reconnecting: part 3

Design Proposition: Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridor 181

Beardsley rd. + Third sT.Overlooked for generations, both Beardsley Road and Third Street provide an opportunity to revitalize two con-tinuous streets for Downtown residents, improving the livability and walkability. Beardsley Road-Third Street, demonstrates how to implement an active transportation corridor with adjacent designed intervention spaces that reflect the surrounding context.

The southern terminus of Beardsley Road touches the Westside District, a residential area with an adjacent school. Beardsley, wedged between two sections of the city, the Downtown Loop and the West Bottoms, falls into a forgotten gap. The road has a strong accidental identity, seemingly outside the city bounded by nature. The road widths are expansive and the adjacent right-of-way allows design flexibility.

Third Street moves through a vastly different context. The street is enclosed on both sides by medium size buildings frequented by parking lots. The newly revitalized area has a moderate population and mixed use development. The district encompassing Third St. is a major feature of Down-town, although bare of non-motorized infrastructure.

Design Proposition: Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridor182

12th Street

18th Street

31st Street

20th Street

17th Street

Southw

est Boulevard

12th Street

Main Street

Gran

d Bou

levard

Paseo B

oulev

ard

Troos

t Avenu

e

Charlot

te St

reet

Beard

sley R

oad

3rd Street

West Pennway Terrace

NETWORK OF CORRIDORS + SELECTED DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR

During the corridor selection pro-

cess, Beardsley Road-Third Street

was initially noted for having street

continuity, expansive street widths,

good grades for walking and cy-

cling, and the connection between

the five Downtown districts: West-

side, West Bottoms, Downtown

Loop, River Market, and Columbus

Park.


UrBan ConCepT

NETWORK OF CORRIDORS + BEARDSLEY-THIRD CORRIDOR CONCEPT

The Beardsley Road-Third Street Ur-

ban Concept Diagram shows how

the designed corridor (blue line)

fits into an overall network of con-

nections and the proposed network

of Corridors (orange dashed lines).

The blue circles identify destination

points along the corridor and the or-

ange dots represent major intersect-

ing points to the network of connec-

tions.


Lower Portion of 12th Viaduct

Westside Residents

City Market

Columbus Square Retail

Columbus Square Residents

Berkley Riverfront Redevelopment

Plan

NODES ALONG BEARDSLEY-THIRD CORRIDOR CONNECTIONS FROM CORRIDOR

The major intention of the Beardsley-Third Street Corridor is to physically reconnect the Westside, West Bottoms, Downtown Loop, River Market, and Columbus Park districts. To do this, the strategy involves classifying the spaces along the corridor into two spaces: supporting destinations or circulation spaces. By improving the pedestrian mobility, ac-cessibility, and aesthetics, the public is empowered to use the public space. Both strate-gies, destination and circulation, seek to facilitate active transportation by improving the pedestrian and cycling environment.

Only Motorized Access

Pedestrian Access


Corridor inTenTion

MAJOR CONNECTIONS + NODES ON CORRIDOR

Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridors

Intention Diagram synthesizes the

nodes and major pedestrian connec-

tions, showing the main intention of

the Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridor.

Pedestrian Access


Good conditions for bicycling also create good condi-tions for pedestrians. And what makes the streets safer for bikes, also make them safer for motorists. 35

PROPOSED WEST BOTTOMS TRAILS + EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM + BEARDSLEY-THIRD CORRIDOR


Transportation

HealthEnvironment

EconomicsQuality of Life

Active Transportation

improving Trail sysTem

PROPOSED TYPOLOGY EXISTING TYPOLOGY

Over the course of studying the trails and parks system, the realization was made that Kansas Citys downtown is lacking non-motorized commuter infrastructure and is un-friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. All Americans are bet-ter off because biking and walking foster improved public health (and savings in health care expenditures for house-holds, businesses, and government), stronger communi-ties and local economies, less congestion, safer streets, lower energy use, and a cleaner, safer environment.36 Im-proving non-motorized transportation within the down-town will attract residents and enhance the quality of life.

188

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE LAND

The Parks and Recreation Depart-

ment is overburdened by the main-

tenance demands of the vast amount

of parks space for which they are re-

sponsible. Taking into consideration

such limitations, the Corridors will

utilize solely public land, either right-

of-way land or existing park space.

In doing so, Beardsley Rd.-Third St.

design exists exclusively in public

land. However, the corridor breaks

from this condition twice. The point

where the corridor encroaches on

private land is the connection point

between Beardsley Rd. and Third St.

In order to make a more safe, direct

connection, easements were rede-

fined to extend Third St. to Beardsley

Rd. to make a non-motorized path-

way. Secondly, a destination space

was designed in a for-sale lot in Co-

lumbus Park.


Riverf

ront H

ertiag

e Trail

Gra

nd B

oule

vard

Com

plet

e S

tree

t

12th Street Viaduct

Nor

th K

ansa

s C

ity B

ike

Trai

l

Mai

n S

tree

t Ped

estr

ian

Bri

dge

West Bottoms Trails

Mai

n S

tree

t - S

tree

t Car

Rou

te

West Pennw

ay

Street

Improvem

ent

Tie To exisTing ConTexT

CITY PROJECTS CONNECTING TO BEARDSLEY-THIRD CORRIDOR

The Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridor

will connect to all proposed and on-

going projects which intersect the

route or are in close proximity to the

corridor.


Construction of roads require vast amounts of land, time, and effort; this next capacity sits empty for a majority of the time. A mile of new urban highway costs $46-100 million, according to former House of Representatives Transportation chairman, Jim Oberstar, while a mile of 12-foot-wide bikeway costs $125,000.37 For the cost of a single mile of urban highway, a city could place over 368 miles of 12-foot-wide bikeway.

TRAFFIC FREQUENCY CRASH REPORT 2006-2010


FavoraBle CharaCTerisTiCs

BIKEABLE ROUTES + STOPS (TRAFFIC LIGHTS + STOP SIGNS)

The maps at left demonstrate the

overall safety of the Beardsley Rd.-

Third St. Corridor, an ideal charac-

teristic for cycling. The corridor has

a low traffic volume and low traffic

crash count.

The map on the right identifies bike-

able routes (blue), the corridor (or-

ange), and the amount of stops (stop

signs or traffic lights). Beardsley Rd.-

Third St. has only four stops in its

three-mile stretch, demonstrating an

ideal commuter stretch.


TOPOGRAPHY + BIKEABLE ROUTES

GRADE + DISTANCE OF ROUTES

The map on the left represents vari-

ous bikeable routes from one point

(orange dot) to another point. The

lines above show the topography

along those points and the distance

traveled to reach the second point.

The Beardsley Rd.-Third St. Corridor

(orange line) demonstrates an ideal

cycling route, which has a low slope

and is a more direct route between

destinations.


roUTe grade

CORRIDOR ROUTE +TOPOGRAPHY

The map at right indicate the Corri-

dors location within the topography

of the city and the section below

cuts through the route longitudinally.


EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM CONNECTING TRANSIT SYSTEM BIKEABLE STREETS

INTERSECTING STREETS TRAFFIC CONFLICT ZONES POSSIBLE TRUCK ROUTE


exisTing moTorized TraFFiC

PHASES OF HIGHWAY+ WEST TERRACE PARK

Over time, Kesslers parks and boulevards system has been transformed to accommo-date the development of trafficways and highways. Specifically with West Terrace Park, the installation of Interstate 35 in 1970 fragmented the park and removed Kersey Coates Drive. After 1970, the expansion of Interstate 670 provided a visual barrier along Beard-sley Rd. In the aftermath, Beardsley Rd. remained the only continuous street along the bluff.

The three maps on the top left page

represent the connection to existing

systems that will support the suc-

cess of the corridor.

