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023-08 - Resolution - Appendix 2 to Final Parks PlanCity of Port Orchard 2008 Comprehensive Parks Plan    APPENDIX 2 URBAN WATERFRONT WALKWAY City of Port Orchard Urban Waterfront Walkway prepared by: kasprisin design group 1985 TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal Acknowledgements Table of Contents Preface • Community Cooperation and Establishing Goals. Report Organization . . • • • . • . . . • • • Long Range Goal: A Continuous Waterfront Walkway Site Analysis and Minimum Standards Walkway Width Standards Overall Site Plan •.. Route Examination: A Closer Look Public Pier Terminus. Downtown Visitor Port Blackjack Creek Bay Avenue Beach Mitchell Point V. A. Complex Signage Recommendations • Implementation Strategy and Phasing ... Methods of Financing Segments 2 3 4 4 5 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 23 pacific ocean r-· (_l ~- i j , mt. ralner I ? r ~j (! ~-'·-·~1-..J_/ ~"'-" ~ ~~~ I I .-J • mt. st. helens April 30, 1985 The Honorable Leslie J. Weatherill Mayor, City of Port Orchard Port Orchard, Washington 98366 Dear Mayor Weatherill: kasprisin design group A.RCHI'l'ECTURE·URBAN PLANNING-coMMUNITY DESIGN architects and urban planners 2510 fairview ave. e. seattle, wa. 98102 206. 328· 0900 We are pleased to present the City of Port Orchard with this report, entitled City of Port Orchard Urban Waterfront Walkway. The opportunity to prepare a long range walkway m~ster plan for the Port Orchard waterfront has enabled our design team to assist the city in advancing one more step toward realization of a dream many citizens and downto~n merchants have entertained for years: revitalization and active re-use of the Sinclair Inlet Water- front. This walkway will provide a better, safer way for the elderly, handicapped and general citizenry to gain access to downtown. The project will also greatly improve the visitor use of one of the city's more dramatic resources, the waterfront. We realize that funding is limited for a project of this type. We have, therefore, designed the walkway to be developed in segments or increments based on the priorities of the city. We look forward to assisting you and the city in anyway possible in the implementation of this project and thank you for the opportunity to once agairi serve the people of Port Orchard. Sincerely, Architect rjk/ry ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Urban Waterfront Walkway City of Port Orchard Port Orchard, Washington 1985 Mayor Leslie J. Weatherill City Council Members Jack Grable Robert Geiger John Clauson Margaret Jane Miller Chuck Childress Jim Wilson Gerald Grosso Cit Staff Larry Curles, City Engineer Cory Smith Kasprisin Design Group Architect and Urban Planners 2510 Fairview Avenue East Seattle, Washington 98102 Ron Kasprisin, Principal-in-Charge with Paul Hedrick Design 2510 Fairview Avenue East Seattle, Washington 98102 Use of graphics within this document may be used only with the expressed written permis- . sion of the City of Port Orchard or the Kasprisin Design Group. The graphics may not be used in the production of any artifact intended for sale or trade for personal gain or use. This project was supported by funds from the Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Department of Commerce, administered by the Department of Ecology, State of Washington. PREFACE The City of Port Orchard has commissioned the Kasprisin Design Group to develop a concep- tual layout for a waterfront walkway system. The study area extends from the Lighthouse Restaurant, near the west end of the city, along the urban waterfront to the V.A. residential complex in Retsil. A waterfront walkway is consistent with Port Orchard's desire to focus its attention on the water- front, a valuable visitor industry resource. i'\ I \ I , = 0 {;::; I ~/ ) ~ 0 20CM)4QOD --....---''-• ........... 1""2000'-0"' '--------·-· NORTH The proposed walkway will also make it easier for area residents to walk into downtown along the water with reduced pedestrian vehicular conflicts. Presently, only the marina area has a developed pedestrian path of significant length. Other areas vary in their ability to handle pedestrians with few areas having developed walkways. \ I ! _ _J 2 JO:MMUNITY COOPERATION A..ND ESTABLISHING GO.ALS 'o implement a continuous walkway along the 1aterfront will require the cooperation of orivate and public land owners if the walkway .s to become a reality. In areas where the •alkway may cross private land, incentives, uch as security lighting, may encourage 'wners to participate. The implementation of waterfront walkway will take time, being ~uilt in sections as funding and opportuni- ies become available. 800 400 0 800 1800 2 400 jllii......., . .J"' ..... _,_, ....... r·· ..... , .. ,~ m graphic •c.