W-A-L-K NATURE ROUTE - "Quick Win" Project
December 14, 2020 Update:
Help Design our New Neighborhood Nature Route Signs!
New Route Will be Named: Winchell - Asylum Lake - Kleinstuck (W-A-L-K) Nature Route
THANKS to all of you who submitted your route name suggestions! We received many great names/ideas, and after much discussion and consideration we determined that the "WALK Nature Route" best describes and represents this project! (See the draft map below)
This proposed Route is one of the goals in our ODWN Neighborhood Plan and will use City streets and sidewalks to “connect” Asylum Lake Preserve with Kleinstuck Preserve for all non-motorized users!
Now that the name has been finalized we need to begin designing the Route signs...and we'd like your help!
The Big Picture - The city makes funds available to all neighborhoods upon completing their Neighborhood Plan to complete a “Quick Win” project that aligns with their Neighborhood Plan and Master Plan. Naming this Urban Nature Route is our first of many steps in a process that involves designing distinctive wayfinding signs and in-street graphics, along with end-of-route signs to be placed near the Asylum Lake Preserve and Kleinstuck Preserve trailheads, resulting in a user-friendly, non-motorized route to better connect not only these two great neighborhood assets but our neighborhood as well!
Help Design our New Neighborhood Nature Route Signs!
New Route Will be Named: Winchell - Asylum Lake - Kleinstuck (W-A-L-K) Nature Route
THANKS to all of you who submitted your route name suggestions! We received many great names/ideas, and after much discussion and consideration we determined that the "WALK Nature Route" best describes and represents this project! (See the draft map below)
This proposed Route is one of the goals in our ODWN Neighborhood Plan and will use City streets and sidewalks to “connect” Asylum Lake Preserve with Kleinstuck Preserve for all non-motorized users!
Now that the name has been finalized we need to begin designing the Route signs...and we'd like your help!
- Design Parameters
- 2' x 2' sign
- Up to 4 colors (can only use: White, Black, Brown, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, and/or Orange)
- Must include route name (WALK Nature Route)
- Must include the words: Winchell, Asylum Lake, Kleinstuck
- What To Do - Send your design ideas to: ODWNAenvironmental@gmail.com, or mail to: ODWNA, PO Box 20061, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019. All ideas will be considered.
- Deadline - Friday January 15, 2021
The Big Picture - The city makes funds available to all neighborhoods upon completing their Neighborhood Plan to complete a “Quick Win” project that aligns with their Neighborhood Plan and Master Plan. Naming this Urban Nature Route is our first of many steps in a process that involves designing distinctive wayfinding signs and in-street graphics, along with end-of-route signs to be placed near the Asylum Lake Preserve and Kleinstuck Preserve trailheads, resulting in a user-friendly, non-motorized route to better connect not only these two great neighborhood assets but our neighborhood as well!
November 1, 2020 Update:
Name the Route: Input needed!
Are you ready to do something fun and creative that will benefit generations to come?
Then help name our neighborhood Urban Nature Route! This Route is a stated goal of our Neighborhood Plan and will use City streets and sidewalks to “connect” Asylum Lake Preserve and Kleinstuck Preserve by way of Kensington Park, Glen Park North and South, Canyon Park, and Hillside Park.
The name needs to be:
What to Do
Send your suggestions to ODWNAenvironmental@gmail.com. There is no limit to the number of names you can suggest, and you do not need to live/work/worship/play in the neighborhood. All ideas will be considered.
DEADLINE
Please submit your suggestions by Friday, November 20, 2020 by 5pm.
Name the Route: Input needed!
Are you ready to do something fun and creative that will benefit generations to come?
Then help name our neighborhood Urban Nature Route! This Route is a stated goal of our Neighborhood Plan and will use City streets and sidewalks to “connect” Asylum Lake Preserve and Kleinstuck Preserve by way of Kensington Park, Glen Park North and South, Canyon Park, and Hillside Park.
The name needs to be:
- Short enough to easily fit onto 2’ x 2’ wayfinding signs that will mark the route.
- Descriptive enough so the name will convey something about the location and/or intent of the route
- Unique, as we anticipate that this will be one of several designated nature routes that we will eventually have in our Neighborhood and in our city.
What to Do
Send your suggestions to ODWNAenvironmental@gmail.com. There is no limit to the number of names you can suggest, and you do not need to live/work/worship/play in the neighborhood. All ideas will be considered.
DEADLINE
Please submit your suggestions by Friday, November 20, 2020 by 5pm.
