studio analysis 1

Kansas City Design Center | Urban Design Studio 2013-2014

contextual analysisWashington Square Park

contentsintroduction

context

permanence

preserve view to the north

establish a greater presence

connectivity

create a transportation node

programmatic potential

appendix

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5introductionWashington Square Park AnalysisThe re-design of Washington Square Park is a schematic design study created as the next phase in the implementation based on the Greater Downtown Area Plan and KCDC Comprehensive Vision Study for Green and Civic Space. Washington Square Park once stood as a prominent part of the Kansas City park system, connected to Union Station, the gateway to the city. Today the park is under-utilized and disconnected from the city and its surrounding area via a major topological drop on the north side and the visual disconnection of the existing Link that block views into and out of the park. As a part of the next phase of the park design study, the Kansas City Design Center 2013-2014 Studio conducted an in-depth analysis of the current park conditions. The purpose of these conceptual and analytical studies was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the park, find and illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the park, understand why the park is important to the overall urban order of the city, discover the parks potential, and build on the previous park studies and proposals of re-design as the next chapter in realizing a better Washington Square Park.

Our analysis began with the study of three important city vision plans that define the framework for the future design of Kansas City: the FOCUS Plan of 1992, the Sasaki Plan of 2005, and the Greater Downtown Area Plan of 2010. The most important of these three plans, the Greater Downtown Area Plan, proposes five key objectives to implement the design of a better Kansas City: create a walkable downtown, double the population downtown, increase employment downtown, retain and promote safe and authentic neighborhoods, and promote sustainability. In addition to the city vision plans, we studied the 2011-2012 KCDC Green and Civic Spaces Proposal. This proposal took inventory of all of the park and civic spaces in Kansas City and proposed that Washington Square Park should serve the city as an Anchor Park; a park which has permanence and embodies the city. To further assess the idea of an Anchor Park and explore the capabilities for the re-design of Washington Square Park, we conducted a hands-on analytical investigation of the park that was based on the study of these pertinent planning documents.

Moving from the study of the planning documents, we divided our efforts into three primary study groups which encompassed the following: inventory studies that provide basic information and the given conditions of the site, analytical studies that focused more on organizing given information to creating new knowledge about the site, and speculative studies based on the creation of different methods of seeing in order to reveal critical attributes of the site that were invisible to traditional methods of analytical inquiry. From these primary study groups, we looked at which studies presented the strengths, challenges, and potential of the park before finally coming to a conclusion of two major themes based off of the Anchor Park concept of the previous KCDC Studio: connectivity and promoting the park as a unique public space that has permanence and embodies the city. The findings from these studies provide the foundation and set the agenda for the re-design and re-consideration of Washington Square Park to benefit Kansas City.

6Washington Square Park and Kansas CityWashington Square Park is located just south of downtown Kansas City, east of Union Station and on the north side of Crown Center. The approximately five acre park was originally designed by the landscape architecture firm of Hare and Hare to offer pleasant green respite to travelers and employees of the new urban area. With Union Station as the gateway into the city, Kansas City needed a distinct landmark to welcome those arriving by train. This landmark came in the form of a 16 7 bronze statue of George Washington astride his horse signifying his days at Valley Forge. At the time of the dedication of the statue, on November 11, 1925, the property on which it sat had no official name. The Kansas City Star wrote an article calling the space Washington Square and this name was suggested as the official name by the Kansas City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Park Board meeting on December 10, 1925. In January 1926, the space at the gateway to the city officially became Washington Square Park (kcparks.org). Since the parks implementation, the surrounding area has undergone morphological and land use transformations that have caused changes to the park in terms of its connection to the city and its internal order and use. An important

transformation that has taken place is the change that has occurred in the surrounding area and how this change shaped the park. In 1909, the area surrounding Washington Square Park was very underdeveloped with only several industrial and parking complexes in the area. During this time the park was actually non-existent and only began to take shape in 1925 when Union Station was built and green land was set aside to provide travelers with respite. In the sixteen years since 1909, the area of Washington Square Park became the gateway to the city with the development of Union Station and the addition of numerous rail lines. While the park actually crossed in front of Union Station, the rail lines shaped the park on the north side creating an almost triangular shape. The area started to grow with the addition of more businesses and civic facilities, slowly turning the once industrial area into more of a destination. As time went on, the park became separated from the connection it once held with Union Station and what has become Penn Valley Park and the Liberty Memorial due to the implementation of roads, the increased use of personal vehicles, the development of the Blue Cross Blue Shield building, and the implementation of the Link, making the park the island that it has become today. Even though the surrounding area has developed immensely into

a civic and commercial area, the park and its significance as a prominent destination in Kansas City has become lost.Today, the under-utilized park contains an abundance of mature linden trees, decorative concrete paver sidewalks, and the occasional bench or picnic table scattered throughout the park. Also found in the park is the namesake statue of George Washington astride his horse, which has moved various times, and the Korean Memorial built in 2011. On the west boundary of the park stands the Link, a pedestrian skyway that spans from Crown Center on the south side of the park to Union Station on the west. The park is surrounded by busy streets on three sides and capped on the north by a significant drop down to a private parking lot. The park is also used for various festivals, parades, and other civic events due to its prime location and the fact that it is vacant of any program. Some of these events include Irish Fest, the City of Fountains Bicycle Tour, and the Kansas City Marathon, as well as other various races.