The lower three maps analyze exist-

ing traffic conditions that might pro-

hibit the success of the corridor.


SENSE OF ENCLOSURE ALONG CORRIDOR


aFFeCTed areas

AREAS AFFECTED BY CORRIDOR

The two maps on the left page indi-

cate important viewshed points and

views. These views were capitalized

on by creating or enhancing outlooks

The map on the right shows portions

of the city that would be directly

affected by the corridor design. By

acknowledging the most affected

areas, intervention and design strat-

egies inform how to address each

location.


West Pennway Design Project

17th & Summit Retail Access

Reside

ntial A

ccess

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Existing Side

walk

Viewshed to West Bottoms/Railroads

Existing Baseball Diamond

Existing Playground

Existing Vacant Lot

Grati Wall

On-Street Pa

rkingOn-Str

eet Parking

3rd Street

Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly

Viewshed to Downtown Kansas City

Parking Structure

Surface Parking Lot

Narrow Sidew

alks

Narrow Sidew

alks

4th Street

Wyandotte

Riverfront He

ritage Trail: C

urrent Locati

on

Riverfront He

ritage Trail:

Current Locat

ion

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingCurren

tly Not Bicycl

e and Pedest

rian Friendly

Sidewalks

Narrow Sidew

alks

Narrow Sidew

alks

3rd Street

4th Street

Wyand

otte

Delaw

are

City Market P

ark:

Not Designed

/

Under Utlize

d

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Riverfront He

ritage Trail: C

urrent Locati

on

Pedestrian O

nly Area

Uneven Tree

Grates Along

Street Overhead

Powerlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingCurren

tly Not Bicycl

e and Pedest

rian Friendly

Sidewalks

3rd Street

Main Street

Walnu

t

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Riverfront Heritage Trail: Current Location

Pedestrian O

nly Area

Uneven Tree

Grates Along

Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

2nd Street

Under Utilized Lot

City Market

City Market

Entrance

City Market:

Loading Dock

s

Seating + Din

ing

Area

Main Street

Pedstrian Bri

dge

Sidewalks

Surface Parking Lot

On-Street Pa

rking No Sidewalks

Angled Parkin

g

On-Street Pa

rking

City Market P

ark:

Not Designed

/

Under Utlize

d

Existing Parking Garage

3rd Street

4th Street

Grand

Bou

levard

Oak Street

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking LotSurface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Unmaintained Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Bus Stop

No Sidewalks

Oak Street

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Awkward Int

ersection:

Wide + Not Pe

destrian Frien

dly

Grand Boule

vard

Streetscaping

Narrow Sidew

alks: Poor Co

ndition

Viewshed

No On-Street

Parking

No On-Street

Parking

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Transit Stop

Regional Bus Stop

Grand

Street P

lan

Bike Lan

e

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly

Narrow Side

walks

3rd Street

Oak Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

Fragmented

Sidewalks

On-Street Pa

rking

No Sidewalks

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot + Loading Area

Right-of-Way

:

Currently Gre

en

Lawn

Right-of-Way

:

Currently Gre

en

Lawn

Locust Street

4th Street

On-Street Pa

rking

Existing Dog

Park

Surface Parking Lot

Existing Walk

ing Trail

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly Narrow S

idewalks

3rd Street

Holmes Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Surface Parking Lot Surface Parking Lot

Highw

ay 9 Overhead

4th Street

On-Street Pa

rking

Under Utilized Lots: For Sale

Existing Walk

ing Trail

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Poor Sidewa

lk Conditions

Under Utilize

d

Underpass

Cherry Street

North Kansas C

ity

Bike Trail Co

nnectio

n

Under Utilize

d Space:

Former Rail L

ine

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Narrow Sidew

alks: Poor Co

ndition

No Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Flat Area

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope


Under Utilize

d Space:

Former Rail L

ine

Dense Vegetation

No Sidewalks3rd St

reet

Gillis Street

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Steeper Road

Grade

Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope

Existing Sycamore Trees

No Sidewalks

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Northeast In

dustrial Tra

cway

Gillis Street

No Sidewalks

Currently Not

Pedestrian F

riendly No Sidewalks

Curren

tly Private Drive

Steep Slopes

Steep Slopes

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

No Sidewalks

No Sidew

alks

Bridge

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Open View of Railroad Tracks

Open View of Railroad Tracks Maint

enance Road

Low Vegetation

Open Area: Viewsheds to West Bottoms


Steep Topo

graphy

Gap Adjacent to Beardsley


Drop-o Under 670 Bridge

Overhead 670 Bridge

Beardsle

y Not on Grade

Beardsle

y Not on Grade

Existing Sidewalk

Exposed Limestone Due to Above Roadway

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Sparce Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

1st Street

NE Indust

rial Trac

way

Guinotte

Ave

Lydia Av

e

Right-of-Way

At-GradeRailroadCrossing

No Sidew

alks


Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Right-Of-Way

Railroad O

wned

Railroad O

wned

No Sidew

alks


Steep Topo

graphy

Dense Vegetation

Steep Topo

graphy




Cow Path


Low Vegetation

Existing Side

walk

Cow Path

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Vacant Parcel

Flat Area

West Bottoms 12th Street Viaduct Access

Viewshed to West Bottoms and Railroad


12th Street Viaduct Renovation

Limestone

Retaining

Wall

Limestone

Retaining

Wall

Steep Slop

e

Major Water Manag

emen

t Issue

-Flood

Prone

Existing Side

walk

Concretee Retaining Wall

Limite

d Pede

stria

n Access

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Major Water M

anag

emen

t Issue

-Flood

Prone

Steep Slop

e

No Side

walks

No Side

walks

Limited Pedestrian

Access

West Bottoms Truck Access

Dense Vegetation

Existing Sidewalk

I-35 Above

I-35 Above

Ramp to Broadway

Dense Vegetation

Viewshed to Railroads

Viewshed Missouri River

On-Street Parking

Right-of-Way Lawn

Right-of-Way UnmanicuredDense Vegetation

Right-of-Way Lawn

Beardsley Underpass


Metal Railing

Open to Railroad Below

Existing Riverblu Park + Portion of Heritage Trail

Rivrfront Heritage Trail:

Current Location

(Trail Ends)

Shallow Slope


Open Space

On-Street Parking

Narrow Sidewalk

On-Street ParkingNarrow Sidewalk

Alley

Surface Parking Lot

4th Street

Highway Access

Highway A

ccess


Surface Parking Lot

Open Space

Open Space

Gradual Slope

Equipment Storage

On-Street Parking

Narrow Street Width

Surface Parking Lot

Dense Vegetation

Riverfront Heritage Trail End

Viewshed to Broadway Bridge

Viewshed to Missouri River

Open Space

Multiple Safety Issue Regarding Trac + Trail Transition

Dead End

3rd Street

4th Street

Broadw

ay

Overhead: Broad

way Street B

ridge4th Street

Woodswether

Alley

New Construction

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Alley

Narrow Sidew

alks

Surface Park

ing Lot

Not Pedestrian + Bicycle Friendly

On-Street Parking

On-Street ParkingRiverfr

ont Heritage

Trail: Current

Location

Existing Sidewalk

No Side

walk

Narrow Sidew

alksOn-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingFire Lane

Existing Sidewalk

Narrow Sidew

alk

BEARDSLEY ROAD

THIRD STREET: RIVERMARKET

NE INDUSTRIAL TRAFFICWAY

THIRD STREET: COLUMBUS PARK

EXISTING CONDITIONS


Dened Entry Point

Learning Landscape

Jarobe Park/School Access

Playground Access

Space to Expand Co

rridor

Remove Invasive Vegetation & Add Native Plant Species


Potential Outlook Point to West Bottoms

3rd Street

4th Street

Wyandotte

Utilize Viewshed

Widen Sidew

alks

Widen Sidew

alks

Possibly Utilize Vacant Lot

Add Bike Lan

es

Remove Som

e On-Street P

arking/ Rede

sign Remain

ingRedes

ign Green In

frastructure +

Native Specie

s

Keep Grati Wall

3rd Street

4th Street

Wyand

otte

Delaw

are

Remove + Re

design On-St

reet Parking

Redesign Str

eetscaping

Redesign Po

les Locations

Make Bike Lan

e

Widen Sidew

alksAdd Li

ghtingCity M

arket Park:

Designed + U

rban

Agriculture

3rd Street

Redesign Str

eetscaping

Redesign Po

les Locations

Make Bike Lan

e

Add Lighting

Design Entran

ce

Point to

City Market

Main Street

Walnu

t

2nd Street

Design Entran

ce

Point to

Pedestrian Br

idgeRemov

e + Redesign

On-Street Pa

rking

Utilize Lot

Allow Truck Access

City Market P

ark:

Design + Urb

an

Agriculture

Redesign Lo

ading Area/P

ossibly Remo

ve

Utilize for Pe

destrians

Not Cars!

