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Infrastructure and Resiliency A site's ecosystem is our foundation for decision-making. Natural infrastructure provides the framework and structure for L/KLA's design and planning decisions. Resilient landscapes require consideration, understanding and incorporation of the natural infrastructure of a site —its soil, wetlands and forests—including restoration. Built infrastructure must respond to and enhance the underlying natural systems, recognizing the carrying capacity of a site. In our urbanizing world, pressure continues to grow on making more with less. Looking at ways to leverage assets and provide for multi-use on a site, understanding the tensions between the need to protect cultural and natural resources and provide for needed community built infrastructure such as active recreation facilities, transportation systems, trails and greenway networks are challenges in which L/KLA is well familiar. Changes to an existing landscape must be made with respect and a keen knowledge of the site and its history and existing conditions. Whether through public interest design or private design and planning efforts, investment in infrastructure must combine social, economic and green issues in a holistic manner. L/KLA has deep experience in built infrastructure having authored articles on Context Sensitive Design, served as a team member for the Route 50 Rural Traffic Calming Demonstration Project and developed construction documents for many trails, greenways, parks, and site plans. Port Deposit Working Waterfront Master Plan - Port Deposit, MD Tilghman Island Working Waterfront Master Plan Route 50 Traffic Calming Rock Hall Waterfront OTHER PROJECTS Context Sensitive Design, Transportation and Traffic Calming Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Use Plan Route 50 Traffic Calming, Town of Middleburg Route 50 Traffic Calming Measures Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, VA Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridge Project Appomattox Courthouse, VA , Route 24 Traffic Calming Plan Saint Mary's College Pedestrian Safety Plan Route 1 Lorton (VDOT) Reston Wiehle Avenue (VDOT) Transportation Guidelines and Manuals The King's Highway Historic Roadway Guidelines Maryland Historic National Road Model Development and Design Guidelines Maryland Historic National Road Historic Roadway Guidelines Brandywine Valley Landscape Guidelines Ecological Planning and Resource Management Plans Elklick Woodlands Natural Resource Management Plan Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, Kenilworth section, Washington, D.C. Shenandoah National Park Related Lands Study Martic Township Environmental Inventory and Assessment Greater Lewes Resource Inventory Old Colchester Park and Preserve NRMP, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax, VA Resource Management Guidelines and Manuals New River Gorge National River Landscape Maintenance Plan New River Gorge National River Vista Management Plan You and Your Land - A Homeowner's Guide for the Potomac River Watershed Treeless Area Technical Manual, Fairfax County Park Authority, VA Context Sensitive Solutions for Maryland's Scenic Byways, MD SHA

Chapel Point State Park, Charles County, MD L/KLA led a multi-disciplined project team to assist Charles County in making improvements to Chapel Point State Park with the primary objective being to facilitate maintenance and enhanced use of access roads, parking areas, and waterfront recreation areas in accordance with a strategic master plan prepared by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That strategic plan resulted in a lease agreement between the County and DNR that spells out the requirements and benefits for both parties. DNR’s interest includes finding ways to work with local government to help manage visitor use and maintenance that they could not do on their own. From the County’s perspective, Chapel Point is part of a series of sites along the Port Tobacco River, which the County is working with its various partners, including DNR, to increase public access and conservation and visitor interest. The scope of work included a master concept plan, an early action plan to provide disabled hunter access to the park and construction drawings for improvements as spelled out in the master plan agreement. Significant natural and cultural resources are found within Chapel Point State Park along the Port Tobacco River (top left).. L/KLA designed improvements to highly eroded access (above,top) for shoreline areas to address ongoing maintenance and environmental protection issues associated with increased park usage, restoring the crown with reinforced geotextile (middle above) and inserting microbasins to address stormwater management Additionally, a Stormwater Concept Report was prepared by subconsultant DCI and approved by Charles County addressing the following unified sizing criteria: 1. Water Quality Volume (WQv) 2. Recharge Volume (Rev) 3. Overbank Flood Protection (Qp) 4. Extreme Flood Volume (Qf) This report provides a comprehensive design strategy for maintaining pre-development runoff characteristics and protecting natural resources. This strategy, known as Environmental Site Design or “ESD,” relies on integrating site design, natural hydrology, and smaller controls to capture and treat runoff. This project achieves ESD goals by using only the BMP practices in Chapter 5 to address the Unified sizing criteria. Check out the Report: Critical Area Commission Report Check out the Sheets: Phase 2 Improvements