•l• , .. = 800. NORTH alnclalr Inlet The need for an overall design route, with possible alternatives, should be established as a long range goal. Subsequently, when individual developments are designed along the water, allowance should be made to ultimately allow the walkway to be contin- uous. There are certain areas. in the study area where, given present uses, it will not be feasible to have the walkway follow the water. In these cases, it will be built along the roadway. Short range goals are projects that can be funded and implemented and may be either a special use feature along the route or part of the walkway itself. City officials are enthusiastic about the waterfront revitalization and have already . initiated severEl projects which wJll be incorporated into the proposed walkway. They are: the new public pier being built near the Lighthouse Restaurant on the DeKalb Street Waterway; the re-use of the sewage treatment facility near the marina; and various landscaping projects near the water- front. The visitor port facility proposed by the Port of Bremerton will tie into the walkway system and enhance Port Orchard's reputation as a desirable visitor destination attraction. REPORTORGAEITZAITON This report will first show a graphic depic- tion of a recommended route with possible alternatives. Then the route will be broken into segments and each will be discussed in more detail with conceptual sketches showing how development may occur. The design team was also requested to address the issue of how signage may be used to aid the visitor and identify points of interest. A final component will suggest possible funding sources. SITE ANALYSIS AND MINIMUM STANDARDS The establishment of a recommended route which the walkway may follow first required the documentation of the existing shoreline. Present pedestrian routes were identified and ranged from developed sidewalks through the marina area to areas where the roadway press- es against the waters edge leaving little room for pedestrians. Areas like those just mentioned and others where high vehicular use mixes with unestablished pedestrian routes have been shown on the site plan as places where special attention should be given to pedestrian safety. In some cases these areas can be avoided by pursuing the waterfront route away from auto traffic. Due to the fact that the walkway will be planned and built in phases, it wlll be important to arrive at some design guidelines so future projects along the waterfront can be incorporated into the system. The first objective would be that waterfront develop- ment occurring along the approved route should make every effort to include provision for pedestrian through-access. Closed system development should be discouraged. "Door- ways" should be left at either end of the development to tie into future walkway seg- ments. Establishing some basic walkway widths and safety features will help the overall design maintain continuity. These different situations are shown diagrammati- cally. In the more detailed section that follows, the overall site plan features and particular problems will be discussed as they occur in sequence along the route. 4 TH STANDARDS . . ALKWAYWID . ·n a un.t- 'H m-in tun> •0 ·en-viously, ad' g some s._ entl ' . "th ana ~ ·t the s ·oned pre -inclu ln ystem. ~s rn lkway Wla . 11 benefl llow a wa t res w1 •gh to a . , Eorm fety fea u . wide enou This WJ.l..L iard sa · feet lS · s lk . h of SlX destrJ.an . the wa - \ "'dt to pas. PC to occur on t should >ioyd\·oycle trafho f three fee and the •nabl e A \u f fer -;one ro tra ffio lanes import- .ay, tween veh,oula is of pnmary e where >oour be This buffer led Bay Avenu feet in ralkwayl. ng heavily travaeges eighteen drail in ce a o ly aver a guar . n 'n ment on datory, destna he pave h not man dd to pe .. dth. Thoug a will a 'l ffer are he bu afety. )VE!aALL SITE PLAN "' on-grade sidewalk 6ft. " it ., l ! *boardwalk over water or steep hill ---,i_6ft._r 6 Basically the walkway can be built as a sidewalk on grade or as a boardwalk built on piers along the waters edge. As the latter technique is more costly, an effort has been made to identify a route on grade where possible. In other areas it may be necessary to incorporate a ~alkway into future seawall replacement projects. PUBLIC PIER TERMINUS l. In conjunction with the Lighthouse Restaurant the DeKalb Street Pier, which has been recently com- pleted, will act as a terminus for the water- front walkway. A choice must be then be made w~ether to circum- vent the waterfront buildings and follow the shoreline or follow the highway into town. The shoreline option is certainly the more scenic and this route could connect to the walk behind the Ki tsap County Bank building. Because the public boat launch is a high activity area, this would be an ideal viewing rest area for walkers. Essentially this would be a small seating area in a safe location. The shaded area along Bay Street presently has no designated pedestrian areas. A raised sidewalk should incorporate shared curbcuts to minimize auto-pedestrian interfer- ence. PUBLIC PIER TERMINUS --- -"ll ~ (;~ \ .. ·. ·t KEY: ~ ~ (' . /:t) WALKWAY TYPES ll:J ••••••••••••••••• EXJSTING SIDEWALK OR BOARDWALK ••••••••PROPOSED ON-GRADE SIDEWALK -·-•-PROPOSED BOARDWALK OR CONCRETE SEAWALL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY REQUIRES ATTENTION IN THESE AREAS () "EC>AL "" mTURE ALONO WALKWAY IMAGE: A existing ....