I-35 Pollinator Garden
Following the I-35 Market design and meetings with the Westside Housing Organization, additional project partnership opportunities were identified. These additional projects inlcuded the measuring and completeion of as-built drawings for existing building owned by Westside Housing for the purposes of redevelopment into low-income housing and commercial uses as well as conceptual designs for a pollinator garden and walking path along I-35. I-35 is located along a monarch butterfly migration corridor in Kansas City, and the adjacent vacant ROW near Westside Housing happens to be a haven for these creatures when they pass through town. Also needing a safer space for pedestrian travel parallel to the interstate, a design was created that converged both habitat and pathways for community members and butterflies.
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Taking the simple list of goals and needs following this text, I put together a diagrammatic plan and conceptual rendering of the garden for Westside Housing’s use in fundraising for the final design and construction.
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Project Needs:
+ Philanthropic support for landscape design, labor, and material expenses
+ Volunteer support for planting garden beds (flowers, native plants, pollinator plants)
+ Philanthropic support or sponsorship of public art, lighting, and seating
+ Philanthropic support for operational expense including project management and community building & engagement
+ Volunteer support for ongoing maintenance of the community garden and green space
Project Goals:
+ Transform overgrown, vacant lots into a valued community asset
+ Provide an aesthetically pleasing space for Westside residents to rest, exercise, learn, and engage with neighbors
+ Provide an inviting walking trail to the existing Nottingham Community Garden
+ Ensure equitable access to public green spaces for the residents of the Westside
+ Provide a source of rest and nutrition for Monarch butterflies make their annual migration from Mexico to Canada, over I-35
+ Eliminate the I-35 division by creating a safe, well-lit underpass that draws people in
+ Use mural art to tell the stories of the Westside
+ Provide an educational space for schools to visit and learn about pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.) and native plants
+ Engage residents and volunteer groups in the ongoing maintenance of the green space
+ Provide public space for neighbors to gather, organize, and celebrate together
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Board Campaign
+ The Westside Housing Board of Directors has chosen the development of a green space in the neighborhood it calls homes as their signature project for 2017. The organization has a cumulative goal to raise $60,000 for the project.
Westside Neighborhood Housing Unit Trend
1960
4,453
1970
2,366
1980
1,705
1990
1,636
2000
1,374
2010
1,376
384 Multifamily housing units completed in 2017
114 units in Westside, 270 units in adjacent Crossroads
Westside Neighborhood Population Trend
1960
11,660
1970
6,574
1980
4,528
1990
4,105
2000
3,567
2010
3,138
Aerial displays Westside and Crossroads Neighborhoods
Gentrification to add to population in coming years
Westside Urban Fabric
Residential - Single Family
School
Residential - Multifamily
Religion
Residential - Mixed Use
Community
Commercial Business
Highway
Restaurant
Street, Major Paving
Art
Landscape Elements
I-35 Underpass Market Site
Pollinator Garden Site
Existing Right-of-Way Conditions
Pollinator Garden Plan and Program
Existing Kitchen Structure
I-35 Fence line
Existing shade trees to remain
Planting Beds:
Pollinator Beds, Missouri Wild Flower Beds
Potential Garden Program Furnishings:
Educational Signage, Benches, Exercise Equipment
Durable Path Material
Permaculture Water Purifying Berm
Butterfly Garden
Open South Site Section:
Receives most daylight hours
Pollinator Garden Path Perspective
Before
After
Location
Kansas City, Missouri
Type
Non-Profit, Professional
Firm
Self Employment
Client
Speculative, Westside Housing Organization
Status
Unbuilt, 2017
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