audubon-outward bound leadership and conservation center alternatives analysis

7/29/2019 Audubon-Outward Bound Leadership and Conservation Center Alternatives Analysis

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17 January 2013, updated 20 February 2013

East Park Leadership

and Conservation Center

A Collaboration o the National Audubon Society and Outward Bound Philadelphia

Alternatives Analysis or the Commission on Parks & Recreation


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roject Overview and Vision 05

oject Overview

sion

Alternatives Analysis 23

ommunity Outreach 19

Conclusions 27

able of Contents

roposed Building and Site Plans 13

escription

te Management Plans

uilding and Site Security

Letters of Support 31


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Project Overview & Vi


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he National Audubon Society and Outward

oundPhiladelphia are collaborating to preserve

virtually unknown and inaccessible lake in

hiladelphia by creating an educational center or

onservation and leadership development that

ll benet thousands o Philadelphians every

ear. This project will provide the public with

pportunities to interact with nature in the City

nd oer a wealth o resources to the greater

hiladelphia region or generations to come.

he proposed location or the East Park

eadership and Conservation Centerthe

est basin o the East Park Reservoir andurrounding grounds next to the Strawberry

ansion neighborhoodencompasses a 37-acre

an-made lake that was ormerly part o the

tys water supply system. The site is cur rently

nder the jurisdiction o the Philadelphia Water

epartment and not open to the public. It is

oncealed rom view by encing, dense vegetation

nd a signicant grade change rom street level.

his hidden gem oers an unusual opportunity

r young people and adults to experience nature

a highly urbanized environment. Located near

e heart o the Fairmount Park Important Bird

ea (over 200 species o birds occur in the

ark), the lake has become a prime stopover site

r migratory birds, including several spectacular

aterowl species.

he National Audubon Society and Outward Bound

hiladelphia are planning to build a state-o-the-

t educational acility that will be the portal to

e lake and oer exploration experiences or

sitors o all ages. The center will be a window

the natural world o Fairmount Park that will

e available to every member o the greater

hiladelphia community.

The center will preserve a unique aquatic

habitat that might otherwise be drained. It

will allow managed public access to 50 acres

o open space that has been enced o rom

the surrounding park and neighborhoods or

decades.

This project is site specifc and there is no

alternative location in Philadelphia.

The collaboration o two internationally renowned

non-prot organizations to benet the people o

Philadelphia and preserve a natural treasure is

a remarkable opportunity that can occur only onthis site and may not occur again.

roject Overview


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An extraordinary launching point or nationally

recognized programs

Audubon and Outward Bound programs introduce

young people to the wonders o nature,

challenge them with outdoor adventures, and

promote sel-discovery, character and leadership

development. This osters a lielong commitment

to environmental stewardship and service. The

Center will be the keystone o Audubon education

and conservation programs, as well as Outward

Bound leadership and character development

activities in the region.

Outward Bound Philadelphia, a chartered aliate

o the nations preeminent provider o active

learning expeditions, will use this new acility as

its headquarters. Outward Bound Philadelphia

has long-established programs in over 40 schools

in the Philadelphia region and serves more than

4,000 students annually. It has overgrown its

current location and has chosen the East Park

Reservoir as its primary base o operations

because o the inspirational setting o the lake

and exceptional outdoor opportunities oered by

surrounding park lands.

Audubon will use the new acility as a hub

or research and science-based conservation

projects and programs in the Philadelphia region.

Audubon will engage individuals and communities

by oering the resources and tools necessary

to analyze, preserve, and restore the natural

environment we all share. Audubon education

programs will challenge both young people and

adults through hands-on exploration o the natural

world in their own backyards and neighborhoods.

Students will visit the Center to discover their

inner strengths and build character through

Outward Bounds acclaimed experiential education

programs. Students may complete a high ropes

challenge course in the trees alongside the lake

The Vision or the Center at the East Park Reservoir

Research shows that outdoor activities n

only increase childrens physical activity,

also help children deal with stress and re

anxiety. Children who interact with nature

better cognitive and creative skills than t

more housebound counterparts.

