The Confluence Project - Sandy River Bird Blind

GreenWorks provided site design, agency coordination, permitting services and construction administration to the Confluence Project throughout the planning, design and construction of the Sandy River Bird Blind project.  The Bird Blind project is one of several environmental and historical art installations artist Maya Lin commissioned for the Confluence Project to celebrate the journey of exploration and discovery of Lewis and Clark.
At the end of a 1.2 mile trail, built primarily by volunteers, you stroll up a gently curving 150-foot ramp to the Bird Blind, constructed of sustainably harvested, durable black locust wood. From this quiet spot, you can view birds and wildlife that inhabit the area today as you learn about the flora and fauna-some of which are now extinct, endangered or threatened species that existed on this site 200 years ago. The artwork serves as a lasting reminder of the impact humans have had on the environment and as a model for a new way to envision the connection between people and the natural world.
The black locust wood used to build the bird blind is a long-lasting, sustainable hardwood that is considered an invasive species in the Northwest. Using locally harvested black locust for this project supports efforts to eradicate the tree from our native forests and reinforces the Confluence Project’s goal of promoting sustainability. The vertical wooden slats of the bird blind are inscribed with the name and current status of each of the 134 species Lewis and Clark noted on their westward journey.

Lake Oswego Demonstration Street Project

GreenWorks closely collaborated with an engineer and urban designer to develop a prototype street reconstruction plan that emphasized a pedestrian friendly environment. Design solutions included narrowing of lane width, replacing left turn lane with landscape median, addition of a rich variety of paving materials in pedestrian zones and placement of street furniture, ornamental street lights, street trees, and annual color accent planting. Our specific responsibilities included final design and specifying of cobblestone paving in crosswalks, pre-cast concrete pavers in parking zone, patterned concrete in pedestrian and furniture zones, as well as landscaping improvements.

Blue Heron Mill Site Visioning

GreenWorks conducted a preliminary investigation on the Blue Heron Paper Mill site, which included research on the site’s history, river access investigations, preliminary concepts, and magnitude of cost estimate. The purpose of this work was to gain a better understanding of the potential to provide public river access, as well as for other recreational, interpretive, open space amenities and economic redevelopment features.  Celebration of the Willamette Falls and its cultural significance over the decades is also an integral component of the concept.  GreenWorks built off this initial effort to develop a vision for the site that is inspired by the 3 main eras evident on the site—the Natural Era, Cultural Era, and Industrial Era—all interweaving to become an expression of a new era of sustainability for Oregon City. New initiatives will target public open space, economic redevelopment, interpretive facilities, Falls overlooks, and riverbank restoration.

City of Dallas Streetscape

The City of Dallas Streetscape Design Concepts and Toolkit provides an adaptable strategy for downtown Dallas to take advantage of existing opportunities and assets to improve and expand the quality of the central district and streetscape conditions. The aim is to re-establish the central area as a pedestrian-friendly, safe, and economically viable district that is reflective of the unique identity of the residents of Dallas. GreenWorks worked with a diverse group of stakeholder from the City of Dallas and the Urban Renewal Agency to develop consensus on a design concept, materials toolkit, and street tree selection criteria which will guide the downtown core as well as provide additional guidance for future projects. Specific activities included ODOT coordination, visualization, and development and refinement of multiple concepts. The City is currently going forward with an initial pilot project, and is developing funding sources for the initial three-block catalyst project to be constructed in 2011.

Estacada Library

GreenWorks engaged with the design team and Estacada residents to develop a new two acre library site that serves as a community hub. The new library took advantage of its location on a former mill pond that was becoming a new community public open space. Our team designed the site to: take advantage of views along the pond edge; connect to a public trail system and parkland; create outdoor courtyard space for library users; and treat and infiltrate stormwater using ecological principles. Stormwater collection and conveyance features were designed to be visible to the public and help to create identity. The site design incorporated native plant communities in the overall planting design.

West Eugene Wetland Center

The West Eugene Wetlands Education Center will build a framework for learners to embark on their quest for knowledge and understanding of wetland ecology. The Center is located in the watershed of the Long Tom River, a major tributary of the Willamette River. The West Eugene Wetlands comprise 3,000 acres of rare habitat, protected and restored by the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership, a unique partnership of state, federal and private agencies. GreenWorks is providing landscape architectural services for the design of the center using the highest standards of sustainability. Moving beyond the requirements of LEED Platinum Certification, we are looking at how to restore and enhance the site for wildlife and plants, including the endangered Fender’s Blue Butterfly and Kincaid’s Lupine. Restoration of the disturbed upland habitats and sensitive design will provide a balance between protected habitat and thriving human activity and commerce. The site design includes plaza entry areas, green roofs, parking lots, site circulation, trails, and interpretive areas.