3rd Street

4th Street

Grand

Bou

levard

Oak Street

Bus Stop

Add Sidewal

ks

Oak Street

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Redesign + I

ncrease Safet

y

in Intersectio

n

Redesign + W

iden Sidewa

lk Capitalize on Viewshed

On-Street Pa

rking

Transit Stop

Add Bike Lan

e

Grand Boule

vard

Streetscaping

Grand

Street P

lan

Bike Lan

e

Increasing Li

ghting

Improve Lot

Improve Lot

Add Bike Lan

es

3rd Street

Oak Street

Locust Street

4th Street

Utilize Green

Space

for Dog Park

Keep Existing

Walking

Trail + Tie int

o Corridor

Utilize Under

pass for

Skate Park

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

Improve Ligh

ting

Improve Ligh

ting

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Add Streetsc

aping

Remove Stree

t

North Kansas C

ity

Bike Trail Co

nnectio

n

On-Street Pa

rking

3rd Street H

olmes Street

Redesign La

mp + Powerli

ne Poles

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Highw

ay 9 Overhead

4th Street

Bike Kiosk

Existing Walk

ing Trail

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Improve Side

walks

Utilized Und

erpass for

Skate Park

Cherry Street

Transition Space between Corridor + Bike Trail

Add Bike Lan

es

Widen Sidew

alks

Transition Space between Corridor + Walking Trail

Connection between Lot + Trail

Connection between Skate Park+ Trail

Improve Ligh

ting

Continue Exis

ting Walking

Trail

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking

Keep Dense Vegetation: Remove Invasive Species

+ Add Native


+ Add Native

Expand Walking Trail

Widen + Add

SidewalksAdd B

ike Lanes

Increase Ligh

ting

Non- Motorize

d Transporta

tion

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

Remove Invasive + Add Native Species

Add Sidewal

ks3rd Street

Gillis Street

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Steeper Road

Grade

Keep Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope

Keep + Add Sycamore Trees

Add Sidewal

ks

Add Bike Lan

e

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Gillis Street

Add Sidewal

ks

Add Sidewa

lks

Add Native V

egetation + R

emove Invasi

ve

Add Native V

egetation + R

emove Invasi

ve

Make Non-Mo

torized Transp

ortation Corr

idor

Northeast In

dustrial Tra

cway

Add Ped

estrian /

Cycling

Bridge

Pedestrian

/ Cycling O

nly

Add Ligh

ting

Add Native + Remove Invasive Species

Bridge Open View of Railroad Tracks





Water Managem

ent

Water Managem

ent

Accent Lighting Along Limestone


Utilize Open Area: Viewsheds to West Bottoms


Space to Expand Co

rridor

Opportunity

Add Ped

estrian /

Cycling B

ridge

Add Cyc

ling Lan

es






Possible Expansion

Add Pedestrian / Cycling Bridge

Add Bike Lanes

Existing

Bike Path

Add Native Vegetation

Capitalize on Viewshed to West Bottoms + 12th Street Viaduct

Space to Expand Co

rridor

or Low

er Level

Water Managem

ent

Possible Area for R

ock Climbling Remove Invasive Species + Add

Native Species

Remove Invasive Species + Add Native Species

Dened Entry Point

Remove Invasive Species + Add Native Plants


Possible Amphitheater


Water Managem

ent Techniqu

es

Possible Expansion Space

Pedestrian Only Access

Establish Look Out Point


Dened Entry Point + Possible Look Out

Major Water M

anag

emen

t Techn

ique

Keep Dense Vegetation + Remove Invasive Species


Trail Head

Pede

stria

n & Cycling Only

Space to Expand Co

rridor


Space to Expand Corridor

Train Watching

Remove Invasive Vegetation & Add

Native Plant Species

Lighting

Redesign Riverblu Park + Better Interaction with Corridor

Metal Railing

Improve Pedestrian + Cyclist Safety by Structuring Circulation

Take Out Lane: Use for Pedestrian

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Address On + O Ramp Safety

Add Bike Lane

Widen Sidewalk

Opportunity

Opportunity

Extention to 3rd Street

Add Bike LaneAdd Wide Sidewalks

Widen Sidewalk

Redesign Park



Utilize Land for Pedestrian Use

Remove + Redesign On-Street Parking

Add Bike Lane

4th Street

3rd Street

4th Street

Broa

dway

4th Street

Woodswether

Extention to 3rd Street (Pedestrian Only)

Improve Trac Patterns + Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety

Add Lighting

Widen Sidew

alks

On-Street Pa

rking

Widen Sidew

alksAdd Bike L

ane


Redirected

Truck Rou

te

siTe speCiFiC analysis


BEARDSLEY ROAD

THIRD STREET: RIVERMARKET


THIRD STREET: COLUMBUS PARK

DESIGN STRATEGIES

Subsequent to the initial overall analysis, the corridor was divided into site specific parts. Upon determining the con-ditions, design strategies were established for each area. Once compiled, the design strategies began to shape a framework for potential intervention spaces and circula-tion typologies.

By organizing the site in such a way, constraints and op-portunities shaped design development for each segment of the overall corridor. The three parts, Beardsley Road, River Market and Columbus Park were each addressed ap-propriately.


Dened Entry Point

Learning Landscape

Jarobe Park/School Access

Playground Access

Space to Expand Co

rridor




Water Managem

ent

Water Managem

ent

Accent Lighting Along Limestone




Space to Expand Co

rridor

Capitalize on Viewshed to West Bottoms + 12th Street Viaduct

Space to Expand Co

rridor

or Low

er Level

Water Managem

ent

Possible Area for R

ock Climbling Remove Invasive Species + Add

Native Species

Remove Invasive Species + Add Native Species

Dened Entry Point



Possible Amphitheater


Water Managem

ent Techniqu

es

Possible Expansion Space

Pedestrian Only Access



Dened Entry Point + Possible Look Out

Major Water M

anag

emen

t Techn

ique



Concretee Retaining Wall

Limite

d Pede

stria

n Access

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Major Water M

anag

emen

t Issue

-Flood

Prone

Steep Slop

e

No Side

walks

No Side

walks

Cow Path

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Vacant Parcel

Flat Area

West Bottoms 12th Street Viaduct Access



12th Street Viaduct Renovation

Limestone

Retaining

Wall

Limestone

Retaining

Wall

Steep Slop

e

Major Water Manag

emen

t Issue

-Flood

Prone

Existing Side

walk

Steep Topo

graphy

Dense Vegetation

Steep Topo

graphy




Cow Path


Low Vegetation

Existing Side

walk

Low Vegetation



Steep Topo

graphy



Drop-o Under 670 Bridge

Overhead 670 Bridge

Beardsle

y Not on Grade

Beardsle

y Not on Grade

Existing Sidewalk

Exposed Limestone Due to Above Roadway

West Pennway Design Project

17th & Summit Retail Access

Reside

ntial A

ccess

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Existing Side

walk


Existing Baseball Diamond

Existing Playground

Trail Head

Pede

stria

n & Cycling Only

Space to Expand Co

rridor



Train Watching



Limited Pedestrian

Access


Dense Vegetation

Existing Sidewalk

I-35 Above

I-35 Above

Ramp to Broadway

Dense Vegetation

BEARDSLEY ROAD

EXISTIING CONDITIONS

DESIGN STRATEGIES12TH ST. VIADUCTOUTLOOKJARBOE PARK

12TH ST. VIADUCTOUTLOOKJARBOE PARK

Design strategies are places where opportunities, or strategies to combat constraints, were found.


3rd Street

4th Street

Wyandotte

Utilize Viewshed

Widen Sidew

alks

Widen Sidew

alks

Possibly Utilize Vacant Lot

Add Bike Lan

es

Remove Som

e On-Street P

arking/ Rede

sign Remain

ingRedes

ign Green In

frastructure +

Native Specie

s

Keep Grati Wall

Lighting

Redesign Riverblu Park + Better Interaction with Corridor

Metal Railing

Improve Pedestrian + Cyclist Safety by Structuring Circulation

Take Out Lane: Use for Pedestrian

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity

Address On + O Ramp Safety

Add Bike Lane

Widen Sidewalk

Opportunity

Opportunity

Extention to 3rd Street


Widen Sidewalk

Redesign Park



Utilize Land for Pedestrian Use

Remove + Redesign On-Street Parking

Add Bike Lane

4th Street

3rd Street

4th Street

Broa

dway

4th Street

Woodswether

Extention to 3rd Street (Pedestrian Only)

Improve Trac Patterns + Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety

Add Lighting

Widen Sidew

alks

On-Street Pa

rking

Widen Sidew

alksAdd Bike L

ane


Redirected

Truck Rou

te

Multiple Safety Issue Regarding Trac + Trail Transition

Dead End

3rd Street

4th Street

Broadw

ay

Overhead: Broad

way Street B

ridge4th Street

Woodswether

Alley

New Construction

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Alley

Narrow Sidew

alks

Surface Park

ing Lot

Not Pedestrian + Bicycle Friendly

On-Street Parking

On-Street ParkingRiverfr

ont Heritage

Trail: Current

Location

Existing Sidewalk

No Side

walk

Narrow Sidew

alksOn-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingFire Lane

Existing Sidewalk

Narrow Sidew

alk

Open Space

On-Street Parking

Narrow Sidewalk

On-Street ParkingNarrow Sidewalk

Alley

Surface Parking Lot

4th Street

Highway Access

Highway A

ccess


Surface Parking Lot

Open Space

Open Space

Gradual Slope

Equipment Storage

On-Street Parking

Narrow Street Width

Surface Parking Lot

Dense Vegetation

Riverfront Heritage Trail End



Open Space

Viewshed to Railroads

Viewshed Missouri River

On-Street Parking

Right-of-Way Lawn


Right-of-Way Lawn

Beardsley Underpass


Metal Railing

Open to Railroad Below

Existing Riverblu Park + Portion of Heritage Trail

Rivrfront Heritage Trail:

Current Location

(Trail Ends)

Shallow Slope


Existing Vacant Lot

Grati Wall

On-Street Pa

rkingOn-Str

eet Parking

3rd Street

Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly

Viewshed to Downtown Kansas City

Parking Structure

Surface Parking Lot

Narrow Sidew

alks

Narrow Sidew

alks

4th Street

Wyandotte

Riverfront He

ritage Trail: C

urrent Locati

on

Riverfront He

ritage Trail:

Current Locat

ion

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingCurren

tly Not Bicycl

e and Pedest

rian Friendly

Sidewalks

Narrow Sidew

alks

Narrow Sidew

alks

3rd Street

4th Street

Wyand

otte

Delaw

are

City Market P

ark:

Not Designed

/

Under Utlize

d

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Riverfront He

ritage Trail: C

urrent Locati

on

Pedestrian O

nly Area

Uneven Tree

Grates Along

Street Overhead

Powerlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

3rd Street

4th Street

Wyand

otte

Delaw

are

Remove + Re

design On-St

reet Parking

Redesign Str

eetscaping

Redesign Po

les Locations

Make Bike Lan

e

Widen Sidew

alksAdd Li

ghtingCity M

arket Park:

Designed + U

rban

Agriculture

THIRD STREET

RIVERBLUFF PARK

RIVERBLUFF PARK

Trail Head

Pede

stria

n & Cycling Only

Space to Expand Co

rridor



Train Watching



Limited Pedestrian

Access


Dense Vegetation

Existing Sidewalk

I-35 Above

I-35 Above

Ramp to Broadway

Dense Vegetation


CITY MARKET PARK

3rd Street

4th Street

Grand

Bou

levard

Oak Street

Bus Stop

Add Sidewal

ks

Oak Street

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Redesign + I

ncrease Safet

y

in Intersectio

n

Redesign + W

iden Sidewa

lk Capitalize on Viewshed

On-Street Pa

rking

Transit Stop

Add Bike Lan

e

Grand Boule

vard

Streetscaping

Grand

Street P

lan

Bike Lan

e

Increasing Li

ghting

Improve Lot

Improve Lot

Add Bike Lan

es

3rd Street

Oak Street

Locust Street

4th Street

Utilize Green

Space

for Dog Park

Keep Existing

Walking

Trail + Tie int

o Corridor

Utilize Under

pass for

Skate Park

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

Improve Ligh

ting

Improve Ligh

ting

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Add Streetsc

aping

Remove Stree

t

North Kansas C

ity

Bike Trail Co

nnectio

n

On-Street Pa

rking

3rd Street H

olmes Street

Redesign La

mp + Powerli

ne Poles

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Highw

ay 9 Overhead

4th Street

Bike Kiosk

Existing Walk

ing Trail

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Improve Side

walks

Utilized Und

erpass for

Skate Park

Cherry Street

Transition Space between Corridor + Bike Trail

Add Bike Lan

es

Widen Sidew

alks

Transition Space between Corridor + Walking Trail

Connection between Lot + Trail

Connection between Skate Park+ Trail

Improve Ligh

ting

Continue Exis

ting Walking

Trail

3rd Street

Redesign Str

eetscaping

Redesign Po

les Locations

Make Bike Lan

e

Add Lighting

Design Entran

ce

Point to

City Market

Main Street

Walnu

t

2nd Street

Design Entran

ce

Point to

Pedestrian Br

idgeRemov

e + Redesign

On-Street Pa

rking

Utilize Lot

Allow Truck Access

City Market P

ark:

Design + Urb

an

Agriculture

Redesign Lo

ading Area/P

ossibly Remo

ve

Utilize for Pe

destrians

Not Cars!

