Great Falls Park Potomac River Project Meeting

Great Falls Park Potomac River Project Meeting
December 15, 2004 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Great Falls Park Visitor Center, VA.

AGENDA AND TALKING POINTS

Attendees:
Terry Carlstrom
Joe Lawler
Audrey Calhoun
Patrick Gregerson
Glenn Eugster
Jonathan Doherty
Bob Campbell
Walter McDowney
Jesse Reynolds
Brent O'Neill


I. Opening and Key Points: Glenn Eugster
(1:00 pm at the Visitor Center)

Great Falls is arguably the best place in the Potomac River region to tell the story of water.

Great Falls represents more than just the best place in the Potomac basin to talk about water.
Rather it probably represents one of the premier opportunities adjacent to a major urban area
in the eastern US. When combined with the recognition of both the Potomac and the Chesapeake water bodies, it has dramatic potential to communicate to visitors in a way few other sites have. When interpretation is combined with vivid and innovative stewardship examples, the site could easily become a model in a national context.

More and more people are discovering and appreciating the values of Great Falls and how important Great Falls Park is to visitor interpretation, education and enjoyment.

The park's assets, and the improvements being planned for Great Falls, have created additional interest inside and outside of NPS. This interest can help GWMP managers add value (technical assistance, funding, public support, visibility, etc.) to work they are doing.

Proposal: Make a commitment to explore ways to explore 4-6 new ideas to assist GWMP with Great Falls Park through existing planning and design activities or existing funds. The group will take 60 days to examine the new ideas and report back to the Superintendent of GWMP with options.

Result: Use NPS planning and design activities to add-value to projects; leverage additional dollars; make Great Falls more prominent and relevant to the diverse communities we serve; and solve a number of existing problems at the same time.

II. Background: Glenn Eugster

A series of events and activities have converged over the last 2-3 years that have begun to identify ideas for consideration and expertise and funding to supplement NPS investments.
Existing planning (Entry ramp, Visitor Center Design, GMP)
Brent O'Neill's collaborations with Chesapeake Bay Gateways
US-Germany Forum and "The Story of Water"
Consultation with Katrin Scholz-Barth for Ecological Site Improvements
Heightened interest in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay (i.e. Friends of the Potomac, Northern VA Regional Commission, Potomac Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Potomac Heritage Scenic Trail, Chesapeake Bay Program, etc.)
Great Falls Potomac River Project Workshop

III. Great Falls Potomac River Project Workshop: Jesse Reynolds and Brent O'Neill
(1:15- 1:45/ 2:00 pm outside)

The forum had two objectives.

The first was to create a process that will share ideas with the visiting and neighboring public about a potential “water” interpretation area at the Great Falls Visitor’s Center.
The second was to create a process that will lead to development of an interpretation center that also applies “low-impact” and ‘green’ infrastructure stormwater practices – such as rain gardens, rain barrels, vegetation swales – by building on recommendations made by an earlier consultancy.


IV. Combined Thoughts/Suggestions/Goals from the Great Falls Park Interpretive Staff

Short Term Goals

1. Integrate new thoughts generated during workshop into new plan for north Visitor Center ramp design.
· Pursue possibility of working with Herbert Dreiseitl and Katrin Scholz-Barth.
· Recommend professional green design assistance with plan for north ramp.
· Include south ramp into redesign plan so as to make the Visitor Center symmetrical.

2. Recommend using Visitor Center roof drainage systems to support the installation of a water feature and possibly gray water use for toilets.

3. Recommend utilizing green systems/structures to manage water run off for picnic area.


Specific site recommendations for Visitor Center and surrounding areas. (See map for numeric reference)

Zone 1. Create an integrated plan for the Visitor Center area (ramps, courtyard, adjacent paths).
· Designs should be functional, appealing, and incorporate green systems/structures.
· All surfaces should be permeable and/or appropriately manage water runoff while meeting ADA requirements.
· Possibly include a water feature that creates both passive and active formal interpretive/educational opportunities for visitors.
· All improvements will take into consideration and improve visitor traffic flow through area.
· Recommend language included in Great Falls Park General Management Plan to encourage the use of green systems/structures.

Zone 2. Develop a green area to the west and southwest of Visitor Center, located between building and the main park road and including edge of picnic area.
· Focus of area will be to showcase and educate visitors about green systems/structures.
· Include green systems/structures.
· Intent of aesthetically enhancing area around Visitor Center.

Zone 3. Utilize area between Visitor Center and Overlook #2 to create interpretive opportunities including use of exhibits, waysides, etc.
§ Include an interactive multi-sensory water feature either in Zone 3 or Zone 1 or both that portrays part of the Potomac. (Great Falls and Mather Gorge, Potomac Gorge, Potomac Watershed, Patowmack Canal, etc.)
· Water feature will highlight interpretive concepts including; respect for water, river safety, understanding and importance of watersheds.

Zone 4. Improve parking areas by including green
systems/structures that better manage water/sediment/pollution runoff.
· Parking lot could showcase green practices.
§ Could use runoff to support water feature at VC.
§ Could use runoff for gray water toilet systems.


V. Assistance and Next Steps
(1:45/ 2:00-2:30 pm inside)

Sources of Assistance: Jonathan Doherty and Glenn Eugster
NPS Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants and Technical Assistance
NPS National Capital Region Partnership Office (Partnership funds and Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance support)
Private Contributions from Northern VA Regional Commission; National Park Foundation, and others.
Others?


Identify Options for Action
Make a commitment to form a team to explore 4-6 new ideas to assist GWMP with Great Falls through existing planning, design, interpretation activities, or existing funds.
Identify possible public and private partners that would be willing to assist NPS.
The group will take 60 days to examine the new ideas and report back to the Superintendent of GWMP with options.