----------------------- ' '·' ., proposed a 4. The abandoned water treatment facility will be refurbished to provide a viewing area for the marina activity. Pedestrian routes are well defined as one enters a downtown and the marina area. +--~-----·-------·--· ·-------------------------------------------- IMAGE B existing -----------"" ---~----~ proposed 10 5 • This location along the existing boardwalk would be a good location for a covered bus stop with limited seating for visitor port viewing. This presently is a bus stop area for the Ki tsap County Bus System. l. The planned visitor Port facility should benefit the City and compliment the waterfront walkway. '· This is an area where a steep hills ide abuts the roadway and a pedestrian route would require a pier system of construc- tion. I. The Port of Bremerton has already designated this parcel for a park deve- lopment. The park will be an excellent visitor facility but provision should be made to allow a walkway connection between the boardwalk and a future walkway along Bay Street. 1 This section is a bottle- neck with a limited shoulder area along Bay Street. Some existing buildings appear abandon- ed and others press against the roadway. Future uses should include an easement for the walkway as this property is situated in the Bay Street right-of- way. VISITOR PORT • 12 0. 1. ation of cooper the With the d owners, t e lan porate P riva ld incor f k ay cou . on o wal w . sectl t scenlc from mos a line away shore ffic. auto tra . dge over . brl b A pedestrlan l< would e . acl< Cree . nt for Blacl<J tage pOl d.- ood van In ad l a gb r viewing. t this har o a bridge a. ate a tion' ld allevl . u-. t wou . vehlc po~nt of maJor nflicts poln destrian co'dge. lar-pe . ting brl the exls on Shopping West Bay · gnated At th: no des~ wall<- Cente ~s exist. center wall<w~ehind thesant and way be a plea for would alternative safer tr.ians. pedes ~~·· f/ 7::-. I rM:AGE:C proposed 14 2. This beach area is one of the few natural beaches within the downtown. The property is privately owned and not presently available to be developed for public use, it appears, however, that locals and visitors park cars nearby to catch the harbor view. An organi- zed approach to some parking and a walkway will help preserve this natural amenity. 3. Waterfowl congregate along this portion of shoreline making it an appropriate location for a small rest area. As this is also a long unbroken stretch of walkway, the rest area may especially be appreciated by senior citizen users. --~ ______ " _____ -------------"""" -----"" ____ "_" ------- Point • I ' . . ·-·--' BAY AVE. BEACH IMAGE: D existing -·-· proposed 16 l4. Local resident reports indicate this section of roadway is not properly drained, causing the shoulder area to flood after heavy rains. Walk- ers must use the narrow driving lanes to circum- vent the flooded areas. 5. Mitchell Point can become an area designed for local community use as well as rest/viewing point for visitors. A small covered seating area with an open fire pit would make this an excellent location to watch harbor activity in the evening as well as during the day. l. Presently this short section of roadway has shoulder area width of only two feet. Wa 1 kers are restricted to an area between the vehicular travel lane and a de- pressed seawall. MHo hell r·-·. i . MlTCBELL POlNT Th1AGE E existing proposed 18 17. Due to the close proxi- mity of the buildings to Beach Drive at Arnold Avenue, it is advisable to use the land side of the street for the walk- way. This should include improved crosswalk identification over what now exists to alert motorists of traffic. 9 The trail on the hill from the V.A. residence should be improved at least along the lower section. In its present condition, broken and twisted handrails and uneven ground offer little incentive for potential users. To re-establish this pathway with realistic and com- fortable walking grades removes pedestrian traffic from Beach Drive, a road poorly sui ted for pedestrians. .,\,~1 ... , V. A?j··H .. ESID .. 