7context

1909 Parks

1909 Land Use

1925 Parks

1925 Land Use

2013 Parks

2013 Land Use

1925 Connection to Union Station

2013 Connection to Union Station

8The 2011-2012 KCDC Comprehensive Vision Study for Green and Civic Space assessed that because of Washington Square Parks location, character, and underutilization, the park would serve the city as an Anchor Park. As a part of a three part system of related Anchor Parks, Corridors and Infill Parks, Anchor Parks were defined as iconic parks which have permanence and embody the identity of Kansas City. This system of related Anchor Parks, Corridors and Infill Parks was designed off of the Kessler Plan of 1893. The Kessler Plan of 1893 was the first plan that created a civic vision of a network of green parks and boulevards throughout Kansas City. Created by George Kessler, this plan connects the fragmented development of Kansas City represents an urban idea that is unique to Kansas City. Kesslers cohesive plan defined Kansas City and still shapes the development of the city today. The plan provides a historical basis for the system Anchor Parks, Corridors, and Infill Parks to reconnect the city, achieve a cohesive system of green space, and reestablish the original intent of the Kessler system.

Kessler System of Parks1893 1900

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To reestablish Kesslers original intent, the new system of Anchor Parks was proposed. Anchor Parks are part of the comprehensive plan of Anchor Parks, Corridors, and Infill Parks proposed to reconnect the city. They are the most critical of the three elements because not only do they have permanence and embody the city, they also build on existing parks, have the potential to connect the city to its place through its history, topography and natural features, anchor the corridors that connect people and destinations, and can serve the community on a neighborhood or regional level that is additional to its service on the city level. Washington Square Park was chosen as the most influential of the Anchor Parks because, together with the proposed Rail Park, it will define the southern edge of downtown, resolve a complex situation of fragmented urban land, encourage growth and investment in the area, and add to the character of the city[KCDC Green + Civic Spaces: Reconnecting, Part 2].

KCDC Green + Civic Spaces

Proposed System of Anchor Parks, Corridors, and Infill Parks

11Proposed Anchor Parks Proposed Corridors Proposed Infill Parks

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The 2011-2012 KCDC Studio proposed a plan for the development of Washington Square Park and the proposed Rail Park that would be implemented in three phases: the re-design of Washington Square Park, the extension of the park to the north with capped parking from the existing Blue Cross Blue Shield parking lot, and the addition of the Rail Park and other infill development. The re-design of Washington Square Park establishes the goals of creating an order to the park and relationship to the street that is currently lacking and capitalizing on its location and the views it provides towards downtown. Extending the park to the north and using the empty parking spaces of the Blue Cross Blue Shield parking lot starts to reconnect the area with the downtown and creates direct pedestrian only routes. The last phase of the Rail Park and infill development defines the southern edge of downtown and creates a cohesive urban fabric. The completed park achieves the goals of the park becoming a transportation hub with multi-purpose spaces and an iconic destination space, meanwhile providing a unique urban amenity.Due to the parks close proximity to both Crown Center and Union Station, several bus routes already stop at the park. With the coming addition of the new streetcar, even more public transportation will service the park, pointing towards a further development of the

park as a transportation hub as was suggested by the 2011-2012 Kansas City Design Center Studio.In assessment of this previous design proposal, our studio has adopted the theme of Washington Square Park as an Anchor Park. Through our analysis of the site we have discovered several aspects that speak to a re-design and re-consideration of the park. In keeping with what the 2011-2012 KCDC Comprehensive Vision Study for Green and Civic Space defined as an Anchor Park, we have developed two main objectives with four supporting ideas to make the re-design of Washington Square Park successful: CONNECTIVITY and PERMANENCE. Each of these objectives seeks to turn the park into an Anchor Park. Anchor Parks have the potential to connect the city and by focusing on the connections to downtown Kansas City and the surrounding area we hope to achieve a more cohesive city fabric and implement goals outlined in the Greater Downtown Area Plan. We intend for the re-design of Washington Square Park to reestablish its historical significance as a park that was once a destination connected to the gateway to Kansas City and reconnect it with the city. The following publication will discuss this in further detail and present the analytical study maps that support our findings.

