Enhancing DNA in the Urban Context

By: Abby Perkins & Erik Moses

Site Location: Cumberland, MD

Services: Masterplanning, Urban Design, Water Management

Project Statement

Our purpose was to redesign Wills Creek by creating a multipurpose, mixed-use green corridor that incorporates all current and ongoing State, County, and City initiatives. The design includes a linear redevelopment district along the creek, emphasizing livability and tourism. The district features new buildings through infill operations and the adaptive reuse of existing structures for residential, retail, and hospitality purposes. This project also includes designing a linear park that connects existing and proposed urban green spaces along the creek. Emphasis is placed on strengthening the connection between both sides of the creek and downtown Cumberland to the east, as well as between the creek and the GAP Trail to the west. Wills Creek will serve as both a longitudinal and transversal connector, prioritizing access for pedestrians and cyclists for both recreational use and daily transportation.

Site Context

Historic Cumberland Timeline

Site Inventory / Analysis

Concept

Masterplan

The Wills Creek corridor provided opportunity for recreation, new development, restoration, and connections throughout Cumberland. We worked on restoring a former brewery into a mixed-use Farm-to-Table restaurant / bed and breakfast within walking distance of downtown and one of the primary residential areas. To the left of the F2T site is a naturalized sandstone park with sculptural artwork and built-in irrigation strategies alongside flood-resilient design elements. The new redevelopment zone (7) features a linear park with a sandstone lagoon (6) beside a new pedestrian bridge (4), providing a new central connection between the North-South and East-West corridors.

Birds Eye View

Zoning

Proposed zoning changes include rezoning existing buildings into mixed-use and increasing the amount of public greenspace. The redevelopment increases density to achieve a greater variety of opportunity & integrated uses.

Existing / Demo / New Buildings

The new linear park and water management system can replace the older buildings along N. Mechanic St. and create a new mixed-use retail strip along the Wills Creek corridor

Thematic Axon

Water Management / Construction Documents

Water Management Strategies

Water Storage & Mitigation

Fountain / Cistern Construction Document

Water Management Axon

Site Design 1

Playful Creekside Boulevard

The historical Wills Creek used to undulate, creating areas full of life, flourishing vegetation, and bountiful colors. The inspiration for this design is primarily based on the organic nature Wills Creek once had. This park is full of vibrant color, undulating playscapes, interactive nodes, & whimsical vegetation. The park connects the North - South / East - West corridors in Cumberland, providing access alongside interactive elements.

Plan

Section EE'

Playscape Elements

Afternoon vs. Sunset

Perspective Views

Lighting Elements Day Vs. Night

Site Design 2

Naturalized Sandstone Park

The historical and cultural building blocks of Cumberland have become the basic DNA of the city. Native sandstone found in the quarries of western Maryland have historic context in Cumberland. This stone was used in Cumberland as a building element for early structural foundations. Sandstone is also found in higher elevations of the Narrows. The use of this cultural sedimentary rock was the inspiration to the site design.

Plan

Section FF'

Sandstone Artwork

The use of sandstone artwork allow user to pleasantly view and interact with the structures

Canal Wall Concrete Artwork

Using the existing canal wall, concrete artwork can be formed to create an aesthetic atmosphere viewable from the park.

Average Water Levels vs. Flood Water Level

The design of the site allows for times of higher flood water in the canal to rise into the sandstone area and creates a larger flood zone area. This flood prevention technique of water tolerance uses the site design to accommodate higher water volume during excessive flooding.

Perspective Views

Rainwater Storage for Irrigation

The covered parking structures in the parking lot collect the rainwater that runs off of the roof and into a catch basin. This water is then used as irrigation for surrounding vegetation to the site.

Final Posters

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