Final Submission September 2002
Alternative Transportation Program (ATP)
Adams National Historical Park Project purpose: Develop concepts for park signage and wayfinding Provide recommendations for trolley stops and signage
Note: this document is not intended to serve as a comprehensive sign plan
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The Region
Park is located in Quincy, MA approximately 10 miles south of Boston, Modes of transportation available to Quincy
private vehicle commuter rail and rapid-transit rail bus transit water shuttle (from Boston)
Historic landmarks dispersed throughout the City within 5-mile radius
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Regional Modes of Transportation
QUINCY
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City Context
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The Park
Located in a bustling urban environment Consists of 5 sites located within a three-mile area in Quincy
3 sites (Visitor Center, United Parish Church and visitor parking) adjacent to one another 2 other sites (Birthplaces and Old House) nearby
Limited off-street visitor parking available Difficult to get to if unfamiliar with area NPS discourages visitors driving directly to each site
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Park Visitation
Grown from 46,000 (1994) to over 88,000 (2000); 48 percent increase Annual visitation to park (1999) = 86,000 Total
Typical visitors = 40,000 School tours = 11,000 Other organized tours = 35,000
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Visitor Center - existing
Located across Hancock Street from Quincy Center “T” Station Interim site with search underway for new site Visitors encouraged to begin visit from here Parking available at an adjacent garage Trolley available to tour sites $2.00 per person tour charge
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Visitor Center - Potential Acquisition of Granite Trust Bldg.
NPS investigating acquisition of Granite Trust Building located downtown for visitor center Listed on National Register of Historic Places Central “Highly Visible” location One of the most well known landmarks in area
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Visitor Center - Potential Acquisition of Granite Trust Bldg.
Site
Located in central downtown at intersection of Hancock St. (Route 3A) and Granite St.
Opportunities
Location on major roadway provides for greater NPS visibility & presence Existing parking with potential for trolley stop and walkway extension with NPS signage Alternatives - sign location On extended walkway On building (possible issue with sign attached to historic structure)
Record of Decision per 9/24/02 meeting with Park and DSC with HFC (conference called in)
Locate sign on building above entrance; Locate dark messaging bar at the top with National Park Service and US Department of Interior in bar VISITOR CENTER all uppercase with generous spacing & Adams National Historical Park below with Adams in gold script Arrowhead to be removed from sign with an enlarged arrowhead located on a column for greater visibility Provide 2 smaller Adams National Historical Park signs on one of the columns; Adams in gold script
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Visitor Center sign located on sidewalk should be of sufficient height to be visible by passing motorists; Landscaping can soften lines and enhance presence.
Visitor Center sign located on building provides for greater visibility from approaching vehicles
Wayfinding/Orientation
Information of this type should be available to visitors at the visitor center, trolley stops or other locations where decisions are to be made by the visitor out of the car An opportunity exists for park information to be made available at local hotels and transit stations to inform visitors of transportation options, routes, duration and facilities in the area
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Signage
Signage
Hierarchy of signs to establish clarity, recognition, predictability Proper location allows visitors to find way to destinations; contributes to positive visitor experience Signage location
High location can impede the view of resource Low location may not be visible by passing motorists
Park signage should be compatible with historic context and of appropriate size. For example historic/cultural resource vs. natural resource
Note: At this time, the National Park Service has Director’s Order #52C: Park Signage and the companion Sign Standards Reference Manual out for review in “Draft” form . The proposed signs in this document are meant to be concepts and intended to stay within the “spirit” of the “Draft” standards.
