Waterfront Revivals

Too often landscape architecture is thought of as a development project’s “finishing touch.” For these two Florida waterfront cities, however, landscape architecture proved to be the springboard for inspired revivals.

A waterfront can be a valuable resource for a community, either as an attraction for visitors or a place of enjoyment for residents. But when the natural beauty and economic vitality of the site become diminished because surrounding development is unguided or time simply ages the infrastructure, the “asset” can become an “eyesore.”

Through sculptures, paving material, and plants, landscape architecture can drive restoration, creating the design palette that marks a setting as special—one that entices passersby to stop and pause awhile.

Clearwater’s Beach by Design
Located on the state’s west coast, Clearwater’s world-class beach was under-served by the 60-year-old commercial core that had grown up alongside it. Six blocks of dilapidated buildings, edged with narrow sidewalks and lanes for parking, overlooked the main thoroughfare, Gulfview Boulevard. To play in Clearwater’s natural seawaters, people had to first navigate a manmade sea of asphalt—an uninviting image the city wanted to improve.

In the late 1990s, to kick-start efforts to restore the beach to prominence, a plan was prepared after an exhaustive public process and input from city council and city staff. In 2001, a guidelines document, “Beach by Design,” was created to implement those recommendations and strategies. PBS&J was retained to develop it.

“The major theme was to rediscover the beach and reconnect people to it,” says PBS&J’s Thomas Johnson, the lead landscape architect on the team, “which meant creating a pedestrian-friendly environment for the beachfront itself.”

To do this, through-traffic will be redirected one block inland, allowing the transformation of Gulfview Boulevard into a sinuous, slow-moving, scenic beachside drive. With land gained from the vacated parking areas, the boulevard is being enlarged to accommodate a 35-foot-wide pedestrian promenade, embellished with seating, lush plantings, lighting, interactive water features, and color paving. Opposite this esplanade is room for the private development of restaurants, cafes, hotels, and shops that will revitalize the commercial fabric and promote the overall pedestrian experience. The entire area, renamed Beach Walk, will be connected to the Pinellas County trail system by a 20-foot-wide hike/bike trail that will be located along the beach side of the realigned Gulfview Boulevard.

“Beach Walk is a critical component in Clearwater’s tourism economy,” said Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard. “When completed, it will add to the ambiance for our residents and will maintain the city’s position as a worldwide vacation destination.”

“Clearwater’s shoreline will be easily accessible and a draw for visitors and residents alike. The city gains a major, multipurpose pedestrian spine that connects the north and south ends of the beachfront,” adds Geri Campos, the city’s director of economic development. “Places of shade, comfort, color, and texture will encourage people to come here to walk, window shop, meet friends, or just enjoy the scenery. When completed in mid-2009, Beach Walk will hum with the energy that comes from people enjoying outdoor living.”

For more information on Clearwater’s Beach Walk, visit myclearwater.com/beachwalk.

St. Cloud’s Waterfront Urban Plaza
According to Thomas Johnson, landscape architects often lead a restoration process because, by training, they understand how the individual components of planning, architecture, drainage, transportation, and civil engineering interplay in developing and realizing a good design. And by temperament, these professionals have a keen sense of outdoor space and how it relates to buildings.

This combination of talents was key to successfully recasting Lakefront Park in St. Cloud, where the first step in upgrading a 68-year-old marina was imagining how nearly 40 acres of waterfront space could better meet community needs.

This small, family-oriented city prides itself on its extensive parks program. Its most outstanding natural resource is East Lake Tohopekaliga, and the marina that resides there.

“But, here again,” explains Johnson, “reaching the waterfront was an issue. The gated marina fenced off public access, parking was inadequate, one antiquated restroom building and a few pieces of playground equipment comprised the infrastructure, and vehicular circulation was cumbersome.”

The city of St. Cloud wanted to enlarge the marina to a 140-slip, state-of-the art facility, create better traffic pathways, and provide a platform for the many civic events the city traditionally held down by the water. Johnson and a team of structural and civil engineers, marina design specialists, environmental professionals, and an architectural subconsultant crafted the plan that would shape a dynamic waterfront urban plaza that could host visiting boaters and town residents who cared to pass an active day or pleasant evening at the water’s edge.

The plan increased the slips, added boat ramps, and more than doubled boat-trailer parking. A secured entrance to the slips was provided; however, a marina walk opened up the waterside to the public.

The architectural centerpiece of the park is a 10,000-square-foot, two-story structure that serves as a meeting and banquet hall for community and private events, as well as a venue for a restaurant, outside dining, and a harbor shop. It overlooks the public plaza, and a large performance lawn that accommodates the city’s many outdoor cultural events and Fourth of July celebrations. There’s also a new playground with an adjacent splash pad for children (or adults!) to cool off under waterfalls. Two trailheads anchor the 2.5-mile lakefront trail system.

“Lakefront Park was always a center of community activity because of the lake. St. Cloud has excellent bass fishing and the swimming area has been a gathering place for as long as anyone can remember,” says Kristin Caborn, parks and recreation director. “But the facilities were not meeting the needs of our quickly growing population and the public demands of improving the quality of life for the community. Our direction from the beginning was to reclaim the jewel of St. Cloud and bring residents of all ages back.”