meeting minutes / pages/ sharedelectronically...2018/03/22 · michael van valkenburgh associates...

Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc. Landscape Architects P.C. 16 Court St, 11th Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11241 P 718 243 2044 F 718 243 1293 mvvainc.com

MEETING MINUTES / PAGES/ SHARED ELECTRONICALLY

Project: Date: Meeting: Notes prepared by:

Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan Thursday March 22, 2018; 6:30-8:30 PM Community Meeting #2 at AJ Fletcher Opera Theater MVVA

Schedule: 6:30 PM Welcome by Kate Pearce, City of Raleigh

Project context by Michael Van Valkenburgh (MVVA) Presentation on project themes by Matthew Urbanski and Gullivar Shepard (MVVA) Closing Remarks by Mayor Nancy McFarlane 7:45 PM Discussions, physical model review, and small group discussion with design team

and city staff

8:30 PM Meeting close

Meeting Notes: On Thursday March 22nd, 2018 the Michael Van Valkenburgh & Associates (MVVA) planning team presented their research on and proposals for the Dorothea Dix Park site to a large group of interested citizens. Michael Van Valkenburgh opened the presentation by explaining why a master plan and why the field of landscape architecture are uniquely positioned to meet the challenges of the Dix Park site.

(1) Making a Park is a Creative, Exploratory Process a. Michael offered that principles and priorities clarified in the master plan process

will shape future work - from inspiration, concept, construction to completed park. He used the evolution of the sports courts at Brooklyn Bridge Park as an example.

b. A master plan defines and explores the essential patterns of the site which include history and past uses. In the case of Dix Park, that history most broadly includes periods as a plantation, an asylum or hospital and the park today.

Dix Park Master Plan #16045.00

c. 3 master plan priorities that inform all of MVVA’s materials this evening: i. Reimagine Edges and Entries to Welcome Everyone to the Park

ii. Enhance Water Systems and Ecology to Add Complexity and Diversity iii. Recover Forgotten Landscapes to Connect the Past to Today

(2) In landscape architecture… a. Each Element of a Park has Multiple Uses and Functions

i. A stormwater treatment area is beautiful and functional; a sports court is also a civic space to bring people together; a central lawn offers quiet reflection and hosts large events or informal gatherings

b. Spaces have the Capacity to Delight i. By infusing existing spaces with new uses - the surprise of transformation

and the interest and contrast of many different activities overlapping – landscape architecture offers unique opportunities for delight in public spaces

MVVA principal Matthew Urbanski continued the presentation by describing the overall schedule and 6 organizing themes for the master plan. Final Master Plan proposals, covering all 6 themes, are to be submitted to the city in February 2019, with regular community meetings, engagement events and further opportunities for public comment planned between now and then. Matthew presented MVVA planning team analysis on 4 themes: the Park and the Site, the Park and Transportation, the Park and the Region, and the Park and its Partners.

(1) The Park and the Site a. MVVA proposes to describe and name the 300+ acre site into 6 park

landscapes informed by their existing character and future potential. i. These include:

1. The Meadow 2. The Grove 3. The Creek 4. The Ridge 5. The Valley 6. The Downtown Gateway

ii. The 6 park landscapes are helpful for orientation around what today is a sometimes undifferentiated or confusing site, as well as to help identify important priorities for future investment and transformation of the park spaces.

iii. See slide excerpt next page for reference:


b. The Meadow i. Tied to the legacy of agriculture of the asylum/hospital and the Hunter

Plantation before that. ii. The Big Field today, at the center of the Meadow, is enjoyed by many

current residents and MVVA has received robust feedback in support of keeping the area available for passive recreation as it is today and preserving its feeling of boundlessness and openness.

iii. MVVA proposes expanding the experience of the Meadow with a consistent palette of planting, and open-feeling public spaces with pedestrian/bike paths north across to Governor Morehead School and Pullen Park (landbridge idea over Western Blvd. discussed in Community Meeting #1) as well as to south and west to NC State Centennial Campus/Lake Raleigh and through to Centennial Parkway.

