March 4 Meeting Follow Up and Photos

A big thank you to everyone who attended the March 4th Meeting.  Students presented the latest developments in the City Pedestrian Trail, updated schematic plans for Rotary and Harborview Parks and concept plans for the newly proposed Lafayette St. Park.  After each presentation, Cape May City residents were asked to complete short surveys regarding the designs, which will give students a sense of the direction the community would like the park to take.  For Rotary and Harborview, the community was asked to cast their votes on which design to move forward with.  The next step for these two parks will be full sets of construction documents.

Some photos from the March 4th meeting.

Andrew Korzon presenting content of the student designed

City Pedestrian Trail guide book.

Cape May City residents deliberating

over the two Rotary Park designs.

Denise Wood and Justin Barnett field pros and cons

regarding the Harborview Park schematics.

Community members filling out surveys and voting

on the design they would most like to see built.

Matthew Shearon presenting concept drawings

for the newly proposed Lafayette St. Park.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to come out on the fourth.  Your feedback has been critical to this design process.  Stay tuned for further developments as the project continues.  We hope to see you all again at the next meeting, scheduled for May 5, 2010.

First Community Meeting of the New Year, 3/4/10

Thursday, March 4, Temple University students will again be traveling down to Cape May, NJ to present the next development of park and city trail plans to the community.

The designs have been further developed in accordance with the community's input gathered from previous meetings and surveys.  With this information the students have been able to further develop initial concepts into more refined schematic designs.  The schematic drawings go as far as to specify construction materials and site furnishings.  From this the students have been able to draft approximate cost estimates for each design.

In addition to the Rotary Park, Harborview Park and City Trail designs students will introduce conceptual plans for the open space along Lafayette St., between Rotary Park and Cape May Elementary School.

It has been decided that further student design development of the Sewell Point Wildlife Sanctuary will be postponed until sufficient base information can be obtained.

Thursday's presentation will include:

• (2) Rotary Park Schematic Designs
• (4) Harbor View Schematic Designs
• (6) Lafayette St. Conceptual Designs
• City Trail layout and design, Guide content

Photos from the Community Meeting

John Gleason presents class inventory of Harborview Park

Rebecca Kagle presents circulation around Sewell Point

Kali Whyte and Denise Wood lead a break-out group discussion

Community members offer their opinions

to group facilitator, Andrew Korzon

Community members discuss existing conditions at Rotary Park

with student facilitators Mike Ford, Jennifer Lauzon

and instructor Bess Wellborne-Yates

Chris Spolsky and Nick Petro discuss the future of

Sewell Point Sanctuary with the community

Community members vote on the most critical

aspects of each of the projects using colored dots

A Successful Community Meeting

On Wednesday the 21st the class traveled down to Cape May city to join its citizens in the first of several Community Meetings. I'd estimate close to 50 people in attendance (a sizable turnout considering we had a great Phillies game to contend with!)

The meeting began with a presentation of student collected information regarding the City pedestrian trail and the project sites. Afterwards, participants split into student led break-out groups to discuss individual sites.
The three questions posed for each site were:

• What do you treasure most about the site?
• What are your concerns about the site?
• What are your hopes and dreams for this site?

Each subject was then voted on to determine which were the most critical issues. Participants were given sticker dots to vote with, placing the dots on what they felt were the most important issues.
All in all the meeting proved to be a success. The following morning the students spent some time investigating some of the issues raised in the meeting. We are now in the process of compiling all of the data (dot-a...?) from the voting and surveys and will be making that available ASAP.
To those of you who participated, thank you, the input received from the small groups and surveys will be critical to further design processes. Most importantly, it was great to see a community come out and take a stand for something they care about. It is a great encouragement to us as a class and demonstrates the importance of community focused design.

Thanks again! Pictures to come soon.

Survey for Temple + Cape May Coastal City

So we can better understand your goals and values, please take a few minutes to complete the following survey on Rotary Park, Harborview Park, Sewell Point Sanctuary, and the City Pedestrian Trail.

Please print and either bring or mail your completed survey to the following address: Cape May City Hall - 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ, 08204 -- by November 5th, 2009.

Thank you for your interest and input!

Our initial visit.

Exploring Harborview

The "View"

Mayor Mahaney introduces us to Rotary Park

Dallas getting some shots around Rotary

Bandstand floor

Swallows overhead at Sewell Point

Welcome to the Temple + Cape May Coastal City Studio Blog!

The vibrant, historic City of Cape May, located at New Jersey’s southern most point, is looking to improve several of its city parks, Rotary Park and Harborview Park, as well as create a nature reserve, the Sewell Point Sanctuary, in the eastern end of town. The city council’s goal is to integrate these parks more fully and sustainably into this walkable and vibrant destination city. This two square mile ‘study area’ will serve as the overarching site for this project, providing an opportunity for students to explore the principles of park and nature reserve design, master planning, and mapping within an urban context of a historically, culturally, and ecologically significant city. In addition to park designs, the City of Cape May has requested that students prepare a “Pedestrian City Trail” connecting and educating residents and visitors to the city’s rich cultural and natural heritage while forging a path towards a sustainable future.