012 12,208 11,944 13,065 15,872 15,204 12,726 10,985 10,405 11,685 13,758 13,268 11,481 7,705 4,595 3,554 2,553

7.0% 6.5% 6.4% 7.0% 8.5% 8.2% 6.8% 5.9% 5.6% 6.3% 7.4% 7.1% 6.2% 4.1% 2.5% 1.9% 1.4%

6.4% 5.9% 5.9% 6.3% 8.3% 8.0% 6.8% 5.6% 5.7% 5.9% 6.7% 7.3% 5.9% 4.6% 3.5% 2.7% 2.1%

6.7% 6.2% 6.1% 6.6% 8.4% 8.1% 6.8% 5.7% 5.6% 6.1% 7.0% 7.2% 6.0% 4.4% 3.0% 2.3% 1.8%

Seattle Washing- Male ton 2017 AGE Under 5 years 16,513 5 to 9 years 12,987 10 to 14 years 11,077 15 to 19 years 14,903 20 to 24 years 26,904 25 to 29 years 34,029 30 to 34 years 30,556 35 to 39 years 27,418 40 to 44 years 25,354 45 to 49 years 21,747 50 to 54 years 20,175 55 to 59 years 19,141 60 to 64 years 15,570 65 to 69 years 9,700 70 to 74 years 5,915 75 to 79 years 4,536 80 to 84 years 3,585 85 to 89 years 2,573 90 years and over 1,347 Total population 304,030

12,890 11,977 11,919 12,780 16,882 16,223 13,780 11,269 11,531 12,032 13,517 14,711 11,863 9,231 7,166 5,383 4,328

25,902 24,185 23,863 25,845 32,754 31,427 26,506 22,254 21,936 23,717 27,275 27,979 23,344 16,936 11,761 8,937 6,881

P e r c e n t - Female age

Percentage Total

Percentage

5.4% 4.3% 3.6% 4.9% 8.8% 11.2% 10.1% 9.0% 8.3% 7.2% 6.6% 6.3% 5.1% 3.2% 1.9% 1.5% 1.2% 0.8% 0.4%

5.1% 4.3% 3.6% 5.1% 9.2% 11.0% 9.4% 8.2% 7.2% 6.3% 6.4% 6.4% 5.4% 3.4% 2.3% 2.0% 2.0% 1.6% 1.1%

5.3% 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 9.0% 11.1% 9.7% 8.6% 7.8% 6.7% 6.5% 6.4% 5.3% 3.3% 2.1% 1.7% 1.6% 1.2% 0.8%

15,523 12,956 11,014 15,682 27,981 33,392 28,639 24,991 21,941 19,150 19,471 19,558 16,493 10,412 7,042 5,984 5,954 4,990 3,457 304,630

32,036 25,943 22,091 30,585 54,885 67,421 59,195 52,409 47,295 40,897 39,646 38,699 32,063 20,112 12,957 10,520 9,539 7,563 4,804 608,660

Population of Race 2017 Cleveland, OH Population of Race American Indian and Alaska Native 0%

Black or African American 55%

Asian 2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0% Some Other Race 5%

White 38%

White

Black or African American

American Indian and Alaska Native

Asian

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Some Other Race

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble QT-P3 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

2017 Seattle, WA Population of Race Black or African American alone 7% American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1% Asian alone 15% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 1%

White alone 69%

Some other race alone 0% Hispanic or Latino 7%

White alone

Black or African American alone

American Indian and Alaska Native alone

Asian alone

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone

Some other race alone

Hispanic or Latino

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble B03002 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

In Cleveland, the majority of the population are Black or African American, which is 53% of the total. White people are the second largest group having 41% of the population. There are only few Asian people which is 8,026 out of 373,220 having the percentage of 2%, moreover, nearly no American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Islander live in Cleveland.

Seattle, WA, is a more multi-ethnic city. The majority of the population are White which is 73% of the total population in Seattle, and Asian is the second largest group which occupied 16% of the total population.

However, there are only 8% of population are Black or African American.

Cleveland, OH Total population One race White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race

Population 388,812 373,220 154,718 196,006 1,931 8,026 60 12,479

Seattle, WA Total: One Race White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race

Population 688,245 642,588 472,347 48,884 3,799 99,728 2,675 15,155

25

Population by Gender 2017 Cleveland, OH educational attainment for population 25 years and older Graduate or professional degree

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree

Some college, no degree

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

Less than 9th grade Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble S1501 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

0

10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 Female

Male

Total

2017 Seattle, WA educational attainment for population 25 years and older Graduate or professional degree

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree

Some college, no degree

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

Less than 9th grade Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble S1501 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

26

0

40,000 Female

Male

80,000 Total

120,000

160,000

200,000

The largest group of people that is 25 years and older have a high school degree in Seattle, OH, which is 33.1% of the total population. And 5.4% of the population attained less than 9th grade, 16.4% of the population have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The percentage of population that have a high school degree or lower is 53.9%, which relates to the high rate of population living below the poverty line.

Things are different in Seattle, WA. The largest group of people that is 25 years and older have a bachelor’s degree, and the second largest group have the graduate or professional degree. And those people made up 61.7% of the total population in Seattle. Moreover, the population that have a degree higher than high school is 427,951, which is 84% of the total population.

Cleveland, OH Total Educational attainment Estimate Population 25 years and over 256,263 Less than 9th grade 13,772 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 39,521 High school graduate (includes 84,824 equivalency) Some college, no degree 138,117 Associate's degree 17,395 Bachelor's degree 26,455

Male Estimate 120,326 6,557 19,258 42,196

Female Estimate 135,937 7,215 20,263 42,628

25,560 7,008 12,643

33,108 10,387 13,812

Seattle, WA Total Educational attainment Estimate Population 25 years and over 508,779 Less than 9th grade 15,248 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 14,277 High school graduate (includes 51,303 equivalency)

Male Estimate 256,205 6,499 7,571 26,687

Female Estimate 252,574 8,749 6,706 24,616

42,909 17,247 90,483

37,378 16,666 92,269

Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree

80,287 33,913 182,752

27

Means of Transportation 2017 Cleveland, OH Transportation Data

Worked at home

4,042

Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means

1,647

Bicycle

898

Walked

7,636

Public transportation (excluding taxicab)

15,121

Carpooled

15,271

Drove alone

104,952

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble S0801 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2017 Seattle, WA Transportation Data

Worked at home

28,192

Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means

5,638

Bicycle

14,096

Walked

41,079

Public transportation (excluding taxicab)

86,186

Carpooled

30,608

Drove alone Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Year Es ti mates, ta ble S0801 2017, ACS Demographic a nd Housing Estimates , generated by Letao Shen

28

196,535 0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

In Cleveland, OH, vehicle is the most popular transportation to work that 80.3% of the total population drive to work, only 10.1% of people take the public transportation and only 5.1% walk to work.

In Seattle, WA, 56.4% of people drive to work, which is about 24% less than the rate in Cleveland. Since Seattle is a city with a much better subway system that people have better access to their office, there are more people take the public transportation which is 21.4% of the total population, and 10.2% of people choose to walk to work.

Cleveland, OH MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION Total TO WORK Car, truck, or van 80.30% Drove alone 70.10% Carpooled 10.20% In 2-person carpool 8.40% In 3-person carpool 1.20% In 4-or-more person carpool 0.60% Public transportation (excluding 10.10% taxicab) Walked 5.10% Bicycle 0.60% Taxicab, motorcycle, or other 1.10% means Seattle, WA MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION Total TO WORK Car, truck, or van 56.40% Drove alone 48.80% Carpooled 7.60% In 2-person carpool 6.10% In 3-person carpool 0.90% In 4-or-more person carpool 0.60% Public transportation (excluding 21.40% taxicab) Walked 10.20% Bicycle 3.50% Taxicab, motorcycle, or other 1.40% means

149,717

Male

Female

120223 104952 15271 12576 1797 898 15121

79.60% 69.70% 9.90% 8.10% 1.20% 0.60% 9.70%

81.00% 70.50% 10.50% 8.70% 1.10% 0.60% 10.50%

7636 898 1647

5.80% 1.00% 1.00%

4.40% 0.20% 1.20%

402,736

Male

Female

227143 196535 30608 24567 3625 2416 86186

55.10% 48.20% 6.90% 5.50% 0.80% 0.60% 20.50%

57.90% 49.40% 8.40% 6.70% 1.10% 0.70% 22.40%

41079 14096 5638

11.20% 4.70% 1.70%

9.20% 2.10% 1.20%

29

Unemployment Rate 2017 Cleveland, OH & Seattle, WA Unemployment Rate 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

2010

2011

2012

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 Ameri can Community Survey 5-Yea r Estimates, ta ble LAUCT391600000000003, Loca l Area Unemployment Statistics , generated by Letao Shen

The unemployment Rate of Seattle was stably keeping decreasing since 2010 to 2017, however, the rate was not stable in Cleveland, while the total population was decreasing, the unemployment rate decreased but soon increased again, by checking the unemployment rate in Cleveland, OH in the last 20 years, 2010 was the time having the highest peak of the unemployment 30

2013 Cleveland

2014

2016

2017

Seattle

Unemployment Rate 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

2015

Cleveland, OH 10.8 9.7 8.7 8.8 7.8 6.6 7.1 7.3

Seattle, WA 10.4 10.0 9.3 8.4 7.0 6.5 6.1 5.4

rate, with several rebound in 2012 and 2015, the rate decreased again in 2018 and even less in 2019 that is only 4.2%.

Conclusion As a dying city, Cleveland is getting better, the unemployment rate is keeping decreasing even though there were several rebounds, it is a good signal showing the city is starting to revive, but on the other hand, the average education attainment of Cleveland is unsatisfied. The total population of Cleveland was decreasing, but the speed was slowing down, and the number of newborns is keeping increasing.

As a growing city, Seattle is one of the most famous cities in the world and it is an important port for the United States, with a high average education attainment, the city will keep developing.

Reference Balk, Gene (May 21, 2015). "Seattle no longer America's fastest-growing big

city". Seattle Times. FYI Guy. Retrieved November 20, 2015.

Balk, Gene (May 25, 2017). "Seattle once again nation's fastest-growing big

city; population exceeds 700,000". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May

30, 2017.

"Mayoral Administration of Dennis J. Kucinich". The Encyclopedia of

Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved July

15, 2019.

"The Banking Crises of the 1980s and Early 1990s: Summary and

Implications" (PDF). Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Retrieved

January 11, 2013.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment Rate in Cleveland-Elyria,

OH (MSA) [CLEV439UR], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank

of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CLEV439UR, October 7, 2019.

31

Photo taken by Letao Shen

Data Collection Memorandum and PowerPoint

Table of Contents Memorandum

34

Executive Summary

34

Introduction

35

Data Sources

36

Findings: Intersection

37

Findings: Roundabout

39

Conclusion

41

Appendix

42

Reference

49

Memo Powerpoints

50

33

Memorandum To: Brendan R. Mehaffy, Buffalo city Planning executive Director Authors: Yumeng Chen, Yunchao Han, Letao Shen.

CC: Jonathan Bleuer, Andrew Schaefer Date: October 18, 2019 Subject: Studies of intersections of Main St. & Minnesota Ave. and Harlem Rd & Cleveland Dr.

Executive Summary Our team collected data at two sites in the City of Buffalo, one is signalized intersection of Main St. and Minnesota Ave. and another is a roundabout of Harlem St. and Cleveland Dr. Our team spent roughly one hour on each site to observe the behavior of pedestrians and vehicles. We determined that pedestrians who attempt to cross the Main St. needs to have a long wait, and drivers who go across the roundabout have trouble figuring out whether the pedestrians are waiting for the bus or going across the street.

To solve these problems, we believe it’s better to replace street parking with driving lanes for the intersection on Main St, and for the roundabout on Harlem St., the bus stations on Cleveland Dr. should be moved farther away from the pedestrians crossing route.

34

Introduction Does the city of Buffalo have a great street design? It is always a thorny issue for citizens in Buffalo. It is because, “Our roadway system was really built in an early time with one vehicle in mind,” Atherton says. “The federal highway systems and state roads were designed for transporting cars, not pedestrians.”(Liu 187) Thus, designing decent streets is not an easy thing due to the fact that good street design is a key element of sustainable development.

Streets are considered to be the place where land use and transportation connect. The major components of street design are the width of the street pattern of the street network physical elements along the streetscape. One of the sites we chose is a signaled intersection on Main Street & Minnesota Avenue, Buffalo and the other one is a roundabout on Harlem road and Cleveland Drive Buffalo. We collected and analyzed a vast number of data. We also find some details of the sites can be enhanced and We really hope these sites can be improved by our analysis.

35

Data Sources and Methods of Analysis: Findings

Data sources: Field work, Transportation planning agency(GBNRTC) Methods of analysis: Our team visited and collected data from two sites in the City of Buffalo, one is signalized intersection of Main St. and Minnesota Ave. and another is a roundabout of Harlem St. and Cleveland Dr., we spent about an hour on each sites to observe the behavior of pedestrians and vehicles.

Limitations of research method we used: It was a sunny Friday, we arrived at the intersection on the Main street first and that was about 11 a.m. And after roughly one hour of data collecting, we departed for the other intersection on Harlem street and we arrived about 12:20pm. We used our smartphones as the device to record how much time pedestrians and drivers spend on waiting and going through the road.

Sketch made by Letao Shen

36

Findings Main St. & Minnesota Ave. Signalized Intersection The intersection between Main st. and Minnesota Ave is a busy intersection, there are three approaches on this signalized intersection, surrounding areas are used as transportation station, small business, and resident neighbourhood. Main street is a four lane street with two streetpark on two sides. The average car speed on main street is about 30 miles per hour, and the waiting time on that intersection is about 16s seconds. With a large amount of car flow and narrow street width, gap acceptance between cars are very narrow.

During the time we are on the main street, we noticed that most pedestrians choose to cross from the east side of Main Street to the west side, it is because there is

Photo taken by Letao Shen

a supermarket and intersection with pedestrian crossing a subway station on control, but we observed that most people the west side of Main won’t wait for the light, they just look both street, and resident ways first then rush to the other side. This area are on the east is probably because of the long waiting side. It is signaled time for this traffic light.

37

the waiting time for vehicles is 15 seconds, but for pedestrian is more than 2 minutes people don’t have the patience to wait that long, especially when the weather is bad. The speed of people walking is slower than they crossing, that might be because they know rush the street is dangerous so they have to be fast. We also saw two baby carriages get cross the street, one of the women just push her baby carriage to the other side with the red light on, another parent waited for the green light for about 2 minutes.

Our team would recommend to replace two parking lanes that on this area with vehicle drive lanes, it is because if we want to shorter the waiting time for pedestrians, less vehicles will be able to pass through that intersection, since there are lots of parking lots surrounded by those buildings, the existence of street parking will not be necessary at all. In conclude, sacrifice the convenience of street parking for more pedestrians and vehicles passing through the intersection is worthy.

Photo of the Roundabout, taken by Letao Shen

38

Findings Harlem Rd & Cleveland Dr Roundabout The roundabout was consisted of two roads, and one thing special about this roundabout is the two roads have different numbers of routes, one has 1 lane for each direction, one has 2 lanes for each direction. There was a smart design for this work, when people are driving on Harlem Rd, which is the one with 2 routes for each direction, they need to make a decision before they enter the roundabout, thus, there will not be any lane change once people enter the roundabout. If they choose the route on the left, they will not be able to make a right turn to exit the roundabout at the first exit which is the way to the Cleveland Dr. On the contrary, if they choose the right one, exit and turn to Cleveland Dr is the only choice.

This solved the issue of different number of routes. Otherwise, the vehicles can go through this intersection smoothly, even though there is no traffic lights, but the

Sketch made by Letao Shen

vehicles rarely need to spend a long time waiting. There is not many pedestrians who go across this intersection. When pedestrians wait onthe pedestrian crossing lane, the vehicles usually stop for them letting them to go across the road. An issue is, there are two bus stops close to the pedestrian crossing lanes and when pedestrians are waiting for the buses, it is hard for drivers to figure out whether they are waiting for the bus or not, this will somehow slow down the traffic. Our team would recommended moving the bus stops a few feet away from the pedestrians crossing lane to avoid this issue.

Sketch made by Letao Shen

40

Conclusion Based on the research our team did, we find that streets occupy most of spaces of public space in cities, but they often fail to provide their surrounding communities with a space where people can safely walk, bicycle, drive, take transit, and socialize. Cities are leading the movement to redesign and reinvest in our streets as cherished public spaces for people, as well as critical arteries for traffic. Therefore, Our team recommend to add a lane to replace street parking and shorten the waiting time for pedestrians because this suggestion not only can prevent unnecessary traffic jams whatsoever by cars or pedestrians but also it effectively relieve the pressure of traffic. Our team also believe increasing the number of traffic lanes by abolishing street parking policy and reducing the waiting time of traffic lights in Main streets and move the bus stop closer to the crossing lanes for the roundabout, which have the obvious advantages of increasing speed, shortening mileage, saving fuel, saving time, etc and we believe it would be a fantastic channel to improve both sites. But taking into account the comprehensive factors, for example the budget and the influence of upgrading roads, replace the existing street parking will be a more economy and realistic way to help solve the over-crowded traffic.

41

Appendix

Photo of the Intersection, taken by Letao Shen

42

Photo of the Intersection, taken by Letao Shen

Photo of the Intersection, taken by Letao Shen

Photo of the roundabout, taken by Letao Shen

43

Photo of the roundabout, taken by Letao Shen

Photo of the roundabout, taken by Letao Shen

44

Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names

Yunchao Han

Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time

Main street Signalized intersection Intersection between Minnesota Ave and Main Street Buffalo, NY, 14214 Oct. 11. 2019, 10:50 am Main street is almost the busiest street in Buffalo city, the part of the main street we measured has relatively many pedestrians.

People cross the street to get to subway station and purchasing groceries.

Description of Site

Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.

Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition

2 Three approaches signal light Four lanes N/A At the east side of drive lane Both side of sidewalks It has street parking, subway station but no bus stops.

None Business, Transportation and resident

waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway

30mph about 10 percent turning to Minnesota Ave 16 seconds narrow slowly braking 1 second 60fts

Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time

1.40m/s 1.50m/s 23.57 seconds

Data Analysis Form wrote by Yunchao Han, one of my team member 45

visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

high straight 1 second N/A

Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

1m/s 1.8m/s 2minutes 7 seconds high straight 1 second N/A

Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control

Deficiencies of existing design and control

Flow of users Safety of users

Intention vs Reality

Ease of use and understandability

46

It's the most efficient way for People who want to cross the street signal lights protect people's safety there are many pedestrians crossing street, having signal lights is a good way to protect pedestrians' safety Red light last too long, it takes almost 2 minutes, it makes many people have no patience to wait and choose to cross while signal light is still red.

Also, the vehicle lanes are not enough, no turning lanes. mostly one or two people It has a organized signal light system for pedestrians and vehicles, so it is pretty safe.

For vehicles, the main street is designed at the time that there are not many cars driving on this street, so it feels kind narrow, four lanes total with street parking and bicycle lanes in two of those four lanes, and it has no turning lanes. These led to the congestion problem. For pedestrians, the intention is there are not many pedestrians that crossing street, so they waiting times has been set for that long, but reality is many people needs to get across to get what they need. people who press the cross control might misunderstand that it is broken because of the long waiting time

Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names

Yunchao Han

Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time

Cleveland Drive Circle Intersection between Cleveland Drive and Harlem Rd Buffalo, NY, 14215 Oct. 11. 2019, 12:00pm It's a roundabout in a resident neighborhood, not, many vehicles driving on the road.

Description of Site

Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.

Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway

2 Four approaches roundabout Three One None No signal light Bus stops, No street parking A small scale landscaping Business and resident

30mph vehicles chose to turn and go straight are about the same 3 seconds large slowly 1 second 60fts

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Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

1.4m/s 1.3m/s 3.8 second high straight 1 second N/A

Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

1m/s 2.0m/s 1 second high straight 1 second N/A

Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design

Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability

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it's an intersection that does not have many vehicles, three lanes that includes a turning lane is efficient using circles in a street could control the traffic effectively circle could save times for drivers bus stop is too close to the zebra crossing, many drivers could misunderstand the intention of pedestrians one safe Intention is for a place does not have many vehicles and pedestrians, and the reality basically matches intention. easy used are understand

Reference Liu, K., Chan, E., Lee, V., Kapitanova, K., Son, S., & Liu, K. (2013).

Design and evaluation of token-based reservation for a

roadway system. ​Transportation Research, Part C, ​26,

184–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2012.09.001

49

Memo Powerpoints

Studies of Intersections

Letao Shen, Yunchao Han, Yumeng Chen

Overview Main St. & Minnesota Ave.

Cleveland Dr. & Harlem St.

Signalized intersection

Roundabout

Drew by Letao Shen

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Drew by Letao Shen

Main St & Minnesota Ave

The signalized intersection

Introduction Main street is one of the busiest road in Buffalo. This intersection has traffic lights on every direction. The Main street has 2 lanes for each direction with an extra parking lane for each direction. There are pedestrian crossing road with cross control on the sides.

Cross control

Source: Google map

Top view of the intersection.

Main St & Minnesota Ave

The signalized intersection

About 2000 vehicles went through this intersection between 7:30 to 8:30, but only 60 vehicles turned to the Minnesota Ave, and only 75 vehicles joined Main St. (GBNRTC)

Number of vehicles

Traffic flow

Source: GBNRTC, graph made by Letao Shen

51

Main St & Minnesota Ave

The signalized intersection

Finding and Existing problem Our team observed 3 pedestrians who wanted to go across the Main street, 2 of them waited for more than 2 minutes and one of them choose to run the red light.

Usually, pedestrians need to wait for a long time for the traffic lights. This is not friendly to pedestrians.

Main St & Minnesota Ave

The crosswalk of intersection Picture taken by Yunchao Han

The signalized intersection

Possible improvements Replace street parking to vehicle driveline

More vehicle go through this intersection at the same time, higher efficiency.

Less waiting time for pedestrians and vehicles on the Minnesota Ave.

52

The parking lane.

Picture taken by Letao Shen

Cleveland Dr & Harlem Rd

The roundabout

Introduction This roundabout is consisted of two roads, and one of the roads has 1 lane for each direction and the other road has 2 lanes for each direction. Drivers need to make a decision before they enter the roundabout, which will minimize the time of thinking.

Top view of the roundabout.

Cleveland Dr & Harlem Rd

Source: Google map

The roundabout

Finding and Existing problem The roundabout has a smart design that let drivers make a decision before then enter the roundabout, Most of the vehicles have a very comfortable waiting time about 1 second, there will be about 2 more seconds waiting for 1 more vehicle on the lane or in the roundabout.

Both of the bus stations are too close to the pedestrians crossing lane, this may confuse the drivers and pedestrians.

The bus stop on Cleveland drive.

Picture taken by Letao Shen

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Cleveland Dr & Harlem Rd

Traffic flow of this roundabout.

Picture drew by Letao Shen

Cleveland Dr & Harlem Rd

The roundabout

The crosswalk of roundabout.

Picture taken by Yunchao Han

The roundabout

Possible improvements Our team suggest to move the bus stop further way from the pedestrians crossing lane, to prevent making drivers feel confusing. Moreover, the sign of the bus stop could be more visible for people.

The roundabout.

Picture taken by Letao Shen

54

Comparison The intersection of Main street & Minnesota avenue have a huge traffic flow.

Signaled light definitely did a good job on the Main St & Minnesota Ave intersection, most vehicles have a fare waiting time, this intersection is not very friendly to the pedestrians because they need to wait for a long time for the traffic lights.

The roundabout of Cleveland drive & Harlem road also works well, since there are much less traffic comparing to the Main street. Moreover because the percentage of vehicles go straight or turning are about the same on that intersection, so using roundabout is a wise way.

References Liu, K., Chan, E., Lee, V., Kapitanova, K., Son, S., & Liu, K. (2013). Design and evaluation of token-based reservation for a roadway system. Transportation Research, Part C , 26 , 184–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2012.09.001

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Case Study and Power Point

Table of Contents Bassett Park Master Plan

58

Handout

59

Speech Script

61

57

Bassett Park Master Plan 2019

Acknowledgements END 350 Class of 2019 David Tabak Leslie General Letao Shen Shameeq Willis Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

1

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2

Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................

History ........................................................

Background ..............................................

Content ........................................................

4 5 5 6

Observations ........................................................

Conditions ..............................................

Challenges ..............................................

Opportunities .................... ..........................

8 9 12 15

Data Analysis & Collection ....................................

Demographics ..............................................

16 17

Recommendations & Best Practice….....................

Layout .........................................................

Accessibility ...............................................

Programming ……......................................

22 24 26 27

Reference List

.........................................................

28

Appendix ...................................................................

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3

Introduction

4

History Bassett Park is currently a 35-acre community park in the Town of Amherst. Residents from the surrounding community visit Bassett Park to enjoy the walking paths and free concerts in the summer.

However, just 50 years earlier, Bassett Park and the surrounding 31.5 acres of land was owned by Charles K. Bassett, as seen in Figure 1.

This 66.5-acre plot of land, named “Hidden Hills Farm”, was thought to be ideal for horseback riding by Bassett due to the rolling land (Sherman, 2019). Bassett was a key staple in the community, and was considered a civic leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. He not only

Figure 1: Charles K. Bassett

served in World War 1, he also donated his land in order to build a hospital for the community. In 1974, the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital was opened due to Bassett’s generous donation of his land. Next to the hospital, Bassett Park was created for the community as well.

Background Bassett Park is now a staple of the Williamsville community. In June of 2016, the Bassett Park Amphitheater had its grand opening. The amphitheater was part of a renovation initiative to upgrade the existing band shell building, improve path accessibility, and remediate the pond. In October of 2018, a sculpture was also added to the park as part of the Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative. Built by artist Shayne Dark, the sculpture titled Tanglewood, 2006 was previously on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The addition of this instillation was meant to promote public art and culture and an image can be seen below in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Tanglewood sculpture

5

Content Public parks provide many benefits to their communities, and offer opportunities that can improve the physical and mental state of the residents. When people visit these public parks, a sense of happiness comes upon them, since connecting to nature can reduce stress, which improves their mental health. Most public parks have large open spaces where residents can enhance their physical health by walking, running, and playing a variety of sports. Bassett Park is a good example of one with lots of open space. The park fits fairly well into its neighborhood and because of the way it’s currently designed, has opportunities that can improve one's physical and mental health. This neighborhood has a senior center (Elderwood) which means there are many senior citizens in this neighborhood, so a park that’s senior friendly is necessary. Bassett Park is indeed senior friendly as it’s not like other parks that are just playgrounds and sports fields. There are multiple spots where the elderly can just sit down to enjoy nature or go on a walk. Bassett Park fits into WNY well as the park can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what age bracket they are in.

Context Map This is a context map that highlights the high residential use within the surrounding areas of the park. It works to depict the close proximity of the school, hospital and church in relation to the park.

Figure 3: Digital map created by David Tabak

6

7

Observations

8

Conditions Overall the appearance of Bassett Park is clean and predominately well maintained. The park has been configured through practice and design to require a very minimal amount of upkeep but makes a positive effort to keep the park clean. The park provides basic amenities whose conditions vary.

Bassett Park Amphitheater

Walkways/Trails

The newly renovated amphitheater provides

The paved walkways in the park are

park users with a clean and well-kept space to

limited in number but are well

hear music or watch movies.

maintained and in good condition.

There is no formal set of trails going

Grounds

through the park but there are areas

Majority of the grounds in the park are left in a

where trails have developed over time

natural

from usage. They are not maintained

state

that

provides

a

tranquil

atmosphere for park users to enjoy. The

and they are uneven but that natural

grounds are well cared for but there are areas

development is part of their charm.

that have been taped off for safety or due to excessive areas of mud.

Entrances The official entrances are designed at the Northside of the park where the parking lots.

They are well maintained and clean but are not easily located for people who are not familiar with the park. This is in part because of some confusion from google maps with the address of the park.

Figure 4: Park path Picture taken by Leslie General

9

Bathrooms/ Water fountain

Trash Cans

The bathrooms are closed for the winter but

All of the trash cans have been removed from the park to prepare for winter. This has caused

when open provide one women’s restroom and

for litter and trash to be found lying around the

one male’s restroom. The water fountain has been shut off.

park.

The building that both

amenities are located in is checked on a regular

Benches

basis and is in good condition.

Throughout the 35-acre park there are only 5

TangleWood Sculpture

benches. They are all located on the Northside of the park and are all in good condition.

Although the blue sculpture is a newer addition to the park and in good

Ponds

condition it clashes with serene environment of the park in a negative

The previous pond in the park that was once a

way.

spot where people could come and fish was recently replaced by a new pond with fountains but no fish. Another small pond was also installed next to the larger pond.

Lighting The lack of lighting available creates safety issues for people who use the park at night or during winter when it gets dark earlier.

Bassett Park Amphitheater The newly renovated amphitheater provides

Figure 5: Tanglewood sculpture Picture taken by David Tabak

park users with a clean and well-kept space to hear music or watch movies.

10

Parking Lots Playground

There are two parking lots that provide an ample amount of parking spaces.

They do

not reserve any specific handicap spaces but

The playground at Bassett Park is very

the asphalt and paint are both in excellent

small and has been poorly maintained.

condition.

There are holes in the turf. Some of the equipment is damaged.

Figure 6: Playground conditions.

Picture taken by Leslie General

11

Challenges Bassett Park is a simple park with several basic amenities. Several of these include a playground for kids, a bathroom, water fountains, benches, and a few trash cans. Bassett Park is a largely undeveloped park, which adds to the natural aspect of the area. With so much undeveloped land, there are many challenges regarding funding, accessibility, safety and overall layout. According to one visitor, Bassett Park used to be a place where kids were able to ride their dirt bikes and fish in the large lake. Currently, the park mostly exists to serve the elderly population and as a dog park. A handful of concerts are held in the summer, yet programs for children and teenagers is severely lacking. Increasing accessibility while capturing the interest of both younger and older people to visit the park is important to sustain the parks vitality. The biggest challenge Bassett Park faces is to create a space that balances the preservation of open and natural spaces, while attracting more visitors.

Funding Bassett Park receives the lowest amount of funding out of all the parks in the area, according to the Town of Amherst Recreation and Parks Master Plan of February 2018. Improvements for the park would have to rely solely on external sources in forms of donations, grants, and volunteer programs.

Accessibility Entrances Upon arrival at the park, it was not clear where the entrance was as there were no noticeable signs.

Using google maps, the GPS location guides visitors to the south entrance of the park. After arriving on the more developed side of the park, there were still no noticeable signs near the parking lots telling us which park it is. After further inspection it was found that there is a sign located on the corner of Young Street and Klein Road. This creates a challenge for anyone who is unfamiliar with the park or neighborhood who wishes to visit Bassett Park, they would have drove right past as there’s no signs telling you where the entrances are or revealing the parks name.

12

Mobility/ Transportation Issues Most of the activities are located on the north end of the park, while the senior housing is located on the south end. This is especially difficult, since there are no paved paths for people with mobility issues to reach the location of the activities without driving. As seen in Figure 7, the parking lot offers no designated handicap accessible spaces. Public parks should be inviting for everyone, so handicapped parking should have been a mandatory design. The area surrounding the

Figure 7: Parking lot in Bassett Park Picture taken by Leslie General

park offers very little public transportation. The nearest bus stop is near the Millard Fillmore Hospital, which is about a 1 mile walk to reach the park.

Amenities Currently there is no access to the restrooms and water fountain since they are closed for the winter season.

During our site visit to Bassett Park, it was noticed that there was a distinct lack of access to recycling bins. There was access to two trash cans, however, no dedicated recycling bins. As seen in Figure 8, since there were no recycling bins, cans and plastic cups were strewn across the grass after the bag broke. This not only creates a poor Figure 8: Litter in Bassett Park Picture taken by David Tabak

aesthetic, it also contributes to local pollution, since these recyclables will most likely end up in a landfill. The existing trashcans are all located around the amphitheater, where

there would be the most activity. While the rest of the park does not have any trashcans or recycling bins, there was surprisingly no litter, which led to the feeling of a clean park.

13

Layout Visiting Bassett Park multiple times reinforced the discovery of how disconnected it is. When visiting the park, it becomes apparent how different each side looks. The park looks like there are three different parks, instead of one. Almost all of the paved paths, amphitheater, playground, and amenities are located on the north end of the park. All of the benches for people to sit and relax are also located on the developed north end of the park. There’s an area that has a random blue statue called Tanglewood that stands out in contrast to the surrounding trees, which is located towards the middle of park. There is a clear distinction between areas that were recently renovated, or added, that are disconnected from the open and natural space of the rest of the park.

Safety There is very limited lighting available within the park.

This creates a dangerous situation for people who use the park in the evening. During the winter season, it will be dark outside as early as 5 p.m. So, for many people who come to walk their dogs after work they end up navigating the park in the dark. The lack of lighting increases the potential for more serious injuries or incidents to occur. Another issue with safety is a lack of crosswalks across sections of the park where paved paths lead to sidewalks across

Figure 9: Crosswalk conditions Picture taken by David Tabak

streets as seen in Figure 9.

Challenges Create Opportunities No park is immune to having issues, but with every challenge comes an opportunity, and that opportunity can inspire change. Yes, there are no recycling bins, yes there is some litter, yes there is no handicap accessibility but there can be. Bassett Park is a beautiful park and if certain changes are made, it can benefit the park in various ways.

14

Opportunities There are a number of aspects found in Bassett Park that provide opportunities for the future development of the park. One of the biggest benefits of Bassett Park is the amount of open space it provides.

The natural, green, and

undeveloped landscape is a rare asset in such a heavily developed area.

Figure 10- Open Space of Basset Park.

Picture taken by Leslie General

The existing infrastructure can easily be modified or updated with relatively low cost.

It also allows for less time and energy to be spent on new construction. The amphitheater was recently renovated. The bathrooms and water fountain are clean and well maintained.

There are two parking lots that provide ample spaces for parking that would require very

Figure 11 – Bassett Park Amphitheater.

Picture taken by Leslie General

little to improve their design.

The mixed use neighborhood surrounding the park provides opportunities to create stronger relationships with the park. Close proximity with a hospital, elder community, school, and a church increase potential for programs and Figure 12- Natural and undeveloped area of Bassett Park

other interactions to occur.

15

Data Analysis & Collection

16

Demographics Understanding the community surrounding Bassett Park helps to develop a better perspective of how to further develop the park to benefit the area. Focusing on demographics of population, age, income, housing, and transportation helps to understand park users, growth, access, as well as relevant funding impacts. The census track 90.08 where Bassett Park is located was the focus while collecting data.

Key Findings: •

The population has slowly increased since 2009

•

There is a high elderly population in the area

•

There are more individual households than family households

•

The Median income is 73,103

•

Primary mode of transportation is by car

Population As seen in Figure 13 the population surrounding the park has continued to grow since 2009. The population grew by close to 600 people. This provides an increase in potential park users for the area. Steady growth combined with steady incomes provides an increase in potential funding for the park in the future.

# of Individuals

Population Trend for Census Track 90.08 5,200 5,000 4,800 4,600 4,400 4,200 2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Year Figure 13 Graph made by Leslie General

Estimated Total Population

17

2015

2016

2017

Age The largest age group in this community is made up of people ranging from 85 and older. There are roughly 2,033 residents who are 60 or older. The neighborhood consists of 885 children under the age of 18. Adults ranging from 19 to 59 consists of approximately 2,202 people. Due to the high concentration of residents over 60 it is important to evaluate and design the park with the physical limitations and implications of this age group as a priority to increase accessibility. It is equally important to understand that while the concentration of elder people is high for the area there are more people under the age of 60 so it is equally important to provide higher physical activity levels, designs, and programs that will entice the younger demographics to utilize the park.

Age Demographics for Census Tract 90.08 38% 15%

47% Population under 18 Years Population between 19 years and 59 years

Figure 14 Graph made by Leslie General

Population over 60 Years

18

Income As seen in Figure 15 approximately 63.9%

Yearly Income for Census Tract 90.08

of the households in this community make under

$100,000

yearly.

The

highest

Income Range

percentage of income for households was between $100,000 to $149,000.

This

establishes that there is a wide range of incomes in the area and that funding for the park may be reduced with the higher concentration of income being under $100,000.

Estimated Percent of Households

Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $14,999 $15,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $34,999 $35,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $149,999 $150,000 to $199,999 $200,000 or more Mean Income Median Income

3.40% 5.60% 10.30% 8.60% 9.60% 13.40% 13.00% 15.60% 12.20% 8.40% $106,322 $73,103

Figure 15 Chart made by Leslie General

Housing In the area surrounding the park, there are less families and more individual residents. As seen in Figure 16 there are approximately 104 less family households.

For improving Bassett

Park,

means

this

activities

focused

that on

engaging Individuals

should be a top priority but should still include family oriented designs and activities since the amounts are closely related.

Figure 16 Graph made by Leslie General

19

Transportation The primary mode of transportation in the area is by car which is depicted in Figure 17 titled Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08. It provides insight into the issues with public transportation or bicycles as modes of transportation to access the park. Based off of these figures it is important to understand the availability of public transportation available in the surrounding areas to understand the accessibility options for the park. Promoting multi-mobile transportation within the design of the park would encourage healthier habits and better environmental practices.

Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08 Drove alone

1,423

Transportation Mode

Carpooled

62

Bus

0

Subway or elevated

14

Bicycle

0

Walked

56

Worked at home

239 0

200

400

600

Figure 17 Graph made by Leslie General

20

800 1,000 Population

1,200

1,400

1,600

21

Recommendations & Best Practice

22

Recommendations & Best Practice Redesigning the layout should focus on: •

Increasing accessibility with more inclusive design practices

•

Develop and maintain more green spaces within the developed urban environment

•

Further develop the trails and integrate them through the park

•

Work towards developing a new design for the park that encompasses the entire park rather than the sectioned off aspect of the current design

•

Connect one side of the park to the other

•

Clear up confusion on entrance points and location with updated and easier to use information for the public

Implementing Programs should focus on: •

Integrate nature programs to increase awareness of the benefits of outside space

•

Develop strategies to attract younger demographics to utilize the park.

•

Develop stronger ties with the surrounding community, more specifically the church, school, hospital and senior living center within close proximity.

•

Develop stronger integration of events and activities available within the park to

•

Create a more successful system of communicating upcoming events to a broader base of park users.

Improve safety conditions within the park by adding: •

Lights

•

Crosswalks

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New Layout for Bassett Park: The new layout as seen in Figure 18 for Bassett Park should include low intensity nature-oriented walking paths or trails that promote movement through the entirety of the park. Integrated playground equipment along the trail system should be installed. A paved section to allow for accessibility from one end of the park to the other. Designated space for a community garden.

Additional benches spread throughout the park. Designated parking spaces for handicapped parking. Planting additional trees, shrubs, and plant varieties in the landscape.

Figure 18 Digital sketch of New Layout for Bassett Park made by Leslie General

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Walking Paths/ Trails Adding natural walking path or trails to the park would encourage more movement within the park.

It would benefit the people who jog and walk dogs in the park, as well as all different ages who wish to be a little more active. The trails should be constructed with natural materials like gravel, dirt, or mulch to help establish an initial trail that over time could develop on its own. Paths should be focused on the outer edges of the park to conserve the amount of open space provided within the park as much as possible. This is an extensive project with a higher cost.

Playground The existing playground should be removed and smaller play area stations should be placed throughout various sections of the walking trails to encourage the movement between the spaces.

They should be composed of naturalistic materials as much as possible with a minimalistic design that incorporates activity with nature. An example of a park that has implemented similar ideas with “nodes of natural play� is Hyland Woods Natural Park located in Beaverton, Oregon. The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District revamped the park in a similar fashion with soft surface trails incorporating the natural play areas (Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District,2019)

Community Garden Community gardens are becoming a popular trend in urban areas because of the benefits of not only eating healthier but also for the therapeutic benefits the act of garden provides. There are a number of similar projects throughout Buffalo but a few examples that have been successful are Fargo Estate Community Garden, West Utica Community Garden, and Food Bank Community Garden.

