(PARK)ing
Tessa Bryant, Charlotte Pitts Monica Nichta
Located at the intersection of Preston Avenue and McIntire Road, in between the Albemarle County Administrative Offices and Gardner Field at Land Park, (PARK)ing offers a low-Tek toolkit solution for reimagining passive greyfield sites as vibrant, flexible, solar-oriented community spaces. The toolkit design extends directly from the County’s goals around community health, wellness, and sustainability. As such, the linear site of parking lots along McIntire Road is broken down into three ‘zones’ stitched together by a painted path on the ground. The sites are trans-formed by solar panel modules and activity toolkit pieces: the first two lots are covered with solar panel modules and the last lot, shaded by large trees, is infused with activity under the canopy. In addition to the integration of solar panels, a portion of each lot is used to host different activities to reactivate a largely passive and vacant space near downtown. Zone 1 (The Civic Plaza) sits adjacent to the Albemarle County Office building and offers a flexible venue for informal gathering or respite during the workday and organized events, such as farmers markets and concerts, on the weekend. The second zone, abutting existing electric vehicle charging stations, offers individuals charging their car, runners, school sports teams, and local fitness studios a space for covered outdoor recreation. A curated sequence of exercise equipment along a path provides different members of the community opportunities for easy, flexible, and accessible fitness. While a runner or fitness guru could run 1/4-mile loops between the three zones (~.25 miles), individuals charging their car at zone 2 could also meander into the newly energized park space under the tree canopy with a free little library, pop-up brewery and coffee shops, and seating opportunities.
PREVIOUS
NEXT