21st and Clinton Rainwater Courtyard

GreenWorks provided site design and landscape architectural services for this half-block commercial infill project in inner Southeast Portland. With sustainability a key objective for the owner, we incorporated several design elements. These include transforming demolished concrete into permeable courtyard paving and designing a rainwater art feature into concrete seat walls and planting beds. Planting design focused on creating an intimate residential feel for the project, blending it into the neighborhood, while incorporating a courtyard to be used for outdoor dining and gathering.

East Metro Connections Plan

GreenWorks worked on team to assist Metro in the East Metro Connection Plan as a part of a regional planning effort. The East Metro Connections Plan is the first mobility corridor refinement plan to come out of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. The Plan has implemented a new approach to allocating limited transportation dollars to ensure regional transportation investments, support local land use, community and economic development, and the environment. The plan has been an effort to understand present and future transportation challenges and prioritize solutions that reflect community values and the future plans and aspirations of each city.

Independence Downtown Revitalization

GreenWorks provided design coordination for the City of Independence Downtown Revitalization project. The challenge was to accommodate a high volume of traffic on Main Street, while enhancing the business and pedestrian corridor through downtown. By widening the sidewalks and providing curb extensions at intersections, the city was able to control vehicular traffic, and greatly improve a pedestrian friendly streetscape within the downtown core. Additional improvements included period street furniture, historic lighting with planted hanging baskets, and accent trees.

Damascus Green Street Concepts

Assisting the City of Damascus, GreenWorks recommended strategies using a system approach to meet the needs for parks and open space services while maximizing the preservation of natural areas, enhancing ecosystem services, and creating a sense of place. GreenWorks developed a preferred level of service approach with the quantity and quality of facility capacity that would determine the basis for developing and justifying specific capital improvements projects, the recommended level of service standards, and financing plans for each type of capital facility. The eco system service approach to the Public Facilities plan is a first for a municipality in the State of Oregon to consider how public facilities planning can effectively consider its natural resources as an economic and natural resources for the city and its residents. GreenWorks’ parks system planning efforts identify strategies for incorporating eco system services and the public infrastructure for a sustainable parks planning foundation.

Sherman Pass Scenic Byway

GreenWorks developed a Scenic Byway Master Plan for a 32 mile long National Scenic Byway consisting of three major components: Strategy, Interpretive Guide, and Implementation Guide. The key objective was to develop a marketable identity for the Scenic Byway. We developed interpretive themes, corridor improvements and site designs for 11 major waysides, overlooks, and interpretive sites. In the preliminary stages we used GIS in creating a base map of the corridor to serve as a reference through out the project. We then developed construction drawings and specifications for implementation at several sites.

Sandpoint Downtown Streetscape

GreenWorks developed green street schematic design concepts for the City of Sandpoint, Idaho, which will serve as a green street pilot project for the City of Sandpoint. Concepts for these existing streets looked at different options for how to retrofit green infrastructure to work with different existing conditions and how the design would fit with the character of the neighborhoods. Some of many issues considered in the designs were preserving existing mature trees, ease of snow plowing operation, on-street parking, vegetated stormwater facility types and pedestrian circulation.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Gresham Fairview Creek Regional Stormwater Facility

As a subconsultant for this regional water quantity and quality control project, we were responsible for design development of the four acre water quality facility, which includes a sedimentation pond with a wetland treatment facility. The wetland treatment facilities incorporates an emergent marsh, scrub-shrub community, and a riparian forest. Our tasks included preparation of graphic illustrations for a public meeting, at which we were present to answer questions.

CWS School Rain Garden Inventory & Retrofits

Lori Faha and GreenWorks conducted an inventory of public high schools and middle schools located inside the Clean Water Services (CWS) boundary to identify opportunities to retrofit sites with Low Impact Development Approaches (LIDA) for stormwater management. The resulting report uses photos and site inventory forms to highlight potential retro-fit projects such as rain gardens and stormwater planters to capture runoff from roofs and parking lots. The report will be used by CWS staff to prioritize projects for design and construction by the agency and for identifying potential projects for school teacher/student implementation.

Rock Creek Greenway

Hillsboro Parks and Recreation contracted with GreenWorks and an interdisciplinary team to evaluate opportunities and constraints and propose recommendations for a 2500 foot section of Rock Creek.

Project goals included reconnecting the creek to its floodplain, enhancing floodplain fish and wildlife habitat, and providing passive recreation opportunities for the greenway.

GreenWorks designed a concept plan including new stormwater treatment facilities between adjacent developments and the riparian corridor, a backwater habitat, overall vegetation management strategies, trails, overlooks, and a pedestrian bridge crossing.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

CWS Low Impact Development Handbook

To view the complete handbook visit the link below.

http://www.cleanwaterservices.org/LIDA