A small area in the southeast corner of Bassett Park should be converted to designated space for a community garden. Close proximity to the Elderwood Senior Living would allow for increased accessibility for the aging communities involvement in the care of the garden. There is a minimal cost to create this space and additional funding for the project could be available through outside organizations like Grassroots Gardens WNY or Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants.

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Accessibility To increase accessibility a paved asphalt path should be incorporated from the south side of the park near Elder wood along the outer edges of the park to connect with the paved section near the Amphitheater and continue on to access the playground areas. This would allow access to larger sections of the park for anyone with mobility issues while still maintaining the open space within the park. Adding designated handicap parking spaces to a select number of the current parking spaces available could easily be achieved with little effort or cost and would further increase the accessibility to the park.

Lighting Lighting is scarce in Bassett Park, especially in the winter months when the sun sets much earlier than normal. Solar lighting is a great and usable option in this condition. It not only uses clean green energy, but also has a relevant cheaper price, which is about $5,500 for 10 years. Compared to traditional lights which cost $8,300, solar lights are a great alternative. The lights would collect energy during the day, and turn on once it gets dark enough. The lights could also be set with a timer to turn off at 10pm, which is when the park closes.

Green Spaces To further develop the park with a forest atmosphere trees should be planted along the outer northeast section of the park. Additional trees, plants, and pushes should be periodically added throughout the paths to develop a natural regeneration over time. This would create a high cost outside of the existing budget and is a long-term project for Bassett Park. Costs could be offset by community involvement through fundraising, donations, and labor. In addition to community efforts funding is available through organizations like NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

Benches There are currently no benches on the Southside of the park. There should be additional benches added near the community garden and paths on the Southside of the park. The bench by the playground should be relocated with the new playground equipment. When the funding is available picnic tables should be added for additional seating. This is a relatively low scale project and relies on the existing and future budget of the park.

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Programming for Basset Park Basset Park’s greatest asset is the natural, unaltered land. Since Charles Basset donated the land, it has been mostly undeveloped, with the exception of the Amphitheater and the surrounding area. The best way to capitalize on the natural beauty of the land, and to attract more visitors to the park, is to expand the programming. When interviewing one visitor, he recalled a time when local kids would visit the park to fish in the small lake and ride dirt bikes. Since then, the lake was split up into several small ponds, and the fish were removed. Currently, there are several programs which utilize the Amphitheater, such as movie nights and summer concerts. While these events are great for the community, there aren’t many more enticing opportunities for kids and young adults to come to the park. With the proposed change in layout, as well as the utilization of the natural land, there are many opportunities for community involvement for people of all ages.

Programming Recommendations Winter -Community snowman competition: Great way for kids and young adults to show off their creativity by trying to build the best snowman. The Amphitheater may be used as a hub to serve coffee and hot chocolate

Spring/Summer -Garden upkeep: With the proposed layout change, a community garden would allow kids to learn about gardening. The residents at Elderwood may also be asked to volunteer to help teach and aid in the upkeep.

-Sports Program: Hire instructors to teach certain sports. Different instructors may be hired to teach baseball, soccer, volleyball, archery, and yoga.

-Environmental Awareness: Bring in a park ranger to teach kids about wildlife, how to build a shelter, and how to help preserve the environment. Since Bassett Park is 35-acres, and is mostly undeveloped, it would be a great way for kids to learn about the environment.

Fall -Pumpkin carving and crafts: Set up tables and chairs in the Amphitheater and have stations for different crafts varying in age groups. May include pumpkin carving, paper turkey decorating, and bracelet/necklace making.

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Reference List

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Reference List Beautification Grants. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2019, from https://gardensbuffaloniagara.com/about/beautification-grants/.

Depriest, K. T. (2016, June 8). Concert, event to celebrate Bassett Park renovations. Retrieved November 11, 2019, from https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/concert-event-to-celebrate-bassett-parkrenovations/ Home: Grassroots Gardens WNY. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://www.grassrootsgardens.org/.

The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. (2019).Hyland Woods Natural Area. Retrieved November 21, 2019, from http;//www.thprd.org/park-and-trails/detail/hyland-woodsnatural-area.

Kaleida Health.(2019.) Hospital History-Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.kaleidahealth.org/suburban/vistors /history.asp Nature Play Areas. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2019, from http://www.thprd.org/parks-andtrails/nature-play-areas.

Sherman, D. F. (2019, July 10). Family with ‘Mayflower’ roots has long legacy of giving. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/family-with-mayflower-roots-has-longlegacy-of-giving/.

University at Buffalo. (n.d.). Picture of Charles K. Bassett. Retrieved from https://ubbulls.com/hof.aspx?hof=11

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Appendix

30

Photos Taken by Leslie General

1

2

4 3

5 31

6

8

7 10

9

12

11 32

13

14

15

33

16

17

18

20

19

21 34

22

24

23

26 25

27 35

28

Photos taken by Leslie General: 1. Open Space Northeast Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

2. Trees in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

3. Tangle Wood Sculpture in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

4. Open field Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

5. Paved Path South end Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

6. Foliage of Bassett Park #2 in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

7. Big Pond View Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 10, 2019.

8. Parking Lot #1 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

9. Big Pond View #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

10. Parking Lot #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

11. Bassett Park Amphitheater in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

12. Bench located near Big Pond in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

13. Bassett Park Playground in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

14. Kids Playground Equipment of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

15. Basset Park Playground #2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

16. Broken Playground Equipment in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

17. Bocce Sign of Bassett Park in in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

18. Bocce Ball Court Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

19. Natural Trail #1 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

20. Bocce Ball Court #2 Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

21. Bassett Park Open Space# 1 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

22. Bassett Park Open Space # 2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

23. Bassett Park Signage South end #1 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

24. Foliage of Bassett Park #2 in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

25. Bassett Park Signage South end #2in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019 26. Developed Aspects of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

27. Path around Pond of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019 28. Seating around Bassett Park Amphitheater in Williamsville, New York. 10, 2019.

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Photos taken by Letao Shen

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Photos Taken by Letao Shen 1. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

2. Small parking space of the Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

3. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

4. Look toward the Bassett Park during night time. November 3, 2019.

5. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

6. Elderwood at Williamsville next to Bassett Park, New York. November 3, 2019.

7. Central area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

8. Pedestrian path of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

9. Water area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

10. Drinking fountain and restroom of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York.

November 4, 2019.

11. Ball area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

12. Sign of Play Area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

13. Play area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

14. Large vacant area of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

15. Natural path in trees of Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

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Photos Taken by David Tabak

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Wooded area in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Tanglewood sculpture in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Pond in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

Water fountains in Bassett Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

5. Tanglewood plaque in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

6. Field with trees in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

7. Litter near the amphitheater in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

8. Informational sign in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

9. Amphitheater seating in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

10. Paved path in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

11. Entrance to Basset Park in Williamsville, New York. November 4, 2019.

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Charts, Tables, Graphs, Digital Sketch Figure 3: Context Digital map created by David Tabak of the Erie County Census Tract 90.08. using Vector Works.

Figure #13 Population Trend for Census Track 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5- year estimates through 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table SO101, ACS Age and Sex, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019

Figure #14 Age Demographics for Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table SO101, ACS Age and Sex, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019)

Figure#15 Income in Past 12 Months for Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, ACS Income in The Past 12 Months (In 2017 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars), generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

Figure #16 Family Households and Non- Family Households U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1101, ACS Households and Families, generated by Leslie General using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

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Figure #17 Transportation Modes in Census Tract 90.08 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801, ACS Commuting Characteristics By Sex, generated by David Tabak using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 15, 2019).

Figure # 18 Digital Sketch of New Layout for Bassett Park made by Leslie General using AutoCAD.

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User Surveys

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Handout Bassett Park Master Plan Handout

David Tabak Shameeq Willis

Leslie General Letao Shen

Bassett Park is located 359 Klein Road in Williamsville in New York

END 350 Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

Bassett Park Context Map

Within close proximity to: •

Elderwood, a senior care living facility

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Maple East elementary school

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St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Parish

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Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

Conditions Overall Bassett Park is clean and well maintained but there are a few areas that could be improved upon.

Challenges Bassett Park is a largely undeveloped park, which adds to the natural aspect of the area. With so much undeveloped land, there are many challenges regarding funding, accessibility, safety and overall layout.

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Bassett Park Master Plan Handout

David Tabak Shameeq Willis

Leslie General Letao Shen

END 350 Teaching Team Jonathan Bleuer Andrew Shaefer

Recommendations

Recommendations Costs and Renovations

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Speech Script Hello, my name is Letao, and I am going to give you more information about Bassett park.

Talk about population first. Based on our researches, the population surrounding the park has continued to grow since two thousand and nine, with a population grew by close to 600 people. this number affects and increase the potential users of the park in this area.

With more population, it is possible that the park gets an increase of funding. (slide population) Here is a slide of age demographics of this area. It is obvious that the largest age group in this community is made up by the people around 85 and older, moreover, there are roughly two thousand are 60 or older, by comparison there are less than 900 children that is under the age of 18, and the adults ranging from 19 to 59 consists of about twenty-two hundred. Since there are a large number of elder populations living in this area, it is important to evaluate and design the park with the physical limitation and implications of this age group as a priority to increase accessibility. (slide age) Income is also an important part. Based on data from census tract, less than 30% of the population have less income than the median household income of buffalo, which is 35 thousand. And the median income of this area is about 73 thousand, which is a lot more than Buffalo’s median income. Thus, we consider this community as a 61

wealthier community.

Transportation determines how people can get to the park. For the people living in this area, the primary mode of transportation in this area is by vehicle. also, there is a number of people walked to other places, and noticeably, no one choose bus or bicycle as their daily transportation, there might be affects of the age distribution.

For more details, let me introduce Leslie to talk about our researches and recommendations.

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The End .

Final Portfolio

UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO MINHYOUNG KANG END350 Section 2

Table of Contents Introduction

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Assignment 1. Research in Planning

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Introducing the assignment and table of content

Assignment 2. Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Introducing the assignment and table of content

Assignment 3. Data Analysis and Report Introducing the assignment and table of content

Assignment 4. Memorandum

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Introducing the assignment and table of content

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Memorandum PowerPoint

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Assignment 5. Case Study - Mini Master Plan

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Introducing the assignment and table of content

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Mini Master Plan PowerPoint

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Power Point Presentation Script

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Power Point Presentation Handout

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Introduction END350 is the studio course which University at Buffalo provides for Environmental Design major. The purpose of the course was to introduce how to integrate research inquiry, information analysis, and environmental design. Most of the part of the class, students were focus on methodologies in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating qualitative and quantitative information about the contemporary physical and urban environment. The course introduced several data sources such as U.S. Census materials, community master plan, historical archives and how to apply them into our research projects.

From a broad perspective, the course had 5 assignments which were research in contemporary planning issues or challenges, census data collecting and analyzing, data analyzing with visuals, Memorandum using data collecting skills, and case study. Not only materials of each projects, the order of assignments also helped me with learning materials very effectively. The first assignment, which was understand and summarize the recent planning challenges set up the course by having students to arouse their interest. While I was searching for contemporary planning challenges on the internet, I could find there were more issues and challenges on planning than I expected. After I choose a topic to write with, I had to find reliable sources that will be used in my writing to support my opinion and show my understanding toward the topic. The Librarian came to our class and helped with searching article from the online library with keywords. It really helped me finding articles and shortened time taking. It was one of the major takeaways form the course, practicing skill of finding appropriate article accurately and quickly.

Next assignment, which was census data collecting and analyzing practiced me to find and draw out the relationship between data and the context. The reason people search for appropriate academic journals or news is

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to support the thesis statement or the opinion. The citation in the article should have relation with the context. What is more important is that how to relate the academic journals or news articles to my writing and how effectively support the argument. Using visuals of collected data also practiced me to be friendly with using visual components effectively in the writing.

When I was writing memorandum, I felt this is something different than what I have been writing. It was because the memorandum is written for someone to pursue. I learned that there are many different types of writings and for each types of writings, there are different purposes, such as giving information, arguing a statement, suggesting or pursuing. According to each purpose, the writing style and strategy should be different to deliver the thoughts effectively.

Case study – mini master plan assignment was processed as a group assignment. Work as a group was definitely different from working alone. If I were working alone, I have to ask professor or TA to proof read my assignment however they don’t have much time to have conversation and I have to schedule and wait until they have time. The benefit of group work was that each group members can give advice time to time and much easier to contact. Also, I if I were working alone, I could push it until the last minute of the due date but in group work, I have to get my part done in order to other group members can proof read my work and make change before turn in the assignment. In process of doing the assignment, I felt that breaking the assignment down in parts for each date was very effective and helpful getting it done by due date. I also loved that the group project is not just a sum of parts from each group members, but also interact with them to make connection between each part and make the flow of the content.

As a result, not only my writing skill was improved throughout semester, but also consistency and diligence toward my work was improved. Before, I did

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my writing assignments the same no matter what the purpose of the paper was.

Therefore, I often heard advices such like my argument is weak or supporting detail is not placed in proper place or content, and the delivery is not effective.

Doing two power point assignments and presentations, I deeply felt that it is also important how to make audience or reader understand what I want to talk about effectively.

Also, I was not used to proof read either my writing and the academic journals that I used in my writing. However, I learned that proof read is really important to avoid common mistakes like grammar and content throughout the research assignments and data analysis assignments.

I was a type of person who like to work alone just because I don’t have to meet someone and wait until they give me advice. However, most of the works that I had done by my self was not in a high degree of completion. In doing group work, I learned that having someone who gives me advice is essential and helpful because they could give me various points of view which I might not even thought about.

I was very pleased throughout the course. The course realized me that I still have potential to improve and my work can be developed even further. I wouldn’t have realized if I did not take this course materials seriously. The works listed on this portfolio can show how my writing processes builds up and how I tried to interact materials that I researched with the content I put on the writing.

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Research in planning

End350 Section 2 Professor: Jonathan Bleuer Minhyoung Kang - 5 -

Table of Contents Issue of Decreasing Public Transportation Ridership

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Shortages of Affordable Housing

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Worked Cites

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The assignment was to practice general ideas toward certain problem in our lives. We were told to pick 2 topics about the recent issues or challenges in planning field. This assignment practiced me how to set up the research and developing the process by synthesizing the outside sources such as news, journals, case study, and so on.

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1. issue of decreasing public transportation ridership Decrease in public transportation ridership is a big issue of America. The pros for using public transportation are cheap cost, eco-friendly, can afford the increasing population of the region, less car accident outage. The cons for using public transportation are routes are fixed and cannot choose the destination and time that I want to go, slower than automobiles, transfer takes time, hard to carry heavy baggage from one place to another, gets crowded easily.

For big cities like NYC, public transportation usage is higher than other small cities and rural sides. However, as the urban sprawl had been processed, lots of places have low population density, which means it is hard to develop public transportation. It resulted in the development of automobiles in most parts of America and kept public transportation behind.

As automobiles had developed, the roads and highways had been developed as well following the growth of numbers of automobiles. As automobiles and the roads developed, the urban sprawl accelerated, and the population started to spread to the farther suburbs. Dramatic moving of population to the suburbs made it harder for public transportation to run because of low expectation of ridership since the population density is low and automobile is definitely a better choice than public transportation.

As cities develop and people's life had been improved with value and finance, people wants more comfort in their life. Everyone wants to get to their

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destination quickly because it can save time. The biggest part that people don't want to take public transportation is it takes more time than automobile. Time is valuable and is worth paying for. Also, the spending on automobiles in America is significantly cheaper than other countries. For example, in South Korea, the gasoline is 1.2 dollars per liter compared to 0.71 dollars per liter in America. Low cost on automobiles also contributed to the decrease of ridership of public transportation.

For the research, I used Google Scholar to find reliable documents such as academic journals or government documents. Then I looked at present day issues on newspapers like CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Posts. Also looked for YouTube to see if I could find any film or movie that explains the issue.

2. Shortage of affordable housing In the U.S., there is an issue about affordable housing for lower income group and middle class. After the Housing Act of 1949, America put effort to solve the housing problem within the homeless problems. However, there are too many lower income group and middle class who are seeking for a house to live in, it is practically impossible to accept all the applicants. Also, for example, California has the highest average cost of housing among the states. The reason for the high cost is the regulations and inflation. There are lots of regulations to

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build a house. People must pay the government a certain percentage of cost from the house, and it rises the cost of the house even higher.

Another issue is that there are increasing numbers of homeless. Due to the high cost of the house, low income group and extremely low-income families cannot afford a house to live in. The problem is that the financial situation of those group of people, the low income and extremely low-income groups would not be changed, so improving housing strategy would be the better answer but it is not count on just one city or state. The city or the state itself does not have much power or money to make it through the issue.

The housing issue was the one that I consistently learned in different classes, and I had an interest in the issue, so I decided to research deeper on this issue. At first, I thought the affordable housing issue looks like an issue that came from failure of housing act and did not think deeper than that. However, it was related to the regulation of the state and national law, and homelessness. I looked up the current new to find if it’s still a problem and searched to find the reasons. Then I searched for the past records of how the past housing problem was looks like.

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Worked cites Government document William J. Mallett. (2018). Congressional Research Service. Trends in Public Transportation Ridership : Implications for Federal Policy, 7-5700, https:/fas.org/sgplcrs/misc/R45144.pdf.

News Faiz Siddiqui. (2018). The Washington Post. Falling transit ridership poses an 'emergency' for cities, experts fear, https:/www.washingtonpost. com/local/trafficandcommuting/falling-transit-ridership-pose S-anemergency-for-cities-experts-fear/2018/03/20/fb67c28-2865-11e8-874bd517e912f125_story.htm1?noredirect=on.

News Lizabeth Cohen. (2019). The New York Times. Only Washington Can Solve the Nation's Housing Crisis. https:lwww.nytimes.com/2019/ 07/10 /opinion/affordable-housing.html Film Jim Kein. A. (Director). (1996). Taken for a ride [DVD]. United States: New Day Films. YouTube (Frontline PBS)PBS (2017, May 9). The Affordable Housing Crisis: More Demand, Less Supply Poverty, Politics and profit.

[Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKaR0q1vgPO Academic Journal Tucker, W. (1991). How housing regulations cause homelessness. Public Interest, (102), 78-88. Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct+true&db+db=ahl&AN

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Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography

End350 Section 2 Professor: Jonathan Bleuer Minhyoung Kang - 11 -

Table of Contents Introduction

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Social Effect

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Problem

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Possible solution

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Conclusion

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Annotated bibliography

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The objective of this assignment was to practice analyze and summarize the topic and synthesize the sources and data to support the argument.

My topic was about the affordable housing problem. The housing problem had been mentioned continuously because there are always people with low income who cannot afford to own a house. First, I started with research news articles about the housing problem to get an information about recent condition. Then I looked up for academic journals and films that talks about the problem. There were plenty of sources that informs about the housing problem, however, huge part of those sources was talking about the federal and local law, so it was difficult to synthesize because I do not have much knowledge toward the law.

It was not an easy process however I could find how to connect those sources to my argument through out the practice, which was annotated bibliography. It helped me a lot when I need to synthesize the thoughts because paraphrased sources were easy to catch the point and put into the writing.

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Introduction United States’ housing crisis had raised from a long time ago, post WWII. It was due to the explosive increase of population, including newborns and immigrants, and scarcity in the amount of affordable housing places (Metcalf, 2018). As people’s life had been better after the war, housing issue due to the overwhelming population seemed like solved, however, the issue had been developed with several different changes such as environment and economy.

One of the present issues that derived from the initial housing crisis is the scarcity in affordable housing. Biggest group that suffering from the affordable housing issue is extremely-low income families.

