On Tuesday, at the City Council building, seven teams of students from University of Maryland competed. Each team was challenged to develop a design to convert idle industrial property located behind the Original Phillips Packing Plant on Dorchester Avenue between Cedar Street and Washington Street. This idle piece of land has a smoke stack, a piece of abandoned industrial equipment, and an original building. It also is the source of the Cambridge Creek.
The students were judged on several criteria including environmental restoration, recreational value, historic preservation, community linkage, and feasibility. All of the proposed concepts were first class. Presentation graphics and supporting data included water run-off studies, habitat surveys, public opinion surveys, and historic research on the land.
The designs included landscape plant selections, pathways, dog parks, play areas, children museums, skate board parks, quiet areas, observation decks, cafes, fountains, foot bridges, and even an ice skating rink. The wow factor was high, but all designs were feasible. Students also submitted budgetary estimates for their proposals ranging from 3 million to 6 million dollars.
The winners received a free weekend in Cambridge which included lodging, meals and free passes to town attractions.
The panel of judges included the City Mayor, Director of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, City Engineer, an Architectural Consultant, an Eastern Shore Land Conservancy representative, and a representative from the Cambridge Planning and Zoning Commission.
The city and county have committed a combined $100,000 to acquire the land and to develop a plan for the park. The students proposals provide an opening to the discussion on the use of this land. This project will be several years in the making.
See posting on April 29, 2014 for more information.
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