Audubon and Outward Bound programs u

outdoor classrooms and experiential edu

strategies that can produce signifcant st

academic gains in social studies, science

language arts and math. Hands-on projec

oered through the Center will provide

students with learning experiences in the

meaningul, real-lie context o nature tha

have practical applications or uture care


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venture orth rom the Center on a multi-day

xpedition in the region. The outdoor adventure

ducation oered by Outward Bound is designed

engage young people in the natural world

uring their middle and high school years.

hile each organization currently oers highly

ective programs under their own brands, this

ollaboration will produce integrated programming

ade stronger and more eective through

hared resources, educational experiences and

pportunities to serve the greater Philadelphia

ommunity. By aligning programs at the Center,

oth organizations will oer a progression o

owerul opportunities or young people to build

n their personal strengths, talents and creativity.

oung people may have multiple experiences at

e Center that increase in depth and multiply

onnections with their communities and the

atural world. These experiences will develop the

kills young people need to succeed in an urban

conomy and sustain its natural resources well

to the uture.

he Center will also be a hub or the National

udubon Societys international conservation

itiatives and a major link in a regional network

birding and wildlie viewing destinations. It will

e a green sanctuar y or students, amilies and

sitors and a vital source o inormation and

spiration or appreciating nature where we live

in our own backyards, school yards, Fairmount

ark and the Philadelphia region.

s headquarters or Outward Bound Philadelphia,

will bring together multiple community and

gional partners who will engage in Outward

ounds world renowned leadership development

ograms at the Center in Fairmount Park andeyond the Center in natural settings across the

elaware Valley region.

he Center will link to and enhance existing

ommunity assets in East Fairmount Park, such

s the Smith Memorial Playground, Sedgley

oods Disc Gol Course, the Boxers Trail and

ander Recreation Center. It will help create

a welcoming gateway between the park and

Strawberry Mansion and north Philadelphia

neighborhoods. It will oer the public access

to the lake in alignment with public saety and

protection o the site as a bird and wildlie

sanctuary. There will be no entrance ees to

public viewing areas or observing birds and

wildlie on the lake. The National Audubon

Society and Outward Bound Philadelphia will each

be using the center as their base o operations

in the Philadelphia region; ees associated

with these specic programs and activities are

expected, but have not yet been calculated or

determined.


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Proposed Building and Site P


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he building will serve as a launching pad or

ientation and education programs, a place

r students and visitors to have shelter rom

clement weather, and the base o operations

r Audubon and Outward Bound sta. Program

articipants and the public will begin their

ncounters with nature through the building

nd continue their explorations on the lakeside

nd park side o the center. Opportunities or

ddressing the critical environmental challenges

our timewater, air, land and energywill be

oven into the publics experience o the center in

s uniquely urban setting.

udubon and Outward Bound are committed to

anaging the center acility and programs on

e site in ways that are not disruptive to birds

nd wildlie. The 37-acre lake and surrounding

ounds within the outer ence line will be

anaged as a zone o tranquility and as a bird

anctuary. Both organizations have agreed that

e protection o birds and wildlie will result in

e highest and best use o this site or people.

te management strategies will be based on

ound science and a shared commitment to

storing and improving habitat.

everal locations at the lake were investigated as

ossible sites or the building. The construction

te at the waters edge on the southern end

the lake was chosen or its accessibility and

sibility rom the street side lower level and the

onderul views o the lake aorded by the upper

vel at this location.

he Center will provide an orientation experience

r visitors that encourages appreciation o

ature on the lake and in the surrounding

eas o Fairmount Park and Philadelphia. Trails

ong the lake will be careully planned to oer

sitors wonderul viewing opportunities without

sturbing the birds and wildlie.

Conceptual design plans or the Center envision

a two-story building (a total approximately 17,000

square eet) that is nestled into the berm at the

lakes edge to blend in with its natural setting.

Only one story will ace the lake ront. The

proposed size or the building was determined

through a rigorous analysis by National Audubon

and Outward Bound Philadelphia board and

sta members and three teams o architectural

consultants who careully considered sta

requirements, program needs and managed

public access to the building and site.

The building will be a demonstration o highlyecient green building technologies and

conservation strategies. National Audubon and

Outward Bound Philadelphia are committed to

developing the most environmentally responsible

building possible and are pursuing a zero carbon

oot print building plan.

The relationship between environmental health

and human health will be a central theme o

the building and site. Audubons ability to make

Philadelphians aware o the connections between

healthy people and a healthy environment will

be enhanced by having young people experience

the challenging physical activities oered

through Outward Bound programs or example,

preliminary designs include an Outward Bound

climbing wall and ropes course.

Description o Proposed Building


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Conceptual plans or the building include:

Viewing areas/exhibit room(s): Public areas or

viewing birds and wildlie on the lake, including

an observation platorm adjacent to the

building, and exhibits inspiring conservation

and outdoor recreation activities.

Public Access: Depending on weather

conditions and sta scheduling, the Center will

have public viewing areas open and accessible

several days during the week (including some

weekend days), with special open-to-the-public

hours (e.g. early morning hours for bird watching

and late afternoon hours for enjoying sunsets)

throughout the year as are yet to be determined.

There will be no entrance fees to the public

viewing areas.

Multi-purpose room: Space shared by

Audubon and Outward Bound Philadelphia

or programs, skills-training seminars, week-

end amily programs, community programs,

and events. This space will be oered or use

by community groups rom time to time in a

manner consistent with the mission o the

organizations, their programs, and management

o the site as a wildlie sanctuary.

Classrooms:Training space or Audubon

educators and Outward Bound instructors

and volunteers; meeting space or Audubon

ater-school clubs; science lab and technology

classroom or program participants and interns.

Gear-upspaceforOutwardBoundexpeditions;

OpenexibleofcespaceforAudubonand

Outward Bound sta members as well asstorage space or program and administrative

materials. Flexible space (equipped with

phones, computer and internet hook-ups),

will also provide a base or researchers and

conservation volunteers working or a limited

time and/or a special project in the Park.

ecause the site is within the Philadelphia

ater Departments security perimeter and

e steep walls o the lake pose public saety

oncerns, access to both the building and lake

ll be allowed at specied times and monitored

y National Audubon and Outward Bound

hiladelphia. Both organizations are working

osely with the Philadelphia Water Departmentmake the lake accessible to the program

articipants and the public in ways that do not

onfict with the security and saety o the active

servoir. This site is also an important symbol o

ater resource management in the City, and its

story and legacy will be taken into account in

e design o the Center ac ility.

A very small portion o the site outside the

enced perimeter o the basin will be aected

by landscaping or Outward Bounds physical

challenge coursesthis landscaping will not

have a negative impact on adjoining portions

o the park. This area, immediately outside the

perimeter ence and adjacent to Reservoir Drive,

will be designed to oer outdoor activities thatare not disruptive to birds and wildlie. Site

work as a part o the project will include a new

parking lot at street level, an upgrade o the Water

Departments current entry road, an accessible

path up to the building site, new planting in the

vicinity o the building, and a trail along the west

edge o the lake. This trail w ill include overlooks

constructed or observation o birds and wildlie.

ite Management Plans

Building and Site Security

Note: The depictions o the building are

conceptual designs. Plans are not fnalized.


