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TC5 Parks S Opp Space <br />Overview <br />The overall structure of the Town Center is based on a system of <br />linked parks, trails and open space. This includes existing and <br />proposed parks and trails defined in city and regional parks plans, <br />joined with new parks and trails within the Town Center. Of equal <br />importance is the contribution from each block and each <br />development project to this green structure, adding a variety of <br />private, semi -private and perhaps some additional public space <br />throughout each sub -district. Great strolling streets provide <br />connections between commercial, workplace, entertainment and <br />residential neighborhoods and encourage shared use for cars, <br />pedestrians and bicycles. Public realm and streetscape guidelines <br />include the following: <br />TC5 Parks, plazas and other public gathering spaces <br />Public spaces throughout the Town Center should: <br />• Blend both contemporary and traditional motifs with a focus on <br />pedestrian use <br />• Encourage a balance of natural/informal landscapes with <br />formal/urban plazas and squares; a mix of pavements and <br />plantings, promenades and meandering trails <br />• Integrate stormwater management practices and features into <br />every park design <br />• Provide a variety of opportunities to capture different <br />microclimates with many choices for seating - including <br />movable chairs, fixed benches, open lawn - and access to both <br />sun and shade <br />• Provide a variety of levels or elevations to add interest to the <br />ground plane and to provide informal steps, or lawn terraces <br />for sitting <br />• Promote safety and security in all design solutions, including <br />landscape lighting, open views into the site, and accessibility <br />• Provide seasonal interest and color; promote high quality <br />materials and finishes <br />• Provide opportunities and specific sites for public art, special <br />events, performance and markets <br />Public Realm/Streetscape <br />TC5 Street/sidewalk dimensions and streetscape elements <br />Destination streets (like Sunwood), connector streets (like <br />Rhinestone), and background streets (like many of the residential <br />neighborhood streets) all front on public parks and all contribute <br />to the desired connectivity throughout this new community. While <br />each street must provide a defined level of service for the <br />automobile, creating attractive and inviting amenities for <br />pedestrian and bicycle use is equally important. Streets adjacent to <br />public parks in the Town Center will include the following: <br />• Provide gracious sidewalk width to support intensity of <br />pedestrian traffic in the various sub -districts <br />• Provide off-street bicycle trails wherever possible <br />• Install street trees to frame the street and provide shade <br />• Provide street lighting that meets all safety standards and <br />design criteria, while creating a signature character for each <br />sub -district <br />• Explore street light spacing, height and type of fixtures to <br />support uses and activities (note, however, that too much light <br />is as bad as too little) <br />• Explore a range of options for streetscape improvements <br />including special pavements, interesting concrete tinting or <br />scoring patterns, additional plantings, ornamental fencing and <br />other features (note, however, that simpler is better and too <br />much clutter is a negative) <br />32 Ramsey Town Center Development Guidelines <br />