poetic materialism

There's a lot of information to convey about geology, area history, water, land use, infrastructure, ecology, habitat, etc.  What I'd like to do is take all of this and process it as some sort of poetic expression in words and images engraved in stone benches along the trail...a combination of hieroglyphics, fossils, scientific texts and illustrations in free verse...

The air is a root.
The stones are filled with tenderness. bravo.
bravo. the stones are filled with air.
the stones are watery branches.
on the stones replacing the mouth
grows the skeleton of a leaf. bravo.
A stone voice face to face and foot to foot
with a stone glance.
the stones are tormented like flesh
the stones are clouds for their second
nature dances to them on their third nose.
bravo. bravo.
when the stones scratch themselves, nails grow
on the roots. bravo. bravo.
the stones woke to eat the exact
hour 

Jean Arp

cemeteries

Interesting article on the cemeteries framing the north end of South Tacoma and the north terminus of the Water Flume Line Trail.  Oakwood Hill and 'the paupers' cemeteries were part of the incorporation of this part of town into greater Tacoma...

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article98258267.html

the cordilleran ice sheet

Geologic record of glacial incursion and recessions in the Tacoma area.  Feeds into research on geologic history, plate tectonics, climatology, fossil evidence, topography, etc.  The work is about the formation of the work...earthshaping...

  

iconic vessel & metaphoric flow

Images of a large vessel spilling a floral abundance keeps running through my mind...

Blued Trees Symphony

Eco-artist Aviva Rahmani is in the process of creating Blued Tree Symphony...

http://tinyurl.com/jmktdkg

http://hyperallergic.com/235429/using-art-to-stop-a-pipeline/

painted trees

Explore the possibility of painting a dead or dying Garry Oak...

project framework

Three things are foremost in my thinking for this project...  

One is establishing a unifying material palette. Currently I’m thinking stone (with possible weathering/reclaimed steel accents) & paint (specifically limited to Water Dept buildings).  Stone is a timeless medium and well-suited to a park setting. There are all kinds of ways to approach stone...as iconic form, as aggregate constructions or as groupings of large and small forms. Paint in the form of small murals on select Water Department buildings along the Water Flume Line Trail could establish a dialog with the stone elements.    

The second aspect is using the limited stone/paint palette to inhabit multiple sites along the trail. If the materials are consistent, then folks will have a chance to figure out conceptual/narrative connections. Perhaps there's a theme of water (conceptually open to interpretation) carried through the murals while the stone elements weave a counterpoint narrative about geological formation, fossils and environmental history.

  


The third and last aspect is creating something that requires minimal to zero maintenance & is vandal-resistant.  This concern is based on observations of other public art projects in Tacoma where vandalism is evident. The limited stone/paint palette offers few 'toeholds' for tampering. 

Historic Tacoma Water Works Photos

Ideas for New Park Features

 o Expand the existing parking area

 o Open-up east edge for neighborhood access

 o Develop a signature entry-

-Remove cedars and replace with Oak Trees?

-Design the entry sign with a water feature theme

 o Incorporate a series of Interpretive signs

-Natural History

-Cultural History

-Trail map with distances and size of the park

 o The current fence around the playground creates a barrier to the rest of the park

 o Create a better transition in the plant materials from the play area to the woods- use more

natives

 o Play ground Area

-Develop more of a themed play environment that is more appropriate

to the park

-Maintain visibility from 74th Street

-Select features that would be as equally on interest to adults

-Incorporate an exercise fitness course

-Does the nearby school meet the needs?

-Create an adventure play facility- climbing boulders, tree house,

water-flume

 o Incorporate public art

-Use as a gateway feature

-Provide rotating sculptural elements

-Incorporate along the trails to encourage people to walk

 o Need a signal at 74th when the trail is constructed

 o Develop an outdoor classroom in conjunction with Arlington School

 o Provide a picnic area and benches throughout the park

 o Restore the borrow-pits to create demonstration areas utilizing native plants

 o Restrooms- consider using a composting toilet

 o Neighborhood Park Features

-BMX/ Mountain Bike trail

-Off-leash area (potential with future acquisitions?)

 o Maintain access to the pump house for water

 o Purchase the adjoining property to expand the park

 o Trails

-Create a loop trail connecting all the access trails

-Widen the main trail in order to support service vehicles

-Expand the trail along the south edge of the property and provide

access from the adjoining streets (Many points of access vs. limited

entry points?)