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Community Outre


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The vision or the center was developed by the

National Audubon Society and Outward Bound

Philadelphia through many meetings and multiple

communications with various stakeholders over

the last decade and particularly over the last

three years, including:

StrawberryMansioncommunityleaders

and organizations, including the Strawberry

Mansion Community Development Corporation

and Neighborhood Action Committee, the East

Park Revitalization Alliance, the Smith Memorial

Playground, the Sedgley Woods Disc Gol

Course and the Mander Recreation Center;

PhiladelphiaParks&RecreationDepartment

representatives and Philadelphia Water

Department representatives;

Administrators,teachersandstudentsfrom

Philadelphia schools;

Politicalrepresentativesatthecityand

commonwealth levels;

Representativesofpartnernonprot

organizations, including the Pennsylvania

Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Zoo,

the Academy o Natural Sciences o Drexel

University, the Fairmount Water Works

Interpretive Center, the Delaware Valley

Ornithological Society, and the John Heinz

National Wildlie Reuge at Tinicum;

FoundationrepresentativesandPhiladelphia

civic leaders.

Letters o support or the proposed project areattached.

Community Outreach


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Alternatives Anal

and Conclus


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The environmental impact o the proposed

transferorconversion;andtheeffectofthe

proposed transer or conversion on trafc and

parking:

Please see the attached Environmental Analysis

Report rom CVM Construction Managers,

Inc. and transportation narrative prepared by

McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners.

The proposed transer or conversion is necessary

or the public interest:

Environmental:Thisprojectwillpreservea

hidden gem o Philadelphias landscape, one

that could not be recreated once destroyed,

and will allow public access to 50 acres o

nature that have been closed o or decades.

It will conserve critical habitat or the benet o

birds, wildlie and the people o Philadelphia or

generations to come.

Educational:TheCenterwillbeasanctuary

or the young people o nearby neighborhoods.

It will be a destination or school and youth

groups rom across the city that provides a

launching pad or exploration o the natural

world and oers discovery opportunities or

personal growth and achievement. It will also

empower adults to learn more about the nature

in the city and begin to engage with it in new

and exciting ways.

Civic:Thecollaborationoftwointernatio

organizations in the development o this

will achieve national recognition and pla

unique role in Philadelphias emerging g

city status. It will stimulate the creation

new businesses and services in Strawb

Mansion and beyond. This is a legacy pr

that connects with the preservation mis

Fairmount Park.

The East Park Leadership and Conservatio

Center is designed to enhance the park la

in which it is situated. The National Audub

Society and Outward Bound Philadelphia a

working closely with the City o Philadelph

to assure that all environmental reviews a

requirements or preserving the natural ha

the lake and surroundings are met.

There is no reasonable and practical altern

the proposed transer or conversion:

Due to the unique nature o the use o the

site and proposed Center, there is unctio

no alternative land available within the Cit

Philadelphia.

escription o the current outdoor park or

creation land proposed to be transerred or

onverted and the impact o the transer or

onversion on current outdoor park or recreational

ses at the site:

minimal amount o park land that is currently

pen to the public is proposed to be transerred

nder a lease between the project partners and

e City. This land, approximately our and a hal

cres between Reservoir Drive and the outside

nce surrounding the west Basin Lake, is open

pace that is accessible to the public, but not

urrently used or organized recreational activities.

ess than two acres o this land will be usedr parking and creating access to the Center;

e remaining acreage will be used or other

creational purposes, including Outward Bound

hallenge courses, walking paths and gardens.

he proposed lease with the City will include 50

cres currently under PWD management and

accessible to the public. These acres, including

e approximately 37-acre lake and 13 acres inside

e outer ence o the PWD managed land, will be

pened to the public and program participants as

escribed above.

detailed description o conceptual building and

te plans is provided in the attached report rom

VM Construction Managers, Inc.

he impact o the transer or conversion on current

utdoor park or recreational uses at the site:

his project will oer enhanced recreational use

more than 4 acres with incidental restrictions

n public access consistent with public saety and

te management. It will result in a net gain o

ublic access to approximately 50 acres that are

ow closed o to the public and oer recreational

pportunities that are consistent with the

onservation o wildlie and habitat on the site.

Alternatives Analysis Summary


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1. This project will result in the transer or

conversion o less than 4.5 acres o park

land or purposes that are consistent and

permissible or the outdoor recreational use

o park land under Pennsylvania law. This

acreage would be enhanced and improved by

the project.

