Circulation - Rustic Landscape of Rim Village, Crater Lake NP

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The Rustic Landscape of Rim Village, 1927-1941

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Circulation

ROADS

Design Principles

Roads and paths should "fit" or conform to existing topography and natural landscape features such as trees and rock outcrops. Roads and paths should be recessed and appear subordinate to the natural landscape.

Roads and paths should be as direct as possible yet be constructed in a curvilinear fashion (avoiding straight lines) and provide a pleasant sequence of views framed by natural vegetation. Grades should be as uniform and gentle as possible with no sharp turns.

Plantings alongside roads and paths should be used to "conceal" the route and help it blend with its surroundings.

1. Rim Village Road and roads through the campground reflect historic patterns and should be retained. If the new design for Rim Village calls for the reconfiguration, removal or construction of new roads, treatment should be as follows:

a. removal -- If historic roads are removed, disturbed areas associated with former road beds should be revegetated and regraded as appropriate (see RECOMMENDATIONS: Vegetation). In addition, because Rim Village Road historically functioned as a transition zone between the promenade and the campground, new design for this area should attempt to reestablish that function.

b. realignment -- Roads realigned from historic roads should retain the design character of the original road (width, surface material, shoulder treatment), and every effort should be made to tie the realigned portion of the road into the existing road without disturbing the original grade. Reconfigured portions of the road should follow the natural topography and generally conform to guidelines for new roads (see below).

c. new roads -- New roads should be added only as required to accommodate functional needs. Whenever possible, new roads should be sited in previously disturbed areas to minimize impacts on natural areas. In terms of design, new roads should be as direct as possible, but have a curvilinear character, following natural contours. Plantings, low stone walls, and/or berms should be used to help blend and minimize the impacts of newly constructed roads. Plantings should be massed to reflect natural associations and the gradation in density of planting, from the existing forest to the road. Views should also be included in the criteria for siting new roads, and all new roads should be surfaced with asphalt.

2. Service-related roads should be physically separated from public spaces and activity areas, and be different in character than primary roads.

3. Historically, the road and arrival sequence to Rim Village played an important role in the design of the site. If the arrival sequence is modified in conjunction with the new site plan, the new access to Rim Village should attempt to create similar experiential qualities (visitor travels from forest to open meadows, back through the forest, up in elevation to a sudden clearing and a vista of the lake). The view to the lake at the point of arrival was fundamental in the historic design and should be retained in the new plan.

PARKING

1. The parking "loop" at the lodge has integrity and should be retained. If additional parking is required two alternatives are suggested:

a. Construct a second (lower) loop, south of the existing lodge parking area as illustrated in the historic master plans, or;

b. If Rim Village Road is removed, site a new lot in the disturbed area west of the lodge (where the existing Rim Village Road begins to drop in grade).

In both cases the goal is to select a solution that minimizes the potential impacts to the natural landscape, and is visually compatible in design and orientation to the lodge, access and viewshed to the lake, and from the promenade. Taking these issues into consideration, alternative "a" is the preferred option.

2. The parking revetment along both sides of Rim Village Road has integrity and should be retained. If removal of this parking area is required, the disturbed area should be revegetated (see RECOMMENDATIONS: Vegetation).

3. Although the parking plaza in front of the Cafeteria has historically been used for parking, it has been altered over several years and does not retain design integrity. if the redevelopment program calls for the removal of parking in this area, efforts should be made to retain key historic design associations including preserving a strong visual connection from the building to the lake and designing the area to function as a staging area for rim activities.

4. All parking areas should be surfaced with asphalt or a material treatment that will yield a similar visual character. Stone curbing should be used to define edges and transitions in surface materials.

PROMENADE

1. The promenade, from west of the Cafeteria to the Garfield Peak trail, has integrity and should be retained. Pedestrian access along the full length of the promenade, including the area on the north side of the lodge, should be maintained to provide a continuous walk along the edge of the caldera as originally designed.

2. Portions of the promenade that are in poor condition or have deteriorated and are unsafe, should be rehabilitated according to the historic design, including historic grades, materials, width and configuration.

3. Historically, the area of the promenade where the former Crater Wall Trail began, was a focal point and an important visitor staging area. Although the trail is closed, this area remains a key pedestrian gathering area with much of the original landscape design intact. The function and spatial quality of this area should be retained. Because this area has been dramatically impacted by snow loading and intense visitor use, a rehabilitation plan should be prepared which specifically addresses paths and the flow of pedestrians through the space, reestablishment of planting beds and materials, and rehabilitation of the parapet wall.

CROSSWALKS

1. All historic crosswalks between the existing Rim Village Road and the promenade have integrity and should be retained to the degree possible. whenever possible historic crosswalks should be incorporated into the new design. Crosswalks not original to the historic design can be manipulated or removed as necessary, in conjunction with the redevelopment plan.

2. Historic crosswalks that have deteriorated but will be retained in the new design should be rehabilitated.

3. New crosswalks should be constructed based on functional need and not as design features in and of themselves. They should appear similar in scale, material and design to historic crosswalks and meet Federal Standards for accessibility.

4. All new walkways should be staked in the field prior to construction to ensure conformity with the natural topography, views, and other site features.

5. Social trails between Rim Village Road and the promenade should be eliminated or incorporated into the new design and surfaced with the appropriate materials.

6. Stone "pilasters" or markers should be used to: