town square garden - city of yonkers, ny | city of yonkers

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SECTION F LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES

town square gardenThe Town Square Garden occupies a corner plaza along Alexander Street and are across from the trailhead pavilion at the Great Lawn. The square consists of a formally arranged garden with lush ornamental planting and a centrally located water feature defi ne the character of the space. The walks and one way road circling the plaza are detailed with decorative pavers and cobble bands. Continuous street trees defi ne the edges. Wide sidewalks allow for outdoor seating opportunities or informal gath-erings. The square may be a private public venture in that the developer agrees to maintain the square and its plantings.

Perspective sketch showing proposed the view into the Town Square Gardens. Traditional light fixtures on piers define the corners while boxwood par-terres with perennials surround the fountain at the center of the space.

Detailed Park Plans

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS

Decorative paving in vehicular zone »extends plaza

Formal gardens and water feature cen- »tral to space

Square wrapped by space allocated for »cafes, restaurants, etc.

Wide sidewalks will allow for awnings, »signage, and outdoor dining oppor-tunities, which will animate the streetscape

Town square interacts with for- »mal entry to riverside park across Waterside Drive

Sustainability measures include the »use of dark sky compliant lighting, porous paving at the seating areas, and native, drought tolerant plant-ing within the planting beds and tree pits. Street trees will help to reduce the heat island effect and the tree pits may utilize bioswales to lessen stormwater runoff. Refer to the Sustainability Section for additional information.

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Street trees in cobble paving bands

Decorative paving

Garden feature

Boxwood garden

Residential Mews. Refer to the fol-lowing pages for materials and details.

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MATERIALS

Trail paving: Walks shall be of a per-vious material. Acceptable materials include: pervious pavers, stone or brick paving, crushed limestone, and pervious concrete or asphalt.

Walk dimension: 6 feet wide walk-way. Street trees shall be in 6 feet wide cobble bands.

Features: Water features and monu-ments are shown in the plan. Fea-tures should be of a durable material with traditional details. Features are considered an opportunity for inte-grated art installations.

Lighting: Dark sky compliant light-ing, historic detailing. Poles to be 14 feet high max.

Planting: Refer to plant list in sus-tainability section for approved materials in planting beds. Gardens shall incorporate ornamental plant material.

Th e following list of materials and corresponding precedent images illustrate the standard components for the Town Square Garden at Yonkers. Addi-tional site specifi c elements may be incorporated if approved by the city.

Seating: Metal, traditionally detailed benches throughout park. Refer to precedent images.

Bike racks: Shall be provided at major event areas.

Trash receptacles: Combined recy-cling and trash receptacles are encouraged. Material should be durable and graffi ti resistant.

Boxwood garden

Water feature

Detailed Park Plans

details & precedents

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Planter guards Iron planter guards on stone curb

Stone benches with decorative paving

Aerial view of plaza with decorative paving, formal gardens, and water feature

Traditional light fixture

Traditional bollards

Traditional benches

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mews addressMews addresses in Yonkers will create intimate landscaped spaces for resi-dents. Each mews will incorporate a small play area at one end and commu-nity or formal gardens opposite. A central, open lawn will allow for passive recreation or additional stormwater management of runoff. Walkways will be of a pervious material and typically 12 feet in width. Smaller shade or orna-mental trees will line the walks, providing shade and landscape structure. Front yard gardens with hedgerows will face onto the central green space.

The above images show small playgrounds or tot lots located within a residential address.

Detailed Park Plans


Small gardens and/ tot lots tucked into »each mews address.

Formal front gardens in private resi- »dential addresses face onto mews

Recessed lawns may be incorporated »to aid in stormwater runoff.

Sustainability measures include the »use of dark sky compliant lighting, porous paving, and native, drought tolerant plant species. Refer to the Sustainability Section for additional information.

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Central lawn

Formal garden

Play area

Play area

Central lawn

Formal garden

Overlook on axis with mews address

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MATERIALS

Trail paving: Walks shall be of a per-vious material. Acceptable materials include: pervious pavers, stone or brick paving, crushed limestone, and pervious concrete or asphalt.