2. This project will result in allowing managed

public access to approximately 50 acres o

land or purposes that are consistent and

permissible or the outdoor recreational use

o park land under Pennsylvania law.

3. A slight portion o the building ootprint

(estimated at somewhere between .05 and

.10 acre) may extend beyond the current

ence line onto a small portion o park land.

Use o this land as outdoor park land is still

possible; however, given the existing marginal

nature o the land, the public interest would

be ar better served by its use or a building

that provides managed public access to the

lake. It is understood that should the building

ootprint extend onto this small strip o park

land, the substitute land requirement o the

ordinance may be triggered. This requirement

is addressed by opening almost 50 acres o

land currently under the jurisdiction o the

Philadelphia Water Department to outdoor

recreational uses that are consistent

with management o the site as a wildlie

sanctuary.

Conclusions

Note:

Thanks to Howard Eskin or the photos o birds.

Thanks to SMP Architects and CVM Construction Managers, Inc.

or conceptual pictures o the building and site.

Thanks to Braithwaite Communications or graphic design.

A description and aerial imagery o the proposed acreage ollows

on the next pages


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WEST BASIN

37.65 ACRES

GATEWAY 1

1.35 ACRESGATEWAY 2

0.82 ACRES

INSIDE FENCE

12.35 ACRES

OUTSIDE FENCE

4.47 ACRES

NORTH WEST BASIN

NORTH EAST BASIN

SOUTH BASIN

I

I I

ACRES

INSIDE FENCE 12.35

OUTSIDE FENCE 4.47WEST BASIN 37.65GATEWAY 1 1.35

GATEWAY 2 0.82

TOTAL: 56.64

EXISTING PWD FENCE

PROPOSED AREA TO B

GATEWAY 1 & 2(NOT TO BE LEASED)

I

I

I

I

roposed boundaries or lease or the East

ark Leadership and Conservation Center are

elineated by red lines on the aerial view on the

ext page.

ellow lines depict the outer ence line o the

operty currently under Philadelphia Water

epartment (PWD) management, including the

est basin lake and its surrounding berms.

he red line between the lake and the combined

eas o on the east side o the lake indicates

e boundary between the proposed lease and

hat will continue to be PWD managed proper ty,cluding the northwest basin (currently drained);

e northeast basin (currently an active water

upply to the City); and the south basin (currently

n ephemeral drainage area that has become

egetated with trees and shrubs). These areas

o the east o the lake and continuing to the

ellow ence line along 33rd Street Route 13)

ll continue to be used as PWD determines.

he proposed lease includes:

TheareadesignatedasWEST BASIN outlined

in light blue 37.65 acres o lake currently

notopentothepublic;

Thevegetatedandmowedareasaroundthe

perimeter o the lake designated INSIDE FENCE

that are currently within the yellow PWD ence

line (between the yellow ence line on the

north, west and south sides o the lake and

the light blue outline o the lake; and between

the light blue line on the east side o the lake

and the red line separating the lake rom the

area PWD will continue to manage) a total o

12.35 acres inside the current PWD ence line

currentlynotopentothepublic;

AsmallstripoflandalongReservoirDrive

between the current yellow ence line and

the red line along Reservoir Drive designated

OUTSIDE FENCE a total o 4.47 acres

currently open to the public, but not suitable or

organized recreational activities (currently there

are no structures, walking paths or trails on

this acreage; there is a small, rough dir t/gravel

parking lot on the south end o this strip);

DescriptionofGatewayAreas not included in

proposed Leased Acreage (delineated in purple

lines):

Audubon and Outward Bound will be among

the public and private partners working in

collaboration with the Department o Parks &

Recreation to enhance two areas along ReservoirDrive toward 33rd street to create an inviting

natural gateway to East Fairmount Park through

landscaping, signage and walking paths. These

areas, including 0.82 acres o Fairmount Park

open land (Gateway #2), and (b) 1.35 acres o

Fairmount Park open land (Gateway # 1) will

continue to be open to the public.