KCDC Green + Civic Spaces

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Three Phase Axonometric

Master PlanAdjacent Connections

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After taking the history, Kessler system, and pertinent planning documents of Kansas City and the previous design proposals of Washington Square Park into account, we focused our area of study on the park. The park is located in a greater system than just the site itself, so we began to examine it at three different scales to which the site relates.

The large extents was created by the using the Greater Downtown Area boundaries with the exclusion of Independence Avenue and the West Bottoms because there are already extensive studies on these areas produced by previous KCDC studios.

site extents: large scale

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The medium extents was established by determining a 15 minute walking distance from Washington Square Park.

site extents: medium scale

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The small extents was devised using the conceptual outer boundaries of Washington Square Park.

site extents: small scale

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Inventory of the park including sidewalks, trees, lamp posts, statues, benches, picnic tables, and parking. We found that the park currently offers few amenities and has poorly planned sidewalks. In addition, the tree placement is sporadic and gives no apparent order to the park other than along the east and south sides of the park.

site plan: existing conditions

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permanenceIn addition to connecting Washington Square Park to the downtown and the spaces adjacent to the park, the park needs permanence to be successful. We define permanence through two aspects. There is a physical aspect of permanence that embodies physical characteristics of space through geography, topography, and the built environment. The second aspect of permanence is functional, which has to do with program and how it starts to give a place over to something unique. Having permanence and embodying the city is the definition of an Anchor Park. Washington Square Park has retained its presence in Kansas City since its implementation yet it has lost all significance and identity it originally had. The morphology of the built environment has drastically affected the physical aspect of permanence that the park once held. In the 1930s, when the park was connected with Union Station, views into and out of the park were unimpeded. Today, the built environment around Washington Square Park blocks most views of the park and views from within the park. The only significant view left is that to the north which establishes a visual connection with downtown Kansas City. This view is important in creating a space that will embody the character of the place and establish the park as

something unique.With the change of the physical environment, Washington Square Park also lost its functional permanence. When the park was first established, it stood as a formal space that complimented Union Station and provided green respite for those arriving at the gateway to Kansas City. As it stands now, Washington Square Park has no discernible programmatic elements, the paths within the park are poorly planned, and there are very few amenities provided to attract the public. Through our studies of the existing conditions, we have come to the conclusion that a specific program should be designed to better serve Kansas City as a unique civic space. The inventory of amenities provided by all the parks in Kansas City and the 2011-2012 KCDC Green and Civic Spaces analysis shows that Kansas City lacks several individual amenities within the park system and, more importantly, that it lacks any significant public civic space. In order to give the park permanence and for it to create order within the city, the park needs a program that will make it a unique civic space that establishes it as an Anchor Park. With Crown Center, Union Station, Liberty Memorial, and Penn Valley Park all within walking distance, Washington Square Park is in the middle of a several important nodes of activity, making it a prime location

for a unique public civic space. Investigating what kind of program the park needs to give it permanence and make it a unique space unlike anything that Kansas City has led to studies of the inherent conditions of the site. These studies include shading and wind studies, which combined with studies of the views from within the park, evolved into a series of optimal zone studies that suggest that the park is a seasonal park. The zones discovered in these studies infer where certain programmed areas should be and help to organize the park in order to give it permanence.From our analysis of Washington Square Park, we have determined that the park is located in an opportune part of the city that gives it immense potential to become a unique civic space that will define Kansas City. The park is located in the middle of several activity centers but with no formal relationship to the surrounding activities, the future design of the park needs to capitalize on all that happens around it. Creating a specific program that draws from the inherent qualities of the view and the way the park changes seasonally will help to create permanence for the park and transform it into a unique civic space that serves the city as an Anchor Park.

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Through this series of figure ground maps we can begin to observe how the urban fabric transformed over time. This transformation has given way to an area south of the tracks that looks less continuous than that of its northern counterpart. North of the rail lines, downtown is built out along the typical grid pattern of the city, while south of the rail lines has more open space and areas that are less defined by the built environment, creating opportunities for the park to connect with the surrounding spaces. The transformation of the building fabric throughout time has created a gap in the urban fabric that presents an opportunity for the park to connect to adjacent spaces.

figure ground1896 1909

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Figure Ground 1900-2010

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north-south city sectionsThese sections were taken on the North- South axis to provide another perspective of Washington Square Parks relationship to downtown Kansas City. Through GDAP guidelines and in coordination with the protected view around the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, many of the buildings in the Crossroads Art District have limited building heights in order to protect key views of the city. Washington Square Park provides a location that can take advantage of the city views given the correct programming.

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north-south city sectionsThe topographical disconnection creates a unique parallax for Washington Square Park because the strong visual connection to downtown comes from the physical disconnection. All elevations are above sea level. The downtown elevation was taken from kcmo.org and all others were taken from GIS data.

