Figure
1: Columbus Audubon Center Site Plan
Entrance
Overall
components
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Set a natural tone as visitors enter
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Be welcoming
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Be easy to find with an obvious path/entrance to the building
from parking lots and from the Metro Park itself
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Have a gate for vehicles at the Audubon only access (wooden
or fits environment/theme)
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No fences (exceptions for play area); use landscaping instead
of fences wherever possible
Columbus
Audubon Center entrance road
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Drive in experience is important – possibly through habitat(s)
– to “set the stage”
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SLOW, narrow road that incorporates some meanders
Transportation
access considerations
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Maintain hard surface roads - plan for weight of trucks/buses
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Have sidewalks/trails
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Consider maintenance - snow removal & cleaning for roads
& trails
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One way road to parking and drop-off, but two way road in
and out of Center
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COTA access is critical, so we must plan for a COTA stop
and bus turn radius
Parking
for cars, buses, bike racks
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Car park size will be determined by City requirements, and
will allow for set numbers of cars, buses, staff parking
and overflow/remote spaces
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Use islands
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Bioswales, for treatment of stormwater runoff, can be incorporated
and used for education
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Utilize a footbridge to remove the Center from the parking
and help set a transition to a more natural environment
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No white concrete - blend with nature/color
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Most environmentally friendly pavement that fits the feel;
remote parking can have grass pavers
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Use and recycle materials from Lazarus warehouse and other
park demolition sites
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Move as much away from building as possible, out of the
"preserve"; blend in parking that must be close
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Encourage/require physically capable staff to use public
transportation for commuting and to use the most outlying
parking spaces when parking at the Center, so as to free
up close-in parking for visitors.
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Soften parking with the use of plants and landscaping, reduce
heat effect with trees
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Parking lot has signs that show the area "drains to
river"
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Trash cans should not be in the parking lot, but at the
Center
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Lower level of parking if possible
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Share parking with Metro Parks
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Connect with a COTA loop for downtown and/or to light rail
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Have access from remote parking with an electric tram or
shuttles; Metro Parks shuttle through park could facilitate
some remote parking access
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Incorporate room for two buses in remote parking
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Include a bus turn around at the Center drop-off location
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Have bike racks available at center
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Welcome bikes
Building
Site
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Although the above drawing has the Center south of the planned
creek that will flow from the wetlands to the river, we
will also consider putting the Center on north side; this
makes it less accessible by active recreational users, reducing
use conflicts
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Allow emergency vehicle/bus access/drop off
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Maintain connections to all habitats
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Place the building right on the wetlands or in the woods
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Site the building to enhance opportunities for energy conservation
and green building features
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As much as possible, surfaces should be permeable to decrease
runoff
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The building will have a service entrance for delivery of
portable exhibits, catering, etc.
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Outdoor electrical outlets will be necessary for use during
special events
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Outdoor lighting that can be controlled by staff, not automatic,
will be necessary
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Water, phone, electric, and sewer are currently available
on Whittier Street; maintain access (as needed) throughout
park development
Public/Special
Event Area
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The site will be used for tents during festivals and special
events
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Utilize multi-functional spaces for special events
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Use remote parking with tram/trolley/school bus/state fair
wagons for transportation;
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Consider maintenance for and clean-up immediately after
events on site
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Use tents (Dept. of Commerce, Div. Of Industrial Compliance
regulates use);
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Tent areas need to be where there are no underground utilities,
also, portable bleachers/stages
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Amphitheatre for all programming can be used for events
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Leave flexibility in the site plan for future development
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Use our site with special events that we control to minimize
conflict
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Consider option to contract additional law enforcement with
Metro Parks
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Consider contracting trash maintenance
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Have a location for lost people
Trails
and Signage
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Signage should be uniform within the Metro Park as much
as possible, but Audubon signage should be distinguishable.
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All three partner logos should be on all signs
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Some signs will notify the visitor that the Center is located
in an Important Bird Area.
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Use change in character of signage and other components
to visually distinguish higher use areas from lower use
ones
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Give visitors clear cues (directional and behavioral) as
they move through public use zones toward the Center and
on Center trails
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Audubon trails should connect with the Metro Parks trails,
particularly the passive use ones, and with various natural
habitats
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It will be important to segregate uses of trails, so that
those that are intended to be used by groups for educational
activities exclude bicycles, pets, jogging, and other conflicting
uses. Furthermore, to the extent possible this segregation
should be achieved through design rather than signage
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Audubon trails need to be natural, yet traversable by people
of many ability levels
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Good drainage for trails is essential
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Benches will be provided along the trails for visitors
Outdoor
Learning Stations & Exhibits
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Outdoor exhibits are valuable since outside is the resource
we want to interpret
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Demonstrate Audubon At Home concepts that replicate yards
of varying sizes – from a porch only situation to a ½
acre yard
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Have a "natural" play area exhibit where children
can discover nature supervised by a parent or guardian
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Develop a water habitat that children can touch in case
the Metro Parks wetlands are not approved or are not clean
enough for contact
Land
Management
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Audubon and the partners will work together to have integrated
land management practices.
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Audubon will manage the subleased land to promote native
species and use
maintenance free materials where possible.
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Several areas will need intervention in order begin restoration
of the native plant communities. These efforts will
create wonderful opportunities for education, allowing students
to see succession and restoration as it takes place.
Habitats:
Wetlands, Forest, Prairie, River
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Maintenance staff will need to look after these habitats
in conjunction with our partners
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Tie maintenance into interpretation (education dollars can
help fund habitat work)
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Model "natural" where possible and show nature
is not neat
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Use native species and minimize invasives
Additional
Site Components and Characteristics
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Restrooms - externally available and secure at hours the
Center isn't open
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Benches/sitting areas will be available near the building
and along trails
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The view shed or line of sight should be maintained to the
river and the wetlands
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Metro Parks and Audubon could use remnants of buildings
and signs of other past use to show history of the site
and the remediation that is possible
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Dogs should be kept in "active" recreation area
of the Metro Park