Oregon Ridge Park Master Trails Plan Baltimore County, MD L/KLA led a team of professionals in the successful development of a master plan for the 1100 acre Oregon Ridge Park (ORP). the largest county park in Baltimore County. ORP provides visitors with a wide array of experiences, from active recreation at the softball fields, to educational programming at the Nature Center, to concerts and other events in and around the Oregon Ridge Lodge. In addition, ORP is blessed with a wide expanse of walking trails that allow visitors to experience the park’s diverse wildlife, vegetation, intact forested lands, and other natural communities. The Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan (ORPMP) showcases L/KLA’s ability to address challenges and gain consensus and support for future action through robust outreach and engagement strategies. Initially a contentious project, the outreach process brought trust to the process and allowed for a completed draft plan to be delivered on schedule. Using both formal and informal outreach measures, L/KLA participated in multiple virtual and in-person public workshops and meetings. A thorough natural resource assessment, including the components of a NRI, was completed by ESA. Buildings and other physical features were visually assessed for their condition and infrastructure assessed for needed upgrades. Public sessions shared shaped the vision for the park's next twenty years, supported by a set of guiding principles. A multi-phase implementation table supports and choreographs future park improvements. Following the acceptance of the Master Park Plan, L/KLA was hired to initiate a $447,000 Master Trail Plan for the entire park. The work includes the development of an approximately two mile long ADA accessible paved loop trail connecting the Lodge to the Nature Center. The existing extensive natural surface trail system, initially evaluated in the Master Park Plan, was further studied and a 35% complete set of trail renovation and replacement construction documents developed. This work is underway with DCI and ESA as subconsultants. The project scope for the two mile paved ADA accessible trail includes the development of the full construction package, including specifications, permitting, and bid assistance. The initial Stormwater Concept Plan has been submitted for review. Development of the 90% complete package is ongoing, along with identifying the permits needed for the trail work. L/KLA's experience in successfully getting trails and boardwalks permitted in other jurisdictions is beneficial in navigating the process for the paved trail. Perseverance pays off. Check out the Master Parks plan: Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan at the Baltimore County government website

Bull Run Occoquan Trail Fairfax County, VA L/KLA is serving as the prime contractor leading a multi-disciplined team for the development of a trail inventory, assessment, and final design recommendations to address ongoing maintenance and sustainability issues funded through the federal Recreational Trails Program (NOVA Parks). The project consists of the realignment of approximately nine thousand five hundred linear feet of new natural surface single track trail with an optimal width of 4’ with a 3’ minimum where tree preservation or side slope constraints need to be addressed. The trail is designated for multiple uses where permitted. Mountain bicycle use is prohibited north of Old Yates Ford Road. Equestrian use is permitted. The expected finished condition is “Trail Class 3 (Developed)” in the US ForestService Trail Class matrix and “More Difficult (Blue Square)” in the IMBA Trail Difficulty Rating System. The analysis included: A summary of existing conditions gathered from existing and readily available GIS data An assessment of trail design considerations and potential treatments and structures for each head slope, v-shaped channel and perennial stream crossing for use in confirming the preliminary design alignment as flagged in the field and a preliminary opinion of probable cost (order of magnitude) • The development of final design and construction drawings for the proposed trail alignment

