USF Botanical Gardens Master Plan

::Master Plan for USF Botanical Gardens

The Master Plan for the USF Botanical Gardens

The following notes record the recommendations of a planning session held at the University of South Florida on November 8th and 9th, 2000. The purpose of the session was to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the 6-acre University of South Florida Botanical Gardens and the 3.5-acre greenway area along its north border. Prior to the planning session, the garden planning team prepared a facilities program and a survey map of the existing garden property. The facilities program and property survey served as the basis for planning.

Planning Parameters

At the outset of the planning session, a number of key parameters were established that guided the subsequent planning approach.

It was established that the location of buildings and parking areas would be confined to the 6-acre existing Botanical Gardens property, and that use of the 3.5-acre area to the immediate north would be limited to trails, temporary structures, natural vegetation and plant displays.

It was established that the 36.5 elevation is the Lake Behnke 100-year floodplan, and that no parking or buildings would be located below this elevation.

It was noted that the existing vehicle entrance is unsafe and could be relocated to the Pine Drive frontage along the south boundary of the Botanical Gardens.

It was agreed that the large specimen dicots, particularly Live Oaks and flowering trees, should be protected to the maximum extent possible in the new plan. Groups of trees were established as more valuable than lone specimens. The palm collection was noted as being easier to move that the large dicots.

It was noted that the lake views available from the Botanical Gardens property should be capitalized on in the plan. The present garden plan does not exploit this site asset.

It was established that it would be highly desirable to have direct linkages between key use area, including the proposed Conservatory facility and the proposed education Center Building; between the multipurpose room and the event garden; between the Conservatory and its back-up greenhouse; between heavily used demonstration education and display gardens and the main building restrooms; and between the garden shop and the main entrance.

It was determined that greater visibility of the Botanical Gardens from the surrounding streets would be desirable.

Planning Recommendations

Land Use Organization – It is proposed that the primary Garden buildings be located in the east end of the site, service buildings in the northeast, parking and assess along the south edge, the collections and gardens in the center of the property, and natural areas in the far west and far north areas. This arrangement provides the following advantages:

· Logical safe access from Pine Drive along a prominent public edge.

· Buildings and parking are located in an area that does not require the removal of large established dicots.

· Buildings will have good visibility from surrounding public streets.

· Collections and gardens will be consolidated in a large contiguous area, not bisected or divided by roads or buildings.

· Views to Lake Behnke will be available from many areas in the Gardens and the Gardens plan as a whole is oriented towards the lake.

· Service buildings and access are peripheral and separate from the visitor facilities.

· Natural areas capitalized on existing undeveloped habitats.

Garden Circulation Pattern - The garden elements are linked by a set of paths that define a loop system. Two axial paths extend from the Gardens main entrance; one that goes north to the Sandhill Natural area and one the goes west to the Forested Wetland area. At the end of each of these axial paths is a small shade pavilion that will be a site for interpretive information and a place for teachers to pause on a tour and talk with students. These are called "teaching pavilions." The two teaching pavilions are connected with a third major path that roughly parallels the shore of Lake Behnke. These three paths frame the core of the collections. The paths would be paved and graded for universal access. To the north and west of the core area paths, trails will be developed into the wetland and the Sandhill community.

Vehicular Access and Parking – It is proposed that the main entrance to the Gardens be relocated on Pine Drive along the south boundary of the Gardens property. Safe sight distances should be established between the entrance and intersections to the east and west. The plan shows a through-driveway arrangement with two exit and entry points. Two-way flow on the driveway is accommodated in the plan, however, it may be determined that a one-way system is preferred for traffic flow reasons not explored in this study. The two-way system offers greater flexibility and is desirable for that reason. The plan provides a pull-off lane for bus and automobile passenger drop-off, and parking spaces for 47 automobiles, including spaces for the disabled. The parking area is parallel to and close to Pine Drive to keep the parking at the perimeter of the property and make economical use of the land.

It is proposed that the street edge between the Gardens parking and the street curb be planted with distinctive, large flowering trees or palms. This will establish a signature identify for the Botanical Gardens along its most prominent edge. The planting should be a strong, singular, unified gesture that is in keeping with the scale of the Pine Drive corridor and recognizes the speed of viewers. Detailed planting along this edge would not be appropriate; bold strokes are required. It is also recommended that a wall be developed along the road edge to visually screen parked cars and provide security. A wall is preferred over a fence because of the level of quality imparted by a wall.

