Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
be accommodated on the site. And the third alternative, “Full Development,” was the
most controversial because it was based on generating money. This alternative was
directed toward creating the biggest impact and the biggest change on the landscape,
as well as restoring the environment. Because in both cases a considerable amount of
funding would be needed, the planning team looked at locations where there could
actually be a land trade. One such location that was proposed to be sold for develop-
ment in order to generate revenue was located adjacent to an existing development.
As so often happens, and what the planning team had expected based on the way
that they had orchestrated it (Zimmerman 2004), no single of these alternatives was
the one that was selected in total, but bits and pieces from each of them were what
registered with the public. The final master plan that went through this public pro-
cess also identified concerns that were raised through a simultaneous environmental
impact statement and expanded the program to integrate the very unique site condi-
tions. The resulting documents that were created (Southwest Wetlands Consortium
1995a, 1995b) had even more importance than Zimmerman and her colleagues had
realized. This is because both documents, though produced in 1995, are still very
much in use today. In this respect, the documents became the holder of the original
vision as well as very utilitarian in that they were not only concerned with the envi-
ronmental conditions of the park, but also focused on all the implementation steps
needed to get to that stage, including both funding and operations and maintenance
(Zimmerman 2004).
THE “NEW” PLACE
The programming and land use of the Clark County Wetlands Park are focused on
integrating the facilities into the surroundings, providing a place of reflection and
respite from the commotion of the incredible nearby city, and balancing the public
uses with natural habitat enhancement (Zimmerman 2004). The goal of the program-
ming has been to ensure a land use mix that can be enjoyed by future generations.
Existing conditions considered important for creating a framework for site design
were related to views, vegetation, and hydraulic conditions. And water and its move-
ment, logically, became the main theme in the guiding spirit for the overall design.
The planting palette was based on the use of natives to withstand the tough climatic
conditions of the region in terms of sun, wind, and heat.
Trying to create a sense of place in this vast desert landscape posed a tremendous
challenge (Zimmerman 2004). The design objectives, therefore, focused on enhanc-
ing an environment that has a timeless spirit, at the same time as reflecting the char-
acteristics of this unique landscape (i.e., wetlands in the middle of the Mojave Desert
at the edge of the fastest growing city in the country). So throughout the Park are
entrance points and gateways that are accentuated and expressive of each site's quali-
ties and provide an opportunity to identify the protected landscape at key locations
for assisting visitors in orientating to the place (Southwest Wetlands Consortium
1995a). This orientation is important because once the landscape of tall grasses is
entered, it is possible to quickly lose all sense of direction (which, of course, can be
regarded as either an advantage or not).
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