11-06-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• A dock that provides access to George Watch Lake, and is utilized for environmental education and recreation programming, but is not wide enough to comfortably accommodate student groups Needs • Screen the amphitheater from the maintenance garage and picnic area with vegetation to create an "outdoor amphitheatre room" • Widen the dock west of the nature center building to better accommodate groups, and provide universal accessibility to the dock and water for kayaker/ boaters with disabilities • To be welcoming and inclusive, provide at least one loop of ADA accessible trails on site • Improve the nature play area by controlling tall exotic grasses, adding a signature play feature, clarifying circulation, creating strategic openings in the tree canopy to create areas of sunshine, and make the play area entrance more visible • Create more self -guided activities for drop-in visitors Support Facilities Existing Conditions Support facilities are the elements necessary to facilitate the smooth operation of the Nature Center. They may not be highlights of the physical site, but they will enhance or detract from user experience based on how well they fit with other elements. Support facilities at Wargo Nature Center and their existing condition include: • The parking lot is in fair condition and provides adequate parking. The parking area lacks shade and runoff filtration • The canoe/kayak storage is separated into three different locations. Boats are stored on racks along the trail to the dock. Rack space is insufficient to accommodate all boats at this time, and leave boats outside during the winter season. The Center's voyageur canoe is housed offsite • The garage is currently too small to meet every day needs, and lacks visual separation/screening from core campus area • Small storage shed is an outbuilding southwest of the main building that stores life vests, paddles, and other equipment. While functional, this small building's cottage -style appearance is incongruous with the rest of the campus architecture Needs • Add planting islands, trees, and stormwater filtration areas to the parking lot to capture pollutants and be more welcoming and harmonious with the Nature Center experience • Expand and improve current boat storage to accommodate all boats and ensure proper storage during the winter • Create additional cold storage to supplement the existing garage • Replace or refurbish the existing storage shed to better accommodate gear storage and fit in with the look and feel of the rest of the site Wargo Nature Center Master Plan - March 2015 Existing canoe and kayak storage Existing storage garage Existing storage shed Chapter 3: Existing Conditions & Needs 25