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Downtown (910 ft)

Washington Square Park (810 ft)

Rail Lines (780 ft)

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east-west city sectionsThese sections were taken on the East-West axis to provide another perspective of Washington Square Parks relationship to the adjacent surroundings. These sections show that most of the park is surrounded by tall buildings on the east and west. The buildings block the east and west views, but they also frame a strong view to the north, toward downtown.

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street sectionsDetailed street sections show the parks relationship to the street and surrounding buildings. It also shows the possibilities for connecting the park to the adjacent areas. Restrictions placed on surrounding building heights preserve the views available only from the park. These views will give the park a visual connection to adjacent parts of the area.

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preserve view to the northThe aspect of Washington Square Park about which the average Kansas City resident is most unaware is its spectacular view of downtown. This north-facing panoramic view, framed by the Blue Cross Blue Shield building to the west and the Western Auto building to the east, is impossible to discover unless one is physically walking through the park. This unique view, unlike any other in the city, is made possible by the extreme sudden drop in topography at the parks northern edge and the absence of buildings just beyond that edge that create a rupture in the urban fabric of the city, allowing unobstructed views of downtown. In order to better analyze exactly how and where one could obtain the best view, we conducted several view and view zone studies. These view studies analyzed the perspectives towards downtown from several different points within the park. We took into account the viewsheds and how the nearby buildings blocked parts of the view. We also manipulated the viewsheds, turning them into three-dimensional spaces, to get a sense of how the view could act as a space.The balustrade that runs along the north edge of the park was the main constant factor for all of the aforementioned studies. It proved to be a valuable element that helped to make the downtown view possible, as it acts as the one object that can block out

the view of the parking lot adjacent to the Blue Cross Blue Shield building. By starting against the balustrade and working backwards, taking literal and virtual snapshots, we determined the perspective viewing point at which the balustrade completely obstructs the parking lot, leaving only the pristine view of downtown Kansas City. We see this viewing area as a strong park attraction that needs to be not only preserved, but enhanced. When this is achieved, it will cement the parks status as a unique public space and create a stronger, permanent visual connection to downtown. We see this visual connection as a jump start to the transformation of Washington Square Park into an Anchor Park.

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Through several viewshed studies, we determined that the viewsheds to the north create a strong visual connection to the downtown area. A spectacular stationary view that encompasses the downtown area is the central focal point, seen when one stands in the center of the park.

viewshed study

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The second primary viewshed offers a dynamic oblique view as one stands toward the tip of the park and moves along the balustrade. The different views that emerge as one moves through the park offer varied scenes of the city and connect users with its fabric.

viewshed study

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After establishing the viewing extents to the north, we studied sections of the park to determine the optimal viewing zones within the park, keeping in mind the balustrade on the north side of the park and the parking lot below. We determined where the cutoff was for viewing the city without the parking lot below entering the viewshed. From this we were able to derive where viewing areas for downtown would be best situated in the park.

optimal viewing zone

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Washington Square Park offers a spectacular view of downtown Kansas City. The dynamic quality of the view changes throughout the park creating a truly unique experience.

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establish a greater presenceWhile Washington Square Park is surrounded by several top Kansas City attractions, it remains underutilized and disconnected. The park has a high potential to build upon its existing connections, which are varied. These include a visual connection to downtown, a pedestrian connection to nearby bus stops, a direct connection to the street car route, and connections to local tourist destinations. Our analysis of the extended space around the park found that it extends beyond its formal boundaries and it is possible for greater connections to be made to these adjacent spaces. As aforementioned, the unique visual connection to downtown could be preserved and made more prominent. The proximity of both bus stops and the street car route will make Washington Square Park a multi-modal transportation hub in the future, strengthening its connection to downtown. The park has limited visual connections to Union Station, Crown Center, and the Liberty Memorial, but its physical connections to these spaces are even weaker. In order to more effectively analyze this phenomenon, we conducted several studies to assess approach, key view points, and facades. The studies point to the existing Link as a major obstacle in all three of these

areas. By using renderings as a visualization tool, we were able to see that from within the park, the Link acts as a barrier and potential connections could be greatly increased were it to be removed. In addition, removing the Link creates strong visual connections for those looking into the park. Increasing the visibility of the park and establishing greater connections to the surrounding areas continues Washington Square Parks transformation into an Anchor Park.

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Building Setbacks from Curb-line

This facade study illustrates the density of the spaces surrounding the park. The east, west, and south sides are clearly defined by the existing tall buildings, but there is a porosity in the built fabric to the southwest of the site which lends itself toward a stronger connection with Liberty Memorial. The density of built fabric along these three sides, with the open expanse on the north side, further enhances the connection to the northern downtown area.

facade studies

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These studies identify how the park is perceived from surrounding viewpoints. The tall buildings around the park are visually more apparent than the park itself creating a disconnection with the surrounding areas. This disconnect between the street and the park edges, compounded with the draw of the eye toward the taller buildings, diminishes the parks presence overall. The viewpoints of the park from the north and southwest show how it is relatively invisible to pedestrians and can establish a greater presence within the area.

views onto site

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enclosure studiesStudying the views onto the site in combination with the facade studies of the adjacent built environment helped to determine the level of enclosure around the site. Through this we found openings in the enclosure to the north and southwest, creating opportunities for stronger connections to downtown and Liberty Memorial.