October 26, 2020 Update:
"Quick Win" Project Selected
Per the Neighborhood Partnership Agreement the ODWNA and the City agreed to when we started the Neighborhood Plan process back in 2017, The City agreed to make funds available to any neighborhood upon completing their Neighborhood Plan to complete a “Quick Win” project that aligns with their Neighborhood Plan.
The parameters of receiving those funds required that any/all projects must be:
• In alignment with the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan and Strategic Vision Goal(s)
• Directly tied to the ODWN Neighborhood Plan
• Achieves a Neighborhood Plan Vision or implements Plan goal(s)
• A physical project that creates or continues Neighborhood Plan excitement
• Highly visible
Based on these parameters, goals of our Neighborhood Plan, neighbor feedback, and board input, the ODWNA Board has decided to pursue the Urban Nature Route, as detailed on p. 44 and 48 of our Plan:
Urban Nature Route Project Description
• This will be a non-motorized urban nature route that connects the Parkview entrance of the Asylum Lake Preserve to
the Chevy Chase trailhead of the Kleinstuck Preserve, via a 1.9-mile street route marked by route-head & wayfinding signs, and in-street markings. This route also “links” all four of our “mini-parks” and Kensington Park
• As identified on p. 48 of the ODWN Neighborhood Plan, one of our Plan’s goals is to, “Connect parks and natural spaces via an interconnected system of trails, sidewalks, and combination bike and pedestrian paths”
• The initial concept map can be found on p. 44 of our Plan
• Over time, the ODWNA will incorporate environmental educational information and events that directly relate to (and integrate) the route itself, the neighborhood, Asylum Lake Preserve, and Kleinstuck Preserve
Our Reasoning
We have many worthy goals in our Plan (which we will continue to pursue!), but based on the parameters and cost, the Board felt that this Route is a great first project that will result in a user-friendly, non-motorized route to better connect not only these two great neighborhood assets but our neighborhood as well!
Proposed Timeline
Our goal is to complete the planning and installation of all signs and marking by June 2021
"Quick Win" Project Selected
Per the Neighborhood Partnership Agreement the ODWNA and the City agreed to when we started the Neighborhood Plan process back in 2017, The City agreed to make funds available to any neighborhood upon completing their Neighborhood Plan to complete a “Quick Win” project that aligns with their Neighborhood Plan.
The parameters of receiving those funds required that any/all projects must be:
• In alignment with the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan and Strategic Vision Goal(s)
• Directly tied to the ODWN Neighborhood Plan
• Achieves a Neighborhood Plan Vision or implements Plan goal(s)
• A physical project that creates or continues Neighborhood Plan excitement
• Highly visible
Based on these parameters, goals of our Neighborhood Plan, neighbor feedback, and board input, the ODWNA Board has decided to pursue the Urban Nature Route, as detailed on p. 44 and 48 of our Plan:
Urban Nature Route Project Description
• This will be a non-motorized urban nature route that connects the Parkview entrance of the Asylum Lake Preserve to
the Chevy Chase trailhead of the Kleinstuck Preserve, via a 1.9-mile street route marked by route-head & wayfinding signs, and in-street markings. This route also “links” all four of our “mini-parks” and Kensington Park
• As identified on p. 48 of the ODWN Neighborhood Plan, one of our Plan’s goals is to, “Connect parks and natural spaces via an interconnected system of trails, sidewalks, and combination bike and pedestrian paths”
• The initial concept map can be found on p. 44 of our Plan
• Over time, the ODWNA will incorporate environmental educational information and events that directly relate to (and integrate) the route itself, the neighborhood, Asylum Lake Preserve, and Kleinstuck Preserve
Our Reasoning
We have many worthy goals in our Plan (which we will continue to pursue!), but based on the parameters and cost, the Board felt that this Route is a great first project that will result in a user-friendly, non-motorized route to better connect not only these two great neighborhood assets but our neighborhood as well!
Proposed Timeline
Our goal is to complete the planning and installation of all signs and marking by June 2021
======================
The City Master Plan states that Neighborhood Plans will:
• Align with the Strategic Vision and Master Plan at the neighborhood scale.
• Develop individual strategies needed to achieve neighborhood completeness.
• Establish a unique neighborhood vision, goals, and actions for implementation.
• Establish relationships within the neighborhood to support implementation.
• Use IK 2025 input from residents as a place to start.
The City Master Plan states that Neighborhood Plans will:
• Align with the Strategic Vision and Master Plan at the neighborhood scale.
• Develop individual strategies needed to achieve neighborhood completeness.
• Establish a unique neighborhood vision, goals, and actions for implementation.
• Establish relationships within the neighborhood to support implementation.
• Use IK 2025 input from residents as a place to start.
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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019