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rkingCurren

tly Not Bicycl

e and Pedest

rian Friendly

Sidewalks

3rd Street

Main Street

Walnu

t

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Riverfront Heritage Trail: Current Location

Pedestrian O

nly Area

Uneven Tree

Grates Along

Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

2nd Street

Under Utilized Lot

City Market

City Market

Entrance

City Market:

Loading Dock

s

Seating + Din

ing

Area

Main Street

Pedstrian Bri

dge

Sidewalks

Surface Parking Lot

On-Street Pa

rking No Sidewalks

Angled Parkin

g

On-Street Pa

rking

City Market P

ark:

Not Designed

/

Under Utlize

d

Existing Parking Garage

3rd Street

4th Street

Grand

Bou

levard

Oak Street

Surface Parking Lot


Surface Parking Lot

Unmaintained Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Bus Stop

No Sidewalks

Oak Street

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Bike Rack

Awkward Int

ersection:

Wide + Not Pe

destrian Frien

dly

Grand Boule

vard

Streetscaping

Narrow Sidew

alks: Poor Co

ndition

Viewshed

No On-Street

Parking

No On-Street

Parking

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Transit Stop

Regional Bus Stop

Grand

Street P

lan

Bike Lan

e

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly

Narrow Side

walks

3rd Street

Oak Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

Fragmented

Sidewalks

On-Street Pa

rking

No Sidewalks

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot

Surface Parking Lot + Loading Area

Right-of-Way

:

Currently Gre

en

Lawn

Right-of-Way

:

Currently Gre

en

Lawn

Locust Street

4th Street

On-Street Pa

rking

Existing Dog

Park

Surface Parking Lot

Existing Walk

ing Trail

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Currently Not

Bicycle and

Pedestrian Fr

iendly Narrow S

idewalks

3rd Street

Holmes Street

Overhead Po

werlines

Lamp + Pow

erline Poles i

n the Way

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Surface Parking Lot Surface Parking Lot

Highw

ay 9 Overhead

4th Street

On-Street Pa

rking

Under Utilized Lots: For Sale

Existing Walk

ing Trail

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Poor Sidewa

lk Conditions

Under Utilize

d

Underpass

Cherry Street

North Kansas C

ity

Bike Trail Co

nnectio

n

Under Utilize

d Space:

Former Rail L

ine

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Narrow Sidew

alks: Poor Co

ndition

No Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Flat Area

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope


Under Utilize

d Space:

Former Rail L

ine

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking


+ Add Native


+ Add Native


Widen + Add

SidewalksAdd B

ike Lanes

Increase Ligh

ting

Non- Motorize

d Transporta

tion

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

DESIGN STRATEGIES

EXISTIING CONDITIONS

CITY MARKET PARK 3RD-GRAND INTERSECTION HIGHWAY 9 RIGHT-OF-WAY SPACE

3RD-GRAND INTERSECTION HIGHWAY 9 RIGHT-OF-WAY SPACE

Design strategies are places where opportunities, or strategies to combat constraints, were found.


Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Narrow Sidew

alks: Poor Co

ndition

No Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking

On-Street Pa

rking

Flat Area

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope


Under Utilize

d Space:

Former Rail L

ine

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Widen + Add

Sidewalks

3rd Street

Charlotte Street

4th Street

Campb

ell Street

On-Street Pa

rking


+ Add Native


+ Add Native


Widen + Add

SidewalksAdd B

ike Lanes

Increase Ligh

ting

Non- Motorize

d Transporta

tion

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

Increase Veg

etation aroun

d Corridor

Remove Invasive + Add Native Species

Add Sidewal

ks3rd Street

Gillis Street

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Steeper Road

Grade

Keep Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope

Keep + Add Sycamore Trees

Add Sidewal

ks

Add Bike Lan

e

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Gillis Street

Add Sidewal

ks

Add Sidewa

lks

Add Native V

egetation + R

emove Invasi

ve

Add Native V

egetation + R

emove Invasi

ve

Make Non-Mo

torized Transp

ortation Corr

idor

Northeast In

dustrial Tra

cway

Add Ped

estrian /

Cycling

Bridge

Pedestrian

/ Cycling O

nly

Add Ligh

ting


Bridge Open View of Railroad Tracks





Opportunity

Add Ped

estrian /

Cycling B

ridge

Add Cyc

ling Lan

es






Possible Expansion

Add Pedestrian / Cycling Bridge

Add Bike Lanes

Existing

Bike Path

Add Native Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

No Sidewalks3rd St

reet

Gillis Street

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Steeper Road

Grade

Dense Vegetation

Steep Slope

Existing Sycamore Trees

No Sidewalks

Redevelopm

ent Area:

Phase 3 Guin

otte

Cherry to Gill

is

+ 3rd to 5th

Northeast In

dustrial Tra

cway

Gillis Street

No Sidewalks

Currently Not

Pedestrian F

riendly No Sidewalks

Curren

tly Private Drive

Steep Slopes

Steep Slopes

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Veget

ation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

No Sidewalks

No Sidew

alks

Bridge

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation


Open View of Railroad Tracks Maint

enance Road

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Sparce Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

1st Street

NE Indust

rial Trac

way

Guinotte

Ave

Lydia Av

e

Right-of-Way


No Sidew

alks


Dense Vegetation

Dense Vegetation

Right-Of-Way

Railroad O

wned

Railroad O

wned

No Sidew

alks


NORTHEAST INDUSTRIAL TRAFFICWAY


CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES

The majority of constraints along the Beardsley Road-Third Street corridor were physical barriers, such as highways, railroad lines, steep topography and building footprints.

Opportunities were discovered where barriers did not exist and where constraints could be utilized as opportunities. These opportunities include public space underneath over-passes, viewsheds caused by bluffs, and railroad lines.

Figure Ground

Corridor

Roadway Barriers

Railroad BarriersOpportunities

Corridor Circulation Route


segmenTing Corridor

BEARSLEY ROAD SEGMENT RIVER MARKET SEGMENT COLUMBUS PARK SEGMENT

A master plan of the site was formulated after analyzing the corridor as a whole and also at a site specific scale. To integrate into the different areas of the site, the corridor was segmented into three portion. Each portion of the corridor was strategized differently in order to achieve specific intentions for the given areas. As a strategy for the given areas was determined, the site was again analyzed at a overall scale so that the corridor formed a cohesive whole.

Corridor Circulation Route


JARBOE PARK: TRAIL HEAD + LEARNING LANDSCAPE + RECREATIONAL FIELD

SOUTH BEARDSLEY: OUTLOOK

12TH STREET VIADUCT: EVENT SPACE

RIVERBLUFF PARK: REDESIGN

CITY MARKET PARK: URBAN AGRICULTURE

3RD-GRAND INTERSECTION: REDESIGN

HIGHWAY 9 OVERPASS: DOG PARK + SKATE PARK +BIKE KIOSK +URBAN AG..


masTer plan

JARBOE PARK: TRAIL HEAD + LEARNING LANDSCAPE + RECREATIONAL FIELD

SOUTH BEARDSLEY: OUTLOOK

12TH STREET VIADUCT: EVENT SPACE

The corridor design was based on two circulation typolo-gies, one wide pedestrian and non-motorized path, and in the urban context two bike lanes separate from sidewalks. In addition to circulation, destination spaces were also created to reflect the needs of the surrounding residents and visitors.

Streets and their sidewalks, the main public space of a city, are its most vital organs. Think of a city and what comes to mind? Its streets. If a city's streets look interest-ing, the city looks interesting; if they look dull, the city looks dull.38


STRATEGIES FOR BEARDSLEY ROAD

LAND USE FOR BEARDSLEY

CONSTRAINTS FOR BEARDSLEY

Park

Negotiable Lot

Commercial Destination

Civic

Residential

Commercial

Parking Garage

Figure Ground

Corridor

Roadway Barriers


Beardsley road CondiTionsAs one of the first continuous roads along the western bluff, Beardsley Road has been historically disconnected from Kansas City since its creation. The road has been for-gotten, neglected, and eventually became an alternative route for truck and automobile traffic.

The physical and social landscape matches the isolated location of Beardsley Road. The social isolation can be described through the no dumping signs, fresh graffiti, invasive plant species, people lost within and without the city, and high-speed automobile traffic. Currently. There are few amenities along the one mile stretch of Beardsley Road. Due to the length and distant between amenities on Beardsley Road, the design strategy focused on active cycling and passive pedestrian circulation.

The main opportunity for Beardsley Road was to design a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendliness environment. The design improves existing pedestrian and bicycle paths, while adding amenities and improving natural aesthetics.