1. In early 1900’s, land that would become Lake Raleigh was a part of hospital property. In 1913, Walnut Creek was dammed to


create Lake Raleigh with hospital approval + hospital access to the water supply.

2. Existing project for reference: Long Meadow at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY

c. The Creek i. Rocky Branch improvements

1. The quality and character of the Rocky Branch has been negatively impacted by the expansion of Western Blvd. and municipal landfill on the Dix property.

a. Creek area today exhibits invasive plants, steep and narrow channel, storm debris, imported stone for bank stability, poor water quality with foam and odors and loud noise from Western Blvd.

2. Existing space for reference: nearby Walnut Creek exhibits higher quality habitat than the Rocky Branch

3. MVVA proposes moving the channel of the Rocky Branch deeper into the Dix site, more closely resembling its historic path and expanding the creek channel width to ~100’ wide (30-40’ today). This requires coordination with the municipal landfill remediation work, already underway by state authorities. This will also result in greater width, variety of experience and fewer wash-outs after storms along the Rocky Branch Greenway.

ii. Ecology and Perched Wetland improvements 1. The site drainage system today was constructed in order to

move water away from the top of the hill as quickly as possible. 2. Today, water from Dix Hill as well as adjacent area to the north

(Boylan Heights, Central Prison) empties into the Rocky Branch via pipes after a storm with great volume and speed.

3. In order to restore ecological complexity, prevent erosion seen today and improve Rocky Branch water quality, MVVA proposes a series of perched wetlands that will hold stormwater and slow its descent to the Rocky Branch. This built/constructed system is inspired by the natural seep and spring landscapes of the Piedmont.

d. The Grove i. The Grove of large mature trees, meandering paths and drives with

benches is a picturesque landscape, recalling 19th century ideals, and connected in style and intent to the work of hospital architect A.J. Davis as well as to the therapeutic goals of early hospital administrators and Dorothea Dix.

ii. The Grove has shrunk in size since the mid-19th century as agriculture and then cottages where introduced to the hillside.


iii. MVVA proposes to restore and expand the Grove landscape. iv. Existing space for reference: Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY

(2) The Park and Transportation

a. 3 priorities were presented for the master plan: i. Extending Existing Transit Systems to include the park

ii. Dispersed and Strategic Parking Lots to Welcome in Visitors from all Entries

iii. New and Multiple Bike and Pedestrian Routes throughout the entire park

b. Transit i. Dix Park today is poorly served by public transit from all edges.

ii. MVVA proposes 3 expanded connections for existing transit systems: 1. From downtown, a new circulator bus service (what we’re

calling the “D Line”) that would run often and include key stops like Union Station, State Capitol, Moore Sq/main bus area, Chavis Park, Convention Center, Shaw and then continue into Dix Park.

2. From the west, extend the NC State Wolfline to the park edge 3. From the south and east, extend GoRaleigh service along Lake

Wheeler to link to points south (Carolina Pines, Tryon, etc) and points east to link to proposed bus rapid transit corridor.

c. Parking and Site Access i. Parking areas are proposed to be dispersed so as capture visitors

arriving from many different points as well as to prevent personal vehicles from cutting through the park. Thinking of visitors coming from far away and including visitors of all ages, MVVA suggests a 5 minute/.25 mile walking distance from most areas of the park to a parking lot, which is achievable with the dispersed lot layout shared.

ii. Existing project for reference: Menil Collection Parking lot by MVVA in Houston, TX

1. Important to note that parking lots at Dix need not be conventional, commercial type. Rather, should include wide planted areas for shade, permeable pavement + stormwater management, work around existing large trees.

iii. MVVA reintroduced the loop road for the park (first presented in Community Meeting #1) as an important organizing route, especially for bike and pedestrian circulation around the entire park. Loop road could potentially also be the site of a park-only transit option (ie, trolley or similar). The loop is at a level elevation and takes you to and through all the important park landscapes.


iv. MVVA used a series of aerial views of the future park to describe expanded access/arrival points, dispersed parking opportunities and the full coverage of proposed greenway and bike/pedestrian routes throughout.