Social effect Affordable Housing problem had been raised to surface with another issue, the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. Between 1965 to 2008, there was an explosive increase in population (NYC Government, 2019). Therefore, the U.S. population outnumbered available houses to live in. Government tried to build several new tenants and lowered the price of average houses and also sold the subprime mortgage for those who need a place to live in right away. This decision was made from the expectation of developing people’s life economically stable can bring the money back to the society (FederalReserveHistory, 2013). The bank and government allowed people with low credit level to buy Subprime Mortgage because there were a lot of people who wanted to buy or sell house. However, because of the characteristic of Subprime Mortgage, the price of house got higher and higher as time goes on, and nobody willing to buy the mortgage anymore. Eventually, the average price of houses increased temporarily and soon declined even more than before, the economy of U.S. also met crisis.

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Problem 1. The problems of Affordable Housing are that there are less houses than population and the price of the house does not meet people’s demanding price, which means, houses are too expensive to afford. The biggest group that suffered by the affordable housing issue is that the extremely low-income families. For extremely low-income families, they have to pay about 70-80 percentage of their income to pay rent (CBS News, 2019). The high rent fee is from the regulation, the house owner raised their rent to make more and more money (Baker, 2018). The reason of high rent fee is from the burden that made during the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. People who bought house by paying huge amount of money and now they cannot sell them while they have to pay their interest for the house. It is not only about the housing problem because 30 percent of taxpayers are people who runs rents (Colburn, 2018). This vicious circle in housing and rent market could results the decline of whole economy of U.S. (Dwyer, 2015).

2. Another affordable housing issue is raised in the suburbs. It is a little different case, there are people who cannot find affordable house because there are not enough number of houses that are already built (Ioannides, 2017). Most people who experienced housing problem in suburbs were the African-American, who are minority groups and moved from city centers to suburbs (McDonald, 2018). Suburbs, because there are less people living in city or urban center, and uncomfortable mobility and accessibility, there are not many places to live in. The regulation of building houses is making it even harder. In California, the price of houses is too high because the home owners raised it in order to pay their high mortgage interest. The government set regulations on building new structures and structures that are already built, people have to pay

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certain amount of money to have building and build a building (Durst, 2017). It prevented people to build new expensive building because the rent fee would be also high according to the opportunity cost of constructing a building (Wegman. 2017).

3. Affordable housing problem in big cities also have slightly different characteristics. Big cities like NYC, Detroit, and Atlanta tried the public housing project which have failed. Even when government prepared place for extremely low-income families, the government did not fully prepare for the behavior of the residents and the characteristics of the minority group and the regional factor (Shamsuddin, 2017). According to Jun, H’s journal, it said “For planning tenant, it should be comprehensive, should be flexible for the changes and crisis just like the affordable housing issue� (Jun 2017). The government should be prepared to flex their regulations and policies during running it with the tenants.

Possible Solutions There were several practices and experimental project to solve the affordable housing issue. In comparison of the city of Atlanta and Detroit, Atlanta has stronger affordable housing policy than Detroit, which means there is a positive association between stronger housing policies and improved housing affordability for low-income (Jun, 2017). Both are big cities and suffering from the affordable housing issue. However, Atlanta has better policies for low income families to get a place to live in. Questioning and thinking about current policies about housing is required to solve the general housing issues. Some of existing government policies toward rent and housing are vague and not worth (Landis, 2010). Such disproportionate advantages to homeowner, reconfigure various programs for low income renters, and so on. Getting fair and stable policies could really help the way of solving housing issues. In the case of the policies,

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China had positive example of solving the problem of housing issues. Chinese local governments have their own strategies to solve the urban problems about their territory. One of the strategies was that they focus on housing, residential land, planning, infrastructure, price, coordination and human capital at the same time (Miao, 2017). In North Brookline, NY, Mayer Michael Bloomberg made plans to resolve the housing crisis. It is quite like the public housing, however, the new plan name inclusionary zoning, or inclusionary housing project is different. It is for low income groups that shares newly constructed house before the sale. The result of the project was scissile and could resolve the housing project partially in the United States. This project may not apply to the other parts of the states because of the unique characteristics and situations of each state, but it was one of the successful projects to resolve the housing crisis in the United States.

Conclusion The problem of the housing issue had been in our life from a long time ago and until present. As people’s lives and the nation’s economy are changing unexpectedly, there are lots of instances that could make another problem.

However, there are many people who worked and analyzed the issue about housing, and practiced several projects either successful or not, could learn from success and failure to make it better.

The only concern is that the

extremely low-income families. However, for those who need help with the financial situation could get help from the government, which means the policies for them. Government is going over the policies every year to make changes according to the current situation and possible risks in the future. It is not only for the government, the house owners, and the extremely low-income families, the urban planners should work together to make it better.

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Annotated Bibliography

(2019), Researcher proposes how to solve the U.S. affordable housing crisis,CBS News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBsqSmLnc8M Researcher proposes how to solve the U.S. affordable housing crisis. Matthew Desmond described the present situation of issue about affordable housing in the U.S. The main problem was that there are lots of families who are in the low income group how barely pay their rent. Those people spend about 70-80 percent of their monthly income.

Baker, Kim (2018), Behind New York’s Housing Crisis : Weakened Laws and Fragmented Regulation, NY Times,https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05 /20/nyregion/affordable-housing-nyc.html This news is explaining the regulation about the rent laws. People who owns the house rises their rent too high to make money. Some people converted their houses to condo, to get customers rather than rent. Rising rent to make money and conversion to the condo to expiring tax break.

Colburn, G., & Allen, R. (2018). Rent burden and the Great Recession in the USA. Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 55(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098016665953 The journal is explaining the process of recession because of the rent. As the

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rent market had been decreased due to the extremely high rent fee, now it became a burden. About 30 percent of the taxpayer was people who runs rent, and as people do not want to get in to the rent, they are not able to pay taxes anymore.

Durst, N. J., & Wegmann, J. (2017). Informal Housing in the United States.

International Journal of Urban & Regional Research, 41(2), https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12444 This journal is explaining about informal housing. The informal housing raised because of the regulations on housing and rent policy. Also, informal housing caused informality in the housing market.

Dwyer, R. E., & Phillips Lassus, L. A. (2015). The Great Risk Shift and Precarity in the U.S. Housing Market. Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science, 660(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716215577612 The article is explaining how to issue of affordable housing could connected to other risks. As the housing crisis brought the great recession to the U.S. housing market and its economy. The metropolitan insecurity and labor markets are also affected on the affordable housing issue.

Garriga, C., Manuelli, R., & Peralta-Alva, A. (2019). A Macroeconomic Model of Price Swings in the Housing Market†. American Economic Review, 109(6), https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20140193 This article is explaining about the how to rent fee could measure by the situation of the economy and the people’s lifestyle. The balance of payments, inflation, population growth, and economic growth are all included to measure the change in housing market price.

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Ioannides, Y. M. (2017). Review of Climbing Mount Laurel: The Struggle for Affordable Housing and Social Mobility in an American Suburb by Douglas S. Massey et al. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(2), https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20151292 This article reviews the hardships of affordable housing and social mobility in the American suburb. There are several elements to study the hardship of the issue. The design and maintenance, tenant selection, and the promotion of social cohesion should be considered. These elements are eligible for study the issue of the housing market crisis.

Jun, H.-J. (2017). The Link Between Local Comprehensive Plans and Housing Affordability: A Comparative Study of the Atlanta and Detroit Metropolitan Areas. Journal of the American Planning Association, 83(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2017.1321496 This article is comparing the housing affordability issue raised in the Atlanta and Detroit. Atlanta has stronger affordable housing policy than Detroit, which means there is a positive association between stronger housing policies and improved housing affordability for low-income. For planning the tenant, it should be comprehensive, should be flexible for the changes and crisis just like the affordable housing issue.

Landis, J., & McClure, K. (2010). Rethinking Federal Housing Policy. Journal of the American Planning Association, 76(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2010.484793 This article is questioning the federal housing policy and its effect. Some of existing government policies toward rent and housing are vague and not worth.

Such as disproportionate advantage to the homeowner, reconfigure various programs for low income renters, and so on.

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The policies should be adjusted to solve the housing problem as the economy had been expanded.

McDonald, J. F. (2018). Minority groups in the metropolitan Chicago housing market: 1970–2015. Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 55(11), https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098017732513 The article is analyzing the housing market of Chicago with other part of America. Chicago had population growth over 40 years, and still growing. The chart in the article shows the growth of population with their movement to the metropolitan and suburbs from the city. Lots of the population in the metro places are African-American, who are the minority group. They are not superior in the housing market with Hispanic groups. In these groups, the family poverty was 40 percent.

Our current affordable housing crisis Affordable Housing for every New Yorker, NYC, NYC Housing, https://www1.nyc.gov/site/housing/problem/problem.page This government article is explaining about what housing issue and its present condition is. The graph shows the growth of population, portion of each middle, moderate, low, very low, and extremely low-income groups, and higher growth level of median gross rent than median renter income. Also, the number of needs of extremely low-income groups are double of low-income group, which means the biggest group who are suffering from the issue is the extremely lowincome group.

Metcalf, G. (2018). Sand Castles Before the Tide? Affordable Housing in Expensive Cities. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32(1), https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.1.59

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This article is describing the process of the housing crisis in U.S. After WWII, there was a decline in population, however, after 1990, the census shows the population in the cities were increased. As the domestic population increase cause the rise of average price on every product including the house.

Especially in the big cities, the price inflation was accelerated and so the housing cost. Once policy makers tied to control the price of housing, however, the decision to make housing for most people vastly occurred contradiction with the policy.

Miao, J. T. (2017). Housing the knowledge economy in China: An examination of housing provision in support of science parks. Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 54(6), https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098015627106 This article shows the housing market and the knowledge economy in China.

The Chinese local governments have their own strategies to solve the urban problems of their territory. They focused on: housing, residential land, planning, infrastructure, price, coordination, and human capital.

Shamsuddin, S., & Vale, L. J. (2017). Lease it or lose it? The implications of New York’s Land Lease Initiative for public housing preservation. Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 54(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098015614248 This article is explaining about the lease public housing. The housing crisis is a huge problem, especially in those big cities like NYC. The public housing had failed in many parts of the united states, because of the naive policy for the public housing and overlook of the behave of the people in public housing.

The public housing has failed in the first place; however, it is a good way to control population growth.

Szarkowski, F. (2015). Inclusionary Zoning and Exclusionary Development: The Politics of “Affordable Housing” in North Brooklyn. International Journal

- 21 -

of Urban & Regional Research, 39(6), https://doi.org/10.1111/14682427.12297 This article is explaining new strategy toward affordable housing problem in NY. Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of NYC made plans to resolve housing crisis. It is quite like the public housing, however, the new plan name inclusionary zoning, or inclusionary housing is different. It is for low income groups that shares newly constructed house before the sale.

Wegman, J., & McWhirter, S. (2017). Measuring Informal Housing Production in California Cities. Journal of the American Planning Association, 83(2), https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2017.1288162 This article is explaining about informal housing in California. Like other big cities, California also experiencing housing issues. The rural regions like suburban area demand for housing. The informal housing is the house which was built without proper building permission, so it meets the needs of the low-income group with quality wise and cost wise. Informal housing is not very rare to see in U.S. because low income groups are in every part of the united states. Informal houses were built because of the high cost and low return of lease and rents, and number of available houses. Affordable housing issue had been resisted from 2008. It is a very recent issue in the U.S. and is continuing. This issue is also known as Subprime Mortgage Crisis or the U.S. Housing Crisis. In 2008, the average U.S. housing prices declined by 30 percent. It is because of the raised rent and housing price is less worth than lots of Americans’ mortgage. There are several reasons of raised rent and housing prices, such as government policy toward the housing and rent, growth of population, inflation, and etc. Population and economic growth after WWII brought the housing problem, that there are not enough houses built to afford every people from different income groups. It grew out to be the affordable housing problem to which now the most suffered groups.

- 22 -

Data Analysis Report: Kirkland, WA and Binghamton, NY

End350 Section 2 Professor: Jonathan Bleuer Minhyoung Kang - 23 -

Table of Contents Data Analysis

25

Exclusive Summary

31

Introduction

31

Comparison

32

Age and Gender

33

Race

35

Educational Attainment

36

Means of Population to Work

38

Unemployment Rate

39

Conclusion

40

Bibliography and Associated Data

42

The objective of the assignment was to practice producing data tables and from it as chart and graphs. In the report, those charts and graphs should be utilized and related with the findings.

First, I started the assignment with finding two different cities which one has over 30 percent of increasing population growth rate in 8 years, and one has decreasing population growth rate in 8 years. I chose Kirkland, WA as my increasing city and Binghamton, NY as my decreasing city. Then I went to U.S. Census Data Bureau to find data like race, age, gender, and so on to make table for my charts. These data topics were provided for students in class, so I did not have to think about which data should I use. After providing all data and graphs, I could easily synthesize the data to my writing. I think it was because I was practiced in first assignment.

- 24 -

Kirkland, WA year

Population

2010

48,787

2017

86,772

Growth Rate 77.86 Data Source : U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010

Binghamton, NY Year

Population

2010

47,376

2017

45,964

Growth Rate -2.98 Data Source : U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010

- 25 -

2017 Population by Gender, Kirkland, WA

Age Groups

85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 5,000 male

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

female

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

2017 Population by Gender, Binghamton, NY

Age Groups

85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

4,000 male

3,000 female

2,000

1,000

0

1,000

2,000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

- 26 -

3,000

4,000

2017 Population by Race, Kirkland, WA 2%1% 2%2% 16%

77%

White

Asian

Black or African American

Some other race

American Indian and Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

2017 Population by Race, Binghamton, NY 6%

2% 1%0%

15%

76% White

Black or African American

Asian

Some other race

American Indian and Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

- 27 -

2017 Educational Attainment for Population 25 years and older, Binghamton, NY

Graduate or professional degree Bachelor's degree Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate 9th to 12th grade, no diploma

Population

Less than 9th grade

Educational

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Attainment Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S1501

2017 Educational Attainment for Population 25 years and older, Kirkland, WA

Graduate or professional degree Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate 9th to 12th grade, no diploma Less than 9th grade 0

5000

10000

Educational

15000

20000

Population

Attainment

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S1501

- 28 -

25000

30000

12,000

2017 Means of Transportation to Work, Kirkland, WA

Worked at home Taxicab, motorcycle,‌ Bicycle Walked Public transportation Carpooled

Drove alone 0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Population

Means of Transportation

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0801

2017 Means of Transportation to Work, Binghamton, NY

Worked at home Taxicab, motorcycle, or other Bicycle Walked Public transportation Carpooled Drove alone 0

2000

4000

Means of

6000

8000

Population

Transportation Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0801

- 29 -

10000

12000

14000

2010-2017 Unemployment Rate Change Kirkland, WA

8 7 6 Unemployment

5

Rate

4

3 2 1 0 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2016

2017

Year

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, LAUCT533594000000003

2010-2017 Unemployment Rate Change Binghamton, NY

Unemployment Rate

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Year

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, LAUCT360660700000003

- 30 -

2015

Exclusive summary Cities are sizeable human settlements with administratively defined boundaries.

Cities, in general, have extensive systems such as housing, transportation, education, sanitation, utilities, land use, and so on. These systems tend to attract people to the place, where has a better traffic system, education system, utilities, and green spaces. Kirkland, WA, had a huge increase in its population from 2010 to 2017, about 78 percent. However, the explosive growth of Kirkland did not happen consistently throughout seven years, but in only one year, which is very unusual. Kirkland’s population grew 70 percent from 2010 to 2011, and consistently grew about 1 percent per year until 2017. Binghamton, NY, had a consistent decrease in population from 2010 to 2017. The purpose of the observation of these two cities is to clarify whether there is a correlation between the different growth rates of two cities and the differences in aspects such as age, gender, race, educational attainment, means of population, and unemployment rate.

Introduction The population of Kirkland, WA, had massive growth, which rate was 78 percent from 2010 to 2017. The population of Binghamton, NY, on the other hand, had decreased 3 percent during the same time with Kirkland, WA. The research had been focused on aspects that might have affected the change in population growth rates because having such 78percent of population growth in a short period is highly abnormal. The aspects of the cities that would be compared in the research are age, gender, race, educational attainment, means of the population to work, and unemployment rate.

- 31 -

Comparison Kirkland, WA is one of growing cities in Washington. The city is known as peaceful suburb, often compared with Seattle and Bellevue. The overall weather of WA is cloudy and raining most of the days a year. The total population in 2017 was 86,772, which has 77% growth compared with the 2010 population, 48,787. It is a high growth rate among the growing cities.

Kirkland, WA year

Population

2010

48,787

2017

86,772

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census

Growth Rate

2010, DP-1 (Figure A)

77.86

Binghamton, NY, on the other side, is a city of Southern New York, once rise with the Erie Railroad, developed as an industrial city. However, the city population is now declining, has -2.98% growth rate compared with 2010 to 2017 population.

Binghamton, NY Year

Population

2010

47,376

2017

45,964

Growth Rate -2.98

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010, DP1(Figure B)

- 32 -

1. Age and Gender The population by age of Kirkland is well distributed through 5 to 85. The biggest population group is 30 to 34, and the smallest is 85 and over. By shown in the chart, it is possible to assume that most of the population Kirkland is over 35, which means the working people rather than students. Population under 5 years is larger than 5 to 24, and it means population between 5 to 24, which are the students, move to other city for their education. For gender, there are bigger female population than male population in general. (Figure 1)

2017 Population by Gender, Kirkland, WA

Age Groups

(Figure 1)

85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 5,000 male

4,000

female

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

The population by age in Binghamton is concentrated in the 20 to 24 years age groups. Population ratio in other age groups are very similar, but 20 to 24 years age group has significantly larger population than any other age groups. It could mean that the city Binghamton is an educational city where students come

- 33 -

for their university or college. The gender ratio is similar for every age groups, but female population is higher than male population in general. (Figure 2) (Figure 2)

2017 Population by Gender, Binghamton, NY

Age Groups

85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

4,000 male

3,000 female

2,000

1,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

Kirkland, the growing city has a characteristic of suburb, where majority of population is working people and no many younger generations like student.

Chart of Binghamton shows that Binghamton is an educational city. Majority of population is 20 to 24-year age group, which is college and university students. By the chart of age, it might carry reason why Binghamton is declining city and Kirkland is growing city. Kirkland has lots of stable population, which is working population over 30, and Binghamton has lots of floating population, which is teenage population or students. In the chart of Binghamton, population of 25 to 29 years old is significantly lower than 20 to 24 years old, and it means those 20 to 24 years old population move to other city after they are done with their college/university. On the other side, Kirkland’s 25 to 29 years old population is

- 34 -

significantly higher than under 24 years old populations, which means people who done with their education move to Kirkland to find job or settle.

2. Race (Figure 3)

2017 Population by Race, Kirkland, WA 2%1% 2%2% 16%

77% White

Asian

Black or African American

Some other race

American Indian and Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

In Kirkland, the majority race group is white, and secondary is Asian.

- 35 -

(Figure 4)

2017 Population by Race, Binghamton, NY 6%

2%1%0%

15%

76% White

Black or African American

Asian

Some other race

American Indian and Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0101

Majority race group in Binghamton is also white but the secondary is black or African American. Compared with race group distribution of Kirkland, there is no relationship that race affects the explosive growth of Kirkland and decrease of Binghamton population.

3. Educational attainment Kirkland has high educational attainment compared with Binghamton.

Population group which has bachelor’s degree is the largest group, and smallest population group has less than 9th

(Figure 5)

2017 Educational Attainment for Population 25

years and older, Binghamton, NY

grade, which means the education level is very high in this area.

Data that second largest population

Graduate or professional degree Bachelor's degree Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate 9th to 12th grade, no diploma Educational Less than 9th grade

Attainment

Population 0

- 36 -

2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,00012,000

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S1501

group has Graduate or professional degree also supports that people of Kirkland has high education level.

People of Binghamton has comparably lower education level than people of Kirkland. The largest group of population has graduated high school, and about one third of people compared with high school graduates has (Figure 6)

2017 Educational Attainment for Population 25

bachelor’s degree.

years and older, Kirkland, WA Graduate or professional…

Bachelor's degree Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate 9th to 12th grade, no…

Less than 9th grade

Educational Attainment

0

10000

20000

30000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S1501

Kirkland compared with Binghamton has higher population with higher education attainment. It might reflect to the reason why Kirkland’s population had grown through 2013 to 2017 and Binghamton’s population had declined through 2013 to 2017. People would like to live in the place where has better educational system especially family with kids who are currently taking education.

- 37 -

4. Means of transportation Kirkland’s major mean of transportation is automobile, and least favored transportation is

(Figure 7)

bicycle. Usage of Carpool and public transportation are almost the same. The chart

2017 Means of Transportation to Work, Kirkland,

Worked at home Taxicab, motorcycle, or other Bicycle Walked Public transportation Carpooled Drove alone Means of Transportation

shows about 70

WA

0

5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000

Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0801

percent of total population of Kirkland is using automobile, and it could mean Kirkland has good traffic control system.

(Figure 8)

2017 Means of Transportation to Work, Binghamton, NY Worked at home

Taxicab, motorcycle, or other Bicycle Walked Public transportation

Means of Transportation

Carpooled Drove alone

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

Population

10000 12000 14000

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0801

Binghamton’s mean of transportation to work is very similar to the one for

Kirkland.

The only difference between Kirkland and Binghamton is that Kirkland has little higher percentage population of using public transportation and worked at home, and Binghamton has little higher percentage population of walk to work.

Kirkland having lower walked to work Binghamton having comparably higher walked to work could explained by the total area of two cities. Also, Binghamton

- 38 -

is in the middle of continent, however, Kirkland has several rivers and lakes, which make it hard for people to travel in the area. However, it does not reveal the reason why Kirkland had such growth in its population and Binghamton did not.

5. Unemployment rate Kirkland’s unemployment rate in general is very low and got lower as year goes. In 2010, the national unemployment rate was 9.6 percent and was 4.3 percent in 2017. Kirkland had maintained lower unemployment rate than national

(Figure 9)

2010-2017 Unemployment Rate Change

average.

Kirkland, WA

8 6 Unemployme nt Rate

4 2 0

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, LAUCT533594000000003

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year

Binghamton’s unemployment rate in general is little higher than average.

It remained 2010 to 2012 but started to drop from 2012 to 2016. However, Binghamton still

(Figure 10)

2010-2017 Unemployment Rate Change

has higher

Binghamton, NY 10

unemployment rate the average.

8

Unemployme 6 nt Rate

4 2 0 2010

In

general,

2011

2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, LAUCT360660700000003

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year

Kirkland has lower unemployment rate though 2010 to 2017. It would related with

- 39 -

the growth and decline of the city population. Kirkland, growing city has lower unemployment rate than Binghamton, declining city. However, Kirkland’s explosive growth was happened in 2010, and the consistent decreasing of unemployment rate is also shown in the Binghamton, the unemployment rate does not refer and cannot identify the reason of different growth rates in two different cities.

Conclusion According to the age and academic attainment data, it might has affected to the growth of population of the city. In Kirkland, the growing city, there were lots of working population with high academic attainment, which means people living in Kirkland would have higher average income than other cities which make the city wealthier. In Binghamton, the declining city, has high population of college/university students, and low population other than college/university students. It means that Binghamton has good educational institution, but also has huge floating population, who moves to other place after their academic years. The data about means of transportation shows interesting data, Kirkland and Binghamton have very similar data on the usage of transportation to the work. The total area and population of Kirkland is almost double of Binghamton, but the percentage of transportation usage was similar.

Only difference was that walked to work and usage of public transportation but are not enough to relate to the difference of two cities.

In the population change from 2010 to 2011, it is interesting that Kirkland’s population jumped from 48,787 to 80,825 in 1 year and kept grew to 86,772 in 2017.

It was because of the time when the Kirkland started to take center stage as affordable place surrounded by nature with a bustling downtown waterfront and art scene. However, it is still hard to find relation with the explosive population

- 40 -

growth, is unexplainable from the data. But the unemployment rate kept decreased and the academic attainment did not change so the unexplainable explosive population growth did nothing but the population growth. After 2011, the population of Kirkland kept grew about 2 percent a year, which means it was not just a phenomenon, Kirkland is still growing but much slower than 2010 to 2011.

Low unemployment rate and high education attainment contributes to the growth of the Kirkland and comparably high unemployment rate and low education attainment is the biggest reason for the decline of population of Binghamton.

- 41 -

Bibliography and Associated Data Figure 1, 2 Kirkland, WA Age male Under 5 years 2,935 5 to 9 years 2,314 10 to 14 years 2,087 15 to 19 years 2,240 20 to 24 years 1,896 25 to 29 years 3,774 30 to 34 years 4,191 35 to 39 years 3,223 40 to 44 years 3,562 45 to 49 years 3,021 50 to 54 years 3,019 55 to 59 years 2,734 60 to 64 years 2,649 65 to 69 years 1,871 70 to 74 years 1,310 75 to 79 years 688 80 to 84 years 465 85 years and over 458

Binghamton, NY Age male Under 5 years 1,413 5 to 9 years 1,340 10 to 14 years 1,136 15 to 19 years 1,328 20 to 24 years 3,190 25 to 29 years 1,675 30 to 34 years 1,376 35 to 39 years 1,260 40 to 44 years 968 45 to 49 years 1,386 50 to 54 years 1,203 55 to 59 years 1,395 60 to 64 years 1,377 65 to 69 years 1,156 70 to 74 years 844 75 to 79 years 537 80 to 84 years 260 85 years and over 319

female 3,168 2,327 2,111 2,300 1,950 3,408 4,049 3,691 2,951 2,811 3,275 3,097 2,707 2,250 1,562 1,302 469 907

female 1,338 1,247 1,098 1,238 2,852 1,650 1,330 1,325 1,091 1,220 1,511 1,571 1,623 1,313 954 777 587 1,076

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, table S0101 2017, ACS Age and Sex, generated by minhyoung Kang using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

Figure 3, 4

Binghamton, NY

Kirkland, WA Race White Asian Black or African American Some other race American Indian and Alaska Native Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Population 71,102 15,069 2,047

Race

Population

White

36,628

Black or African American

7,496

Asian Some other race American Indian and Alaska Native

2,003 1531

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander

470

2,681 868 696

33

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, table S0101 2017, ACS Age and Sex, generated by minhyoung Kang using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

- 42 -

Figure 5, 6

Binghamton, NY

Kirkland, WA Education Level Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree

Education Level Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree

population 988 1,205 7,035 11,197 4,900 24,057 14,062

Population 1,396 3,027 9,792 5,784 2,777 3,821 3,187

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, table S1501 2017, ACS Education Attainment, generated by minhyoung Kang using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

Figure 7, 8

Kirkland, WA Means of

Percentage

Binghamton, NY Population

Means of

Transportation

Transportation

Percentage

Population

Drove alone

69.60%

32886.696

Drove alone

71.40%

12871.278

Carpooled

9.10%

4299.841

Carpooled

9.30%

1676.511

9.10%

4299.841

7.90%

1424.133

Public

Public

transportation

transportation

(excluding taxicab)

(excluding taxicab)

Walked

3.00%

1417.53

Walked

6.20%

1117.674

Bicycle

0.50%

236.255

Bicycle

0.80%

144.216

Taxicab,

1.10%

519.761

Taxicab, 1.60%

288.432

2.80%

504.756

motorcycle, or

motorcycle, or

other means

other means

Worked at home

7.60%

3591.076

Worked at home

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, table S0801 2017, ACS Commuting Characteristics by Sex, generated by minhyoung Kang using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

- 43 -

Figure 9, 10

Kirkland, WA

Binghamton, NY

Year

Unemployment Rate

Year

Unemployment Rate

2010

6.8

2010

9.4

2011

5.8

2011

9.3

2012

5.1

2012

9.2

2013

4.1

2013

8.2

2014

3.9

2014

7.3

2015

3.6

2015

6.5

2016

3.5

2016

5.8

2017

3.6

2017

5.9

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, table LAUCT533594000000003 2017, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, generated by minhyoung Kang using BLS DataViewer; https://beta.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/LAUCT533594000000003; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

Figure A, B U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, table DP-1 2017, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, generated by minhyoung Kang using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on October 5, 2019)

- 44 -

Memorandum

End350 Section 2 Professor: Jonathan Bleuer Minhyoung Kang - 45 -

Table of Contents Exclusive Summary

48

Introduction

48

Data Source

49

Findings

50

Current conditions - Intersection

52 53

Analysis Vehicle

53

Pedestrian

55

Bicycle

55

Traffic Flow, Safety, Cost

56

Problem

57

Findings

58

Current conditions - Roundabout

59 61

Analysis Vehicle

61

Pedestrian

61

Bicycle

62

Traffic Flow, Safety, Cost

62

Problem

63

Conclusion and recommendation

64

Data collection Form and Bibliography

65

PowerPoint

74

- 46 -

The objective of this assignment is to observe an intersection and roundabout and compare them.

This assignment was done in groups of 2. Each member research each roundabout and intersection and then compare them with the data collected in both sites.

After the Memorandum, we were told to make a PowerPoint to read, not present. The point of making PowerPoint out of the Memorandum was that how effectively deliver the findings and results to the audience without explaining every section. Each of the slides of PowerPoint should not have too much texts because it would be boring and would not be appealing to the audience. The most important thing was how to interact the visual of the slide and contain fair amount of information. Not only explaining our findings with visual, but also make it easier for audience to get what we really wanted to say was critical.

Therefore, my partner and I used several columns to divide each section and describe each finding along the divided sections. Throughout the work, I learned the importance of effective writing and use of visuals.

- 47 -

Cc. Jonathan Bleuer, Andrew Schaefer From. Minhyoung Kang, Je Yong Lee Date: October 18, 2019 Subject: The Potential Benefits for Replacing the Intersection to the Roundabouts

Executive Summary The intersection is a part of a road system where two or more roads or streets meet or cross. The purpose of the study was to compare and contrast the intersection and roundabout in several aspects and promote and recommend for better and safer road experiences. Study found that roundabouts have comparably less waiting time on the road than on intersections, which means roundabouts have better traffic flow. Study also found that, since roundabouts do not have traffic signals unlike intersection, it would have less cost of money to maintain the road system. In additional study on the government document found that roundabouts have more total accidents than the intersection, however, have less serious accident rates than the intersection. According to the study, it would be better to replace the intersections with roundabouts in cost, efficiency, and safety-wise.

Introduction There are different types of road junctions, such as controlled intersection, rotary, traffic circle, and roundabouts. Intersection often brought up high accident rates and inefficient traffic control. Roundabout, one of the derivatives from the road junction, has a circular shape. Roundabout was invented to improve traffic flow and lower the accident rate. Two examples that our team studied were the intersection on Eggert Road & Kensington Avenue and the roundabout on Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road & Wehler Drive because

- 48 -

these two have similar average traffic volumes. Intersection on Eggert Road and Kensington Avenue is controlled by traffic signals. It has light traffic signals on the road and low acuity crossing and road lines which are faded. Twin roundabout on Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road & Wehrle Drive has the shape of a combined circle of two, without controlled traffic signals. It has traffic signs beside the road and has clear road and crossing lines with high acuity.

Data Source For data collection in this study, a form was provided by the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning of Environmental Design faculty in order to investigate two different sites. The form contains contents such as road elements and conditions, and behavior of the vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle to compare and contrast the differences between the traditional intersection with traffic signals and roundabouts. Our team first looked up GBNRTC to find two road junction types, intersection, and roundabout which have similar average daily traffic volumes to compare, and then visited and investigated the current condition of road and neighborhood. The observation was performed for an hour at each site from 3 PM to 4 PM at Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road and 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM at Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road on October 18th, 2019. Our team used a personal vehicle, digital camera, stopwatch, note and pen for this observation. The weather was sunny and the temperature was about 52°F during the observation. Since the observation was performed and collected data during the short time period, the amount of data may be limited and further research may be helpful to analyze detailed information or activities on each site for longer time period. Our team also researched on government documents and online resources such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, and United States Access Board.

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Findings

(Figure. 1) Aerial and Corner View of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road

(Figure. 1-1) View from B to D

(Figure. 1-2) View from C to A

(Figure. 1-3) View from A to C

(Figure. 1-4) View from D to B

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Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road - intersection Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road located in Buffalo, New York 14215 is an example of the controlled signal intersection. Two streets, Kensington Avenue and Eggert Road, meet at this intersection. Kensington Avenue is twoway, with four lanes. The first lane uses as

(Figure. 2) Eggert Road needs restriped

a left turning lane and the second lane uses as of right turning lane. Eggert Road is two-way, with three lanes. Surrounding land uses at the intersection are a gas station, cafe, and small size mall that has

(Figure. 3) Potholes at Intersection

parking spaces, rental car, bargain store, nail shop, hair salon and etc for neighboring residents. Within the 3000 ft, most land use as residential area consists of houses and apartment villages. There are Elementary schools on the north side of the intersection and Court on the east side of the intersection.

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Current Condition Our team observed that the condition of driving and pedestrian roads is poor and not maintained well. The pavement on both Kensington Avenue and Eggert Road are in above average condition besides the fact that the road traffic paints are worn off.

Eggert Road needs to be restriped because both yellow and white lines are worn off (Figure. 2). There are few potholes at the intersection, and these may cause damage to commuting vehicles’ tires or wheels (Figure. 3).

There are crossing lanes and curb cuts on both sides of the streets, but the crossing lanes need to be repainted (Figure. 4). Also, push buttons for pedestrian crossing lane are broken and missing at two corners of intersection (Figure. 5), and 6 out of 8 are still working properly. Road curbs on both sides of Kensington Avenue and Eggert Road need rebuild due to high damage and crack (Figure. 6) Pedestrian curbs on Kensington Avenue needs to be rebuilt due to the crack

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(Figure. 7) Damaged Sidewalk

(Figure. 6) Damaged Road Curbs

(Figure. 7). There are bus stops on both sides on Eggert Road and Kensington Avenue. On Eggert Road, route 12 and 69 are operated by NFTA, and on Kensington Avenue, route 32 is operated by NFTA.

Vehicle Behavior Analysis The speed limit on Kensington Avenue and Eggert Road is 40 miles per hour.

The average speed of vehicles was 35 miles per hour. Our team observed that most of the vehicle drive below the speed limits on Kensington Avenue, especially on the second lane. It was because the 12 route bus came every other 10 to 15 minutes and constantly stopped at the bus stop located right near the intersection on the second lane of Kensington Avenue. It is easy to recognize and determine the intention of the driver when the driver gives a proper signal before they make a turn or change lanes.

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(Table. 1) Vehicle Waiting Time at Intersection Observatio n Time (PM)

3:00 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 3:25 3:30 3:35 3:40 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00

Waiting Time (SEC) Kensington Ave -Kensington A ve 72 73 72 73 71 73 70 72 75 74 70 72 73

Kensington Ave -Eggert Rd

Eggert Rd Eggert Rd

Eggert Rd -Kensi ngton Ave

55 52 55 56 57 50 52 51 50 50 51 55 53

80 80 80 80 78 79 78 80 80 77 77 78 78

55 55 55 54 53 53 58 58 59 59 59 53 54

The maximum waiting time to cross the intersection on Kensington Avenue was 1 minute and 15 seconds and the minimum was 1 minute 10 seconds (Table.

1). The maximum waiting time on Kensington Avenue to turn left onto Eggert Road was 57 seconds and the minimum was 50 seconds (Table. 1). The maximum waiting time to cross the Eggert Road was 1 minute 20 seconds, and the minimum was 1 minute 17 seconds (Table. 1). The left turn on Eggert Road took 59 seconds maximum and 53 seconds minimum (Table. 1). The average gap acceptance between the vehicles was 15 ft. Most vehicles break gently when the other vehicles are waiting on the red light in front of them. However, our team observed that 4 vehicles actually sped up on yellow light to go cross before it becomes red light during an hour experiment. The perception reaction time was 3 second and distance to leading vehicle and headway was 7 ft.

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Pedestrian Behavior Analysis Our team tried crossing the street using the crossing lane and push buttons on each side of the street and measured the speed, waiting time, visual acuity, perception reaction time, and gap acceptance when there were no people around at the site. Our team was able to observe the average volume of pedestrians’ crossing activity on Eggert Road to Kensington Avenue due to the route 32 bus stops on Eggert Road. The average walking speed and crossing speed of pedestrians were 3 miles per hour, and the average waiting time was 20 seconds. This number is very low compared to the gap in the traffic signals.

The average wait time is significantly low compared to the waiting time of vehicles because even though there is a crossing lane controlled by a signal, most people jaywalk on Eggert Road when there are no vehicles or stopped.

Visual acuity was poor because the sidewalks, curb cuts, and crossing lanes were worn off. Perception reaction time was about 1 second. The pedestrian could see the vehicles on the road clearly since there are no obstacles such as trees, so pedestrians could make a decision quickly.

Bicycle Behavior Analysis Our team observed very few bicycles and motorized-wheelchair, two bicycles and one motorized-wheelchair, during the experiment, and there were no bike lanes around the intersection. The average movement speed of the bicycle was about 15 miles per hour, and the speed of motorized-wheelchair was about 6 miles per hour. The crossing speed of both bicycle and motorizedwheelchair was 6 miles per hour. Visual acuity was very blurred. The crossing lines and the stop lines on the road were weathered and hard to recognize.

Perception reaction time was about 1 second because also a person on the

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bike can see both vehicles and pedestrians clearly when they are on the road or pedestrian way.

Traffic Flow Average vehicle wait time on red light signal for both eastbound and westbound of Kensington Avenue was 1 minute 12 seconds. Both northbound and southbound of Eggert Road was 1 minute 20 seconds. For a left turn, the wait time was 53 seconds on Eggert Road to Kensington Avenue and 51 seconds on Kensington Avenue to Eggert Road. The average pedestrian wait time on crossing lane was 20 seconds. The flow on the intersection seemed slow, the traffic lights hold vehicles about a minute and also the pedestrian traffic.

Safety Our team observed two unsafe issues at the intersection. The first issue is jaywalking. Even though there are only 30 seconds of wait for pedestrians, they tend to jaywalk when there is no car in their sight. The second issue is the yellow light passing. When there is low pedestrian traffic, some drivers do not slow down or stop on the yellow light, and just keep going. Both issues found by observation are the instances that could cause traffic accidents. The study also found that the intersection has an overall higher accident rate compared with the roundabout. This is related to the shape of the intersection; the shape intersection has lots of overlapping routes of vehicles which are the possible collision points.

Cost Our team observed that controlled intersection costs money to maintain.

For instance, traffic lights including pedestrian signals run for 24 hours 7 days so it continuously consumes electricity. In addition, push buttons and signal lights need replacement when it got damaged by heavy snowstorms or wind.

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Problem The intersection is intended to control the traffic from two or more streets for both pedestrians and vehicles. The traffic signals are placed at the site to control the traffic and to avoid a possible collision or accident. However, sometimes, the traffic signal slows down the traffic flow and causes potential jaywalking pedestrians. Both pedestrians and drivers want to proceed their way without waiting but the traffic signals hold them to wait for the green light. Since they do not want the wait, pedestrians would jaywalk, and the drivers would go on a yellow light. If there is an increasing amount of jaywalking pedestrian, this also increases the potential accident with the vehicle passing on the yellow light signal and jaywalking pedestrians. In addition, the lack of a bike lane around the intersection let cyclists to ride on both sidewalks and roads. It is dangerous for both cyclist and pedestrian traffic moving on the same sidewalk.

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Roundabout

A

D B

C

Data Source: Google Map

(Figure. 8) Aerial View of Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road & Wehrle Drive

(Figure. 8-1) View from A to B

(Figure. 8-2) View from C to D

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Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road & Wehrle Drive This twin roundabout is located at the southern edge of the town of Amherst and the northern edge of Cheektowaga. There are two roundabouts interlinked together and connecting 4 streets; Kensington Avenue, Harlem Road, Wehrle Drive, and Lexington Terrace. This site has 4 converging streets, and 11 lanes and one turning lane,

(Figure. 9) Crossing Lane, Curb Cut, and Tactile

has sidewalks but no lane for bicycles. There are crossings without the signal lights. The site has green spaces along Kensington Avenue at the edge of streets near roundabouts.

