CENTRAL PARK

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CENTRAL PARK PROPOSAL
Prepared by Environmental Design Expedition
Central Alternative High School 39 Bluff
Street Dubuque, IA 52001
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THE DESIGNERS
Students Jessica Bowers
Eric Christ Tony Culpepper
Eric Smith Vicky Roach
Expedition Leaders Terri Engelberth Kathy
Stevens
Consultant Wayne Klosterman
With special assistance from John Stephens,
graphic designer, John Deere Dubuque Works.
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PLANNING PROCESS

• Site Evaluation
• Project Goals/Vision
• Maintenance and Management
• Development and Cost
• Plan Selected and Refined
• Cost
• Implementation
• Development Options

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PRINCIPALS OF LANDSCAPE PARK DESIGN
Landscape the management of plant material by
form, texture, and color, in such a way and
scale, that we can walk thru it, provide privacy,
and above all, provide a feeling of being
somewhere.
Elements
1. Trees 2. Provide privacy or shelter 3.
Hills and Berms - to create separation or
privacy, or used to create a vista 4.
Water - ponds, pools, etc. 5. Realm - define
the space or size 6. Grass - Turf grass or
meadows (wildflower) 7. Threshold - define the
opening and closure of the landscape, park,
space.
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Step One The Site

• Our vision was to design a park that would
  incorporate the elements of good park design, be
  pleasing and welcoming to the neighbors, and
  provide opportunities for service and interaction
  with the neighborhood.
• Our Landscape Designer, Wayne Klosterman of
  Klosterman and Associates, took the class through
  the process of park design.
• Students measured the area and perimeter of the
  propose site.
• Students then drew the proposed park area on
  graph paper.
• Students contacted the DOT for issues of
  availability, traffic count, and any
  environmental problems.
• Our project goal was to design a park to be
  presented to the City Park Commission.

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The Original Site
We received this view of the area from the City
of Dubuque. It gives the legal description of
the sites, which helped us identify our position
with the Department of Transportation. This view
also gave us figures, to check against ours, for
perimeter. Unfortunately this is only a partial
view of the area, showing only the first building
of the Dodge House Motel complex.
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LOCATION OF PROPOSED CENTRAL PARK

Corner of Bluff and Dodge Streets
May 15, 1998 Telegraph Herald, Mike
Krapfl Designing students hope park becomes
reality
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Survey Area
In addition to surveying neighbors about the
concept of a park in their neighborhood, students
also collected names of those who would like to
be involved in the planning process. Their input
was included in the student plans.
Students surveyed neighbors, going door to door,
from Highway 20 to Third Street, and from Locust
to Mary Street.
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Step Two Surveying the Neighborhood
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SURVEY Students from
Central Alternative High School, hope you will
want to be part of the creation of a new
neighborhood park at the intersection of Bluff
and Dodge. We want your input! Please complete
the following survey, and return it to us by
Friday, February 27, 1998. Return surveys to
Central Alternative High School, 39 bluff Street,
Dubuque, IA 52001. 1. Would you be in favor of
a neighborhood park at Bluff and
Dodge? Yes___ No___ 2. How many children are
in your family?___ Ages 1-5___ Ages
6-10___ Ages 10-14___ 3. What do you want to
see in the park? Check all that apply ___picnic
tables ___benches ___green space ___swings ___wal
king trail ___slides ___trees ___sand
box ___merry-go-round ___flowers___butterfly
garden ___fish pond ___other...(write in
suggestions)_______________________ Are
there any special needs you have for the
park?_______________________
__________________________________________________
________________ 4. Would you like to be
involved in the planning? _Yes _No 5. Would
you be willing to attend a neighborhood meeting
in the evening? ____Yes ____No 6. What
concerns would you have about a park at Bluff and
Dodge? Check all that apply ___traffic ___nois
e __accessibility ___safety ___other...(write
in suggestion)_________________________________
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Step Three Conceptual Design, then,
Neighborhood Critique
After incorporating neighbors suggestions, as
drafted during the survey, students completed a
rough sketch of the park. These sketches were
discussed with our expert, Mr.. Klosterman, of
Klosterman and Associates, who made suggestions
and gave us dimensions for each kind of
equipment. Each student incorporated these
suggestions into a conceptual design which was
drawn to scale. Neighbors who had expressed
interest in helping with the planning, were
invited to an evening presentation where they
discussed plans with individual students, and
then gave overall suggestions for the park, which
would be incorporated in the next draft set of
conceptual designs.
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Next Steps
Once the next set of conceptual designs were
drafted, Mr.. Klosterman, from Klosterman
Landscape Design, and Gil Spense, head of
Leisure Services for the City of Dubuque, were
invited to class for a critique session. We
discussed the merits of each students design,
and final corrections were made as to size and
type of playground equipment and space
requirements. One final composite
conceptual design was completed a week before the
scheduled presentation before the City Park
Commission. Neighbors were invited to review the
final design, and petitions were made available
for those wishing them.

• REVISION
• CRITIQUE BY EXPERTS
• FINAL REVIEW BY NEIGHBORS

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• Central Park will include
• Over half a mile of 10-foot-wide asphalt
  walking trails.
• Two picnic areas with picnic tables and grills.
• A childrens play area including slides, sand
  diggers, a play center, swings, and a
  merry-go-round.
• Plantings of 52 trees, and 8450 square feet of
  fruiting shrubs
• 1435 square feet of evergreen shrubs.
• 4900 square feet of perennials, with annuals
  planted throughout in beds and berms.
• For safety purposes the park will be completely
  enclosed by an 8-foot-chainlink fence, with one
  gate located off Bluff Street.
• Benches are provided throughout the park,
  especially around the play areas to encourage
  supervision and a sense of community.
• At the far end of the park, for quiet
  reflection, is a pond and waterfall. The
  waterfall flows naturally from layers of
  limestone rock off the face of the bluff into a
  pool eighteen inches deep. The area is artscaped
  with plantings, a bridge, and benches for
  relaxation.

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PETITION
We the undersigned are pleased with the D.O.T.
and City of Dubuque plans for landscaping along
U.S. 20. We would propose that the area between
Bluff Street and the end of the old Dodge House
Motel property be converted to a neighborhood
park. We further hope you will consider the
neighborhood park plans created by students at
Central Alternative High School.
Students and neighbors collected about 490
signatures before the Park Board Commission
meeting.
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Reflections on the Proposed Central Park from
students at Central Alternative High School
Chris Coffman I grew up near a park and it gave
me a place to play with my brothers. It gave me
a swing to dream on, to fly up and touch the sky.
It kept me off the streets and on the field.
These are the reasons we need a park in this
area. This is not the greatest neighborhood and
it would give these children a place to go and a
place to think. I ask you now not to think of
money, but to think of your children. Imagine
they grew up running the streets and getting in
trouble, all because they were denied a chance of
having a park. Dont deny the future of our city
a chance to grow.
Amanda Greve To have a park at the bottom of
Dodge would be a good idea because people would
see a nice park after coming off the highway. It
would give the neighborhood around here a sense
of community. It is helpful because kids can go
there and play or hangout. Families and friends
could gather and enjoy each others company
without being cramped inside.
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Tony Culpepper I think that having a park at
the end of Bluff and Dodge is a good idea. Ive
been working on the park plan with Kathy since
the third quarter. It would be a good idea
because of the number of older people and
children in this neighborhood, none of whom have
a place to relax within walking distance. The
parents of the kids will have an area set aside
where they will be able to supervise their
children when they run and play in the play area.
Another safety benefit the park will have is the
fence to keep kids away from Dodge Street and
Bluff. The park will also add to the appearance
of the town when you come off the bridge. The
walking trail in the park will go around the
whole park and will be around a pond with shaded
benches. Wildlife will also be attracted by the
pond. This is why I feel the park is a good
idea.
Sarah Specht The area of Bluff and Highway 20
should be made a park because there are no parks
around this area. The closest park for children
to play in is 16 blocks away. It will also make
Dubuque look a little prettier. Instead of
billboards and buildings, we would have a pretty
little playground for the neighborhood kids.
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COST ESTIMATES

• Trees 13,000
• Shrubs 1,140
• Flowers 30,430
• Focal Feature (pond and Waterfall) 58,234
• Park Equipment 79,375
• (playground, grills, tables, benches, garbage
  cans, etc.)
• Seeding 36,350
• Miscellaneous Material 107,762
• (fence, walking trail, pond)
  Total 326,291

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Final Step (?) Presentation to the City Park
Commission

• Students presented their final conceptual design,
  explaining the process.
• Students explained the process, and reported on
  neighborhood participation in the process.
• Students presented over 500 signatures from the
  area in favor of Central Park.
• Students presented the cost estimates for the
  park, under 1.00 per square foot.
• Students and staff volunteered to write grants
  and complete plantings of trees, shrubs and
  flowers, a savings of 8,583.00.

Possible funding sources include US 20
landscaping plan City budget for the US 20
landscaping plan Community Block Grants
D.O. T. Highway Beautification Funds General
Fund for Acquisition of Property Federal
Highway Beautification Funds Federal Parks
Fund Trees Forever Arbor Day Foundation
Two neighbors spoke in favor of the park after
the student presentation. The Park Commission
accepted the students report, and thanked them
for all their hard work. At present, we are
awaiting the D.O.T. decision on sale of the land.