(3) The Park and the Region a. MVVA reported back on responses to questions at Community Meeting #1.

Imagining 20 years from now, respondents wanted the region’s outdoor spaces and small-town feel to stay the same and wanted to see improvements to transportation and connectivity and in civic/shared places where everyone could come together.

b. MVVA shared images of the range of passive outdoor activities popular in the region today. Some, that do not exist at Dix yet, could be introduced in the future.

c. In particular, learning from great regional examples such as the Piedmont Prairie at the Sarah P Duke Gardens in Durham offers great promise for Dix. Representatives from the Sarah P Duke Gardens were in attendance at the meeting and available to respond to questions afterwards during the discussion period of the evening.

(4) The Park and its Partners a. Matthew explained that the park should evaluate partners based upon its own

needs and goals; that partners may generate revenue or require investment to support; and partners may exist today or be entirely new organizations created just for Dix Park.

b. Matthew shared several emerging park needs paired with a potential partner that could help address them. Examples included:

i. Need: Recovery of Missing Piedmont Habitats; Potential Partner Role: Aid in selection and propagation of Native species

ii. Need: Specialized Horticultural Support; Potential Partner Role: Educate and Train Volunteers and Crews

iii. Need: Create Activities and Programs from Everyone; Potential Partner Role: Teaching, Coaching, Counseling and Mentorships

iv. Need: Create a sense of welcome; Potential Partner Role: Docent partner

v. Need: Dynamic Outdoor Artistic Experiences; Potential Partner Role: Sponsorship, Promotion, Logistics

vi. Need: Use of some existing dormitory buildings; Potential Partner Role: Sponsor a program of seasonal or temporary housing for stewards, gardeners or counselors


Gullivar Shepard, MVVA principal, completed the review of the remaining 2 themes: the Park and its Buildings and the Park and its Program.

(5) The Park and its Buildings a. The 6 park landscapes introduced earlier in the presentation also inform what

is advisable relative to the park’s existing buildings. i. Major Park Landscapes: The Grove, The Creek and the Meadow contain

approximately 30 buildings which include only about 225,000 SF of existing building space, which is approximately 19% of the total existing building area today.

1. Given the intent to expand the Grove and the Meadow and improve the quality of these 3 major and historically significant park landscapes, existing buildings within these areas are of a lower priority to preserve and retain and in many cases are recommended to be removed. Notable exceptions include the Flower Cottage and gazebo structures. Some existing buildings could be moved within or out of these park landscapes.

ii. Major Park Landscapes with Buildings: The Ridge, the Downtown Gateway and the Valley contain approximately 81% or about 945,000 SF total existing building area.

1. The Downtown Gateway a. Link between Fuller Heights, Downtown Raleigh and the

Park; only at grade/flat connection from park to adjacent neighborhood (creeks/waterways and multi-lane roads are obstacles between Boylan Heights, Centennial Campus and the park)

2. The Ridge a. Greatest density of existing buildings, including the

original hospital; important connective landscape across the railroad tracks and anticipated to be an activity hub

3. The Valley a. Where many existing service buildings, such as the

physical plant, are located today; bowl-like topography; MVVA considering an amphitheater/theater-like outdoor space as a good fit for this area

b. Cost considerations i. The state of NC today spends over $10 million dollars annually to keep

the Dix facility running. ii. The centralized utility systems for the many existing buildings means

that “mothballing buildings” – leaving them in place but without active


use – would likely be costly and complicated in terms of phasing and building use.