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The large built fabric around the site acts as an enclosure and directs attention towards openings to the north and southwest of Washington Square Park. These openings create strong opportunities to connect to the downtown and Liberty Memorial.

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Viewsheds

Boundaries

Extended Space Based On Figure Ground

Extended Space Based On Site Experience

Combined Extended Space: Viewsheds, Figure Ground, and Experience

Union Station/Liberty Memorial

Business Plaza Crown Center Western Auto

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When studying the extents of the site, we conducted several spatial studies to determine what extents the site extends to based on different ways that space is established. These diagrams show several versions of these spatial studies with the park extending beyond its immediate boundaries due to the viewsheds, figure ground, physical boundaries, and experience of the site. From this we can see that Washington Square Park has the potential to connect to Crown Center, Union Station, Liberty Memorial, the adjacent business plaza, and the Western Auto building.

site extents studies

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site extents studiesThese diagrams show two important versions of the parks spatial extensions. From this we can see that Washington Square Park has great potential to connect to the major attractions of Crown Center, Union Station, and Liberty Memorial.

Viewsheds Boundaries

Union Station/Liberty Memorial

Crown Center

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Extended Space Based On Figure Ground Extended Space Based On Site Experience Combined Extended Space: Viewsheds, Figure Ground, and Experience

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This image shows how a greater connection to Crown Center can be achieved by removing the Link to the South. This would encourage more pedestrian movement near the park and create a stronger connection between the park and the Crown Center area.

removing the Link

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After considering the possible extended boundaries of the site, we adjusted images to show the potential views from the site. By removing the Link, the connection to Union Station automatically becomes more apparent.

removing the Link

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This image shows a greater connection from the Liberty Memorial to the park to show the potential views of the site, rather from the site to the surrounding area. By removing the Link, the park is much more noticeable and creates a stronger connection to Liberty Memorial at street level.

removing the Link

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Union Station: existing Crown Center: existing

Union Station: potential Crown Center: potential

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Washington Square Park extends beyond its formal boundaries, creating opportunities for the park and surrounding area to become a unique, cohesive civic space. All of these extended spaces intersect at the park contextualizing the park as a significant node. This network of connections can be formally established with the removal of the Link.















Crown Center: existing

Crown Center: potential

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vehicular approachVehicular approach studies were conducted to understand how the park is perceived while in a vehicle. Through these approaches, it is seen that the park is barely noticeable from a vehicular perspective and is also disconnected from the adjacent areas. Giving the park a stronger presence from the street is paramount in attracting those commuting to businesses around the park or those passing through.

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Vehicular approach studies were conducted to understand how the park is perceived while in a vehicle. These photos taken from a video as one drives along Main Street show that the park is barely noticeable from a vehicular perspective due to the Link. The park is just noticeable off the Main Street bridge, but is blocked from view by the Link the closer one gets to the park. Creating a stronger presence and removing the Link will help connect the park to its surroundings and make it safer.

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grand boulevard driving southVehicular approach studies were conducted to understand how the park is perceived while in a vehicle. These photos taken from a video as one drives along Grand Boulevard show that the park is disconnected via the road width. Addressing the width of the road and how it currently deters pedestrians from crossing will help create a vibrant urban space that is pedestrian friendly.

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The portion of the Link that crosses Main Street, connecting Blue Cross Blue Shield with Union Station creates a visual threshold for the park, while the portion of the Link that crosses Pershing Road acts as a visual barrier that blocks passerbys from seeing Washington Square Park. Removing this portion will help create a vibrant urban space with more pedestrians on ground level, making the park safer and re-establishing the historic connection to Union Station.

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connectivityIn order for Washington Square Park to be successful as an Anchor Park, defined by the 2011-2012 KCDC Green and Civic Spaces Proposal, the park needs a stronger connection to downtown Kansas City and the adjacent Union Station/Crown Center area. Currently, the park is topographically disconnected from downtown via an approximately thirty foot drop on the north side and has only two roads that run north from the park, over rail lines, into downtown. Street connection studies show the lack of continuous roads that connect the park to other parts of the city while a topographic diagram shows the distinct physical disconnection. Despite the physical disconnection, the park has tremendous access to public transportation with several bus lines that run to downtown and that will improve with the coming streetcar. With the new streetcar along Main Street that will stop on the west boundary of the Washington Square Park, all KCATA bus routes currently running routes along Main Street will be redirected onto Grand Boulevard, stopping on the east boundary of the park. Also being developed on Grand Boulevard is a complete street streetscape design called Making Grand Grand that could make the connection along Grand Boulevard stronger and more pedestrian and bike friendly and also connect the park to the adjacent spaces.