Cosca Regional Park Master Park Development Plan, M-NCPPC Lardner/Klein is the Prime Consultant and Lead Designer of a multi-discipline team (ESA, SIRI, MTFA, CHMGS) responsible for overall project direction, landscape architecture, urban design and planning actions, and public meetings facilitation. The team, led by L/KLA, was responsible for preparing a master plan for Cosca Regional Park, its first. The park, having grown incrementally over the past decades into a now 800-acre site, is facing aging infrastructure such as 50-year old septic fields, worn out facilities and a parking shortage. Some of its facilities have recently been refreshed and are in good condition, others need replacement or renovation. Recreation demands and trends have shifted since the park’s founding, and new activities may be appropriate to add to the park’s offerings. Other sectors of the community are underserved and the master plan through its demand forecast and level of service analysis recommends ways to better serve the missing demographics. Natural resources also need better stewardship. An inline pond is heavily sedimented, making the use of the existing boathouse and dock and stocked fishing more challenging. Worn trails, incomplete trail segments and challenges with ADA accessibility exist throughout the park. The site is heavily forested, with large areas of intact and healthy woodlands. Our recommendations repositioned the park and reframed its focus an Adventure Wonderland with the entire park as playground and natural wonder. Disconnected and disparate activity areas such as the lake, ballfields, the nature center, and playgrounds within the 50-plus year old park were addressed with two comprehensive recommendations: The implementation of a paved, ADA accessible trail—the Ribbon Trail—that connects all the disparate activities areas within the park. Ribbon Trail users can walk, run, skate, or ride the paved trail, making the entire park an all ages playground. Reconfiguration of Thrift Road, an arterial that bifurcates the park, as a park drive and not a park barrier by adding traffic calming elements such as on-street parking, additional landscaping, planted medians, protected crosswalks, and continuous and connected sidewalks. The plan was developed with an open and collaborative public engagement process, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, making use of an array of public outreach methods, interviews, on-line surveys, in park informal pop-ups, virtual public meetings and an active social media feed.

Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan Baltimore County, MD The Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan (ORPMP) showcases L/KLA outreach and engagement strategies for a park master plan for an 1,100-acre park in northern rural Baltimore County, west of Towson, MD. Oregon Ridge Park provides visitors with a wide array of experiences, from active recreation at the softball fields to educational programming at the Nature Center, to concerts and other events in and around the Lodge. The park is blessed with an extensive trail system, significant woodlands, and extensive meadowlands. Initially a contentious project, with well-connected advocates concerned about potential changes to the site, the implementation of a robust engagement process brought trust to the process and allowed for a completed draft plan to be delivered on schedule. Using both formal and informal outreach measures, L/KLA participated in multiple virtual (recorded and later posted on the project website) and in-person public workshops and meetings. Walks in the park with concerned park users provided opportunities for one-on-one conversations to hear and address concerns. Additional ‘in the park’ sessions, or pop-ups were held on multiple dates in the park to catch every-day park users who might not be formally affiliated with an active recreation league or park facility. Several online survey tools were employed, including an online polling exercise during a virtual workshop, to capture public concerns and dreams. Additional outreach included bilingual rangers in the park (Spanish-speaking), a bilingual story hour at a fixed time and place during the summer, and an activator event held in conjunction with a master plan public workshop with activities, music, and outreach targeted to communities not normally found in the park. Check out the full plan: Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan at the Baltimore County government website

Natural Surface Trail Condition Assessessment and Implementation Plan Arlington County, VA Building on L/KLA’s experience planning and designing “long and skinny places,” the team, including FINA Trails LLC, is presently working with Arlington County on an inventory and assessment of natural surface trails within 36 County parks (approximately 587 acres). Phase 1 tasks included a detailed assessment of existing trails using submeter GPS and ESRI QuickCapture to collect existing GPS data with georeferenced photographs of important features and areas of concern, including wet areas, stream crossings, desire lines/social trails and other trail management issues and positive features that support a quality trail experience. The resulting inventory includes a series of maps organized by park with trails annotated by segment. Assessment items and trail inventory photos are keyed to corresponding symbols on the maps. Phase 2 tasks are slated to begin in 2023, including an analysis of the work completed in the inventory, development of recommendations for improvements, opportunities for enhancing trail system connectivity, and planning-level cost estimating for improvement, as well as long-term visioning for the County’s natural trail system to guide DPR work planning into the future. Additionally, a training component provided by FINA Trails LLC will provide County staff with coursework on trail sustainability, focused on providing technical knowledge and practical experience in typical design, construction, reclamation, and maintenance activities.

