There are two interesting (well, to some of us …) takeaways from regarding the landscaping starting around Bayview Station.
First, that the landscaping is underway while major construction continues. But as soon as a patch of ground is finished active construction, the landscaping goes in. What a difference from the city practice, which would wait until all construction finishes, then wait til the hottest dryest spell in early august, and then sprinkle grass seed in preparation for driving pick up trucks all over it.
The second take away comes from the bit of landscaping on the slope by the multi user pathway. Notice the presence of a small ditch between the slope and the gravel that will eventually support a paved pathway.
The city’s and NCC’s customary practice is to “integrate” pathways into the surrounding lands. In the real world, this means the paths are the lowest point in winter thaws or springtime. Paths customarily do double duty as lakes. The new pathway on the north side of Tom Brown arena is a great example of bad design.
above: slope delivers water to the pathway to become puddles or ice, and earthworms to smell when the sun comes out
The water runs down the slope, and then runs over the top of the pathway. This makes for treacherous ice, frost, puddles, and sometimes masses of dead earthworms to greet the pedestrian and intrepid cyclist.
Roads of course are always built with intercepting drainage ditches, swales, or catchbasins. Sometimes this is harder for pathways, as any buried pipes have to be below the frost line to prevent subsequent heaving, and this then necessitates ever more downhill construction to drain away that water.
That’s rarely an issue for cars. Or roads. But the city finds it an intolerable expense for pedestrians.
So I am delighted to see RTG installing landscaping promptly, and for trying to keep pathways drained and ice free. May the practice spread. May the city take notice.
Now I wonder if RTG has any plans for those ugly wire fences it put on the natural rock walls along the line:
