The Roberto Clemente State Park revitalization plan outlines goals for enhancing the park's infrastructure, accessibility, and visitor experience. Key proposals include improving the park's connection to the water, creating new educational opportunities, and revitalizing underutilized spaces, with project timelines extending from 2014 to 2016. Public input is encouraged, with a deadline for comments set for July 3, 2014.

1. Roberto Clemente State Park
Revitalization Plan
Public Information Meeting
June 19, 2014

2. Meeting Agenda
 State Parks Goals & Priorities
 Park Overview
 Overview of the Plans
 Break Session –Viewing of Plans
 Public Comment
 Next Steps

3. OPRHP Goals & Priorities
 Keep state parks and historic sites open, safe,
affordable, and accessible.
 Increase, deepen, and improve the visitor
experience.
 Fix aging infrastructure; convert and transform
the Park System with aesthetically compelling,
energy and operationally efficient, and “built to
last” facilities.

4. OPRHP Goals: Plan for Park
 Build an understanding of the issues
 Revitalize the Park in a thoughtful manner
 Better meet the needs of the Park’s patrons

5. Park Overview - History
 1973 – Opened as Harlem River State Park
 1974 – Renamed Roberto Clemente State Park
 2006 – Public Meeting to discuss Park Masterplan
 2008 – Rehabilitation of the aquatics facility and basketball
courts, building of green roof for gym
 2013 – Opening of new playground
 2014 – Rehabilitation of baseball field, building heating

6. Park Overview - Facilities
• 1 million+ visitors per year
• 25-acre, ¾ mile long waterfront park along Harlem River
• Facilities include
• Multi-purpose recreation building
• Olympic-size pool complex with water play areas
• Ball fields with night lighting
• Basketball courts
• Picnic areas
• Playground
• Waterfront esplanade

7. Park Overview - Waterfront
 3,700 linear feet (0.7 miles) of waterfront
 2,000 linear feet of bulkhead
 1,700 linear feet of rip rap/revetment
 However, Park is not oriented toward the water
 Trees and fences block view of water in many places

8. Superstorm Sandy
 3 feet of water throughout Park
 13” of water inside the building
 Closed down bulkhead and caused erosion of shoreline
 Significant damage to electrical infrastructure

9. Superstorm Sandy

10. Overview of Plans

12. Upper Plaza

13. Upper Plaza
 No park entry presence
 Lack of park aesthetic / identity / character
 Predominance of hard landscaping elements
 Structural Issues below

14. Upper Plaza
 Transitions

15. Upper Plaza
 Structural damage

16. Upper Plaza - Site Plan

20. BULKHEAD REHABILITATION
Esplanade
Tidal Pool
Lower Plaza

21.  Goals
 Protect adjacent uses - Park, housing, school, and Metro-North lines
 Provide flood protection and storm resilience
 Improve Park’s connection to water
 Enhance programming in spaces adjacent to waterfront
 Create environmental education opportunities
 Introduce bike path through the Park
Bulkhead Rehabilitation
21

22. Esplanade - Existing
22

23. 23
Esplanade - Proposed
Overlook Rain Garden Performance Area

24. 24
Esplanade
Existing Conditions- Near Rain Garden

25. 25
EsplanadeNear Rain Garden

26. 26
SECTION LOCATION
Esplanade
Rain Garden Section

27. 27
Esplanade
Existing Conditions – Overlook Area

28. 28
Esplanade
Overlook

29. 29
Esplanade
Existing – Performance Area

30. 30
Esplanade
Existing – Future Performance Area

31. 31
Esplanade
Future Performance Area

33. 33
Lower Plaza - Existing

34. Lower Plaza - Existing
 Oversized and underutilized plaza with 600 linear feet of waterfront
BBQ Areas of Lower Plaza Waterfront Next to Lower Plaza
Waterfront Next to Lower Plaza
Lower Plaza
34

35.  Too much asphalt
 Very underutilized – aside from BBQ areas it is often empty
 Central plaza is too big for performances held at the park
 Not much to do in most of the plaza when there is no
performance
 No connection to the river
Lower Plaza - Existing

36.  Create better mix of activities
 Incorporate an “Intertidal Area” (Tidal Pool)
 Expand existing barbeque areas
 Create enhanced performance space
 Continue bike path through the Plaza in a safe manner
 Reduce asphalt
 Capture stormwater for use in the Intertidal Area
 Preserve views from the Upper Plaza to the Intertidal Area and
Harlem River
Lower Plaza - Proposed

37. Lower Plaza - Proposed
Park
Bldg
Upper
Plaza
Playground
Parking

38. Lower Plaza - Proposed

39. Intertidal Area - Proposed
PATRON EXPERIENCE
 Invite Harlem River into Park in a safe and controlled manner
 Create habitat for marine and terrestrial species
 Establish a different experience within the Lower Plaza
 Experience area on elevated and getdown platforms
 Provide environmental educational opportunities

40. Intertidal Area - Proposed
GREEN SHORELINE INFRASTRUCTURE
 Flood protection for the Park
 Storm resiliency
 Stormwater capture from Lower Plaza is used to flush the
Intertidal Area

41. Lower Plaza/Intertidal Area

42. Lower Plaza/Intertidal Area
Section – West/East

43. Lower Plaza - Proposed
Section – North/South

44. Lower Plaza - Proposed
View west from edge of BBQ grove to the Stage/Perch and the Harlem River

45. 45
Lower Plaza & Tidal Pool
Stormwater System

46. 46
Lower Plaza & Tidal Pool
Bird’s Eye View

47. North Shoreline &
Ball Fields

49. Shoreline Picnic Area
Multipurpose Field North End
Shoreline & Fields - Existing

50. Shoreline & Fields-Proposed
 Stabilize shoreline
 Open up the views to the river
 Maximize area for athletic fields and programming
 Create quality passive spaces for patrons
 Continue shared waterfront path north

51. South End

52. South End - Existing
South End lawn South End looking from Bridge Park
Bridge Park (under construction) South End shoreline

53.  Preserve area for annual picnics by residents
 Create new activity – boat house, bike park, etc.
 Relocate soccer program
 Accommodate dog owners
 Improve landscaping
South End – Initial Ideas

54. Project Timelines

55. Project Timelines
 Upper Plaza
 Fall 2014 – Summer 2015
 Bulkhead/Esplanade/Intertidal Area
 Winter 2014 – Winter 2016
 Lower Plaza
 2015 - 2016
 North Shoreline
 2015 - 2016
 South End
 TBD
(Estimated)

56. Public Comment

57.  ALL ideas / suggestions are welcome
 Questions to help define or understand
input are OK
 Written statements will be accepted
Public Input

58.  Listen to understand
 Respect each others’ viewpoints
 Be fair with time
 Be concise
 Minimize “side bar” conversations
Public Input

59. Public Input: Timeline
 Comments Due –July 3, 2014
 Meeting Summary – July 25, 2014

60. Thank You!
 Written Comments to:
RobertoClemente.Plan@parks.ny.gov
Elisabeth Draper, Park Planner
NYS OPRHP
Planning Bureau
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12238
 Due by: Thursday, July 3, 2014
 For more information: www.nysparks.com

61. 61
ELEVATION LOCATION
Esplanade
Overlook