Case Park

Forester Road

Interstate 70

School Grounds

Interstate 670

School Grounds

Outlook Point

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Interstate 35

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

Rail Lines

BEARDSLEY ROAD

Transverse sections of Beardsley

Road investigated the vertical con-

straints along the site. The sections

revealed where opportunities for

connection to the Downtown Loop

and West Bottoms were possible. SECTIONAL ENCLOSURE STUDY OF BEARDSLEY ROAD

Research + Analysis212

Research + Analysis 213

The design for Jarboe Park incorpo-

rates the West Pennway Plan, while

creating additional amenities further

along Beardsley Road.PLAN OF JARBOE PARK

RECREATIONAL FIELD

TRAIL HEAD

PAVILION

LEARNING LANDSCAPE

OUTLOOK

BEARDSLEY ROAD

214


JarBoe parkJarboe Park is located in Westside district, a racially and age diverse neighborhood with small commercial center. Since Jarboe Park site is adjacent to Primitivo Garcia El-ementary School and a residential area, the design pro-vides a field, pavilion, and learning landscape where kids can reconnect with nature. As a destination, the trail head provides a pedestrian amenity and educational opportu-nity for visitors. The trail head and learning landscape in-corporate the remaining road bed of Kersey Coates Drive. Once a component of West Terrace Park, the only trace of the road is located at 17th and Beardsley. The design uti-lized the altered topography, creating inhabitable space for the community.

CONNECTION TO TRAIL SYSTEM


Objectives of Beardsley Road were to connect Westside, West Bottoms, Downtown Loop, and River Market dis-tricts; revitalize right-of-way and public land; create ame-nities between existing amenities; utilize native plants and stormwater management; improve mobility, accessibility, and aesthetics for pedestrians and cyclists; reduce cut-through truck traffic; and clarify circulations zones.

BEARDSLEY ROAD ADJACENT TO JARBOE PARK


soUThern Beardsley road

BEARDSLEY ROAD MULKEY SQUARE PARK

218

PLAN OF OUTLOOK

OUTLOOK

12TH VIADUCT + WEST BOTTOMSVIEWSHED

BEARDLSEY ROAD


MODEL OF BEARDSLEY ROAD PASSING UNDER INTERSTATE 670


Slightly north of Interstate 670, ap-

pears a view of the entire 12th Street

Viaduct and West Bottoms district.

The proposed outlook accentuates

the visual connection with a cantile-

ver structure.

VIEW FROM OUTLOOK

To reduce speed on Beardsley, the design proposed a dedicated 12 pedestrian and cycling lane with vegetation buffer and narrower automobile lanes. By lowering vehicle speeds non-motorized can enjoy views and freedom of movement. The design would also address erosion by re-placing non-native plants with native plant species.


Beardsley OutlOOk

BEARDSLEY ROAD MULKEY SQUARE PARK

BEARDLSEY ROAD

VIADUCT (MID-DECK: NON-MOTORIZED)EVENT SPACE

MULKEY SQUARE PARK

12TH STREET

224


12th street ViaductThe 12th Viaduct is one of the few connection points be-tween the Downtown Loop, the commercial core of Kan-sas City, and the West Bottoms, a district consisting of old railroads and manufacturing buildings and few residents.

The objective for the 12th Street Viaduct is to add a bridge between the mid-deck and top of the viaduct to improve pedestrian mobility and accessibility, create an event space between the mid-deck and top of the viaduct, per-mitting only non-motorized transportation along the mid-deck, and connect the West Bottoms to the Downtown Loop.

LOCATION OF VIADUCT

MULKEY SQUARE PARK

12TH STREET


The bridge structure that spans over Beardsley Road at the mid-deck is nestled into the bluff, connecting to the viaductss upper deck.

From the 12th Street mid-deck entrance at Beardsley Road, the cathedral-like structure provides a picturesque outdoor atmosphere and isolated location. The design will im-prove pedestrian mobility and accessibility, create an event space between the two lev-els, permit only non-motorized transportation along the mid-deck, and connect the West Bottoms to the Downtown Loop. The added event space would be able to host wed-dings, markets, art exhibits, lectures, and similar events.


SECTION THROUGH 12TH STREET VIADUCT

THREE LEVELS OF VIADUCT 12TH VIADUCT FACING WEST 12TH VIADUCT FACING EAST


BEARDSLEY ROAD EVENT SPACE

The bridge connecting the mid-deck

to the top deck also connects to the

hiking trail in Mulkey Square Park.

This connection creates a loop with

the existing Heritage Trail and pro-

posed Beardsley Road corridor.

TRAIL CONNECTIONS12TH VIADUCT FACING EAST


To reduce speed on Beardsley, the design proposed a dedicated 12 pedestrian and cycling lane with vegetation buffer and narrower automobile lanes. By lowering vehicle speeds non-motorized can enjoy views and freedom of movement. The design would also address erosion by re-placing non-native plants with native plant species.

BEARDSLEY ROADSECTION THROUGH BEARDSLEY ROAD


NortherN Beardsley road

INTERSTATE 35BEARDSLEY ROAD CASE PARK

PLAN FOR RIVERBLUFF PARK

OUTLOOK

OUTLOOK

MISSOURI RIVER VIEWSHED

WEST BOTTOMS VIEWSHED

DOWNTOWN SKYLINE VIEWSHED

232


riverBluff ParkThe intent for redesigning Riverbluff Park is to improve the views to the West Bottoms, train tracks, the conflu-ence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, and the Downtown skyline; improve the pedestrian aesthetics; and lower the maintenance for Kansas City Parks and Recreation.

The design consists of improving outlook points with el-evated platforms that are unobstructed by plants and fencing. Additionally, the design incorporates shade trees for comfort, native plant species and bioswales for lower maintenance, and a picnic area.

DOWNTOWN SKYLINE VIEWSHED


STRATEGIES FOR RIVER MARKET

LAND USE FOR RIVER MARKET

CONSTRAINTS FOR RIVER MARKET

Park

Negotiable Lot


Civic

Residential

Commercial

Parking Garage

Figure Ground

Corridor

Roadway Barriers


third street: river MarketThe River Market district is home to the historic City Mar-ket, Kansas Citys farmers market. The area is moderately populated with mostly young white singles. Many small businesses are also located here. River Market has high pe-destrian mobility and accessibility, although Third Street remains uncomfortable for pedestrians and cyclist.

The moderate population density and built-environment of River Market yields an ideal location for corridor suc-cess. Aspects that the district lacks are clear circulation for both motorized and non-motorized traffic, and suc-cessful designed destination areas.

The objectives for Third Street are to improve the con-nection between River Market and Columbus Park; reduce cut-through traffic; enhance Spirit of Kansas City scenic byway; balance regional identity and history; increase in-vestment; increase pedestrian traffic; increase population; and improve aesthetics for pedestrians and cyclist.

238

PLAN FOR CITY MARKET PARK

SECTION FOR CITY MARKET PARK

PLAZA

URBAN AGRICULTURECITY MARKET


City Market ParkThe City Market Park currently functions as an informal dog park. The parks perimeter is enclosed by trees, leav-ing an empty lawn in the interior.

The objective to redesigning City Market Park is to add a complementary use to the adjacent City Market, enhance pedestrian accessibility for local River Market residents. By adding an urban agriculture area as a pedestrian ame-nity, residents of River Market will have an agriculture area that does not currently exist. The north portion of City Market Park will contain an enlarge plaza space for City Market visitors. Lastly, stakeholders requested leaving a small area for dogs.

CITY MARKET

240

PARKING GARAGE

CAFE

CITY MARKET

GRAND BOULEVARDPLAN FOR THIRD-GRAND INTERSECTION


Third + Grand inTersecTionThe intersection of Third Street and Grand Boulevard is a confusing point for both motorized and non-motorized traffic. The intersection is expansive with no clear defini-tion. Each corner of the intersection contains parking lots, amplifying the undefined boundaries. The site presently stations bus stops for city and regional buses. The north-eastern parking lot is slated to be a Bikeshare location. Moreover, the parking lot is a proposed site for a streetcar stop and a possible park garage for Park and Ride.