-Lighting along the trail, (will be a part of the Water-Ditch trail),

Consider the use of low-voltage

-Consider providing limited access for BMX/Mountain Bikes- check out

Orting facility for method of containment

Design Criteria/Park Values

o Pleasant place to walk

o Place for small children to experience nature

o Primarily a green-space and natural qualities that should define the development

o Place to get off the Water-Ditch Trail and be “out of the City”

o Focus on nature, historic land-use, and trail- tie development to this theme

Design Plan Description

The recently completed design study for Oak tree

Park is based on enhancing the current uses and attributes of the park in

conformance with the Strategic Plan. Paramount to the success of the park is the

completion of the section of the Water Ditch Trail from South Tacoma Way,

extending across S 74th Street. The completion of the trail section is considered

necessary to provide access for an important user group to lend a presence and

positive public use of the facility. Part of the concept for the park is to develop the

trails to a standard to allow their use by trail-bikes, a much needed outlet within

the city limits. This use will help establish Oak Tree Park as a destination site for

future trail users to come ride the trails, play on the playground, picnic, or

generally enjoy the unique wooded environment.

Other enhancements include replacement of the existing playground with a

themed play area, parking area upgrades, walking and bike-trail expansion and

upgrades, park signage, and native plant restoration. Opportunities have been

identified for providing interpretive signage throughout the park to tell stories

about the historical use of the property, the native vegetation, and the restoration

process to eliminate the invasive species and promote the health of the oak

forest.

Oak Tree Park Conceptual Design Plan

Oak Tree Park Design Study Report

Oak Tree Park

Address: S. 74th at Pine Street

Location: South Tacoma Neighborhood

Park Designation: Natural Area/ Neighborhood Park

Size: 24.9 acres

Background Information: Oak Tree Park is a 25 acre parcel that comprises one

of the last remnants of the Gary Oak habitat that used to dominate this part of the

city. Oak woodlands are also home to many disappearing species of animals

including the western bluebird, white-breasted nuthatch, western gray squirrel,

and the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. Oak Tree Park preserves an intact stand

of large oaks with its related understory of snowberry and tall Oregon grape.

While the majority of Oak Tree Park is designated as a Greenspace or natural

area, four acres also serve as a designated local park for the community. This

area includes play equipment and is located along South 74th street. The local

park site is owned and managed by Tacoma Water. Because of the glacial gravel

deposits there are also remnants of excavation pits adjacent to the flume line.

These scraped over areas have overgrown with invasive blackberry and scotch

broom that threaten the native oak and companion understory vegetation.

Problems with homeless encampments, dumping, and other negative uses have

been a regular occurrence over the years.

The recently adopted Parks & Recreation Services Strategic Plan identified Oak

Tree Park as a natural area but also recognizes its importance in providing

neighborhood park services to surrounding residents. The park currently consists

of a playground area and non-fluoridated water-station operated by Tacoma

Water, and a number of informal trails through the Metro Park’s owned parcels.

The City of Tacoma has also developed a plan to establish the old flume line as a

greenbelt connector trail through the city that would run from South Tacoma Way

to Downtown, (see attached site plan). Oak Tree Park is located at the south

terminus of the proposed Historic Water Ditch Trail that would rebuild a segment

of a 110 year old trail system that traversed Tacoma and extended to Mt. Rainer.

Most of the trail outside the Tacoma city limits no longer exists but remnants of

the 1896 "Water Ditch" trail in Tacoma are still used today. The restored trail is

greatly desired by the community and will provide the only trail linking Tacoma's

South Tacoma Center with the downtown Tacoma Dome Station District a

distance of 6.5 miles. The Historic Water Ditch Trail will create a unique

opportunity to rebuild and realize an urban commuter trail that traverses or

connects two(2) regional centers, two(2) regional transportation stations, two(2)

mixed-use centers, three(3) parks, three(3) schools, a community center, a

recreation center, and a manufacturing/industrial district. The Historic Water

Ditch Trail project will provide the "spine" of a non-motorized system that will

connect the South Tacoma neighborhood district to downtown Tacoma Regional

Center and the only major South Sound transportation hub at the Tacoma Dome

Station (see project map).

murals

sculptural seating

events & popups

community gardens

cisterns & swales

fountains

biking themes & bike racks