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Resource identification sign is highly visible by passing motorists however; can detract from the view of the resource Record of Decision per 9/24/02 meeting with Park and DSC with HFC (conference called in) Sign to remain in existing location using existing frame and scroll; keep same size and fabricate with porcelain tile
Resource identification sign may not be as visible by passing motorists however; does not detract the view of the resource Record of Decision per 9/24/02 meeting with Park and DSC with HFC (conference called in); Resource Identification sign will not be located on walkway
Signage - Materials
Vocabulary
Should be sympathetic to the site; For example,
wrought iron or fluted tubing along with the appropriate period finial for the sign posts
Consider scale and color Should contribute to the resource and not detract or dominate
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Trolley Service
Introduced in 1993 and has enhanced visitor experience One existing trolley presently contracted does not meet current demand Currently, two existing trolley stops
Old House/Peace Field Adams Birthplaces
Trolley stop signage should be appropriate in scale and materials to the site
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Trolley Stop - Old House/Peace Field
Why relocate stop? Located at busy street intersection; Safety concern In the view of the historic resource Recommendations Relocate further west, down Adams Street towards Beale House but not in front of Old House Provide a new trolley stop sign that is appropriate to Adams NHP
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Trolley Stop - Old House/Peace Field
Recommendations (cont..) Trolley shelter should not be provided. Visually competes with resource Narrow walkway and waiting trolley riders would impede pedestrian movement Record of Decision per 9/24/02 meeting with Park and DSC Trolley stop to remain in existing location; it will function better with future visitor sequencing (from trolley stop, to carriage house, to Old House, with return to trolley stop) Trolley stop signs will consist of 2 panels (lower and upper) Upper panel to include international symbol for bus/trolley with “trolley stop” text Lower panel to include messaging bar, NPS arrowhead, map of trolley route with minimal text to identify current location and destination
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Trolley Stop Adams Birthplaces
Why relocate stop? Located at busy street intersection; Safety concern In view of the historic resource; visitors offload trolley on “front door” of resource; not time for decompression
Record of Decision per 9/24 meeting with Park and DSC Trolley shelter is no longer being considered by park therefore; existing trolley stop in front of Birthplaces on Franklin St shall remain Recommendations
Provide new trolley stop sign appropriate to Adams NHP Park expressed interest in need for shelter at Birthplaces site Demand due to school groups Birthplaces too small to handle groups in bad weather
EXISTING TROLLEY STOP
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Trolley Shelter (proposed) Adams Birthplaces
Recommendations (cont..)
Potential for off-street trolley shelter with historic period “outbuilding” appearance
semi-permanent building size appropriate to site and Birthplace structures functions as staging & trolley waiting area heated and lighted with sliding doors secured area for maintenance storage and interpretive materials
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Trolley Shelter (proposed) Adams Birthplaces
Recommendations (cont.) Potential issues to consider for “outbuilding” Environmental Assessment (EA) would be necessary; Issues in EA (archeology, cultural landscape, building set-backs from property lines, working with neighborhood Not to be mistaken for historic structure Note: Preferred alternative would be off-site
Record of Decision per 9/24/02 meeting with Park and DSC
Trolley shelter/interpretive shelter to be deleted; Park sees a need however; incompatible with historic landscape; Park is looking at other properties for educational programs and visitor services 25
Summary
Signage, wayfinding and orientation key components to positive visitor experience Selection of materials, understanding of scale and relationship to site context and resource is critical to success Appendix 1: Trip report for Sept 24-25, 2002
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Appendix 1: Trip Report of Sept 24- 25, 2002 Meeting with Adams National Historical Park (Record of Decisions)
ATP Signage Concepts Adams National Historical Park Conference call: 24 Sept. Marianne Peak, Superintendent Adams NHP Caroline Keinath, Assistant. Superintendent Adams NHP John Stanwich, Chief of Interpretation, Adams NHP Peter Steele, Boston Support Office Phil Musselwhite, Harpers Ferry Center Larry Beal, Project Manager, Denver Service Center Dennis Nagao, Job Captain, Denver Service Center
