Featured Projects
Town of Colton Streetscaping
Landscape Architecture
Location: Colton, NY
Owner: Town of Colton
The purpose of the project was to revitalize the Main Street of this historic Adirondack Town primarily by improving pedestrian access through the town center, connecting community destination points such as the library, town hall, museum, church and commercial establishments, while also unifying the aesthetic appeal of its built and natural amenities. The scope entailed approximately 400 lineal feet of street re-construction including locally made decorative concrete paver sidewalks, granite curbing, asphalt pavement, drainage inlets and piping, decorative lighting, accessible curb ramps, and a memorial garden gateway wall and pocket patio at the Main Street entrance.
The project design and construction process presented numerous challenges in the areas of grading, drainage, subsoils, accessibility, materials selection, preservation and cost control. The existing centerline crown elevation of Main Street was higher than the front door of the first floor of a store building, requiring the use of granite curbed raised islands to separate vehicles from pedestrians and to prevent stormwater run-off from entering doorway. Existing storm catch basins were used and placed with curbing and sidewalks aligned around them to capture run-off without major re-construction. In addition to significantly reducing street side soil erosion and subsequent siltation of the nearby Raquette River, storm water run-off was reduced by using pervious interlocking concrete pavers allowing water to infiltrate into the gravel/sand subsoils. The placement of granite curbing along the new sidewalk edge required ramped paver driveway aprons along both sides of the street at numerous locations, providing continuity in safe vehicle and pedestrian access.
As part of the town’s historic setting, it was necessary to preserve and integrate a stone retaining wall as part of an intersection sidewalk transition while adding a new protective railing that complimented the architecture of the town’s historic stone library. The design detailing of the streetscaping, particularly the light poles and paver colors and textures, was critical in harmoniously complimenting an existing sandstone church that is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Dark sky compliant, full cut-off and pedestrian scale lighting provided needed illumination while preserving the town’s night time ambiance and allure.
