5 ashland oregon
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
Ashland Central Plaza
Plaza
Shops and CafesPath
Ashland Creek
Lithia Park, Ashland, OregonSmall-town center meets linear park
Ashland CBD
Lithia Park
Rogue River National Forest
Residential Neighborhood (mostly single family)
Neighborhood City Natural Regionalcommercial park park parkdistrict
History:• Lithiaparkwascreatedin1914onsiteofthe
town’soldcentralflourmilldowntown,atthecentralplaza,andfollowedAshlandCreek
• DesignedandlandscapedbyJohnMcLaren,thedesignerofGoldenGatePark
• LithiaParkisnamedforthelithiumwaterthatwaspumpedinfromacreekseveralmilesaway.Ashlandinstantlybecameahealthtourismspot.
• OvertimeLithiaparkhasnearlydoubledinsize,buttheoriginalpartoftheparkisontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces
• TodaydowntownAshlandandLithiaParkareincrediblypopulardestinationsforsitting,eating,playingbikingandhiking,fortouristsandlocalsalike
Differences• Ashland’spopulationisjust20,000,butithas
alwaysbeenatouristtown.Currently,theyearlyOregonShakespearefestivaldraws400,000visitorsperyearover81/2months
• LithiaparkandtheplazaaredirectlyadjacenttoAshland’sdowntown
• IftheSEcorridoristobesuccessfulasanactivitycenter,whatisitthatwilldrawpeopletoit?
Relevance• ParkhassimilardimensionstotheSEcorridor• Createsasmalltownbutvibrantdynamicthat
combinesasmall-scale,attractiveactivitycenterwithdevelopedandnaturallinearparks
• Acreekunitestheretailandparkelements• Surroundedbyresidentialneighborhoodsof
mostlysingle-familyhousing,andconnectswithregionalparks
• Despitethissmall,walkabletown,parkinglotshelptomaketheparksuccessful.
Restaurants front the plaza with patio seating by the creek in backA pedestrian street runs between the creek and restaurantsA weekly market takes place in the alley
Developed Lithia ParkNarrow & linearPed/bike pathPlaygroundsDuck pondsRose garden
Japanese gardenTennis courtsBandshellAmphitheaterParking
Cafe and Market Area
Natural Lithia ParkMinimally developedLinear parkPedestrian/cycling/creek trailHiking trails
NLithia Park
ShakespeareFestival Theatre
Bike lane
Parking Lot
Outdoor seating & market
Erin Machell CP243, College of Environmental Design, Berkeley, CA, Fall 2010 Precedent Analysis