The design intention are to improve communication be-tween motorize and non-motorized transportation, en-hance pedestrian accessibility and aesthetics. To do so, the design includes a cafe for public transportation users, along with an eating area and plaza, defined circulation and destination zones, and improved transit waiting areas.

SECTION AT THIRD-GRAND INTERSECTION

PARKING GARAGE


STRATEGIES FOR COLUMBUS PARK

LAND USE FOR COLUMBUS

CONSTRAINTS FOR COLUMBUS

Park

Negotiable Lot


Civic

Residential

Commercial

Parking Garage

Figure Ground

Corridor

Roadway Barriers


coLUMBUs ParKColumbus Park district is a mostly residential area mixed with small businesses. The population is both racially and age diverse. The majority of housing is single family or small multi-family housing.

The district in recent years began to be gentrified, al-though there are still many more opportunities to reinvest in the neighborhood. One site within Columbus Park and adjacent to the corridor street is slated to be redeveloped in the near future. The development project, Phase 3 De-velopment, will bring residences and commercial proper-ties to an eight block site. An additional redevelopment project for the district is in the northern portion of the dis-trict. The Port Authority, sectioned off a portion of Berkley Riverfront Park to be redeveloped into a mixed use devel-opment, as well.

Both redevelopment projects are in their infancy, therefore strategizing the corridor to meet the needs of the area be-came more challenging. This portion of the site design be-came less specific, although some main design ideas were suggested, the circulation route.

246

DOG PARK

BIKE KIOSK + CAFE

URBAN AGRICULTURE

SKATE PARK

WALKING TRAIL


hiGhway 9 inTervenTionThe site is existing right-of-way space that surrounds Highway 9. The land to the west of Highway 9 is divid-ed by an unusable street connection to 4th Street; while the right-of-way underneath Highway 9 overpass is noth-ing more than dirt separating two districts; to the east an overgrown for-sale lot. Two major assets cross these three sites, a bike trail connecting to North Kansas City and a walking trail on former Second Street.

The design intention is to repurpose public space adja-cent to the highway, complement the existing bike route to North Kansas City, connect to the existing pedestrian trail Cold Storage Lofts, add a cafe as a pedestrian ame-nity to Columbus Park district.


WALKING TRAIL

The design for the western portion of the site is to close the former Fourth Street connection and reallocate City Market Parks informal dog park to a fenced in off-lease dog park. Utilizing the under-utilized public space under-neath Highway 9 to become a skate park for loft renters and adolescents in River Market and Columbus Park.


SKATE PARK THIRD STREETWALKING TRAIL

The for sale lot east of Highway 9 has the potential to sur-vive cyclist traveling to North Kansas City and Columbus Park residents. The developing the for sale site would pro-vide a bike kiosk, to repair bicycles; urban agriculture area for Columbus Park; and a cafe. These design interventions will reconnect River Market and Columbus Park districts by providing better pedestrian and cyclists mobility and lessening district barriers

Design Proposition: Infill Parks251

Selected infill SiteSInfill Parks will repurpose underutilized surface parking lots to serve as public space. As a new hybrid park ty-pology, these spaces will be flexible and serve multiple functions. They will shift the perception of public space by increasing the amount of green and civic space downtown without eliminating each spaces primary function of park-ing.

The Infill Parks will function as a public place intended for spontaneous pedestrian inhabitation, which not only en-courages walkability in downtown, but improves its sense of place as a public domain. They serve as interstitial con-nectors to the major parks bordering the citys perimeter and to the major corridors that run through the citys core. Each small scale space will contribute to improving the city individually, while the network of spaces provides co-hesion to the order of the city.


Understanding that long term implementation may de-pend on short term initiatives to change public percep-tions and to generate political will, public works practices set out preliminary smaller scale events and installations that require few resources"39

Infill Parks have the potential to serve as catalytic elements for future development within the downtown. They aim to initiate public/private partnerships which will benefit the city as a whole. Even if an infill space is under private ownership, it is public in nature as it contributes to the character and experience of the city. By re-appropriating and improving these private underutilized lots for public benefit, the surrounding areas will become more appeal-ing, encouraging inhabitation. In conjunction with this idea, there is an understanding that the re-appropriation of these underutilized lots for the purpose of public space may in some cases be temporary. As the area around the Infill Park improves and the city continues to densify, there may come a time at which the infill space will better serve the city as a developed lot.

Design Proposition: Infill Parks 253


Infill Park sites were selected to be

developed in further detail after

determining which sites within the

downtown had the most need for

intervention. This need was deter-

mined by each sites distance from

other park locations and analytical

maps showing adjacent conditions.THREE INFILL SITES WITH CONNECTION PATHS


Urban conceptThe selection process for the Infill Parks creates an order-ing system that contributes to the overall organization of the city. The Infill Park system serves as a new urban space typology within the city that provides potential public space. Each site is different in terms of its surroundings, users, and function. These individually unique vacant and underutilized lots that form the Infill Park system create new spaces that are a mixture of sustainable amenities, civic spaces, and public hybrid parks.

The concept of hybrid public spaces examines how ex-isting infrastructural aspects and programmatic functions can be retrofitted in a way that enables each space to serve as part of the public realm. The creation of these new spaces provides crucial infrastructural elements while simultaneously allowing for the incorporation of existing programmatic functions that the city still requires. As each Infill Park acts as an element for catalytic development, every park or civic space will become an iconic space that speaks directly about the amenable and structural order of public spaces within the city. To encourage improve-ments, Infill Parks look at establishing public-private part-nerships.


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A total of seven underutilized lots were selected for design interventions. Out of these, three were fully developed; including sites at 17th Street and Grand Boulevard, 10th Street and Cherry Street, and 9th Street and Wyandotte Street. These three sites illustrate a network of new public hybrid green spaces throughout the Downtown.

NETWORK OF SEVEN INFILL PARKS THREE INFILL PARKS WITH DESIGN INTERVENTIONS


After determining the seven most

crucial sites, three sites were select-

ed for further design development.

The three parks selected examine

three different conditions for the ur-

ban typology concept; a parking lot,

a civic space, and a hybrid of parking

lot and civic space.

The map on the right shows the three

selected sites at a city scale and the

connections between the sites. THREE INFILL PARKS WITH CONNECTION PATHS


17th St. + grand boUlevard17th St. and Grand Blvd. represents one of the two exam-ples of the prototypical ideas and design for the Infill Park presented in this publication. The site currently exists as a parking lot at the intersection of two major districts in the Greater Downtown Area, the Crossroads District and the Loop. Identified as an underutilized lot, 17th St. and Grand Blvd. serves as a parking lot for the employees of the Kansas City Star, which is directly adjacent to the lot site. Because of its proximity to the above districts, the site has the potential to become a public hybrid park.

The space will allow for public gathering without remov-ing the need for vehicular parking. The design intention for the space is for the Kansas City Star employees to con-tinue using the lot as parking during work hours; however, after work hours, and on weekends, the space becomes a public civic/green space. The potential of this site to become a catalytic urban typology within downtown is strengthened by extending the Grand Boulevard Improve-ment Project. It also acts as an extended event space for the Crossroads district and the Loop.


