Agenda - Council - 06/12/2003 - Joint with Park & Recreation Commission

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i11. Components of the Design The City of Ramsey's Comprehensive Plan of 2001 emphasizes providin~ gr~enways with paved trails or sidewall~ along ail collector streets so that peopl'e can move between neighborhoods and access the park~ and other community facilities. The first step in determining the over~ll layout of the Discovery Garden was to look at how it might fit it into the landsczpe and connect it with the .ex,ting bike path and Alpine ~rk. The a~ached M~-ter Plan Layout (Plate I.) shows the proposed greenway connections, and also the location of five components described 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 ancl play. The key element is a three- dimensional game in the landsc~p~ 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, a~ well as through the plantings, and the use of recycled and reused natural materials such as boulders and peeled logs. -l~he game would be incorporated into the over-all design of the garden through a collaboration between Regina Fianagan ~nd artist K~ith Christensen. Examples of past art by various artists including Christensen are provided to illustrate ideas for unique work~ of public art that would be created especially for the Discovery Garden. MASTER PLAN LAYOUT OF COMPONENTS Greenway Connection and Hiking Loop continues the existing bike path through the garden and into the park - E~anners announce the approach to the park (Fig. 1) · Pavement I~ding to the playground has inset into it a board game about human effor~ at recycling and the cycles of nature; or animal track~; or other nature patterns (Fig. 2-3) · Hiking Loop proceeds through Listening Grove of Quaking Aspen Overlooks provide places to r~st along:the bike path and examine and enjoy the' landscape · £~ating area of natural materials; reused and recycled wood and stone (Fig. 4-5) surrounded by revegetation including native wetland plantings on the ELA Plant Lis~, among others Pt~,y Area includes, play~round equipment and sandbox · Playset blends into the landscape (Fig. 6); includes imagery of ELA focus organisms · Sandbox around playset has hidden treasures that may be part of the board game (Fig. 7) -8- 66