c. Gullivar reported on the 4 main criteria that MVVA proposes to evaluate building reuse/preservation:

i. Cost to rehabilitate (condition of existing structure and roof, building systems, accessibility + code compliance, contamination/hazardous materials)

1. Existing Building Example: Richardson and Tate cottages 2. Low return on investment, not accessible today, location today

interferes with restoration of the historic Grove landscape ii. Historic significance (integrity today, significance with reference to

federal guidelines) 1. Existing Building Example: A.J. Davis original hospital building

from the 1850’s 2. Integrity:

a. As reported on during the Community Meeting #1, MVVA team analysis suggests that the A.J. Davis center pavilion does not have great integrity today, given how little of the original material remains. Even so, MVVA thinks that the site’s position as a threshold between the city and natural areas is a rich idea to celebrate and retain in the future park development.

b. The 2 wings of the hospital, particularly at the lower/basement level, retain the most integrity/original building material from the 1850’s. As such, it is important to rehabilitate these structures.

3. Significance: Given its connection to historic events and important historic figures, the original A.J. Davis hospital building has great significance.

iii. Fit for redevelopment (characteristics like views, access, details; fit for new program and uses)

1. Existing Building Example: Broughton Building 2. Today it is a 1-floor building with a U-shaped footprint, carved

up into small offices with many dividing walls 3. In the future, dividing walls could be removed and new exterior

entries sensitively added in order to introduce new uses and larger units within the existing building. MVVA showed what the Broughton Building would look like if rehabilitated to include residential units.

iv. Fit for park (location within park landscapes, building types within park landscapes)

1. Existing Building Example: McBryde West “A”


2. There remains male and female dining halls within the McBryde hospital complex that, because they are open floor plan buildings, hold the potential to be interior meeting or event spaces that would be useful for park activities.

3. Looking in particular at McBryde West “A”: the second floor could be removed and the new, taller interior space reinforced, adapted and reused to accommodate sports courts, temporary events like a craft fair with tables or other uses that are complementary to the public park.

(6) The Park and its Program

a. Gullivar explained that via public feedback in recent months, the city and MVVA have received many great ideas about what new programs/activities to bring to the future park.

b. Some ideas captured MVVA’s imagination in particular because they combined and celebrated more than one program in unique ways: “sensory garden”, “toddler play area that looks like a mini-city”, “urban food forest”.

c. Inspired by a park landscape’s ability to incorporate and connect diverse activities in overlapping ways, MVVA presented a series of collages with new and inspiring program ideas, in combination: a series of pollinator pavilions, a farmers market plaza with both food and shaded parking, a trestle walk with theater space below, walled gardens and prairie seep gardens.

d. Inspired by the collages and great potential for many activities to overlap, MVVA invited all meeting participants to draw and collage ideas for playspaces at Dix Park during the second half of the meeting.

For the second half of the evening, stations for each of the Master Plan’s 6 themes were set up with supporting information boards. The design team identified important questions for feedback tied to each of the 6 themes, and participants were encouraged to respond to the questions with written answers. A collage area for playspace ideas was set up at the Park and its Program station. Design team members, including representatives from MVVA, Perry Street Studio, VHB, Applied Ecological Services, Limnotech, and SEPI responded to questions and comments from the public. Representatives from the City of Raleigh, Dix Park Conservancy and Sarah P. Duke Gardens were also present to respond to questions and comments. The large existing conditions site model, made by MVVA, was present in order to illustrate existing conditions, loop and roadway changes and site landscape proposals.


Figure 3: Community members gather around an existing conditions model

Figure 4: Community members meet with Dendy Lofton from Limnotech

Photos from the Event:


Responses to the Planning Team Questions: The Park and the Region Question: What plants or animals would you most like to see habitat for at the future park?