Walk dimension: 4 feet wide min and 12 feet wide max. Trees shall line walks.

Features: Garden features are shown in the plan. Features should be of a durable material with traditional details. Features are considered an opportunity for integrated art instal-lations.

Lighting: Dark sky compliant light-ing, historic detailing. Poles to be 14 feet high max.

Planting: Refer to plant list in sus-tainability section for approved materials in planting beds. Gardens shall incorporate ornamental plant material. Garden space may also be used for community gardens

Th e following list of materials and corresponding precedent images illustrate the standard components for Mews Addresses at Yonkers. Additional site specifi c elements may be incorporated if approved by the city.

Seating: Metal, traditionally detailed benches throughout park. Refer to precedent images.



Playgrounds: Play equipment should be compact and kinetic, offering more play opportunities to more children. (A recommended source is KOMPAN). Play areas may also be creative play spaces that integrate art into the setting. Th e paving shall be safety surface where equipment is installed. Safety surface colors shall be in the earth tones.

ADA compliant Pervious pavers

Porous concrete next to pavers

Trees in crushed limestone paving

Detailed Park Plans


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Formal boxwood garden with brick planter curb

Hedgerow lines walk at mews

Hedgerow lines walk at mews

Shade structure over small play area

Curved benches at small seating area

Garden feature

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point street landing –parks, plazas, and pavilionsPoint Street Landing consists of three distinct spaces: The Park at Point Street Landing which is a formal garden marking the entry to the district, The Pavilions at Point Street Landing which is a water level plaza with fl ank-ing pavilions and boat dock, and The Plaza which is a rooftop garden at the termination of Point Street. The formal garden is defi ned by a central oval lawn lined by ornamental trees, walks, and benches and a small garden fea-ture or monument tucked into a planting bed at its terminus. The waterside plaza marks the beginning of the waterfront park and espla-nade in this district and contains pavilions serving a variety of functions: rent-able event space, bike rental, park offi ces, and a small restaurant. The plaza is detailed with decorative paving and a centrally located water feature. Cultural and ecological walking tours may also begin at this point. Adjacent to the plaza at the river level are two overlooks and a creative play zone. The rooftop plaza at the termination of Point Street is a semi-public space providing a formal rooftop garden, parking for residents, two overlooks and access to an upper level restaurant overlooking the water.

Perspective sketch showing overlook and Point Street pavilions in the distance. Seating is organized with piers and paving bands. The esplanade lights and railings are historic in detailing.

Detailed Park Plans


Formal park marks entrance to Point »Street Landing

The detailing is historical in character »with a traditional palette of lighting, rail-ings, and site furniture along the water-front esplanade and at the overlooks.

Market pavilions flank a pedestrian »plaza with a centrally located water feature

Point Street terminates in an entry plaza »and rooftop garden overlooking the river

The pier at the marina is enlarged to »encompass a small pavilion for food concessions or possible kayak storage.

Rolling lawns and native planting fill »out the remainder of Point Street Landing

Sustainability measures include the »use of dark sky compliant lighting, porous paving in the pedestrian plaza and overlooks, and native, drought tolerant plant species. Refer to the Sustainability Section for additional information.

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Creative play area

Formal entry park

Overlook

Overlook

Water feature

Pavilion

Pavilion

Boat dock

Kiosk

Rooftop garden and parking

Rooftop garden and parking

Mews address

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MATERIALS

Trail paving: Refer to waterfront esplanade details for walkway mate-rials and widths. Plazas shall be cut stone, brick, or pavers

Trail dimension: Refer to the Water-front Esplanade for specifi c infor-mation.

Railings and Overlooks: Railings are considered an opportunity for inte-grated art installations.

Shade structures: Trellises, pavil-ions, and arbors shall be dispersed throughout the plan at major gath-ering spaces. Structures should be of a durable material with traditional details. Structures are considered an opportunity for integrated art installations.

Lighting: Dark sky compliant light-ing. Poles and f ixtures to be 14 feet high max. Match Westchester County Riverwalk guidelines select-ed fi xture

Th e following list of materials and corresponding precedent images illustrate the standard components for Point Street Landing at Yonkers. Additional site specifi c elements may be incorporated if approved by the city.

Planting: Sweeps of native grasses and wetland/ river’s edge planting shall be used at water’s edge and as indicated on the waterfront park plan. Formal planting may be used at the garden spaces.

Seating: Metal, black powder coat benches by DuMor Site Furnish-ings at all other locations. Refer to precedent images.

Bike racks: Shall be provided at major event areas by American Bicy-cle Security Company.

Trash receptacles: Combined recy-cling and trash receptacles are encouraged. Material should be durable and graffi ti resistant. Land-scape Forms, Chase Park series.

Information kiosk in park

Shade structure at Hudson River Park

Detailed Park Plans


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Rooftop garden

Green roof with outdoor seating

Open air pavilions at waterfront

Formal garden with central feature

Pavilions with cafes and outdoor seating

Boardwalk pier with overlooks, seating, kiosks, and lighting

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rail streetRail street runs parallel to the tracks at the edge of the new Alexander Street district. A continuous green screen, buffer planting, and street trees defi ne the edge of the roadway. Opportunities for interpretive art panels ending perpendicular roads and mews addresses exist in the projection of the screen to the road edge. The interpretive panels along the street create a storyboard illustrating the growth of Yonkers and the birth of the industrial era in the US and correspond to the cultural walking tour highlighted earlier in this section. Light fi xtures hang over the road and are strung between poles that evoke the character of the railway. Rail Street rises and falls as it meets the termination of both Babcock Avenue and Point Street providing for an interesting walking experience and occasional glimpses of the river down the view corridors formed by the residential streets and mews.

Detailed Park Plans


Secondary street that provides access »to service and parking uses

Narrow, connection lined by green buf- »fer and trail system that connects the entire district

Street may be treated with special »paving and lighting reminiscent of past industrial uses

Buildings are typically six to eight »stories

Buildings shall wrap the block in order »to encourage corner frontages along Rail Street.

May become the location of second- »ary services, artist studios, and/or live/work units

Sustainable measures may include »the use of salvaged materials for the lighting and bollards, porous paving, and native, drought tolerant planting. Refer to the Sustainability Section for additional information.

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Panels with integrated art or historical information at end of mews or street axis project to street.

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MATERIALS

Trail paving: Walks on building side only. Walks to be of durable materi-als, preferably pervious. Acceptable materials include: pavers or pervious concrete.

Trail dimension: Refer to street sec-tions for detailed information.

Screen fencing and panels: Panels are considered an opportunity for integrated art installations. Fencing and panels should be a green screen, a wire mesh screen that allows for climbing plants to take hold.

Lighting: Dark sky compliant light-ing, historic detailing. Poles to be industrial in nature with criss cross wiring spanning the streets. Fix-tures to hang from the center of the cross wires.

Th e following list of materials and corresponding precedent images illustrate the standard components for Rail Street at Yonkers. Additional site specifi c elements may be incorporated if approved by the city.

Planting: Sweeps of native grasses and meadow fl owers shall be used at the base of the green screen. A regular line of native trees shall fol-low the rail side of the road. Addi-tional native shrubs may be added for buff er planting at the base of the screen.



Interpretive text in wall

Interpretive text on dais

Detailed Park Plans


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Pendant lights hang from wires over streets

Wire mesh green screen with planting

(above and right) Precedent images showing wire mesh green screen with planting

Pendant lights hang from wires over streets

Curving green screen form

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signage systemsIn order to create a strong and recognizable identity for the new Alexander Street District, three types of signage will be employed throughout the study area: community and neighborhood identifi cation, wayfi nding, and interpre-tive signage.

