The NoMa BID is designing a new park north of Florida Avenue and alongside the Metropolitan Branch Trail, that will hopefully complement and improve the trail. At a recent meeting they released the "competition design" for the park and it certainly seems to do just that.
Not only does the new design correct the Z-curve at R Street, but it also creates connections to Q Street and Harry Thomas Way.
This is not the final design, this is the winning competition design created by Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW) as part of the competition to select the landscape architect for the project. This plan is being used as a starting point, and there are chances to give input on the NoMa Green design website. Even the name NoMa Green is only a working title, and it will eventually be renamed Butterstick Park if I have anything to say about it.
On the north end, instead of following the rail line and the fence of the construction company land with two 90deg+ turn, it will follow a more gentle S-curve through a tree lined plaza. There would also be a boardwalk trail undulating through the east side of the park, parking at the SE corner and a CaBi station across the street along Harry Thomas Way.
The above rendering shows the bike parking (shaded!) beside the trail.
And in this rendering, the curved trail through the plaza can be seen.
I have to admit that when I first heard about the Z-curve 10 years ago or so, I thought it would be locked in. I thought we'd never get it fixed. I'll be glad to be wrong.
These pictures always make me laugh. Where are the cars?
Posted by: SJE | November 04, 2016 at 10:04 AM
Lol, i was about to ask if these pictures were photoshopped. I realized that these are rendered pics. Hahah! Also, 'NoMa Green' -- really? I think they need to work on that title.
Posted by: Stacy | November 10, 2016 at 07:29 AM