Response Planting; North Carolina natives, prairie/meadow plants, formal gardens, wildflowers, long leaf pine Animals; pollinators, bats, frogs, butterflies, raccoons, opossums

Highlighted Responses:

• “Any chance the Dix Greenhouse can be recreated? Perhaps in collaboration with NCSU a “Native Plants Arboretum” might be jointly established/operated to serve their multiple needs...”

• “Pollinators and Bats! A bat haven would be a marvelous way to help control (particularly mosquitos) and diversify life! And I’m in full support of native plants. An educational garden for young ones would be great as well.”

The Park and Transportation Question: Which option for public transit at the park do you prefer:

(1) Public transit at the park periphery only (2) Transit stops at the park’s inner loop (3) Transit stops right at the park’s core interior spaces

Response # of Respondents (1) Public transit at the park periphery only 10 (2) Transit stops at the park’s inner loop 6 (3) Transit stops right at the park’s core interior spaces 3

Highlighted Responses:

• “Bring people to the center area but not disturb park users in the interior spaces.” • “Thank you for including bus connection proposed on Lake Wheeler all the way to Tryon.

Huge need! Huge improvement!”

• “Transit should go around periphery and into the inner loop. Accessibility for all via transit.”

The Park and its Program Community members were introduced to collages created by MVVA and were asked to provide their ideas for what types of play and play spaces they would like to see at the park.


Figure 1: Community members providing design ideas

Figure 2: Final collage


The Park and the Site Question: What do you recommend be changed, if anything, about the existing cemetery on the Dix Park site? Response # of Responses Percentage of Total Landscape changes; i.e. paths, planting, boundary delineation

16 44%

Story-telling/historical preservation 10 28% Memorials/historical markers 6 17% Preserve the cemetery 4 11% Highlighted Responses:

• “Opportunities for education about those buried and the history of mental health care (segregated mental health care at the time) in NC.”

• “What are the STORIES that are buried here (not just people). What do their lives tell us?” • “Relink the idea of cemetery and park as being one in the same like in the 19th century.” • “Bring in Shaw University as a partner to broaden the perspective – there are even some

students there who have worked on historic cemeteries…” The Park and its Buildings Question: What new park activities or spaces do you want to see at the historic prospect to downtown Raleigh? Response # of Responses Percentage of total Active recreation 8 20% Museum 5 13% Preservation/enhancement of downtown views

5 13%

Residential; i.e. hostels, hotels, residency programs

3 8%

Ruin Garden 2 5% Restaurant/food program 2 5% Highlighted Responses:

• “One of the things Raleigh needs most are vantage points from elevated areas. To be able to have an uninterrupted view of the downtown (framed by trees) is essential. Please keep an open breathing area where we can all take a moment to appreciate the view.”

• “I like the walled garden idea. Maybe a labyrinth of walls with no roof.” • “Artist studios, bike racks made by local artists, makerspaces”


The Park and its Partners Question: What is a partner organization (institution, business, or service) that you’d like to see welcomed to the future Dix park? In what ways would that partner contribute positively to the park?

Highlighted Responses: • “American Youth Hostels: With the NC Mountains to the Sea Trail and East Coast

Greenway passing through town there is the beginning of a system. If a building could be adapted through these tourist infrastructures, the greenway systems could open a chapter.”

• “Partner: Healing Transitions. They have residents who need jobs; might be able to help with landscaping, maintenance, etc. They are already on site!”

• “How about an interfaith children/youth program to mentor kids at risk and those not. I really the idea of making use of the buildings as housing for such programs. The partner contribution would be to run the programs/camps and biggest contribution is the impact on future generations.”

• “African Community X Cultural Center X Community Garden to grow ethnic and rare food.”

End of Meeting Notes

Response # of Responses Percentage of total Building Partnership; i.e. museum, indoor classroom space, hostel

12 24%

Ecological/Horticultural/Agricultural Partner 10 20% Performing and Visual Arts 5 10% Active Recreation 4 8%

meeting minutes / pages/ sharedelectronically...2018/03/22 · michael van valkenburgh associates...

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