(Figure. 10) Repainted on Kensington Ave

places for people to rest; bench, trash bin, and streetlights. The land surrounding the site has commercial buildings; parking lots, markets, restaurants, drug stores, and hospital construction site.

Current Condition Our team observed that this uncontrolled twin roundabout is maintained well. The pavements on all Kensington Avenue, Harlem Road, and Wehrle are in good condition and the traffic paints are also clearly visible.

The road is also in good shape, does not have cracks, and potholes. There are sidewalks and curb cuts on every three streets are above the average condition. There are 6 crossing

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(Figure. 11) Signs for Driver

lanes total around the roundabout and lines are thick and clean to notice. On both sides of the crossing lane, there are proper curb cuts and tactile paving for blind pedestrians (Figure. 9). Kensington Avenue is newly painted, so it is clear to see the lane (Figure. 10). There are signs on each street for driving vehicles (Figure. 11) and crossing pedestrians around the roundabouts. There are no bus stop or bike

lanes

(Table. 2) Vehicle Waiting Time When Entering Roundabout

Observation

Waiting

Time

Time

(PM)

(SEC) Enter from

Enter from

Enter from

Enter from

Harlem Rd

Kensington Ave

Wehler Dr

Lexington Terrace

4:15

5

3

2

-

4:20

1

1

0

-

4:25

2

1

3

-

4:30

3

5

1

-

4:35

3

7

7

-

4:40

3

2

5

-

4:45

2

12

4

-

4:50

1

1

1

-

4:55

7

4

2

-

5:00

2

0

8

-

5:05

3

2

8

-

5:10

6

0

1

-

5:15

5

1

1

-

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Vehicle Behavior Analysis Our team separated to observe each side of the entries to the roundabout. Average speed on the roundabout was about 15-30 miles per hour. For acuity, it was hard to recognize and determine the intention of turning of the vehicle while the vehicle is operating within the two circles. Therefore, other vehicles heading into circles from every 6 sides of the streets must stop before they head into the circle. There are YIELD signs painted on the surface of the road on every entrance of the roundabout. The maximum waiting time for vehicles to enter the roundabout was 12 seconds during an hour observation and a minimum of 0 seconds (Table. 2). Most of the time, when there is no traffic on Harlem Road, there is no wait to proceed to other streets through the roundabouts. The average gap acceptance between the vehicles was about 15 ft. The braking behavior of most drivers on the roundabout was gentle, they slow down before entering the circle when there is traffic in the roundabout since there is a sign that shows there is a roundabout in front of them (Figure. 11).

There are no obstacles such as trees and sculptures for drivers to check if there are vehicles in the roundabouts. The perception reaction time was 3 seconds and distance to leading vehicle and headway was about 7 ft.

Pedestrian Behavior Analysis Our team was able to observe low pedestrian traffic around the roundabout. There were no traffic signals for pedestrian traffic. The walking speed of pedestrian traffic was about 2.5 miles per hour and when they are crossing lane, they speed up for a little bit about 3 miles per hour. The waiting time of pedestrian traffic on the crossing lane was less than 5 seconds, comparably lower than the vehicle wait time. There were 6 routes of the crossing choices. Pedestrian traffic seemed like trying to keep the distance from the car, about 10 ft and some were secured by the low wall. The perception

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reaction time of pedestrian traffic to vehicle traffic was about 1 second. From the roundabout, it is clear to notice if the vehicles are coming toward or making a turn because there are no obstacles blocking sights around roundabout such as trees.

Bicycle Behavior Analysis Our team was able to observe very few bicycles and motorizedwheelchair on the site, 3 bicycles and no motorized-wheelchair during the observation. The movement speed of the bicycle was about 10 miles per hour, and they slowed down when they were crossing, about 6 miles per hour. The waiting time for the bicycles were less than 15 seconds. There are 6 routes crossing choices. Bicycle riders feel safe when they are apart from the vehicles about 20 ft. The time taken for the perception reaction for bicycles is about 2 seconds. It is easy to make a decision for bicycle riders to make decisions quickly and accurately on the road because there are proper signs around the roundabouts.

Traffic Flow A study about traffic flow on the roundabout from IIHS found that vehicle delays reduced by 13-23 percent and stops reduced by 14-37 percent (IIHS, 2019). The average wait time during the observation was 3 seconds, which is comparably lower than one in the intersection. The average pedestrian wait time on crossing lane was 5 seconds, and this is also lower than the wait time on the intersection. The overall flow on the roundabout seemed comparably faster than the intersection.

Safety Our team observed that the roundabout is comparably safer than the intersection even without the traffic signals. Lack of traffic signals for pedestrian

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traffic could be seen as dangerous. However, the signs that indicate there is a roundabout before drivers get to the roundabout make drivers slow down.

Roundabout has a circular shape road without traffic signals. Vehicles run at the same speed, do not speed up on roundabout unlike intersection because there is no traffic light that holds vehicles on the road, they need to keep going. It is hard to recognize turning intention on the roundabout because the road itself is circular and the vehicle is always turning so it is hard to recognize whether the vehicle is moving out or still turning. An interesting finding is that roundabout has lower serious injuries than the intersection but has a higher average accident rate than the intersection (John, 2017) and the most common collision at the roundabout is drivers driving into the middle of the roundabout due to the low acuity of the island. (IIHS, 2019).

Cost Our team found that uncontrolled roundabout costs less money than the intersection. It is because of the cost of building and maintaining signal lights which cost about $5,000 to $10,000 per year (WSDOT, 2019). The only maintenance fee that roundabout need to pay is for rebuilding broken or cracked pavement/curb cuts and repainting the crossing/ traffic lanes. As roundabouts have better efficiency of traffic flow, vehicles also consume less fuel (IIHS, 2019)

Problem The roundabout does not have traffic signals for both drivers and pedestrians and has better flow compared with interaction. However, not having traffic light seemed dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians even though there are signs that implicates there are a roundabout few miles ahead.

If there is no vehicle goes on the roundabout, the vehicle which try to enter

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would not stop or reduce the speed. Lack of bike lane leeds cyclists to ride on the sidewalk. It is simply dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians to move on the same path right next to the vehicle road.

Conclusion and Recommendation The findings of the study show that there are more benefits to have roundabout over the intersection. Although roundabout has a higher total number of crashes than the intersection, it has dropped severe injury rates by crashes. Also, since roundabout does not have traffic signals, it costs cheaper to maintain than the intersection on the vision of the long run. It is hard for people to accept the new intersection system at first which is the roundabout, however, as the research revealed, more people who drive, walk, cycle became comfortable with roundabout once it had been installed. It is worth replacing intersection with a roundabout for safe and fast road experience of people.

The following recommendations are for further studies of the roundabouts in Buffalo, New York. First of all, longer observation time can lead to further observation. Secondly, educational materials on the roundabout such as visual demonstration for better driving skills for student drivers can provide better awareness. Last, studying single and multi-lane roundabouts and compare the difference in safety and flow is recommended for a better approach in planning.

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Data Collection Analysis Form Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019

Your Names

Je Yong Lee

Name of Site/Streets

Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road

Type of Site

Roundabout

Address

Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road

City, State, Zip

Amherst, New York, 14225

Date and Time

October 11, 2019 / 1:30 PM

Description of Site

This roundabout is located at the edge of town of Amherst and Cheektowaga. There are two roundabouts interlinked together and connecting 4 streets; Kensington Avenue, Harlem Road, Wehrle Drive, and Lexington Terrace.

Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.

Site Conditions number of converging streets

4

type of intersection design

roundabout

type of intersection control

Uncontrolled traffic circle

number of lanes

11

number of turning lanes

1

presence of sidewalks and bike lanes

Sidewalk yes

presence of crosswalks and crossing control

yes

presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking

yes

presence of landscaping, amenities

Park

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surrounding land uses

Store, commercial buildings, restaurant, drug store

Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration

15-30 mph

turning intention and recognition

Hard to recognize

waiting time

0-45 seconds

gap acceptance

2 seconds

braking behavior

gentle

perception reaction time (Recognize another car?)

1 second

distance to leading vehicle and headway

7 ft

Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed

2.5 mph

crossing speed

3 mph

waiting time

0-15 seconds

visual acuity route and crossing choice

6

perception reaction time (recognize another pedestrian? Car?)

1 second

gap acceptance

3sec

Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed

10 mph

crossing speed

6 mph

waiting time

0-15 seconds

visual acuity

high

route and crossing choice

6

perception reaction time

2sec

gap acceptance

5sec

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Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design

Rationale of roundabout design is to reduce the accident rate by converting the intersections controlled by traffic lights and stop signs.

Rationale of existing control

Rational of roundabout control is to promote faster traffic flow by eliminating the traffic lights and stop signs.

Benefits of existing design and control

Reduce the delay, improve safety.

Deficiencies of existing design and control

Reduce the accident rate, Improve safety.

Flow of users

Faster traffic flow and reduces the delay

Safety of users

It is safe for users because most of vehicles get into the roundabout with concern

Intention vs Reality

Consequences of roundabout meets the intention of design.

Ease of use and understandability

It is hard to understand which way to continue the tour at the first visit due to the combination of two roundabouts.

However, it gets easy to use when the driver the roundabout thanks to the signs.

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Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names

Minhyoung kang

Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time

Kensington Ave & Eggert Rd Intersection Kensington Ave & Eggert Rd Buffalo, NY, 14222 10/12, 12pm to 1pm It is a traditional intersection, have light controlling traffic. This intersection is connected with a circle, which is Kensington & Harlem Rd circle.

Description of Site Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.

Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance

4 Traditional intersection Controlled Traffic intersection 8 4 Sidewalks and bike lanes are available Crosswalk is available but without any signs or lights There is no bus lane/stops. Street parking was available.

Retail shops and gas stations Residential area, Green spaces

About 30miles per hour, consisted speed It was hard to define turning intention even if the vehicle flashed the signal light.

Less than 30 seconds 2 seconds, 10 ft gentle 1 sec 8 ft

About 2.5miles per hour About 3 miles per hour 0-30 sec low 6 3 sec 3 sec

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Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed About 10 miles per hour crossing speed About 10miles per hour waiting time Less than 1 minute visual acuity low route and crossing choice 6 perception reaction time 3 sec gap acceptance About 4 ft Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability

To control traffic from many different directions.

Improve the flow of the traffic.

Increasing the speed of the circulation and flow, avoiding the possible accidents.

Easy to understand system, can go if there’s no car even if its red light.

Lack of the light sign could be dangerous for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, hard to recognize the turning intention.

Smooth and fast Faded signs on the road and low acuity looked unsafe.

Intention of the traffic circle is to make it faster and safer for vehicle traffic, and in real life, it works along the intention.

It is not easy to recognize and use the intersection.

There is no traffic light, however, vehicle just goes if there is no vehicle in front of their way.

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Bibliography (2018), GBNRTC, https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod= Google, (2019), Google Maps place for intersection, Retrieved October 18, https://www.google.com/maps/place/495499+Eggert+Rd,+Buffalo,+NY+14215/@42.9419878,78.8054119,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x89d30d31555554db:0x99926a 9a72e8418a!2sTOPS+Friendly+Markets!8m2!3d42.949001!4d78.7846998!3m4!1s0x89d372d037346287:0x98fb7e658b67ce89!8m2!3d42.9419944!

4d-78.8031993 Google, (2019), Google Maps place for roundabout, Retrieved October 18, https://www.google.com/maps/place/Buffalo,+NY+14226/@42.9501812,78.7867002,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89d37322596ea697:0xd7f63f9d7bd8 3ce0!8m2!3d42.9500868!4d-78.7847437 John, Metcalfe (2017), The Other Side of Roundabouts: More Crashes, CITYLAB, https://www.citylab.com/design/2017/03/the-other-side-of-roundabouts-morecrashes/518484/ (2019), Regulatory Assessment, United States Access Board, https://www.accessboard.gov/guidelines-and-standards/streets-sidewalks/144-public-rights-of-wayguidelines/regulatory-assessment (2019), Roundabout Benefits, Washington State Department of Transportation, https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Safety/roundabouts/benefits.htm (2019), Roundabouts, IIHSHLDI, https://www.iihs.org/topics/roundabouts

Figure. 1 Google Map, Satellite View on Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, generated by Minhyoung Kang and Je Yong Lee using Google Map; http://map.google.com;

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(data retrieved on October 18, 2019)

Figure. 1-1 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the corner of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward North West on October 18, 2019 at 3:12 PM.

Figure. 1-2 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the corner of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward North East on October 18, 2019 at 3:18 PM.

Figure. 1-3 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the corner of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward Sorth West on October 18, 2019 at 3:21 PM.

Figure. 1-4 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the corner of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward South East on October 18, 2019 at 3:23 PM.

Figure. 2 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the intersection of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward South East on October 18, 2019 at 3:26 PM.

Figure. 3 Photo was taken by iPhone X at the intersection of Kensington Avenue & Eggert

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Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward South West on October 18, 2019 at 3:33 PM.

Figure. 4 Photos were taken by iPhone X at Intersection of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward North West, North East, South East, and South West on October 18, 2019 at 3:37 PM.

Figure. 5 Photos were taken by iPhone X at the corners of Kensington Avenue & Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward North West, North East, South East, and South West on October 18, 2019 at 3:41 PM.

Figure. 6 Photo was taken by iPhone X at Eggert Road, Buffalo, New York, looking toward West on October 18, 2019 at 3:44 PM.

Figure. 7 Photo was taken by iPhone X at Kensington Avenue, Buffalo, New York, looking toward East on October 18, 2019 at 3:38 PM.

Figure. 8 Google Map, Satellite View on Kensington Avenue & Harlem Road & Wehrle Drive, generated by Je Yong Lee using Google Map; http://map.google.com; (data retrieved on October 18, 2019)

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Figure. 8-1 Photo was taken by iPhone X at Lexington Terrace near Twin Roundabout looking toward South East on October 18, 2019 at 4:18 PM.

Figure. 8-2 Photo was taken by iPhone X at Wehrle Drive near Twin Roundabout looking toward North West on October 18, 2019 at 4:21 PM.

Figure. 9 Photo was taken by iPhone X at Wehrle Drive near Twin Roundabout looking toward West on October 18, 2019 at 4:24 PM.

Figure.10 Photo was taken by iPhone X on Kensington Avenue near Twin Roundabout, Amherst, New York, looking toward North Easton October 18, 2019 at 4:35 PM.

Figure. 11 Photos were taken by iPhone X at entrances of twin roundabout, Amherst, New York, looking toward North, South, North West, North East, South West, South East on October 18, 2019 at 4:20 to 4-50 PM.

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PowerPoint

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Mini Master Plan: Ellicott Creek Park

Minhyoung Kang James Annuziata Tyson Morton Sara Popp

University at Buffalo - 82 -

11/22/2019

Table of Contents History

85

Background

85

Context

87

Observation

88

Conditions

88

Challenges

91

Opportunities

93

Demographic and Observational Analysis

94

Age and Gender

95

Race

96

Mobility and Transportation

96

Survey Results

97

Recommendations

99

Environmental

99

Connectivity

100

Historical Significance

103

References

105

Appendix

107

Figure and Image Citations

107

Photo Map and User Survey

110

Charts and Graphs

112

PowerPoint and Script and Handout

116

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The objective of this assignment is to create mini-master plan of public park in Buffalo area. There should be decent amount of research on the park and since it is a group work, teammates should work together to gather all the work and make it as a one complete work.

Our team chose Ellicott Creek park, just because it was close to the UB North Campus. Accessibility to the park is important because if it is too far away from each team members, it would be difficult to gather at the same time. In the park choosing stage, the assignment was started, we had to think about how we can give everyone equal chance to get to the park and work.

After choosing the park, our team break down the components of the assignment and distributed equal amount of work as much as possible. Eventually every team member got similar amount of work however, we helped and advised each other. In this part, I really felt this is a group work and this is the benefit of the group work.

Our team chose a date to meet and observe the park. We were divided in 2 teams of 2 and each team took user survey and picture of the park. After gathering the result of the observation, our team separated and worked on each other’s part. When we were gathering all materials from each team members, I could tell that it was a writing from 4 different people. There, I realize the importance of interaction between team members, each team members should read and understand the parts that is other than own portion. We read the whole paper together and proof read to make it consistent and have same flow through out the whole work.

After the written assignment, students were told to make a PowerPoint out of the mini-master plan for verbal presentation. There was another PowerPoint assignment, however, this time was little different, we had to actually present to audience. It means there should be even less written information’s and make it simple as much as possible. Effective way of presenting material was the key point of the assignment. At the same time, we had to concern about the time limit.

There was 15 minute time limit for each presentation, which means each team members have 4 minutes to present each parts. Our team met twice a week to practice presentation to make it enough to go by time limit.

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History Ellicott Creek Park was founded in 1925 by Erie County through the acquisition of private land and debt foreclosures. The park includes the main portion of Ellicott Creek Park on the banks of Ellicott Creek as well as Irvington Park and the park on Ellicott Island, which was built in order to divert boat traffic on Tonawanda Creek during the heyday of the Erie Canal

in

the

mid-19th

century.

A

landscape architect, Charles Ellicott, had a hand in the design of Ellicott Island and the park on it as well (Erie County DEP, 2003).

During the course of the Works

Progress Administration, many of the stone buildings were built on the main park proper as well as Ellicott Island, the Ellicott Creek Park casino, and the Ellicott Island boathouse.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration.

Figure 1: Ellicott Island Park Boathouse

Due to the waterfront positioning of the park and the aesthetic appeal of the stone structures, Ellicott Creek Park was popular as a boating and picnic location in the 1930’s and 1940’s (Erie County DEP, 2003). The park saw a period of neglect from a period of 1970 to 1990, which led to a less than desirable reputation being assigned to the park due to the less reputable activities that began taking place.

During the 90’s, Erie County began to refurbish and rehabilitate the park, which improved the reputation and renewed public interest in attending the park (Erie County DEP, 2003).

Background What is colloquially known as Ellicott Creek park is actually a combination of three parks: Ellicott Creek park, Irvington Park, and the Ellicott Island park. Ellicott Creek park is made up by the southern portion of the park space along Ellicott Creek, as well as the park land along the Tonawanda Creek. Irvington Park is made up by the portion of the park most closely integrated with the nearby residential area. Ellicott Island Park is made up by the land on Ellicott Island itself, as well as the park space immediately around the pedestrian bridge to the island.

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Ellicott Creek park is bisected by a floodway which links Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek, and which also houses one of the main parking lots for the park. Ellicott Creek Park has a host of amenities for recreation including: a multitude of rentable shelters, an off-leash dog park, a soccer field, a football field, tennis courts, walking as well as biking paths, multiple playground, and multiple open fields suitable for various recreational activities. Ellicott Creek Park is also host to the Ellicott Creek Bike Path, which allows for movement between the park and the University at Buffalo North Campus. Management of the park is dual in nature, with Erie County managing all park space except for Irvington Park and said park being managed by the Town of Tonawanda (Real Property, n.d.). Ellicott Creek Park also plays host to two pedestrian bridges that span Ellicott Creek and one to Ellicott Island over Tonawanda Creek. One of the main attractions of Ellicott Creek Park is the multitude of historic stone buildings that were constructed in the park during the Works Progress Administration in the 1930’s, many of which are still in full use in the park today. These buildings include the old casino, two concession stands, and many of the rentable shelters.

Source: Erie County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department Figure 2: Ellicott

Creek Park Map

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Context Ellicott Creek Park is located in the northwestern corner of Erie County, between Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek, on the border with Niagara County. The park is located in the towns of Tonawanda and Amherst, and is located in close proximity to the Cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda; while also being located relatively closely to the town of Wheatfield and north campus of the University of Buffalo. There is also a proposition to develop a trail along the Erie Canal, including along Tonawanda Creek, which would link the park to such attractions as the Riverwalk and Isle View Park (Erie County DEP, 2003).

Irvington Park is also directly within a residential area, and the area across Ellicott Creek is a densely populated suburban area. The combined locality in relation to multiple suburbs means that the park is not short of visitors or potential visitors by any stretch of the imagination.

Ellicott Creek Park is also located next to Niagara Falls Boulevard, which is a major route from the City of Buffalo to the City of Niagara Falls. This route runs next to the park, and allows access to the main park entrance as well as the parking lot near the Ellicott Island Park. Niagara Falls Boulevard also allows access to both interstate routes 290 and 190 along its length, though the 290 access is most appropriate to discuss because it is also in close proximity to Ellicott Creek Park.

The close proximity to the interstate and Niagara Falls Boulevard also allows for access to the park by citizens of Buffalo and the Village of Kenmore via car or public transportation. The park is also bordered by Ellicott Creek Road to the south and is cut through north of the floodway by Creekside Drive, which allows for easy access around the park, though there is no direct route by foot or car to traverse from the main parking lot in the floodway to Irvington Park and the Ellicott Island Park.

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Observation Primary site visit on Ellicott Creek Park was conducted on 11/3 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and further site visit was conducted as well. Ellicott Creek Park is in the northwestern corner of Erie County, a few miles away from University at Buffalo North Campus.

Ellicott Creek Park University at Buffalo North Campus

Figure 3

In the park, there are numbers of pavilions, playgrounds, and sports fields that offers several activities to visitors. Additionally, the park includes the waterfronts of Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek, and offers water sports such as kayaking.

Our team focused on the trail ways of the park and the facilities in the park.

1 . C o n d it io n ⚍

Trail

Ellicott Creek Park has one paved trail and one paved road for vehicles that goes around the whole park. The trail was well maintained and recently repaved. There were no cracks or dimples on the trail. The paved trail crossed the floodway, and the sediment on the runway deposited by the recent flood was still there.

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Photo 1: Sediments from the recent flood on the trail

The trail that connects Ellicott Creek Park and Ellicott Island Park makes visitors cross the road which does not have a traffic sign or lights. Otherwise, visitors need to circumnavigate the park to visit the island. It is dangerous to cross the road without signals.

Photo 2: Entrance to the Ellicott Creek Park

The bridge to the Ellicott Island Park was well maintained, has signage at the entrance.

Photo 3: Entrance to the Ellicott Island Park

⚍

Pavilion Pavilions were outdated and were not managed consistently. There were wood fragments that had not been removed; the chairs and table in the pavilion were cracked and not in a usable condition. The roof was not maintained as well; signs of erosion and negligence could be found.

Photo 4: Broken Pavilion

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Some of the pavilions were in the process of replacement of the roof. The columns

were

not

subject

to

the

replacement, although they were also cracked and could see the erosion.

Photo 5: Replacing the roof of the pavilion

Water fountain is the place where visitors could drink or wash away the dirt, however the fountain did not work consistently. Plumbing was either broken or rusty, not in a condition to be used.

Photo 6: Broken water fountain

⚍

Playground

The

playgrounds

were

also

outdated. The colors were faded, and the plastics were cracked. Chains of the swings were rusted and often lost. It looked

dangerous

and

needs

maintenance or replacement.

Photo

7,

8,

9:

Out-dated

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and

broken

⚍

Signage The

signage

in

the

park

was

deficient. There is some signage; such as speed limit, stop sign, and pedestrian crossing signs. However, there is too little signage, and the signs are hard to Photo 10. Lack of signs on the trail.

recognize. Parks in general need signage with visual acuity. The signage is essential in

the park because it leads visitors to their destinations in sizeable green space. ⚍

Other facilities

There was only one restroom in the park, which was closed. The restroom was halfway in the park, which was hard to get to. Also, it was hard to find on the outer side of the trail. There should be more restrooms around each site for activities where people stay for a long time. Also, bathrooms should be open during the daytime if it is not for maintenance.

Sculptures were left broken. Bricks fell out, and no sign of repair or maintenance.

Castle in the Ellicott Island Park was broken down, and the walls were stained with graffiti. Our team was able to find the trace that was once stairs, the second floor, and the roof. The castle was broken but has closed space since the walls are still there. The closed space of the broken structures could be used for illegal activity.

To prevent possible danger and illegal activities, the castle should be fixed and maintained.

2.

C h a l le n ge s

By the observation, our team could find Photo 11,12: Broken boathouse ruin

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that the park has some challenges associated with accessibility, maintenance, and signage.

i.

Accessibility

There is only one entrance to the Ellicott Island Park, and Ellicott Creek Park also have significantly few entrances. Having such few entrance would be inconvenient for the visitors because they need to go all the way around to get to the entrance despite the direction that they are coming from. Also, the walking path from Ellicott Creek Park to the Ellicott Island Park includes crossing the road.

It would be better to have two or more entrances to the park to improve the accessibility to the park.

ii.

Maintenance

Numerous facilities in the park are outdated. Although pavilions are in the process of roof repair, there are still more utilities and facilities that need maintenance. For example, the water fountain is in an unusable condition. Also, playgrounds are eroded, stairs are broken, and the chains for the swings are either rusty or missing. Maintenance is essential to improve the safety of the park and the visitors.

Another problem is the lack of bathrooms. There was only one bathroom that our team could observe, and it looked very inconvenient. There should be more restrooms around the park, especially in high use areas.

The pedestrian trails need consistent maintenance because it is the most common path that people would use for jogging, walking with their dogs, and so on.

Because Ellicott Creek Park controls excess water through a floodway, the path through the floodway tends to become cluttered with debris. The debris should be removed periodically to get rid of obstacles on the path. iii.

Signage

One of the problems that came to our team’s sight in the first place was the lack of signage compared to the size of the park. Ellicott Creek Park has three different sections, Ellicott Creek Park, Ellicott Island Park, and Irvington Park.

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These three parks are connected, and visitors could get each site by walking or driving. However, there is a lack of signage that should lead visitors to their destinations. The trails are not marked either as what they are, or where they lead, making it easy for visitors to become disoriented.

There are several pavilions and playgrounds, and they could be seen from anywhere. However, the placement of the pavilions combines with poor signage disordered placement to confuse people on their orientation in the park. There is signage with the number on the pavilions, but they cannot be seen from a distance. Also, there is no consistency in the placement of the pavilions relative to the numbers. Ellicott Creek Park should work on the signage to make them stick out to visitors so that they can know what them is around.

3 . O p po r t u n it ie s Ellicott Creek Park is a fascinating park, with three different parks combined into one system.

One part of the park, which is Ellicott Island Park is a park for dogs; visitors can bring their dogs and let their dogs off the leash. It is great benefit having public space where people and their pets can stay together.

The park is meeting the waterfront where activities like kayaking or swimming are possible. Having both green space and water access gives visitor’s various choices of possible activities.

Ellicott Creek Park is attractive and has excellent potential to grow.

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Demographic and Observational Analysis There are 180 parks in the City of Buffalo Division of Parks and Recreation, and are followed by even more in the Western New York region. Despite the huge amount of parks in the region, each park is unique in their own way from the way it was designed all the way to the characteristics of the people that surround the parks in their respective neighborhoods. Ellicott Creek Park has multiple municipalities that surround it such as the towns of Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Amherst, Kenmore, and Wheatfield.

It was decided to complete an in-depth demographic analysis of a fifteen to twenty-minute

radius

around

Ellicott

Creek

Park

which

includes

the

aforementioned towns. While it is impossible to determine who and where people will come to visit parks from, we believed necessary for parks to be most accessible to the communities they were built in and around first and foremost.

This also required firsthand information including surveys of the people that directly experience Ellicott Creek Park.

Through demographic analysis and the surveyed information, a greater understanding can be gained of the potential changes this park might need to improve its use and accessibility.

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Age and Gender One area that was looked at was the age and gender distribution. As a society, we move deeper into the use of technology and the significant role it plays in everyday life. In 2011, 52 percent of homes with children had a mobile device such as a phone or tablet and 6 years later that number jumped up to 98 percent of homes (Kamenetz, 2019). With technology clearly growing in use and priority, things such as parks and enjoying the outdoors have sadly taken a back seat. With younger generations, children to young adults, being the most frequent users of newer technology, they are less likely to actively visit parks. Despite this, through our observations, young adults are the greatest age demographic that utilizes Ellicott Creek Parks features. Looking at the Age and Gender graph below with data provided by the United States Census Bureau, late teens and young adults also greatly outnumber other age ranges in the surrounding area (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). This is significant because through design practices such as placemaking, reinventing public spaces to reflect the heart of the community, different wants and need can be prioritized based on age group (Project for Public Spaces [PPS], 2007).

Age Pyramid for Surrounding Ellicott Creek Park Area 80 to 84 years 70 to 74 years 60 to 64 years

Age

50 to 54 years 40 to 44 years 30 to 34 years 20 to 24 years 10 to 14 years Under 5 years 15,000

10,000

5,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

Number of People Male

Figure 4: Source: United States Census Beurau

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Female

R ace As previously mentioned, place

Race of Ellicott Creek Park Area

making cannot be overlooked when designing urban communities and race plays a huge role in this. Diversity promotes greater inclusion in many

Hispanic or Latino (of any race) alone

different facets of urban life. This includes cultural sharing, as well as

White alone

encouraging people to move in, potential business opportunities and

5.16% 4.91%

3.40%

Black or African American alone

economic vitality. As shown by the graph below, the area surrounding

American Indian and Alaska Native alone

area around Ellicott Creek Park is dominated by one race despite our

0.02% 0.27%

Asian alone

observations of various groups utilizing

86.23%

the park. Urban spaces that support Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone

diversity are not only more inviting themselves but can assist with cultural integration

for

the

surrounding

communities and diversity is definitely

Figure. 5: Source: United Satates Census Beaurau

a realm where this area can improve.

Mobility and Transportation As previously mentioned, a fifteen to twenty-minute radius was the primary focus of analysis due to travel being a major component of accessibility to an area. The closer a destination is, the more accessible it is to various methods of travel such as personal vehicles, public transit, walking, and cycling.

An analysis of transportation methods is important for public spaces because it can provide a framework for the necessary physical structures to maximize accessibility. For example, a high amount of personal automobile use might warrant adding multiple parking lots to reflect the needs of the community where as if people prefer walking and cycling, safer paths would be needed leading up to and throughout the public area. In the graph generated below, the clear favorite method of travel to work for workers over the age of 16 was by personal vehicle (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017).

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Means of Transportation to Work in surrounding Eliicott Creek Park Area Method of Transportation

Worked at home

4034

Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means

857

Bicycle

379

Walked

2853

Public transportation

2224

Car, truck, or van

118808 0

Source: United States Census Bureau

20000 40000

60000

80000 100000 120000 140000

Number of Workers over the age of 16

Figure. 6

Another statistic displayed in the graph is the amount or lack thereof the use of public transit. Public transportation such as buses or rails, can be a cost-efficient method of travel when compared to a personal car as long as there is an effective transit system in place however, even walking is a more favored method in the surrounding area. This is another potential area that can improve the collective accessibility of the entire area.

Survey Results Opinionated input is necessary for urban spaces because they should be designed for the people who would most use them. Without taking public opinion into an account, public areas would be neglected and lack the support to sustain them and validate their use. Through multiple trips to Ellicott Creek Park, many surveys were taken to get a firsthand account of what they think would make it a better park and ultimately determine what Ellicott Creek Park might need.

As we get closer to the winter months and a lot colder weather, we assumed there would be little to no visitors at the park. We were surprised at the amount people that proved us wrong. One stand-out statistic determined from the survey was the preferred method of travel to get to Ellicott Creek Park. As Shown by the

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Transportation to the Park 9

NUMBER OF PEOPLE

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

0 Personal Car

Public Transit

Figure 7: Source: User Survey Created by Tyson Morton

Walking/ Bike

Other

METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION

graph below, nearly everyone surveyed traveled to the park by personal automobile. Most of the visitors interviewed live within 15 minutes of the park .

In our visits to the park there was a huge range of activities park goers undertook. While some people visited the various playground with their children, other visitors utilized the walking/bike path that goes all throughout the park for exercise. We were even fortunate enough to witness a cricket game among fifteen friends despite the colder weather. Even though there were many visitors at the park, we noticed that the park bathrooms were closed on Sunday on November 3rd. We thought it confusing that a frequently used public area had bathrooms inaccessible to the public.

Ellicott Creek Park is also currently undergoing multiple construction projects such as new pavilions and roofs to building structures. Older buildings such as the casino look structurally sound and as though they could’ve possibly been recently renovated however it no longer operates as a casino. The parking lot outside of the casino looked to be just a plot of concrete with no street paint lines for ordered parking. Some playground sets are newer however there are playgrounds with missing swing sets or visible rust on the equipment. Collectively these observations suggest that due to ineffective maintenance, the park’s age clearly shows.

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Overall, our experience with Ellicott Creek Park was a positive one. The many playgrounds give off a safe environment feel and very family oriented. The open fields provide many opportunities for recreational events and picnics while having separate areas for sporting events such as soccer and tennis. It’s a great public park that definitely has room to grow and thrive with the proper direction and consideration.

Recommendations The most important part of any park is how well it serves the community.

Beyond rudimentary maintenance, there are many ways in which Ellicott Creek Park does not meet the current needs of its users.

Environmental Parks play an important role in sustaining ecosystems, conserving land, providing clean air and water, and maintaining a better quality of life for all (National Recreation and Parks Association 2019). Particularly in a time dealing with the impacts of urban and suburban sprawl, and an increasing reliance on technology, parks ensure that the population has access to green space, and wild ecosystems have room to exist.

The green expanses of Ellicott Creek Park reduce carbon and reduce rainwater runoff and flooding. This is essential for the residents of the area, for health reasons and to keep the surrounding properties from flooding. Additionally, the park is important for economic and social reasons. Living near a park or greenspace increases real-estate values, as well as having other economic benefits, parks can be powerful community spaces, and keep residents healthy with clean air and outdoor recreation (National Recreation and Parks Association 2019).

Dredging the Creek Ellicott Creek Park rests between two waterways, Tonawanda Creek and Ellicott Creek. Neither of these waterways could be considered healthy; both having been contaminated by various pollutants many times since the 1930’s when Buffalo’s suburbs began expanding more into the surrounding land. Most recently, the city of Amherst was fined for allowing its wastewater treatment plant to dump pollutants into Tonawanda Creek.

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In order to promote a healthy ecosystem in the rivers and reduce resident exposure to harmful pollutants, it is recommended that Tonawanda Creek be dredged. It is the larger and more toxic of the two waterways, as well as additionally being of historic significance due to its time as part of the Erie Canal.

As a former industrial powerhouse, Buffalo has more than its fair share of polluted areas, and there is precedent for cleaning up the remnants of that past.

The Army Core of Engineers began dredging the Buffalo River in 2011, and the river has since begun to return to a healthier state (Landers 2011). Dredging removes contaminated sediment and in doing so enables remediation; benefiting not just the creek and the immediate surrounding community, but also the watershed of the creek, ensuring that the pollution does not travel further (Landers 2011).

Dredging the river would, of course, be a long-term project, but would bring benefits not just of a healthier environment, but also higher property values, and a more useable asset for the community.

Planting Trees Another recommendation to help preserve the environmental benefits of Ellicott Creek Park is tree planting community events. Many of the park’s trees are sacrificed to the harsh Buffalo winter every year, and part of maintaining the park is replanting a few each new season. Trees are essential for clean air and soil integrity, as well as providing shade and comfort for park visitors.

Collaborative tree planting can have a social benefit, strengthening community bonds and reinforcing the relationship residents have with their surroundings (Watkins, et al. 2018). In making this routine maintenance a community event, inhabitants of the surrounding neighborhoods can build connections with each other, and gain a greater sense of responsibility to the park (Watkins, et al. 2018). A neighborhood association or other community group could organize such an event, and in doing so free up time and resources from park maintenance that could then be used for other improvements to benefit the public.

Connectivity One of the more significant aspects of community building is the importance

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of connectivity.

Connectivity in communities leads to stronger bonds between people and ultimately allows public spaces to thrive. For Ellicott Creek Park, connectivity is definitely an area that can improve and will not only benefit the quality of life within the park but the surrounding area as well.

Through a series of data collection methods, it was determined that there could be recommendations, one minor and one major, to create a better flow of people within the entirety of Ellicott Creek Park and encourage an even greater amount of use than there is now. At present, there are three separate areas of Ellicott Creek Park that make up the whole. The main park wedged between Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks, Irvington Park at the north end of the park, and Ellicott Island, which is the dog park further north along Tonawanda Creek. It is not easy to travel from one section of the park to another right now, which can divorce the park from its community. When visitors travel to the park by personal car for example, they don’t want to have to drive multiple times to experience all that the parks have to offer.

A minor alteration to improve linkage is the addition of a walking path across the floodway and a pedestrian crossing across Creekside drive on the western side of the park. This would link the park on both sides of Creekside drive, as there is no current designated crossing. In fact, there is specifically a guardrail barrier up that inhibits pedestrian movement. The addition of the walking path would provide an alternate and faster route to travel between parks. If a visitor were to visit the bark park, and park in the available parking lot, it would approximately take them 25-30 minutes to walk along the creek to the entrance of the main park.

This new path would significantly cut this time down as well as provide an alternate view of the floodway as aesthetic scenery.

One example of a trail being built to better connect adjacent areas is the 500mile San Francisco Bay Trail. Although on a much larger scale, it was still rooted in the principles that the new potential path for Ellicott Creek Park would follow. The Bay Trail connected all the towns and cities that run along the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay and is essentially a continuous trail for pedestrian and bike travel alike to encourage another form of travel outside of automobiles. This is better for the environment and with the Bay as natural scenery, more people would be

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encouraged to use the trail and create more face to face interactions that would strengthen the affected communities (BayTrail, 2019). Depending on the desired quality of the trail, it could be a fairly inexpensive project funded by the Town of Tonawanda and possibly other surrounding towns for this necessary change.

A major and more time dedicated alteration to improve linkage is the addition of two bridges to the park as shown in Figure 8. Bridge location 1 would be across Tonawanda Creek to the dog park Island, and bridge location 2 would be across the floodway in between Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek that cuts off the main entrance of the park when it floods.

Currently there is only one way on or

Processing Bridge Location 1

off Ellicott Island Park and it is quite far removed from the rest of the park. (Most Processing Bridge Location 2 Figure 8: Source: Google Maps

likely add a picture highlighting potential areas for bridges) The addition of a second bridge across Tonawanda Creek connects that island to the rest of the park

more efficiently and ultimately the community. This is especially important as of all the aspects of the park, the bark park is heavily utilized consistently, as people always need to walk their dogs. Weaving it more firmly into the fabric of the park will encourage more traffic in the rest of the park year-round. The second proposed bridge would have a much greater direct impact in connecting the surrounding communities. It would provide a direct pedestrian walking path to an entire community that would otherwise have to travel to the parks by car. This increased accessibility would be a major opening that would attract everyone nearby and hopefully make Ellicott Creek Park the cornerstone of the surrounding area.

A model standard for the potential benefits of what these bridges could provide, is the Missouri River Pedestrian and Bike Bridge in Jefferson City.

The

bridge is 8 feet wide, .7 miles long, and was specifically designed for safe pedestrian and bike travel over the Missouri River with lookout points. The bridge provides an integral connection between to areas of interest however it also serves as an attraction itself that augments the surrounding area. The Ellicott

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Creek bridges would be a fairly expensive project that could take a page from the Missouri River Bridge’s book and take advantage of the Federal Bicycle/Pedestrian Enhancements program (Alsager, 2011).

Historical Significance Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, which makes the preservation of history one of the most important aspects human advancement.