The adjacent spaces that the park is disconnected from include Crown Center, Union Station, and the Liberty Memorial. It is disconnected via the visual and physical barrier of the skyway, also known as the Link, and the heavily trafficked roads that surround the park on three sides. Viewshed and potential rendering studies show how the Link visually disconnects the park from Union Station and Crown Center, while vehicular traffic counts and pedestrian counts show that the heavily trafficked roads deter pedestrians from using the park, disconnecting Washington Square Park from the surrounding area and making it a no-mans land.In addition to the weak physical and strong transportation connections, the park has a strong visual connection to downtown on the north side where the entire skyline can be seen from within the park. If anything were to be developed on the north side of the park in the Blue Cross Blue Shield private parking lot that sits at the bottom of the aforementioned topological drop, it could potentially block the view north towards downtown and affect the re-design of the park and the visual connectivity towards downtown. Blocking this prized view would take away one of the only inherently good things about the park.From our analysis, we have determined that Washington Square Park has critical

potential to become a connecting element that reintegrates the Crown Center/Union Station area into the greater downtown as its southern end node. Capitalizing on the current and planned public transportation by turning the area into a transportation node strengthens the critical potential of the park to reconnect the area to the downtown. With this potential reconnection, Washington Square Park needs a program to fill the voids in activity of the area that will attract people from the greater downtown area. The potential of the park to connect spatially with Crown Center and Union Station led us to the conclusion that Washington Square Park should institute a program that will make it a unique civic space that embodies the identity of Kansas City.

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topographyStudying the topography showed that there is a significant topographical disconnection on the north edge of the park, partially due to the rail lines, that separates the site from downtown. The topographical disconnect allows for several opportunities to build on the parks unique character.

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Studies of the street patterns within our medium site extents show how the park is connected to other important areas via the roads that run North-South. It can be seen that several of the roads stop just north of the rail lines leaving only a few roads that run continuously from the north past the park. The continuous streets funnel people right past Washington Square Park, making them paramount in attracting and retaining people, especially those from the Crossroads.

crossroads connections

STREETS THAT STOP NORTH OF RAIL

THRU STREETS/ STREETS THAT CROSS RAIL

RAIL LINES


MA

IN S

T

GR

AN

D B

LVD

PERSHING AVE

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street connectionsStudies of the street patterns within the Greater Downtown Area pulled apart the street gird in an attempt to find how the site is connected via local streets. Through these studies we discovered the major routes that connect the park to downtown and the crossroads to the north, and hospital hill to the east.

North-South StreetsStreet Grid

71East-West Streets Continuous Streets from Washington Square Park

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green connectionsAs a part of the KCDC Comprehensive Vision Plan for Green + Civic Spaces, they studied the green areas throughout the greater downtown area. We took the studies from The Loop, Crossroads, and Union Hill to show the green spaces around Washington Square Park and in those areas we want to connect to. Right around the park there is a lot of green space with Memorial Hill and Penn Valley Park directly adjacent, however, within the Crossroads and on the south edge of The Loop there is a lack of green space. Because of this, Washington Square Park is the closest sizeable area that can provide the amenity of green space to those who live in the Crossroads.

The Loop

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downtown

crossroa

ds

district connectionsThe continuous roads that run north-south by the park connect it with The Loop and Crossroads. These connections help draw people to the park which can provide these areas with much needed green space. Both street and green connections make Washington Square Park important for bringing people to the area.

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The major continuous roads that run through Kansas City run directly next to Washington Square Park, funneling lots of people right past the site. These roads connect the park to downtown and the Crossroads, where we want to bring people to the park from.

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create a transportation nodeSince George Kessler, Kansas City has been shaped by transportation systems. Washington Square Park is at an intersection of multiple modes of transportation. The park is bordered by two of Kansas Citys busiest streets, with Main Street on the west and Grand Boulevard on the east. The Kansas City Area Transit buses stop on both of these streets at our site, giving the Washington Square Park project a great opportunity to capitalize on the current ridership of the KCATA. The proposed streetcar will help further connect downtown with the park. Once the street car is implemented, people will be able to travel from Kansas Citys River Market all the way to the stop at Washington Square Park. If we take advantage of the existing public transportation routes we can better connect the park with downtown Kansas City. However, public transit is not the only mode of transportation that encompasses our site. There is an existing bike route system throughout the city that connects the greater downtown area with Washington Square Park. There are two public bike share stations adjacent to our site and one designated bike path on Pershing Street, which borders the park on the south. While this is a good start, we would like to make more of the streets around the park bicycle-friendly. One of the biggest challenges of the project is the lack of pedestrian-friendly streets around the site. Currently