COMMUNIT Y AND NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFICATION

Community or neighbourhood identifi cation signs should be located at the entrances of each park space. This type of sign identifi es the park or plaza, identifi es the district name and includes detailed information about the area. A welcome statement may offer a brief history of the space and pertinent facts.

WAYFINDING

Wayfi nding signs, such as maps, banners, gateways, and trailblazers, will create a unique identity for the new district through the use of consistent color, size, font, and placement. Successful urban wayfi nding signs must be attractive, direct users to smaller destinations, be part of the overall district identity, and compete with street, regulatory, and storefront signs for the attention of the visitor.

INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE

The City of Yonkers will identify which resources, natural, cultural, or his-torical of their riverfront they wish to interpret to the public at a variety of points within the new district. The interpretive signage will be mounted horizontally or vertically, in the area of the feature to be interpreted. This signage may also be incorporated as part of an art opportunity into the design of park space.

Wayfinding identification


Community identification

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Community identification signage





(above and right) Wayfinding identification

Interpretive signage noting an architectural structure and its history

Interpretive signage noting a park design

“New York Fern” Thelypteris noveboracensis

O L M S T E D

A MOST HANDSOME BRIDGE

When Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture, and his partner, Calvert Vaux, designed New York City’s Central Park in 1858, they developed a vast series of interwoven pathways and structures, allowing visitors to view the park from many different vantage points. Ultimately, the park would be home to 35 unique structures, including many fine bridges. Cast iron bridges are rare, and Bow Bridge would become known as the “most handsome” cast iron bridge not only of the park, but also of the entire world.

The Central Park bridge spans 60 feet across a picturesque lake and was built between 1859 and 1862. Its graceful proportions, designed to mimic an archer’s bow, have inspired countless people to choose it as a romantic setting for weddings, films, and photography that captures the signature feature of the park.

The bridge before you is also known as Bow Bridge. Its form and ornamental railing were designed to embody the traditional elements of the original. The Bow Bridge of The Ramble, gracefully crossing over Dingle Creek, pays tribute to the historical original bridge and invites you to enjoy its beauty and the views it offers, as others have done in Central Park for over a century.

BOW BRIDGE

“Flame Azalea”Rhododendron calendulaceum

s the world’s population continues to increase, the steady loss of farmland and woodland to urbanization increases as well. Urbanization often leads to events that greatly upset the delicate balances in nature, which have existed for thousands of years.

One such event is the conversion of native plant ecosystems to lawns and gardens comprised of non-native plant species. Many non-native plants, though attractive and popular, have not evolved to live in harmony with Western North Carolina’s climate and ecosystems. Therefore, high maintenance, in the form of excessive fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and frequent irrigation, is typically required to maintain lawns and non-native gardens and plants.

Exotic invasive plants represent another challenge to maintaining our native ecosystems. These plants, introduced from other parts of the world, grow rampantly and overrun the native flora since they are not subject to the insect predators and diseases that keep the native population in balance. Kudzu, Japanese Knotweed, Bittersweet, and Privet are examples of such plants. In just a few years, they can take over entire forests by spreading so rapidly that they block the sun and rain from all nearby plants.

Clearcutting is another common event in urbanization. When native forests and fields are cleared of their plants, the abilities to support wildlife, with habitat and food, and to prevent soil erosion, due to their deep root systems, are lost. The Ramble was carefully planned to avoid clearcutting,

and maintains a program to manage and reduce the population of invasive plants. Every effort has been made to preserve the native forest and the great diversity of plant and animal species that live here.

When you look at the surrounding landscape and at Dingle Creek, you are viewing a wet-mesic lowland. During winter and spring there will always be pockets of standing water. During a summer drought, the water will disappear but the soil will remain moist. Floods, lasting only a short time, may occur periodically throughout the year. This nutrient-rich and damp bottomland is ideal for trees such as Sycamore, Silver Maple, Green Ash, Sweet Gum, and Yellow Birch. On the forest floor, Red Chokeberry, Sweet Azalea, Maple Leaf Viburnum, and Winterberry Holly mingle with the native ferns. All of these plant species provide habitat and food for wildlife, including the old snapping turtle that lives beside this bridge.

“Winterberry Holly”Ilex verticillata

Interpretive signage noting ecological systems

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sustainability guidelinescomponents of sustainabilityThe vital components of sustainability should not be limited to only green solutions for buildings and site work. The goal of sustainability is three fold – to reduce pollution, conserve energy and resources, and to enhance natural systems. In the book Ten Shades of Green – Architecture and the Natural World, ten strategies are laid out:

Low Energy Performance » – Achieved by making maximum use of natural light and ventilation

Replenishable Sources » – Harvest non-depletable ambient energies of the sun, wind, waves, gravity, and geo-thermal power

Recycling: Eliminating Waste and Pollution » – Re-use building materials, design buildings that are fl exible and easily reused; recycle water and heat

Embodied Energy » – Look at energy effi ciency in material selections in terms of life-time energy use

Long Life, Loose Fit » – Build with materials that endure and improve with age; green buildings not only accommodate change easily but are timeless and pleasant in character so that people prefer to conserve them

Total Life Cycle Costing » – Balance capital cost with long term maintenance costs

Embedded in Place » – Green buildings fi t seamlessly into, help reintegrate and minimize negative impacts on their surroundings

Access and urban context » – to be green, integrate multimodal transporta-tion alternatives

Health and Happiness » – Natural light, fresh air, and contact with nature and community provide a healthy lifestyle

Community and Connection » – Achieve a sustainable culture by regenerat-ing a sense of community and connections with the natural world

The strategies apply to community, architecture, and landscape, both new and restored. In this section, green topics focus on capturing and treating storm water, providing for green infrastructure and buildings, as well as habi-tat restoration and urban planting strategies.

Precedent images showing designed stormwa-ter retention feature with native rain garden planting and walls of local materials.

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INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE TECHNIQUES

The current industrialized landscape of the waterfront at Yonkers is unique in that it offers enormous possibilities for revitalization. A new landscape – green, productive and welcoming can be achieved by applying innovative sustainable solutions to transform various aspects of the site. These should address the following:

restoration of a system of native plant communities and habitats to connect »this site to Yonkers’ current greenways, parks and natural systems

integration of management practices to capture and cleanse stormwater »run-off for reuse.

creation of a functional park system and series of streets, that are ecologi- »cally based as well as place makers

developing design standards for making existing buildings, as well as new »buildings, green

design buildings to make maximum use of natural light and ventilation; »harvest the ambient energies of the sun, wind, and geo-thermal power; build with constantly replenished materials and ones that endure and improve with age; integrate water harvesting techniques; recycle grey water; reduce the urban heat island by using green roof technology.

restoring urban forests »

The sustainable strategies that can be applied to this site are divided into three categories that are derived from the application of new design standards that attempt to integrate the above sustainable practices:

Sustainable Streets »

Greenspaces and Landscape »

Buildings »

Each of these classifi cations has great potential for a variety of sustainable strategies, and each will have a different visual character. Any development promoted as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ should not only seek to restore lost natural processes but should also celebrate natural systems as an integral component

Precedent images showing the use of pervious pavers and native planting at trail edge.

Shade trees reduce the heat island effect and provide a green amenity for residents.

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SECTION F LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES Sustainabil i tyGuidelines

of a healthy community. The following pages provide inspiration for strate-gies that might be employed in the Alexander Street Redevelopment and reinforce the unique landscape character of Yonkers.

SUSTAINABLE STREETS

In Yonkers, two types of sustainable streets will be employed. The fi rst sys-tem, the Urban Street, is a street where pavement dominates. During storm events, there will be a tremendous volume of run-off generated from paved, impervious surfaces which will be captured and controlled by structured ponds or reservoirs. These reservoirs are small and designed with a limited capacity. Overfl ow is possible so there is a back-up (pipes) system in place, but the goal is to control and treat the ‘fi rst-fl ush’ or fi rst 1 inch of rain fall. The strategies suggested for the Urban street are man-made, constructed features that mimic the natural infi ltration process in controlled, limited means. Storm water is directed through channels or runnels to pools or col-lection basins that are not only functional but sculptural. These pools or basins allow the water to soak back into the soil layers, while providing shade and greenery for pedestrians. There is a structure and geometry to all the control features, following the geometric patterns of the buildings and urban landscape. Materials such as concrete, stone, or brick are chosen to blend with the streetscape and the design of adjacent structures. Developer’s are encouraged to provide shade and/or light-colored and/or open grid pavement for at least 30 percent of the site’s non-roof impervious surfaces, including outdoor parking lots, walkways, plazas, etc.; The second system, the Green Street, directs run-off from the street into swales, channels, ditches or rain gardens. These are sized to handle more than just the ‘fi rst-fl ush’ or run-off. Green Streets are capable of handling larger storm events of greater duration. Green street strategies emphasize the extensive use of plant material as a means to cleanse storm water run-off, emphasize the natural character over man-made forms, and provide phyto-remediation in areas of soil contamination

Illustrative section showing the function of a sustainable streetscape design

Illustrative perspective showing the character of a sustainable streetscape

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Precedent image of a sustainable stormwater streetscape in Seattle.

(above) Sustainable stormwater streetscapes in Portland, Oregon. Techniques include rain channels, planted verges, and porous paving(left) Diagram showing location of park land and green roofs.

PARK LAND AND NATIVE PLANTINGS

GREEN ROOFS

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GREENSPACE

Greenspace is a critical element of the design plan. The purpose of green-space is to create a distinct address for adjacent buildings, provide recre-ation opportunities for residents, and provide opportunities for establishing lost ecosystems, habitats, and landscapes. Greenspace has the ability to heal the ecological damage wrought by industry on a comprehensive, large scale. Given these larger spaces and the absence of structures, greenspace is ideal for recreating large expanses of habitat and handling large volumes of storm water. During storm events, run-off is directed from adjacent streets towards large, broad swales and open park space at the river’s edge. These are over sized to handle storm events and land may be depressed slightly. Parks will function as usable open space in good weather and as storm water detention areas during storms. The main goal is not to store water but to treat the fi rst fl ush of rainfall before it enters the Hudson River. Strategies suggested for Greenspaces are more naturalistic than urban. The emphasis is on undulating land forms, soft edges, and native vegetation. Inspiration for the design of these features should be drawn from Yonkers’ regional landscape. Walkways and paths should wind seamlessly through the landscape employing subtle control features. Phyto-remediation, reforesta-tion, wildlife habitat restoration, and river bank stabilization can and should occur in large parks. In addition to landscape treatments within greenspace, alternative paving materials can be used to locally infi ltrate rainwater and reduce the runoff leav-ing a site. This can help to decrease downstream fl ooding, the frequency of combined sewer overfl ow events, and the thermal pollution of sensitive waters. Use of these materials can also eliminate problems with standing water, pro-vide for groundwater recharge, control erosion of streambeds and riverbanks, facilitate pollutant removal, and provide for a more aesthetically pleasing site. Alternative pavers can even eliminate the requirement for underground sewer pipes and conventional stormwater retention/detention systems. The drain-age of paved areas and traffi c surfaces by means of permeable systems is a key component in the new Alexander Street District that seeks to achieve a stormwater management system close to natural conditions.

Typical bioswale section

(above) Images of parking lot swales used in stormwater management.

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Examples of pervious paving materials including porous pavers, crushed gravel, porous bituminous and concrete, and grass cell pavers

Illustrative perspective of the Green street landscape character

Precedent image showing a curb bumpout with a bioswale and stone check dams.

Precedent image of a stormwater street with rain garden planting in the verge.

Artistic handling of roof run-off

(left) Precedent image showing per-meable paving along the pathway and reused crushed concrete and gravel from the former structures and paving on the site.

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Designers and developers should also consider the following criteria when laying out parkland and open space:

Sun alignments » – Where sun is abundant, shade for comfort and safety in activity areas should be provided through trellises, pavilions, or shade trees.

Prevailing winds » – The major advantage of wind in recreational develop-ment is its cooling aspect. Orientation of site furniture should account for catching summer breezes off of the river while a portion should provide protection from winter winds.

Relationship to the river » – Maximize pedestrian access to the Hudson River while preserving and restoring the natural habitats and ecosystems existing on-site.

View corridors » – Views to the waterfront are an asset to the new district and reinforce a visitor’s experience. Site location of amenities should maxi-mize views of natural features and minimize views of visitor and support facilities.

NEW CONSTRUCTION

To maintain consistent sustainable building standards throughout the devel-opment, LEED standards will be used. New buildings are to meet LEED certifi cation standards, with LEED-Silver being the targeted standard for new development. Refer to the Architecture Section of these guidelines for detailed information.

Example of green roof with exterior deck

Sketch showing dark sky compliant lighting

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Example of roof garden

Perspective sketch showing fields of native planting.

Example of roof garden

GREEN ROOFS

Within the Alexander Street Study Area, buildings are required to incorpo-rate green roofs into 50% of their roof plan design. Numerous benefi ts can result from the adoption of green roof technologies including the recovery of green space, moderation of the urban heat island effect, improved stormwater management, water and air purifi cation, and a reduction in energy consump-tion. A major benefi t of green roofs is their ability to absorb stormwater and release it slowly over a period of several hours. Green roof systems have been shown to retain 60-100% of the stormwater they receive. In addition, green roofs have a longer life-span than standard roofs because they are protected from ultraviolet radiation and the extreme fl uctuations in temperature that cause roof membranes to deteriorate.

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plant palettenative plants Indigenous plants have evolved with the local climate and the soil; therefor, they are perfectly suited to the region. There are many advantages to using local plants besides their ability to thrive. They are often low maintenance and thrive without the addition of fertilizers or pesticides, and they provide food and shelter for native wildlife. Th e following pages consist of lists showing the “best of the best” plant materials for use in the new Alexander Street district, and should serve as both a guide and a starting point for plant selection. Th e plant list focuses exclusively on native plant material suitable to the region. Many factors were considered in selecting the short list of plant materials including form and size, tolerance to urban conditions such as soil compaction, salt and brine spray, availability and hardiness, wildlife value, and beauty and seasonal color. Th e ideal plant for the proposed dense urban setting would be readily available and grow in almost any microclimate. It should be non-invasive, long lived, and provide forage and habitat for many songbirds and butterfl ies. Th is plant would also resist any disease or environmental stress and provide a vivid display of changing color throughout all seasons. Although this “ideal” plant is a fabrication, it is useful to underscore that plants making the following list needed to perform well in multiple categories versus being a standout in one particular category and showing poorly in several others.

ornamental plants In some cases, ornamental plants (non native plants that are not invasive but do well in the climate) are acceptable. These plants will typically only be used at formal garden areas in limited quantities.

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

SHADE TREESAcer rubrum Red mapleAcer saccharinum Silver mapleCarya ovata Shagbark HickoryCeltic Occidentailis HoneylocustGleditsia triacanthos HoneylocustGymnocladus dioicus Kentucky CoffeetreeLiquidambar styracifl ua Sweet gumLiriodendron tulipifera Tulip treeNyssa sylvatica Sourgum*Quercus alba White oak*

New England Aster

Red Maple leaves

Pin Oak leaves

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Red twig dogwood detail

Blue Flag Iris

Mountain Laurel leaves

Note: * indicates plants that are extremely tol-erant of road salt and wind

Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak Quercus phellos Willow oak Quercus rubra Northern red oak*

EVERGREEN TREESIlex opaca American hollyPinus strobus White pineTsuga canadensis Eastern hemlock

ORNAMENTAL TREESAmelanchier canadensis Shadblow serviceberry*Betula nigra River birchCercis canadensis RedbudCornus fl orida Flowering dogwoodHamamelis virginiana Common witch hazelSassafras albidum Sassafras

DECIDUOUS SHRUBSAesculus parvifl ora Bottlebrush buckeyeAronia melanocarpa Black chokeberry*Cornus sericea Red-osier dogwood Fothergilla gardenii Dwarf witch alderIlex verticillata Winterberry*Myrica pensylvanica Bayberry*Potentilla fruiticosa Bush cinquefoilRhododendron viscosum Swamp azaleaRosa palustris Swamp rose*Salix discolor Pussy willowSambucus canadensis Elderberry Spiraea latifolia MeadowsweetViburnum lentago NannyberryViburnum prunifolium Black-haw viburnum

EVERGREEN SHRUBSIlex glabra InkberryJuniperus horizontalis Creeping juniperKalmia latifolia Mountain laurelRhododendron maximum RosebayRhododendron catawbiense Catawba Rhododendron

GRASSESAndropogon gerardii Big bluestemPanicum virgatum Switchgrass*Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestemSorghastrum nutans Yellow Indian grass


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SECTION F LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES Plant Palette


PERENNIALS Amsonia tabernaemontana Blue StarAruncus dioicus Goat’s beard Asclepias incarnata Swamp MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa Butterfl y weedAster cordifolius Blue wood asterAster divaricatus White wood aster Aster novi-angliae New England asterBaptisia australis False indigo*Boltonia asteroides BoltoniaCoreopsis tripteris Tall tickseedCoreopsis verticillata Threadleaf tickseedEchinacea purpureum Purple conefl ower*Eupatorium coelestinum Hardy AgeratumEupatorium fi stulosum Joe pye weedEuphorbia corollata Flowering Spurge Filipendula rubra Queen of the PrairieHelianthus microcephalus Small-head sunfl owerHibiscus moscheutos Swamp rose mallowIris versicolor Northern bluefl agLiatris Spicata Blazing star Monarda didyma BeebalmMonarda fi stulosa Narrow-leaved mintPhlox maculata Meadow phloxPhlox pilosa Prairie phloxRudbeckia fulgida Brown-eyed susan*Solidago caesia Blue-stemmed GoldenrodSolidago sempervirens Seaside Goldenrod Solidago speciosa Showy GoldenrodVernonia noveboracensis New York ironweed

Field of brown-eyed susans

Note: * indicates plants that are extremely tol-erant of road salt and wind

Field of Blue Wood Asters

Narrow-leaved mintBlue-stemmed goldenrod

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TREESAcer platanoides Norway MapleAilanthus altissima Tree of HeavenPyrus calleryana Callery Pear

SHRUBSBerberis thunbergii Japanese BarberryBerberis vulgaris European BarberryEleagnus species Russian and Autumn OliveEuonymus alatus Burning BushLonicera maackii Amur HoneysuckleLonicera morrowii Morrow’s HoneysuckleLonicera tatarica Tatarian HoneysuckleRhamnus cathartica Common Buckthorn, Tallhedge

HERBACEOUSAmpelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelain BerryBuddleia species Butterfl y BushCelastrus orbiculatus Asian BittersweetEuonymus fortunei WintercreeperHedera helix English IvyLythrum salicaria Purple LoosestrifeLonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle

PLANTS NOT TO BE USED

The following plant list, including all varieties, are not to be used for Yonkers Waterfront. Most listed below are invasive, are often overused in urban land-scapes, and have poor root structure. Invasive plants degrade native environ-ments by displacing native plants and degrading habitat for native insects, birds, and animals. Invasive plants, even when grown in a cultivated yard, can spread, escape, and cause landscape maintenance weeding problems for years to come. For additional information on invasive plants, please refer to the following sources online:

www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/toc.html »

www.ipcnys.org (New York State Invasive Plant Council) »

http://nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies (The Nature Conservancy) »

Asian Bittersweet Purple loosestrife

Burning buch leaves

Norway maple leaf

town square garden - city of yonkers, ny | city of yonkers

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