That being said, historic structures are also aesthetically appealing and allow spaces like a park to have unique attractions that bring in people and give them a reason to explore the grounds. Ellicott Creek Park has a unique historical draw in the form of the stone structures that exist throughout the park space. Such structures were erected during the New Deal era and were constructed by the Works Progress Administration for the dual purpose of building up the park space and putting unemployed people to work. These historic stone buildings were solidly built, and as such are still standing today, but have found themselves into various states of disrepair. On one end of the spectrum are the various shelters needing minor repairs, and the other end bears witness to the old boat house on Ellicott Island that is in ruins after a fire. These buildings can easily be restored into their original historic versions and, in the case of the boathouse, can be restored to their original functions as well. As well as restoring the historic buildings, some light restoration work can be done to the playgrounds in order to improve the experience of parkgoers.

Restoring Boathouse Restoration of the Boathouse on Ellicott Island in addition to the various shelters present in Ellicott Creek Park will allow the park to capitalize on the historic nature of the shelters and buildings present in the park. The historic nature of the park will also help to establish it as a strong point in the surrounding community, producing a community more resilient to disaster and stress as a result (Appler, 2016).

Preserving the historical significance of the park will also help to bring in more traffic, due to the fact that the park has a unique historic background as an attraction and a reason to explore. The boathouse can also be restored into a working boathouse, allowing for more revenue through kayak rentals and more options for recreation on Tonawanda Creek. Ellicott Creek Park would not be the first park to attempt historic restoration to great success however, as the

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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park had its lock houses restored and its tavern converted into a day area (Sirna, 2014). Ellicott Creek Park can take advantage of its unique history in the same way that Chesapeake and Ohio did, while also restoring function to a historic building and benefitting the park both monetarily and aesthetically as a result. The restoration of these historic properties can also be supplemented financially through a number of historic preservations grants available, such as the Save America’s Treasures grant program available through the National Park Service.

Playgrounds and Parking Lots The rehabilitation of playgrounds and parking lots is a collection of simple and cheap fixes that can bring a host of benefits to the park, including more visual appeal and more comfort for park goers. Rehabilitating the cracked and destroyed parking lots is as simple as repaving the lots and installing new parking lines, but the fresh look of the redone lot will help albeit a small amount, to improve the park’s visual appeal by making it look more well-kept. Rehabilitation of the playgrounds will also help the park to look better kept, but this presents another benefit as well. Rehabilitation of the playgrounds, such as touching up the paint, repairing broken areas, and replacing any sites beyond repair with newer pieces, will also make park goers want to use the playgrounds. This will not necessarily bring in crowds of people, but it will definitely give people another reason to enjoy Ellicott Creek Park. Grants are also available for this type of project as well, such as Game time playground grants for improving playground systems in parks.

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from https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/Grant-Fundraising-Resources/ Real Property Information, Real Property Information (n.d.). Retrieved from https://paytax.erie.gov/webprop/property_info_details.asp?sbl=40.05-43&KEY=1464890400500004003000 Sirna, A. (2014). Reconciling Competing Visions in New Deal Parks: Natural Conservation, Historic Preservation, and Recreational Development. The George Wright Forum, 31(1), 63–68.

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(2007).

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2019,

from

Figures Figure 1: Ellicott Island Park Boathouse, Negative 7321-C. (n.d.). photograph, Tonawanda, NY. Figure 2: Ellicott Creek Park Map. (n.d.). photograph, Tonawanda, NY Figure 3: Google, (2019), Google Maps place for Ellicott Creek Park, Retrieved November 3, https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0179063,78.8116946,13.25z Figure 4: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 101, 2017, Sex by Age of Kenmore Village, New York (2017) generated

by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 101, 2017, Sex by Age of Amherst, New York (2017) generated by Tyso n Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 101, 2017, Sex by Age of Wheatfield, New York (2017) generated by T yson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 101, 2017, Sex by Age of Town of Tonawanda, New York (2017) gener ated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 101, 2017, Sex by Age of North Tonawnada, New York (2017) generat ed by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 Figure 5: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 801, 2017, Means of Transportation to Work in Kenmore Village, New Yor k (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact F inder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 801, 2017, Means of Transportation to Work in Amherst, New York (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11 /04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 801, 2017, Means of Transportation to Work in Wheatfield, New York (20

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17) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 801, 2017, Means of Transportation to Work in Town of Tonawanda, New York (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fa ct Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, S0 801, 2017, Means of Transportation to Work in North Tonawanda, New Yo rk (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 Figure 6: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP05, 2017, Race in Kenmore Village, New York (2017) generated by Ty son Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP05, 2017, Race in Amherst, New York (2017) generated by Tyson Mo rton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP05, 2017, Race in Wheatfield, New York (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP05, 2017, Race in Town of Tonawanda, New York (2017) generated b y Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP05, 2017, Race in North Tonawanda, New York (2017) generated by Tyson Morton using Census lookup using Fact Finder, 11/04/19 Figure 7: Annunziata, J., Kang, M. H., Morton, T., Popp, S. (2019). User Survey for Ellicott Creek Park. Figure/Graph/Table prepared by Morton, T., using Microsoft Excel.

Figure 8: Google Earth Pro V7.3.2.5776. (2019). Buffalo, New York. 43° 01’ 26.14”N, 78°49’31.86”W, Eye alt 8469 feet.

U.S Geological Survey http://www.earthgoogle.com [October 18, 2012]

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Photos Photo 1: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Soutwest on November 3, 2019 at 11:23 AM. Photo 2: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Northeast on November 3, 2019 at 12:15 PM Photo 3: Ellicott Island Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing West on November 3, 2019 at 12:42 PM Photo 4: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Southwest on November 3, 2019 at 11:15 AM Photo 5: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing North on November 3, 2019 at 12:08 PM Photo 6: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Northwest on November 3, 2019 at 11:37 AM Photo 7, 8, 9: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Northwest on November 3, 2019 at 11:52 AM Photo 10: Ellicott Creek Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Northwest on November 3, 2019 at 12:20 PM Photo 11, 12: Ellicott Island Park, Buffalo, New York, Facing Northeast on November 3, 2019 at 12:49 PM

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Photo Map

10

3

11, 12

4

2

1

7, 8 ,9

6

5

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User Survey for Ellicott Creek Park Tyson Morton, James Annunziata, Sara Popp, Min Hyoung Kang Professor Bleuer END 350: Methods of Inquiry

Objective: Through the use of user surveys to gain the first hand opinions of visitors of Ellicott Creek Park, we plan to analyze and develop a Park Mini - Master Plan.

1. How often do you use Ellicott Creek Park?

A. Once a Week

B. Once a Month

C. Couple times a Year

D. Multiple times a week

2. What form of Transportation do you use to get to the park?

A. Personal Car

B. Public Transit

C. Walking or Bicycling

D. Other

3. How far away did you travel to get to the park?

A. 5-10 Minutes

B. 10-15 Minutes

C. 15-20 Minutes

D. Over 20 Minutes

4. Reasons for using this park?

A. Recreation

B. Exercise

C. Pleasure/Therapeutic use

D. Other

5. Level of Safety this Park makes you feel.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

6. Personal Recommendations for this park? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Charts and Graphs Age

Male

Female

Under 5 years

6954

5901

5 to 9 years

6201

6871

10 to 14 years

7786

7234

15 to 19 years

9462

8306

20 to 24 years

9334

9313

25 to 29 years

9015

8525

30 to 34 years

7635

7908

35 to 39 years

7129

7266

40 to 44 years

7237

7033

45 to 49 years

7838

8903

50 to 54 years

8895

9493

55 to 59 years

8500

10011

60 to 64 years

8786

9595

65 to 69 years

6697

8262

70 to 74 years

5393

6364

75 to 79 years

3183

5215

80 to 84 years

2699

4056

85 years and over

3239

6138

Age Pyramid for Surrounding Ellicott Creek Park Area 80 to 84 years 70 to 74 years 60 to 64 years

Age

50 to 54 years 40 to 44 years 30 to 34 years 20 to 24 years 10 to 14 years Under 5 years 15,000

10,000

5,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

Number of People Male

Figure 4: Source: United States Census Beurau

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Female

Race Hispanic or Latino (of any race) alon e White alone Black or African American alone American Indian and Alaska Native alone Asian alone Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Is lander alone

# of People 8750 221888 12633 707 13278 52

Race of Ellicott Creek Park Area Hispanic or Latino (of any race) alone White alone

5.16% 4.91%

Black or African American alone American Indian and Alaska Native alone

3.40%

0.02% 0.27%

86.23%

Asian alone

Figure. 5: Source: United Satates Census Beaurau

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Method of Transportation Workers 16 years and over Car, truck, or van Public transportation (excluding t axicab) Walked Bicycle Taxicab, motorcycle, or other me ans Worked at home

Total Number of Workers 129252 118808 2224 2853 379 857 4034

Means of Transportation to Work in surrounding Eliicott Creek Park Area Method of Transportation

Worked at home

4034

Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means

857

Bicycle

379

Walked

2853

Public transportation

2224

Car, truck, or van

118808 0

20000 40000

60000

80000 100000 120000 140000

Number of Workers over the age of 16

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Figure. 6

Transportation to the park

# of People

Personal Car

8

Public Transit

0

Walking/ Bike Other

1 1

Transportation to the Park 9

NUMBER OF PEOPLE

8 7 6

5 4 3 2 1 0 Personal Car

Public Transit

Walking/ Bike

Other

METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION

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PowerPoint

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Presentation Script History: Ellicott Creek Park was first formed in 1925 from a combination of private land acquisition and debt foreclosure by Erie County.

The stone structures in the park, including the casino, the boathouse, the concessions stand, and the shelters, were built by the Works Progress Administration during the Depression.

Due to the large amount of shelters, the boathouse renting out boats, and the two creeks on either side of the park, Ellicott Creek Park was wildly popular amongst boaters and picnickers in the 30’s and 40’s.

1970 saw the park experience a period of neglect and lowered park attendance, which made the park a favorite spot for more unsavory characters.

Come 1990, the county began to pay more attention to the park and made plans to rehabilitate it.

Background: Ellicott Creek Park as it is known is actually broken up into 3 parks. The southernmost portion of the park, up until the floodway, is Ellicott Creek Park.

Ellicott Island Park is on the Island to the north, and Irvington Park is the portion directly within the residential area next to the park. The grassy areas along the creeks are also part of the park, as the map shows.

The floodway that bisects the park is used to link Tonawanda creek in the north to Ellicott Creek in the south.

Erie County maintains the Ellicott Island Park and Ellicott Creek Park, while the Town of Tonawanda is responsible for Irvington park. This is because Irvington Park is little more than a soccer field, which is used by soccer teams in the Town of Tonawanda’s school district.

Context: - 127 -

Ellicott Creek Park is located in Erie County, between Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks.

The park is right on the corner with Niagara county, the border falling on Tonawanda Creek itself.

The park falls in both the town of Tonawanda and the town of Amherst, but is close to North Tonawanda, the city of Tonawanda, and Wheatfield. This allows for the park to draw prospective attendance from a number of populous suburban areas.

The Ellicott Creek Bike Path also links the park to the University at Buffalo North campus, which makes the park available to the students on campus. There are also talks about a bike path along the historic Erie Canal, which would run through the park due to Tonawanda Creek being a part of the canal.

The park is also bordered on the south by Ellicott Creek Rd. and crossed in the north

by Creekside Dr. Observation

Our team observed the Ellicott Creek Park, the primary research was conducted on November 3rd, and further research was conducted as well.

This is an aerial view of the park, and this is the picture of outdated pavilion. There are total 25 pavilions in the park, and most of them were not managed for a while.

You can see the wood fragments and trash bins on the ground.

However, some of the pavilions were working on their roof replacement.

Playground was outdated. Chains on the swings were either rust or missing.

This is water fountain. Pipes were either rust or broken.

This is the trail which meets the floodway. You can see the sediments on the trail by recent flood. The sediments were not removed.

Photo on the top is the crossing that visitors should cross to get to the Ellicott Island Park from the Ellicott Creek Park. There is no crossing line, or traffic signals, or stop signs.

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Photo on the bottom is the vehicle road in the park. There was only one stop sign and speed limit in the park.

Photo on the top is the bridge to the Ellicott Island Park, and this is the only entrance to the Ellicott Island Park. There were a fair number of signs, and the bridge was well maintained.

On the bottom, there is a boathouse ruin. It is not managed, the graffiti on the walls shows it.

For challenges, our team could find three major challenges. First, the accessibility of the park was poor. As you saw in the photo, there was only one entrance to the Island Park, people would go all the way around to get to the Island. Also, there was a crossing that doesn’t have any traffic signs, which is highly dangerous for both drivers and pedestrian traffic.

For maintenance, facilities like pavilions and water fountain was left broken. The sediments on the trail from the flood was not removed. Those facilities and trails should be managed periodically.

Lastly, signage. In the park, there were significantly few signages. As the park has three parts, and lots of places like pavilions, it is confusing not having map or direction signs.

Opportunities.

Despite all the challenges, Ellicott Creek Park has great potential. As the park has both green space and water access, the park provides plenty different activities like jogging, tennis, picnic, kayaking, swimming. It gives visitors more choices. Also, it is a great benefit having a place where people can hang out with their pets.

Demographic and Observational Analysis - 129 -

● For our statistical analysis, we decided to focus on towns surrounding Ellicott Creek Park in a 10-15-minute radius to consider all forms of travel from walking and biking to personal automobile. (Also credit the United States Census Bureau of Statistics) Age and Gender: ● Stationary Pyramid meaning the population is neither increasing or declining ● High number of young adults and elderly demographic ● How does this compare to who the park is meant for? ○ Accessible for all age and gender demographics ■ Playgrounds, open fields for recreation, walking paths, dog park.

Race: ● Lack of Diversity ● Collectively describe all bullets together: ○ Limits potential economic development due to other races being discouraged to move in. ○ Limits inclusion opportunities such as public cultural events that could possibly be held at the park. ○ Relation to park: ■ If other races aren't comfortable enough to move into the area, then they won’t feel comfortable to share public spaces such as Ellicott Creek Park.

Mobility and Transportation ● Suburbs- Importance of cars to them ● Despite negative environmental impact of cars still preferred method of travel. ● Due to many reasons: ○ Points of interest located too far away in suburbs ○ Convenience, freedom of travel - 130 -

○ Environment not conducive to all forms of travel such as pedestrians and cyclist not feeling safe.

Survey Results: ● Surveyed several people in our visits asking various questions. Through surveys it was determined Recreation was the main motivation for park goers as opposed to exercise or leisure. ● Transportation mirrors the demographic statistical data ● Race differed from the data collected and was less dominated by a single race ● Age and Gender in the park was equally represented among all age groups despite young adults and elderly demographics being higher statistically. ● Surveying allows face to face interactions that allows us to balance the wants as well as the needs of Ellicott Creek Park and form appropriate recommendations that Sara will now discuss.

Recommendations: The most important part of any park is how well it serves the community. Beyond rudimentary maintenance, there are many ways in which Ellicott Creek Park does not meet the current needs of its users.

Environmental Recommendations Parks play an important role in sustaining ecosystems, conserving land, providing clean air and water, and maintaining a better quality of life for all. Particularly in a time dealing with the impacts of urban and suburban sprawl, and an increasing reliance on technology, parks ensure that the population has access to green space, and wild ecosystems have room to exist.

The green expanses of Ellicott Creek Park reduce carbon and reduce rainwater runoff and flooding. This is essential for the residents of the area, for health reasons - 131 -

and to keep the surrounding properties from flooding. Additionally, the park is important for economic and social reasons. Living near a park or greenspace increases real-estate values, as well as having other economic benefits, parks community spaces, - residents healthy - clean air - outdoor recreation Dredging the River The park is bordered by two waterways; both have become polluted in the past 50 years. Most recently, the city of Amherst was fined for allowing its wastewater treatment plant to dump pollutants into Tonawanda Creek. Tonawanda Creek is valuable not from a community standpoint but also from a historical one, as part of it was once part of the Erie Canal System. Dredging the creek would remove contaminants and pollutants not just of the immediate area but the whole watershed. It would promote a healthier environment and become a more usable asset to the community.

More expensive – cost Tonawanda less – buffalo river - army core of engineers – federal grants.

Recommendations for improving connectivity.

Connectivity in communities leads to stronger bonds between people and ultimately allows public spaces to thrive. For Ellicott Creek Park, connectivity is definitely an area that can improve and will not only benefit the quality of life within the park but the surrounding area as well.

Floodway walking Path and Bridge to Island As discussed three separate areas of the park - It is not easy to travel from one section of the park to another right now - divorce park from community.

Link park on both sides of Creekside drive, guardrail up and no path right now except for going around the entire park. walking path across the floodway and a pedestrian crossing across Creekside drive on the western side of the park alternate and faster route to travel between parks – prioritize accessibility and - 132 -

pedestrian movement Another recommendation – second bridge across the creek to Ellicott Island Park.

Better Connect bark park to the rest of the area and community, important because bark park is utilized the most – people always need somewhere to take their dogs.

Increase accessibility – at the moment using your car is most viable by far to access the park.

Provide attraction – building and opening the bridge can draw interest.

Rebuilding the boathouse: Restoring the boathouse and shelters will help more than just the look of the park.

The historic structures can remain a source of consistency in stressful times, helping to increase the resilience of the community as a whole.

Restoring the structures will also allow the park to capitalize on the unique historical characteristics of such. This creates a draw, a reason for people to visit the park on top of just the normal attractions of a park.

The restored boathouse can also have a use as a kayak rental site for use on Tonawanda Creek. This has a twofold purpose to encourage recreation on the creek and generate revenue for the park for upkeep.

Now, these restorations will not be cheap, as historically accurate masonry rarely is, but the county does not need to shoulder the entire burden of this payment. The National Park Service has a “Save America’s Treasures” grant to help with the rehab of historically significant parks like Ellicott Creek Park.

This type of restoration work has already been done before to great success as well.

The Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park rehabilitated it’s old lockhouses into day shelters and made excellent use of them. Ellicott Creek Park can look to the success of that park in order to give precedence to a decision based on historical preservation.

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Playgrounds and Parking Lots: The benefit to touching up playgrounds and parking lots is that it is simple and cheap. The parking lots can have the pavement and lining touched up, while the playgrounds can have broken equipment repaired or replaced.

This will improve the look of the park, as well as make the park more comfortable for park goers. The parking will be more pleasant and the playgrounds will look presentable.

The rehabilitated playgrounds will also give people more reasons to visit the park.

It won’t be a huge attraction by any means, but it certainly won’t scare people away.

Playgrounds also have payment assistance options available, such as the Gametime Playground grants that helps with the cost of replacing playgrounds in parks.

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Handout Ellicott Creek Park Connecting Our Past to Our Future James Annunziata, Min Hyoung Kang, Tyson Morton, Sara Popp Context and background: Ellicott Creek Park is a park located in Erie county, within the Towns of Tonawanda and Amherst. The park is near North Tonawanda, the City of Tonawanda, and Wheatfield.

The park is composed of three separate parks: Ellicott Island Park, Ellicott Creek Park, and Irvington Park. the park is also Bisected by a floodway connecting Ellicott Creek in the south to Tonawanda Creek in the North.

History: Ellicott Creek Park has a rich history stemming from the construction of its stone buildings, including a boathouse and casino, during the Works Progress Administration.

Observations and Challenges: Overall, the park was not in great condition. Facilities were aged and not managed.

• Poor accessibility due to lack of the entrances and connections.

• Facilities were left broken. Trail which meets floodway was not managed.

• Park needs more signage and maps for wayfinding.

Demographic Analysis of Surrounding Area: Age and Gender: Mostly young adults and elderly demographic.

Race: Heavily dominated by one race showing lack of diversity.

Mobility and Transportation: Automobile heavily favored choice of transportation.

Survey Results: Recreation most important use of park. Transportation mostly by car.

Race differed from race demographic results. All age groups observed at the park.

Recommendations Environmental: Dredge Tonawanda Creek to remove pollutants and make it a usable asset for the community. Tree planting events to strengthen community and maintain the park.

Connectivity: Construct pathway along floodway and a second bridge to Ellicott Island Park to improve connection and flow within the park.

Historical Significance: Restore boathouse and update playgrounds to reflect the height of the parks usage and reflect the historical significance of the park.

Ellicott Creek Park is already a valuable resource, but through our recommendations it can become a truly great asset for the community and area.

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