17TH ST. + GRAND BLVD. INFILL PARK SITE17TH ST. + GRAND BLVD. WITHIN THE INFILL NETWORK


17TH ST. + GRAND BLVD. INFILL PARK SITE AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS


MARCH9:00 AM

JUNE SEPTEMBER DECEMBER

12:00 PM

3:00 PM

6:00 PM

EXISTING SOLAR EXPOSURE CONDITION FOR 17TH STREET + GRAND BOULEVARD


Solar eXpoSUre + viewS

ALL VIEWS INTO THE SITEALL VIEWS OUT OF THE SITENORTHWEST VIEWS OUT

SOUTHEAST VIEWS OUT SOUTHWEST VIEWS OUT NORTHEAST VIEWS OUT


SOLAR EXPOSURE ABSTRACTS: EXISTING CONDITIONS

SOLAR EXPOSURE ABSTRACTS: DESIGNED CONDITIONS

MARCH

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

DECEMBER


altered Solar eXpoSUreOnce each Infill Park was selected, a set of studies illus-trate solar exposure on the existing site. The studies were taken during consistent times on the summer and winter solstice and the spring and fall equinox. Once the solar exposure levels had been analyzed it was determined if the Infill Parks microclimate needed to be manipulated through design strategies. The same solar exposure stud-ies were completed on the proposed design model to il-lustrate improvements made to the microclimate. Along with the solar exposure studies, views into and out of the site were studied. These views helped determine the aes-thetic perception of each existing site and the potential visual quality each Infill Park will have.

17th St. and Grand Blvd. solar exposure studies indicated a need for positive improvements to the microclimate for the public users. Specifically, the studies showed a lack of shading from existing context during the hotter months of the year. To accommodate pedestrian users, elevated cooling and shading green wall structures were placed strategically on the site. The structures ease microclimate comfort and mark pedestrian circulation and movement through the site, and at a larger scale through out the city.


17TH STREET + GRAND BOULEVARD SITE PLAN

The Grand Blvd. Improvement Proj-

ect widens Grand Blvd. next to this

lot, making room for a bike lane and

a widened sidewalk. A canopy struc-

ture with strategically placed solar

panels on top which relate this cano-

py to the wind chimney structure will

cover this widened sidewalk. Locat-

ed around the wind chimney struc-

tures, parking spaces will be lightly

outlined by pavers which tie into a

larger paving design. Tree canopies

wrap the site, making the entire Infill

Park an extension of Grand Blvd.


17TH STREET + GRAND BOULEVARD GROUND PLAN

Designed to be a multi-functional

civic space, this site will easily allow

for pedestrian use. A unique pave-

ment pattern will be used to define

the different spaces within the site.

Pedestrian pathways under the ele-

vated green wall structures also help

define the spaces within the site. Ur-

ban furniture will line the pedestrian

paths giving users multiple ways to

use the space. Along with pedestrian

paths dividing the site, tree canopies

and shrubs further define the edges

of the space.


PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATIONDIAGRAM

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION DIAGRAM

Circulation will be an important design factor for any im-provements made to this site. Vehicular circulation is one directional and has limited entry onto the site. Unlike cars, pedestrians have full access and movement within the space. Structures will line the primary paths through the site and direct users to important areas.


PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: ART SHOW

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: FESTIVAL

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: FOOD TRUCK EVENT

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: MOVIE SCREENING

Dividing the lot into sections through the use of struc-tures, paving patterns, and tree canopies allows for the in-dividual spaces to be used in multiple ways. Shade wings will act as billboards to the city, but will be used for movie screening as well. The openness of the individual spaces will allow for various events to occur in the space.


The large bioswale, located at the

southern low point of the site, will

not only collect stormwater runoff,

but will also act as a focal point for

the space. An elevated green wall

structure, or wind chimney, with a

pedestrian pathway below will draw

users to this portion of the site. Mini

bridges extend the pedestrian path

over the bioswale ensuring users will

experience the bioswale fully. A va-

riety of trees and native plants will

inhabit the bioswale.

In a typical Kansas City rainfall, 192,000 gallons of storm-water drains into the sewer system.40

BIOSWALE SECTION


SUStainability

BIOSWALE PLAN

The natural topography of 17th St. and Grand Blvd., com-bined with the impervious paving surface of the existing parking lot, makes stormwater runoff a major issue for the site. To help alleviate the amount of water runoff the site produces, three mini bioswales will be incorporated into the design. They will be placed near the elevated green wall structures, and used to cleanse the stormwater as it moves down the site. Detention tanks placed underground, beneath each bioswale, will cleanse and recirculate the water to irrigate the green walls. In conjunction with these mini bioswales, one large bioswale will be placed at the southern low point of the site. This bioswale will collect the remaining runoff from the site.

The existing parking lots pavement will be replaced with a more pervious surface material. This design strategy will reduce the runoff the site produces. Detention and reten-tion basins will collect and store stormwater, which allevi-ate the demand placed on the citys sewers system. These water management elements, combined with the use of bioswales, reduce the overburdened sewers and create a self-sustaining green civic space.


Stormwater runoff management

for this site is will be a huge design

obstacle to overcome. To alleviate

the overburdened city sewer sys-

tems, bioswales have been placed

throughout the site to help collect,

store, and filter the stormwater. De-

tention tanks, placed below the park-

ing stalls, will collect the water, tem-

porarily store and cleanse the water,

then pump it up to the elevated

green walls for on-site irrigation.

Solar powered LED lights will create

a lighting event within the space at

night. Placed along the Grand Blvd.

structure and horizontally on the

green walls the space will light the

city above the pedestrian scale. Us-

ers within the site will be guided by

lighting placed along each tree and

along each structural frame member

lining the pedestrian pathways. All of

the energy being used will be pro-

duced on-site.


The kit of parts includes pervious

pavement, urban furniture, solar pan-

els, cooling and shading structures,

tree canopies, and stormwater man-

agement strategies.

SURFACE TREATMENT BUILT STRUCTURE

URBAN FURNITURE

WATER MANAGEMENT

TREE CANOPY

SHADE STRUCTURE


Kit of PartsEach Infill Park will have sustainable design strategies and elements that makes the space unique to the Greater Downtown Area. The kit of parts includes programmatic elements that improve the microclimate of each park and unite all of the infill spaces in the area. The concept behind the kit of parts is to include the same principles and design elements at each Infill Park so they become a recognizable system. Whether the design will address a civic space, a park, or a hybrid green space, the sustainable features can be applied to the design. The design features will be ap-plied to each park as a series of layers that create a cohe-sive whole. Each of these layers will relate to one another in such a way that their relationship creates a meaningful order to the city. If the public realm and the urban fabric of the city are not seamlessly integrated, the city becomes a series of disconnected structures and residual spaces.


EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC OF WIND CHIMNEY


WiND CHiMNEY

DIAGRAM OF WIND CHIMNEY WIND CHIMNEY

One of the major design elements from the kit of parts will be the cooling and shading green wall structures, or wind chimneys. These elevated structures cool the sites envi-ronment through shading and heat removal. As air moves over the top of the structure, a negative pressure forces air from the ground up through the chimney, where it is cooled by the green wall vegetation. The air exits the top of the structure and recirculates over the site, which keeps users comfortable at the pedestrian scale. Solar panels are placed on top of the structures to help store energy for the sites uses. Shading wings also help cool the site and act as billboards to the city.


EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC OF URBAN FURNITURE

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC OF URBAN FURNITURE


UrbaN fUrNitUrEAnother design element from the kit of parts will be the ur-ban furniture. Similar to the wind chimney design feature, this element will be used at multiple Infill Parks to help organize them as a complete system. At first glance the benches seem simple, but upon closer examination each piece of furniture becomes an important design strategy for every space. Wood paneling and a steel frame unite each furniture piece together; however, no two benches will be alike. The versatility in each allows users to sit, re-cline, or lie completely flat. The differing shapes and ca-pabilities of each bench will allow them to be arranged in several configurations, making each Infill Parks furniture unique to that site. Varyin

reconnecting: part 3

Documents

street corridor

beardsley rd

corridor connections

street moves

street continuity

active transportation

road widths

expansive street widths