Building Complex – It is proposed that the Education Center, Conservatory, back-up greenhouse and maintenance buildings be located in the east end of the Gardens property. This will minimize the removal of large dicots and consolidate buildings as a barrier between the street and the interior of the Gardens. The proposed configuration established a strong tie between the parking area and the Education Center and the visitor reception area, and defines a large one-half acre area courtyard devoted to gardens, including perennial garden, herb garden, enabling garden, carnivorous plant bog, and the woody plant collections, The courtyard is surrounded on four sides by a colonnade that would be roofed on three sides and an open trellis for vines on the west side. The courtyard would be fully irrigated and made accessible by a regular pattern of garden paths.

In the southeast corner of the complex, a walled Event Garden would be developed in close association with the multipurpose room of the Education Center. This garden will provide a semi-private venue for meetings, seminars, workshops, speaker events and revenue generating events. Its location allows clear access from the parking area, and separation from other Gardens areas that may be used simultaneously by visitors and other groups. The Conservatory would be accessible from the Event Garden.

The Conservatory is proposed as a modular structure that may have a tall ceiling central area with wings subject to climate control. This would allow for the development of partitioned dry, wet, hot and cool areas within the Conservatory. The primary access would be from the west. The yard area to the east of the Conservatory could be used for related outdoor display space or as a service area devoted to Conservatory support. The back-up greenhouse is linked to the Conservatory via the arcade. North of the back-up greenhouse is an area designated for research greenhouses. Maintenance, nursery and production areas are located in the northeast corner of the building complex. A service gate on to Pine Drive to the east would serve these.

Entrance Patio and Shade Garden – An entrance patio and shade garden is proposed to the immediate north and west of the main pedestrian entrance to the garden. This area takes advantage of an existing group of large Live Oak trees and a large existing Floss Silk tree. New shade plantings are proposed to frame a narrow view from the patio to Lake Behnke. A glimpse of the lake from this location from under the shade of the large oaks will provide a dramatic and enticing first view into the collections arranged between the lake and the Gardens entrance. The patio will be enlivened with a small water feature that will serve as a focal foreground element upon arrival at the Gardens; and make a sensory link to Lake Behnke in the distance. The Shade Garden path defines an informal circuit from which shade-loving plants can bee viewed. Benches should be provided because this will be a popular area to sit during hot periods. The garden opens to the two main axial paths, and on the Vista Lawn to the northwest.

Demonstration and Children’s Area - A Home Demonstration area and Children’s Garden are located along the west axis path, west of the Shade Garden. A large open pavilion for gatherings, classes and workshops is associated with these gardens and will serve as the bases for teaching activities in this part of the Gardens. The area would include fruit trees, vegetable gardens, flower gardens and a variety of educational displays for homeowners such as composting and pest management. The Children’s garden for children. A dense evergreen hedge is planted along the south edge of this area to prevent children from going into the parking area. The hedge may be developed as a multi-tiered demonstration.

The Core Area Collection – It is proposed that the area bounded by the Forested Wetland on the west, Lake Behnke on the north, the Building Complex on the east, and the Shaded Garden and the Demonstration Gardens on the south be developed as the core collection of woody plants. The proposed arrangement is to locate the plants in large beds informally arranged on a gently sloping lawn overlooking the lake. Plantings within the beds would be dense and layered with canopy and understory species. While the collections may include Florida natives, it is recommended that the core area collection focus on non-invasive, non-natives, including dicots, palms and cycads. This focus recognizes that the large Forested Wetland and Sandhill area will be the locations where Florida natives will be accommodated. The central lawn around which the core collections will be arranged is also planned as the site for large group gatherings and events. This area is not large enough to meet the demands of the annual Gardens plant sale. It is, therefore, recommended that future plant sale events be held at an offsite location with appropriated vendor space, parking, restroom facilities, water, security, and shade as may be required.

The Vista and Overlook - It is proposed that successively wider framing plants proceeding from the Shaded Garden to the northwest frame the view from the entrance patio. At the westernmost extent of the view axis on Gardens property, it is proposed that a scenic overlook be developed. The view for the overlook will be directed northwestward to the densely vegetated west shore of the lake, and attempt to avoid focusing on the hospital buildings to the north and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the west.