Conference Call Discussion: General •Sign panels – porcelain enamel with appropriate mounting posts and hardware •Adams signage will comply with the NPS UniGuide Program/Messaging System with the exceptions noted below: Signage Types and approximate numbers (X) •Highway Guides •On major arterials (expressways and state highways) •Trailblazers/Pathfinders (approx. 20) •Local streets to direct visitors to NPS sites •MBTA “T” Stations: Quincy Center (2) and Quincy Adams (2)
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Trip Report of Sept 24- 25, 2002 Meeting with Adams National Historical Park (Record of Decisions) Continued
•Resource Identification •Visitor Center (1) •Old House (1), Adams Birthplace (1), Peace Field (1) •Trolley shuttle stops (3) •Park Headquarters (1) Highway Guide Signs Will comply with MUTCD standards (size, color, text, location, etc) •Possibly requiring meeting(s) with State of Mass DOT Trailblazers (Path finders) •Information to include: NPS arrowhead, directional arrow, Adams National Historical Park; Use of the dark colored messaging bar at the top is at the discretion of the park •Brown background •Designer to prepare concepts with and without message bar for park approval •Text font: NPS Rawlinson and Frutiger per UniGuide Program Resource Identification •Proposed “Visitor Center” (Potential acquisition of historic Granite Trust building) •Locate sign above columns where Fleet Bank currently exists; large size of sign may require fabrication in several pieces; needs design study •Dark messaging bar at top containing National Park Service and US Department of Interior •“VISITOR CENTER” all uppercase with generous letter spacing •Adams National Historical Park to be located below VISITOR CENTER •Remove arrowhead from proposed sign and place larger 3-dimensional arrowhead on a column;
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Trip Report of Sept 24- 25, 2002 Meeting with Adams National Historical Park (Record of Decisions) Continued
•Provide smaller Adams NHP signs on column at entrance (pedestrian level) with Adams signature in script and gold color •Color and text font to conform with the Uniguide Program with the exception of Adams to be in script and gold color •No sign at the ground level Old House , Adams Birthplace, Peace Field •Old House sign to remain in existing location using existing metal frame and scroll; keep existing size; sign face will be porcelain enamel Adams Birthplace and Peace Field •Follow UniGuide Program/messaging system for sign panel text and color. •Hardware: Metal posts (fluted round or square) and finials (urn shape) appropriate for the period or as approved by the park Trolley Shuttle Stop – 2 panels/signpost (front/back) •Upper panel to include international symbol for bus/trolley. Trolley stop text, •Lower panel to include messaging bar, NPS arrowhead, map trolley route and basic text as to current location and destination. •Hardware: Metal posts (fluted round or square) and finials (urn shape) appropriate for the period or as approved by the park HFC, through the IDIQ contract, will support the Adams NHP sign panels and replacement. They will support replacement of signage hardware if the Park uses mounting hardware and posts as specified in the UniGuide Program; otherwise Park is responsible for maintenance of hardware and mounting posts
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Trip Report of Sept 24- 25, 2002 Meeting with Adams National Historical Park (Record of Decisions) Continued
Non- Conference Call Discussion Comments to DSC Prepared Document: DRAFT - “Alternative Transportation Wayfinding/Sign Concepts and Trolley Stops” August 2002 Old House sign concepts •Per Park - Sign to remain in existing location; Using same frame and scrollwork; See comments above; Existing size of sign: 19 inches high x 3 ‘ long (edge to edge of frame) •Proposal for sign in walk is not to be considered Old House/Peace Field Trolley Stop •Per Park - Existing location to remain Current location will work better with future visitor sequencing. (from trolley stop, to carriage house, to Old House, with return to trolley stop) •Show Presidents Lane on drawing (current route for trolley) Trolley Stop Adams Birthplace •Delete proposal for trolley shelter/interpretive shelter per park; Park sees a need however; proposal is not compatible with the historic landscape. The park is looking at other properties for educational programs and visitor services. ACTION: DSC will notate in document as a “record of decision by Park” on the above 3 items. Next Steps •DSC to prepare cost estimates for design, fabrication and installation of signs based on approximate number of signs and materials. •Include hours to work with Mass Dept of Transportation on highway signs, City of Quincy (sign guidelines/ordinance), MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) and local historic districts. •With assistance from DSC, Park to prepare PMIS for future funding request •Park to investigate other funding sources. For example, remaining funds from HFC’s initial signage effort; ATP program through Bob Holzheimer, Boston Support Office; fee demonstration program 30