the streetscape surrounding the park are out of scale to pedestrians. There are very limited seating areas and gathering spaces for the public to utilize and minimal curb appeal. Because of the high volume of vehicular traffic surrounding the park, it is difficult for people to access the park from other attractions nearby, including Crown Center. But the traffic is not the only element deterring people from coming to Washington Square Park. The existing skyway system, called the Link, allows people to walk from Union Station all the way to the Sheraton Hotel without ever stepping foot outside. Based on our studies we have found this to be one of the biggest issues with project. We believe by making the area more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly we can help better connect Washington Square Park to its adjacent surroundings. By capitalizing on existing public transportation routes and enhancing the streets for pedestrians and cyclists we have the potential to not only better Washington Square Park, but also the greater downtown area. By making the park a transit node a number of surrounding businesses and attractions will be greatly served. Washington Square Park has the capacity to become a center from where activities radiate and people connect.

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LIBERTY

GLADSTONE

NORTHKANSAS CITY

INDEPENDENCE

KANSAS CITY

PARKVILLE

RIVERSIDE

SMITHVILLEPLATTE CITY

LEAVENWORTH

LANSING

BONNER SPRINGS

TONGANOXIE

EUDORA

SHAWNEE

LENEXA

OVERLAND PARK

OLATHE

GARDNER

GRANDVIEW

BELTON

RAYMORE

LEES SUMMIT

PLEASANT HILL

RAYTOWN

BLUE SPRINGSGRAIN VALLEY

SUGAR CREEK

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS

KEARNEY

Regional Connection

Railroads

Highways

Park Connection Highways

I-35

US-71

I-29

I-70I-670

I-435

I-635US-169

I-70

I-35

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These maps show the current connection potential of the site via major roads in the greater downtown area and the highways throughout the metro area. Each map successively shows the regional, metro, and downtown connections that Washington Square Park has the potential to reach. The major roads and highways in Kansas City lead straight to the park, making it accessible from anywhere in the Metro.

street and highway network connections

I-35

US-71

I-70I-670

I-35

South

west B

lvd

Gra

nd B

lvd

Mai

n S

t

Pershing Rd

I-70

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park connections

Bus Routes

This series of studies demonstrates the walk-ability of Kansas City and its relation to Washington Square Park. The first set of maps shows the bus routes that stop at Washington Square Park. From this, all bus stops were highlighted and an abstract five minute walking distance was drawn around each stop. An overlay of the roads with the abstract five minute walking circles then shows the actual five minute walking distance from all of these bus stops.

This series shows that although most people do not consider Kansas City a walking city, it in fact has the potential and in many ways already is. As infrastructure and public systems develop, Washington Square Park will become more easily accessible by pedestrians from a wide range of distances.

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Five Minute Walking DistanceFive Minute Walking Radii

CREATE A WALKABLE DOWNTOWN

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bus routesLooking at the bus routes that service Kansas City shows the great potential of the site to connect to the downtown, especially with the number of routes that service the site. The thickness of the line is directly correlated to the number of routes along each street.

83Sunday

bus frequencyThis series of diagrams show the amount of buses that service the park at a frequency of 15 minutes from 4 am to 1 am on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The number of buses that service the site along with how often them come show the parks great potential to connect to the greater downtown area.

Saturday

Weekday

SundaySaturdayMonday - Friday

1 AM4 AM

1 AM4 AM

1 AM4 AM

1 AM4 AM

Pershing and Main

Pershing and Grand

Pershing and Grand

Pershing and Main

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bus ridership studiesAverage daily ridership per each stop in the vicinity of Washington Square Park affects the site differently per hour throughout the day. Ridership is at its peak in the morning from 6am to 9am and in the afternoon from 3pm to 6pm. These studies show that even with the numerous buses that service the site, the ridership of these buses can be improved throughout the day, especially after business hours.

7 AM

3 PM 4 PM 5 PM

A = 4.9B = 5.6C = 10.1D = 5.8E = 10.9F = 0.2G = 8.3H = 1.4

A = 7.1B = 1.7C = 13.3D = 11.6E = 16.8F = 0.04G = 9.5H = 4.6

A = 4.7B = 5.4C = 9.9D = 4E = 7.5F = 0.1G = 5.7H = 1

A = 5.5B = 1.4C = 10.4D = 10.5E = 15.2F = 0.03G = 8.6H = 4.1

A = 7.4B = 1.8C = 13.9D = 10.9E = 15.8F = 0.03G = 8.9H = 4.4

8 AM6 AM

A

B C D

E

F

GH

A = 3.4B = 4C = 7.1D = 6.7E = 12.5F = 0.2G = 9.6H = 1.6

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bus ridershipFurther exploration of the bus system led to this diagram showing the average amount of people that ride the buses per stop each hour from 4 am to 1 am on any given day. While several buses service the site throughout the day, the ridership lacks, proving there is room for improvement. The scale of 1 person is multiplied by 15.

A Total = 62.2B Total = 33.8C Total = 102.3D Total = 127.4E Total = 158.5F Total = 1G Total = 69.9H Total = 21

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proposed bus routesLooking at the proposed bus route system that will service Kansas City shows the great potential of the site to connect to the downtown, especially with the number of routes that service the site. The thickness of the line is directly correlated to the number of routes along each street. The new routes will strongly serve the east side of the site along Grand Blvd, creating a strong connection from the park to downtown.

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7 AM 8 AM

3 PM 4 PM 5 PM

A = 15.9B = 10.9C = 5.8D = 8.3E = 7.7

A = 24.9B = 16.8C = 1.74D = 9.5E = 11.7

A = 13.9B = 7.5C = 5.5D = 5.7E = 5.7

A = 20.9B = 15.2C = 1.43D = 8.6E = 9.6

A = 24.8B = 15.8C = 1.83D = 8.9E = 11.8

Average daily ridership per each stop in the vicinity of Washington Square Park affects the site differently per hour throughout the day. Ridership is at its peak in the morning from 6am to 9am and in the afternoon from 3pm to 6pm. These studies show what the ridership will potentially look like when all bus routes are re-routed from Main Street to Grand Boulevard. Still, even with the numerous buses that service the site, the ridership of these buses can be improved throughout the day, especially after business hours.

potential bus ridership studies

6 AM

A

B

C

DE

A = 13.8B = 12.5C = 4.2D = 9.6E = 5

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A Total = 229.7B Total = 158.5C Total = 34.8D Total = 69.9E Total = 83.2

potential bus ridershipFurther exploration of how the bus system will change led to this diagram showing the average amount of people that ride the buses per stop each hour from 4 am to 1 am on any given day. Here, there is more ridership on Grand Blvd, however, the ridership still can be improved. The scale of 1 person is multiplied by 15.

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This diagram shows the proposed streetcar route that will run adjacent to Washington Square Park with the route terminating near the park. This project will be influential in connecting the park to downtown by creating a transportation link to other landmarks within the city.

streetcar route

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bicycle routesThis map shows existing bike trails and bike share stations. There are two bike share stations in close proximity to Washington Square Park, adding another layer to the transportation network and creating connections to the downtown area. With the combination of bike routes, acceptable biking streets, and the Making Grand Grand project, the site is accessible to cyclists throughout the greater downtown area.

ACCEPTABLE BIKING STREETS

PROPOSED BICYCLE ROUTES

BICYCLE ROUTES

MAKING GRAND GRAND

BIKE SHARES


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PROPOSED STREETCAR ROUTE

BUS ROUTES

MAJOR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS


BICYCLE ROUTES AND BIKE SHARES

transit connectionsThis map shows all forms of major transit routes that connect Washington Square Park to the Greater Downtown Area. The current connections are immense, while the proposed streetcar and Making Grand Grand projects will add to the easy accessibility of the site. The combined forms of transit make Washington Square Park easily accessible from anywhere in the Greater Downtown Area and even beyond, with most roads leading directly to the park.

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The combined transportation systems make Washington Square Park easily accessible from anywhere in the Greater Downtown Area and throughout the Metro and Region.

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This graphic illustration of vehicular traffic counts, taken by the Sly James administration in a study of the Crossroads Arts District, shows the automobile traffic surrounding Washington Square Park during a typical weekday. The study was taken over a period of three years. The comparison between the vehicular and pedestrian traffic shows that there is a major disparity between the number of cars and the number of pedestrians moving by the site, illustrating a lack of pedestrian connections to the site.

vehicular traffic count

69258639

6513

* NO INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM 9 AM - 3 PM

By implementing traffic calming measures and making the area more pedestrian friendly we can create a long term solution that attracts more pedestrians to use the park on a daily basis and CREATE A WALKABLE DOWNTOWN.

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Studies of how pedestrians use the site further show the issue of the Link. More pedestrians use the Link than the park, causing a problem of underutilization. One reason for this is due to the barriers that are present due to the heavy vehicular traffic in the area. These studies show that the area wants to become more pedestrian friendly.

pedestrian traffic count

PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC THRU LINK

PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC


By implementing traffic calming measures and making the area more pedestrian friendly we can create a long term solution that attracts more pedestrians to use the park on a daily basis and CREATE A WALKABLE DOWNTOWN.

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studio analysis 1

Documents

park design study

anchor park

kansas city park system

previous park studies

better washington square

current park conditions

future design of kansas

better kansas city