Gateway areas will remain under the jurisdiction

o Parks & Recreation but subject to Parks &

Recreation approved uses and improvements by

Audubon and Outward Bound. It is anticipated

that these areas will be landscaped to create

an inviting public entrance to East Fairmount

Park and the Strawberry Mansion community.

Enhancements to these areas are in the early

planning stages. Possibilities or Audubon and

Outward Bound support or these improvements

will be explored in collaboration with the

Department o Parks & Recreation, the FairmountPark Conservancy, and other organizations

invested in East Fairmount Park and the

Strawberry Mansion community.

A detailed description o proposed uses is

presented in the Environmental Assessment rom

CVM Construction Managers, Inc.

roposed Acreage Description


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Letters of Sup


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Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center, Inc. 2829 W. Diamond StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19121Main: (215) 235-7505Fax; (215) 235-3122

REBUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EMPOWERMENT

Lenora Jackson-EvansExecutive Director

January 14, 2013

The Commission on Parks and Recreation1515 Arch Street, 10th Floor

Philadelphia PA 19102-1587

Re: Audubon and Outward Bound Project at the East Park Reservoir

To whom it may concern:

The Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center, Inc. (SMNAC) was established in 2004 to rebuildthe Strawberry Mansion community through the empowerment of its residents and to enhance the qualityof life by providing services to low and moderate income families. We strongly support the developmentof an Audubon and Outward Bound leadership and conservation center at the East Park Reservoir.

The project will preserve a unique feature of Fairmount Park a 37 acre lake at the East Park Reservoir-and restore access for Strawberry Mansion residents to a total of 50 acres of natural habitat for birds andwildlife that has been fenced off from the surrounding park lands and our neighborhood for decades.

This collaboration of two internationally recognized organizations will create an outstanding resource forthe Strawberry Mansion community. Since 2007, Audubon and Outward Bound have met withcommunity representatives to discuss plans for the project and provide updates on progress. They have

participated in community events, including Strawberry Mansion Day and the Boxer Trail 5K Walk/Run.

This project will support SMNACs initiatives, including greening and beautification, communityeducation, and energy conservation programs. We urge the Commission on Parks and Recreation to allow

the leasing of city park land for this use.Sincerely,

/s /L enora Jackson-Evans

Lenora Jackson-Evans

Executive Director

STRAWBERRY MANSION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

2829 West Diamond Street Phone: 215.2Philadelphia, PA 19121 Fax: 215.2

January 11, 2013

Ms. Nancy Goldenburg, Chair

Parks and Recreation Commission1515 Arch Street, 10th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102-1587

RE: Outward Bound and Audubon Project at East Park Reservoir

Dear Ms. Goldenburg:

The Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation is issuing this Letter ofSupport for the Outward Bound and Audubon Societys proposal to lease the East ParkReservoir with the intent to build and operate an environmental/education center. This pr

venture will not only provide us with a newly built environmental/education center in ourneighborhood, but it will also provide programming that will educate our community abo

conservation and preservation while allowing us to participate in structured physical activ

We commend these national organizations for their leadership in developing this environtreasure that has become a sanctuary for various species of birds and aquatic life. Since 2

Audubon Society has engaged our community with focus groups, bird sighting tours andeducational programming related to this phenomenon that has occurred in the East Park

Reservoir. This positive interaction has allowed the community access to the reservoir, whas been closed off to the public for decades. As it partnered with Outward Bound, the

community continued to benefit from the leadership and wellness programming aimed atstrengthening the cognitive and physical skills of our youth.

We hope that you view this proposal favorably, as we are looking forward towards worki

the Audubon Society and Outward Bound throughout all phases of this project. Thank yoconsidering our position.

Sincerely,

Tonnetta Graham_______________________

Tonnetta Graham, PresidentStrawberry Mansion CDC


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audubon-outward bound leadership and conservation center alternatives analysis

Documents