Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/08/2003

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III. Components of t:he Desi§n The City of Rarnsey's Comprehensive Plan of 2001 emphasizes providing greenways with paved trails or sidewalks along all collector streets so that peopl'e can move between neighborhoods and access the parks and other community facilities. The first step in determining the overall layout of the Discovery Garden was to look at how it might fit it into the landscape and connect it with the .existing bike path and Alpine Park. The attached Master Pla~ L~yout (Plate I.) shows the proposed greenway connections, and also the location of five components de. scribed in detail below. Public art for the Discovery Garden intends to creatively interpret the ELA curriculum and actively engage children in experiencing nature through exploration and play. The key element is a three- dimensional game in the landscape that portrays principles and organisms of the natural world. The three-dimensional game could be expressed through banners; and/or images inset into the pavement or incorporated into the playground equipment, as well as through the plantings, and the use of recycled and reused natural materials such as bouiders and peeled logs. The game would be incorporated into the overalt design of the garden through a collaboration between Regina Flanagan and artist Keith Christensen, Examples of past art by various artists including Christensen are provided to illustrate ideas for unique works of public art that would be created especially for the Discovery Garden. MASTER PLAN LAYOUT OF COMPONENTS Greenway Connection and Hiking Loop c°ntinues the existing bike path through the garden and into the park · Banners announce the approach to the park (Fig. I) · Pavement leading to the playground has inset into it a board game about human efforts at recycling and the cycles of nature; or animal track~; or other n~ture patterns (Fig. 2-3) · Hiking Loop proceeds through Listening Grove of Quaking Aspen Overlooks provide places to rest along:the bike path and examine and enjoy the landscape · Seating area of natural materials; reused and recycled wood and stone (Fig. 4-5) surrounded by revegecation including native wetland plantings on the ELA Plant List, among others Play Area includes playground equipment and sandbox · Playset blends into the landscape (Fig. 6); includes imagery of ELA focus organisms · Sandbox around playse: has hidden treasures that may be part of the board game (Fig. 7) Discovery Garden Concept Phase, Regina M. Flanagan, Art · Landscape , Design, April 30, 2003 4