Integrating Urban Design for Creek Restoration Projects

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Phillips, Bruce M.
Copyright Year	1999
Abstract	Creek restoration in highly urbanized settings offer unique opportunities to enrich the community in decaying brownfield areas. These projects can enhance a sense of identity through the creation of a cultural system which results in a landmark focal point, illustrating that flood control does not have to be ugly. Historically successful urban creek restoration projects which have integrated urban design elements have resulted in “river walk” type features which can enhance the quality of life and human activity, as well as environmental enhancement. Urban redevelopment projects often include existing flood control facilities or flood protection requirements which typically manifest as physical constraints rather than approached as opportunities. Introduction of the urban design element as part of the flood control planning assists in developing a vision for the project which integrates the adjacent redevelopment areas that will result in bringing vitality and grace to the community. Creek restoration through urban centers requires a flexible design program resulting from a collaboration of river engineering, hydraulics, urban design, environmental and ecology, landscape and bioengineering, and business development which allows collective solutions. Urban design allows water to serve as a common thread that links the project’s spaces together. Important issues which need to be addressed in the planning process includes (1) transportation, (2) landscape restoration, (3) ecosystem benefits, (4) historical landscape and native feature preservation, and (5) recreational design elements. The driving concern in the majority of urban redevelopment projects is restoring the economic growth and vitality of the community. The “river walk” feature provides a vehicle to attract the general public to this area and ensure the economic success of the project. A case study is reviewed which applied urban design planning for a commercial redevelopment project in the City of Vista, California involving the replacement of a 1950 concrete flood control channel into a restored natural “river walk” linear park. The proposed creek restoration would provide the focal point for an economic revitalization of the downtown area that includes restaurants, shops, and entertainment center, with the creek providing the common
Starting Page	1
Ending Page	10
Page Count	10
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1061/40430(1999)166
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://pacewater.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/urban_design_for_creek_restoration.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1061/40430%281999%29166
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article