'NTIAi'<Co>OeLCX ' i '< \. · .. \,) !' IMAGE F existing proposed 20 SIGNAGE RECOM:MENDATIONS The purpose of a signuge system will be to provide information to users on the features of Sinclair Inlet and help loc?te their posi- tion on the walkway. On the opposite page is a sketch of a small information center. As noted on the accom- panying map, these may be installed at the three locations indicated on the plan. They could include a short local history; a map of the Sinclair Inlet vicinity noting special features which can be seen across the water; and, a map of the walkway. identification signage Vandal1sm is 3 concern fo:c "Street Furni- ture." Ideally, the signs should be made with a substanti&l base such as concrete with stocky wooden members. The map area would be covered with vandal resistant plastic and could be replaced if damaged wi tho~.;t having to repair the map surface. The lower sketch would be typical of identi- fication signage. It is designed primarily for pedestrians and therefore could be un- obstructive to views and incorporated into the design of the rest area or seawall. map locations walkway information center PORT ORCHARD WALKWAY MAP 22 3TRATEGY ANDPHASING A strategy for accomplishing the walkway should focus on the critical nodes or gather- ing areas along the walkway as well as impor- tant walkway segments which are unencumbered JY private ownership issues. Therefore, the niority of walkway increments should be as follows: r. II. III. IV. Nodes on public property; Walkway segments on public property which would alleviate or reduce potentially unsafe areas; Walkway segments on public property which are important connections between special features, or provide access to special features; Walkway segments on private property where the private landowner is will- ing to cooperate with the overall program. v. Walkway segments which can be con- structed as 'spin-off' projects associated with larger, more exten- sive public infrastructure projects. number of these phasing increments can be Jrsued and developed concurrently. aETHODS OF FINANCING SEG:MENTS lblic sector walkway segments and nodes can ~ financed in part by various state and !deral programs. 1ese programs are diverse and require 1mmi tment by the City and/ or the Port for igibility. l. 2. 3. 4. The City of Port OrchDrd Capitol Public Improvements Program, as financed by local taxes. The walkway segments should be prioritized by downtown and neighborhood districts and included within the city's streets and sidewalk program; State of Washington Inter Agency Com- mittee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) has available 50% matching grants for public recreation projects which pro- vide access to the waterfront are participatory (jogging, walking, bike riding, viewpoints, etc.), and family oriented. Application for funding should be made to IAC by May 1985 for consideration for funding. This is one of the more reliable and avail- able sources. Competition is keen and grant packages should be well prepared. The State Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Community Econ- omic Revitalization Board (CERB) pro- vides low interest loans through municipalities for public improve- ments necessary to stimulate private investment and job creation. The Port of Bremerton could qualify for these funds to construct walkway and node projects in conjunction with new visitor moorage. The Washington State Community Deve- lopment Block Grant Program could assist particularly as this project benefits low and moderate income citizens by providing public recrea- tion and access to the water: would resolve problems which could allevi- ate potentially health and safety problems for pedestrians: and would provide special projects directed to the removal of architectural barriers which restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly and handi·- capped persons. Property acquisition could be on eligible project cost. 5. A local improvements district could be formed, by city district, for the non-city wide or neighborhood share of the project. While an L.I.D. may not be the most popular approach for local residents, the City may parti- cipate and pay the majority share with a smaller L.I.D. benefiting adjacent property owners. 6. The Economic Development Administra- tion's Public Works Assistance Pro- gram may be a valid source for deve- loping publicly-owned recreational facilities to develop the area's tourism. All of these programs are discussed at length in the Port Orchard Waterfront Revitalization Project, 1983 under Chapter 3, The Next Step: Strategy and Implementation. The strength of the waterfront project regarding its competitiveness for state and federal funds lies in three key areas: First, the project will benefit elderly, handicapped, and/ or low income residents of Port Orchard, and specifically the Veterans Administration have to gain improved access to downtown services; second, the project will reduce the potential vehicular-pedes- trian confli~ts which presently exists along the waterfront road network; and, third, the project will support the visitor use of the waterfront, thus strengthing the visitor industry economic objectives of the city. In any event, the total project can be phased accordingly to the needs and budget. Accomp- lishing at least one segment of the walkway system each year will provide functional and visual impact and maintain community momen- tum. • 24