Subject: City of Augusta - Open Space, Public
Access and Outdoor Recreation Plan
To all:
As the title suggests the plan covers the three principal
areas of interest to Brunswick, as well. This Final Draft was prepared by the
Conservation Commission of Augusta and does in a very neat package outline the
needs for improvements to the present city offerings. The draft was published
as of September, 1996.
The covering letter from the Conservation Commission Chair,
Kenneth Knight, outlines the objectives for the citizens of Augusta. He points
out the need for a plan to strengthen the present conditions in Augusta and to
have them continue into the future. He also asks for the co-operation of
community support, interested sponsors and willing landowners to join in
implementing the plan.
The balance of the document goes on to show how the City of
Augusta with the Kennebec River splitting the city is very important to any
improvements. Focus is concentrated on river front improvements and trails or
walkways. These are connected by other paths and trails through the city
joining present parks, recreation areas and landmarks. The black and white
sketch maps clearly delineate the routes the paths will take and show how they
will connect neighborhoods, also.
The Executive Summary outlines the report, in brief,
pointing out the direction of the report. In the opening paragraph he points
out the fact that many people know of these opportunities, but very few are in
on the secret. The report helps to broaden the resources available for all
citizens.
The summary lists the Priorities, Vision, Goals and Policies
which are elaborated on in the report.
Black and white maps outline the Waterfront Possibilities,
Potential Connector Trails, and Active Recreation Possibilities. These maps are
great guides and help the reader when reviewing the text.
Surveys were done amongst school children and with adults
who represented various groups in the city. Their feedback was noted and made
part of the deliberations of the Conservation Commission. Other committees were
part of the City Capital Action Project and together they presented the plan to
neighborhood meetings for further input.
I liked the layout using 8 1/2 x 11 sheets bound with a
plastic binder. Reading was made easy by the sheets being punched on the 11
inch side with two columns or pages of text on the front and back. It was
helped by having all added maps and survey data shown on the long side. The
reader could flip the page and continue reading without turning the document
around each time. On computers, this the "landscape" orientation,
which makes it easy to handle.
All in all, a simple document but practical, Fifty-nine
pages in length, but telling a big story.
Public access to the Kennebec River is important to Augusta,
much as it is vital to Brunswick and The Androscoggin River. The 1995 Shore
Access Report prepared by Ed Hawes shows the present Rights of way, whether
used or not. This document's information should be added to the new Draft Open
Space and Recreation map that will be presented to the committee. The rights of way should be added and others
recommended by the committee. The Planning Department and the Recreation
Department has started on these deserving projects and should continue in their
efforts with encouragement of the Town.
Bill Smith, Planning Board Alternate
Since Forrest Dillon already
reviewed this plan, I’ll concentrate on format. As he said, the sections are
divided by colored heavy stock, which makes it a lot easier to find
sections. Barb D
Green Spaces, Blue Edges: An
Open Space Plan for the City of Portland
Executive Summary and Pilot
Projects
As one would expect, this gives
intent of study, format of report, and important themes. The summary ends with
a list of pilot projects, usually one, for each neighborhood, intended to
quickly implement a high priority recommendation for each neighborhood. The
pilot projects had these characteristics: 1. high priority need, 2. high
visibility, 3. could be accomplished quickly, 4. could be accomplished through
the operating budget or for a small amount of capital improvement money. I
liked this idea because our open space plan must take the long view, but a
highly visible small project would show commitment to the plan (and keep
people’s interest).
Chapter One: Introduction
This consisted of history of the
area, the vision (not actually articulated ‘til the goals section), the need
for recreational & open space, public participation in the planning
process, goals and objectives., chart of the organizational process. (I hate
those charts, but they might speak to others.) Everything that was in this
section needed to be here, but it was a little dry. I guess after the poetic
title I was expecting something different.
Chapter Two: A Vision for the
Future: Citywide and Neighborhood Recommendations
This section took the nine goals
and eighteen objectives from the previous chapter and translates them into
three principles. Here again, very complete, but, maybe I’ve read too many of
these. Very dry and somewhat bureaucratic sounding. (I didn’t get that sense
from the Boston Plan.) The section listed ranking criteria for projects, which
was a useful tool. The recommendations were divided into citywide and
neighborhood, and further under those two categories.
Chapter Three: Portland’s
Natural Environment
This section include three
sections: physical environment, biological, and cultural. Most people would
probably not read this section, but I enjoyed it. I guess I enjoy geology more
than organizational chart. The maps begin here and this is where a major
inconsistency shows up. The maps cannot be easily cross-referenced because
there isn’t a consistent legend. The legend in this section shows the types of
natural features, but it’s a little hard to follow.
Chapter Four: Management of
Recreation and Open Space
This section really deals with
parks, and recreation. It has my favorites; a budget chart and a chain of
command chart for open space management.
Chapter Five: History of
Recreation and Open Spaces
Just what the title says, with
excerpts from old annual and other reports that are hard to read with their
gray background. I would recommend we never use a medium gray background for
text. I liked the chronological lists of milestones in the park system.
Chapter Six: A Review of
Portland’s Parks, Open Spaces and Recreation with Neighborhood Profiles
Here we have the demographic and
historical overview of each neighborhood. Maps in this section are okay by each
neighborhood, but could not be put together to easily make one giant citywide
map because each map starts with number 1 and goes on from there. If the
citywide map (which should have covered two pages, not one, had been numbered
first and then each neighborhood taken directly from that map, I think the
whole set would have been more useful. Here there were lists of open space and
recreation facilities by neighborhood, with a total of each kind of space at
the bottom for the whole city.
Appendices:
These were missing, but the this
might have been where I could have found a chart showing the open space by
categories, such as all cemeteries, with their neighborhood listed
after...maybe even a citywide map of each category. If one numbering system was
used, a person would have a pretty good idea of the neighborhood a feature was
in just by its number.
My summary:
I like the idea of pilot
projects, quick, easy, cheap, good visibility.
A ranking criteria for projects
is a useful tool.
Maps are really important and
should be able to be used together.
We need to be careful with using
text on graytones.
I’d like to see the information
given in more forms than this report did. Lists by category, as well as
neighborhood. Maps to support the lists. If we could afford it, a few photos.
The more forms the information takes, the more people we’ll be able to reach.
