Springfield’s center city is about to get its gateway, and it’s been fast-tracked to make use of a $475,000 federal grant.
Starting April 12, contractors should be able to bid on Phase I of work to transform the old quarry site at National Avenue and East Trafficway into a gateway to Jordan Valley Park. Phase I encompasses a third of the property, on the south end, and could be open to the public by October, said Olivia Hough, senior planner for the city. The city is scheduling its notice of award on June 15.
Converting the quarry into public space has been on the city’s wish list since 2007, but plans drawn up by Portland, Ore.-based GreenWorks were derailed by an engineer’s discovery of settlement issues in 2008.
The latest plans call for open green space, lighting and signage at the corner, and parking spaces on the west side of the property, Hough said. An alternate bid – if the initial bid comes in under budget -– would allow for a concrete Sister Cities Plaza, with seating and flagpoles flying American, Japanese and Mexican flags, she said.
The core of GreenWorks’ initial designs would remain, though the city has moved the project management to Springfield firm Sapp Design Associates Architects PC.
“This was a design concept by GreenWorks,” said Kristi Beattie, project designer with Sapp Design Associates. “And the public really did have a lot to say about the things they wanted to see.”
Much of the original plan will still be implemented, though Phase I will concentrate on the south part of the property. A water feature intended for that area has been delayed due to budget constraints and is expected to be added during a future phase, Hough said. Also intended for future phases are a jogging trail through the center of the property and a children’s play area on the north side.
The project’s $475,000 estimated price tag is based on the amount of money Springfield received from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Economic Development Initiative grant, Hough said.
“The grant can be used for the design and construction of a community multipurpose facility,” she said, “but the absolute drop-dead time to spend all the funds is by the end of September this year.”
The grant’s timeline has put the quarry project, which had stalled for an extensive study of ground settlement by Palmerton & Parrish Engineers of Springfield, back on the priorities list.
“That study did (find) that settling was occurring between one-half inch and 2 inches per year on the northern portion of the quarry site,” Hough said, noting the northern part will have a chain-link fence around it so it can continue to settle.
Beattie noted that Palmerton & Parrish was one of two specialist firms called in to consult on the project.
“Being a quarry, there were settlement issues, … and methane was an issue,” Beattie said, adding that Olathe, Kan.-based Terracon Engineers served as consultant on the methane.
Elevated levels of methane were found in the southwest corner of the site, Hough said, where the parking lot is planned. At one point in the city’s history, that portion of the property became a dumping site for dead trees after an outbreak of Dutch Elm disease.
“The breakdown of organic materials produces methane,” Beattie said. “What you don’t want is for that to build pressure underground which causes the ground to heave.”
The solution was to design a flare system that essentially moves any methane gas through a pipe and into the air, Hough said, with a solar-powered switch that ignites if any gas builds up.
“A lot of people were hoping we could have some kind of eternal flame feature, but there’s not enough methane for that,” she added.
The area around the flare would be protected by a fence and an informational kiosk would explain how methane is produced, Beattie said.
“Visitors can use the public space and pick up a little science education, too,” she said.
The public has another opportunity to put its stamp on the quarry site. The city is asking people to weigh in on its name through an online survey at
http://quarryname.questionpro.com. Among the options given are Jordan Valley East Gateway Plaza, The Commons at Jordan Valley and The Quarry at Jordan Valley.[[In-content Ad]]