2022 Update to the Comprehensive Plan Transportation, Pedestrian Networks & Streetscape, Brookeville, MD Two substantive events have led to the need for an update to the Transportation, Pedestrian Networks & Streetscaping Elements of the Town of Brookeville Comprehensive Plan: After more than 50 years of work with local, state, and federal agencies, the Brookeville Bypass is nearing completion. Once open to the public, the Bypass will eliminate more than 10,000 vehicles per day that currently pass through the Town, allowing for High St. and West Market St. (now MD 97) to be designated as a local street instead of a minor arterial highway. Designation as a local street has the potential to allow for narrower vehicle travel lanes and lower speed limits and thereby increasing pedestrian safety and access with less impact from right-of-way acquisitions and substantial regrading and retaining walls that otherwise would be required. Second, the Town has received a State of Maryland grant to help fund improvements to the Town-maintained portion of Market Street (referred to as East Market St.). Before making any substantive improvements to the road, the Town would like to explore alternative road configurations that provide for traffic calming and streetscape changes that enhance the aesthetics of the Town while maintaining its rural, village character. Based upon the input provided during the initial Town tour, by those that attended the two public meetings (one virtual and one in person), and those that responded to the questionnaire, the overall vision and goals for the Comprehensive Plan were updated to reflect the following transportation related goals: Recapture High and Market as local streets. Reconnect a network of sidewalks and trails. Restore Brookeville’s public streetscape and its historic sense of place.

Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Pavilion Franklin Grove, Illinois The reintroduction of bison at The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands has resulted in an increase in visitation at the 3,400-acre preserve in Lee and Ogle Counties, Illinois. Much of the acreage is reclaimed from active farmland and is knitted together with remnant (original) prairie. The preserve is home to 700 native plant species and 180 bird species in north central Illinois. The introduction of wild bison in 2014 attracted new visitors, many unfamiliar with the ecological landscape and the role of bison as a land management tool. The Landscape Architect, as the lead project director on a multi-discipline team for the concept and design development phase and team member for the construction administration phase, was asked to provide a sustainable, low-carbon footprint, accessible visitor facility encouraging visitors to educate themselves through a non-staffed, self-guided tour of interpretive exhibits. Visitor accommodations include a large open shelter—powered by the sun, accessible paths and overlooks, a bus drop-off and parking, native granite boulders for sitting and climbing, compost toilets, and potable water via a hand pump for splash playing in the summer. The new facility showcases the site’s stewardship and ecological importance through public, accessible facilities that are environmentally respectful and sustainable. Recognized with a 2019 Merit Award for Design (built) from the Potomac Chapter ASLA Recognized with a 2019 Jens Jensen Award from the Illinois Chapter of the ASLA Featured in ASLA Magazine's November 2015 Issue page 164 The Bison Begin Again By Timothy A. Schuler Click here to read Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Pavilion Development article in the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Newsletter (3/17/16)

Simpson Park Playground + Passive Lawn Renovation L/KLA redesigned the existing playground and passive lawn at Simpson Stadium Park in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. The project entailed: reshaping of existing pedestrian circulation paths and street connections; opening up and re-grading the passive lawn for more usable space; incorporating natural play and updating play equipment; developing a planting plan including additional shade trees and a children's garden; and generating a design scheme that will allow for multiple-generation and inclusive passive and active recreation. Public art was integrated in the design with the inclusion of the artist team May+Watkins Design. This collaboration of design consultant and artist was an unprecedented approach by the City of Alexandria. Community meetings and and an online survey were part of the public engagement strategy. A ribbon cutting event was held in March 2019 to celebrate the re-opening of Simpson Park Playground.