Tales of the Western Power Line Trail By J2 Engineering and Environmental Design, Phoenix ?EUR??,,????'?????< Looking north at the Reservoir Gorge water feature plaza on the Western Power Line Trail in Gilbert, Ariz., children are walking across the water feature on concrete stepping-stones. |
When you think of ?EUR??,,????'?????<Blood and Thunder. It?EUR??,,????'?????<
 The park area consists of two major outdoor plaza areas, turf and tree-lined paths, informal seating nodes and four unique water features. Two water features stand on either side of Gilbert Road, forming a gateway to downtown. At the center of each plaza is a distinctive water feature representing a tie to Gilbert?EUR??,,????'?????<
Our featured project, also in the Southwest, is the Western Power Line Trail, along historic Wallace Feeder Canal, better known as Western Canal, about a half-mile between Elliot Road and Guadalupe in Gilbert, Ariz. The site was a largely neglected two-mile linear corridor traversed by the irrigation canal and a 500 kV power transmission corridor. The irrigation canal, like the power lines, necessary and functional, yet uninspiring, particularly given they are adjacent to established residential and commercial developments. This particular section of the Western Power Line Trail constitutes over two miles and 25 acres of multiuse trails that follow the banks of the Western Canal. As a continuation of the Sun Circle Trail, it connects two of the town?EUR??,,????'?????<
 This view looks west down the trail from Reservoir Gorge Plaza. The water feature has a sunken level seating area. Concrete seat pods resembling baffle blocks punctuate the turf berms and the periphery of the plaza to offer informal gathering areas.
Former ?EUR??,,????'?????<
 Looking east you see the Delivery Falls water feature at Gilbert Road. This water feature, replicated on the other side of Gilbert Rd., forms a gateway into the Heritage District. Davis Colors (San Diego Buff, Palomino, Green Slate, Rustic Brown and Kahlua) were used for the water features, walls and flatwork. The decomposed granite here is 1⁄4" minus ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Mormon settlements in Mexico? Yes, explains Thomas Cottam Romney in Mormon Colonies in Mexico. Some Mormon groups in the early 1900s ventured south of the border to escape scrutiny of polygamy practices frowned upon, indeed declared illegal, by the U.S. government. These Mormon colonies however soon fled back north after encounters with revolutionary general Jos????????(C) Doroteo Arango Ar??????mbula (?EUR??,,????'?????< Gilbert, incorporated in 1920, became the ?EUR??,,????'?????< Well, enough history.
 The water features recycled equipment from Salt River Project?EUR??,,????'?????<
Heritage District The aesthetic quality and function of this multiuse path and linear park is a harkening to the past relationship between the agrarian founders of Gilbert and Salt River Project (SRP). SRP is the local utility company, providing electricity to some 934,000 retail customers in the Phoenix area, operating or participating in 11 major power plants and numerous other generating stations, including thermal, nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectric sources. SRP also delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to central Arizona customers.
 The water features were designed to showcase the movement of water from mountainous reservoirs, to SRP turnout structures, to water delivery systems that continue to feed the agricultural areas outside of town. The stone cladding on the central water column used to be on all SRP irrigation turn-out structures.
Aspects of this project include a preserved and enhanced irrigation canal water supply, a civic space with room for a wide variety of activities, including farmers?EUR??,,????'?????<
 The metal troughs for the Lateral Deluge water feature were salvaged from SRP well casings. SRP provides electricity to some 934,000 retail customers in the Phoenix area, operating or participating in 11 major power plants and numerous other generating stations, including thermal, nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectric sources. SRP also delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to central Arizona customers.
Enter J2
 View looking west at sunset across the reflection trough at Lateral Deluge. Overhead power lines parallel the trail as it continues to the west.
Challenges and Complexity Among the many challenges was integration of the project into existing residential and light industrial development, existing groundwater recharge facilities, existing mature landscape, future commercial development, existing agricultural uses, and the influence of the open, earthen lined, historic Wallace feeder canal.
 Looking west down the trail, the SRP stone designates the pedestrian crossing at a speed table for the future Ash St. The grass area is framed by scalloped edged concrete embedded with blue glass beads.
On the Ground The introduction of hard and soft surfaces define the trail system and offer a safe mode of transportation for the widest variety of trail users, from joggers to bikers to equestrians. The scalloped edges of the multi-use path and curbing, embedded with recycled blue glass beads, frame a swath of turf that represents the past alignment of the canal.
 The hardscape at Lateral Deluge Plaza (pictured) and the Reservoir Gorge Plaza (?EUR??,,????'?????<
The highlight area of the project is the linear park, nestled in the redeveloping Heritage district. To gain the area for the linear park the town and SRP converted approximately 1,200 linear feet of earthen channel to a piped system. The park area consists of two major outdoor plaza areas, turf and tree-lined paths, informal seating nodes and four unique water features. Two water features stand on either side of Gilbert Road, forming a gateway to downtown. At the center of each plaza is a distinctive water feature representing Gilbert?EUR??,,????'?????< The power line corridor also has specific and unique access requirements from SRP. These requirements dictated the trail system cross-section be designed to sustain prolonged periods of heavy crane equipment use. Incorporation of turf reinforcement cylinders on a compacted AB base along the edges of the trail system support the load of these trucks if they leave the pavement. Additional clear turnaround and setup areas also had to be incorporated into the design for SRP access to the lines. These features all required unique and innovative design approaches that resulted in analysis and design of all features and infrastructure relative to these impacts.
Celebrating Water Farmers Constructing open, accessible water features directly under power lines required specific designs relative to grounding the entire feature and steel reinforcement placement. In addition to the water features under the power line corridors, these features were also positioned over the top of a new 60?EUR??,,????'?????<
We?EUR??,,????'?????<
Social, Economic Considerations in the Design From an economic vantage point the creation of open space within the heart of downtown was designed to accommodate larger crowds with its paved plazas and allow space for special events that both draw and create the economic engine desired in any commercial corridor.
 This view looks west through a column of water at the Delivery Falls water feature. A remnant parcel of agricultural land is the immediate background with new residential development beyond that.
Sustainable Design
 The grass is EZ Turf ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Exceeding Client/Owner Needs Future Value to the Profession Recognition for a complex project that required innovative thinking and an approach that focused on teamwork from concept development to grand opening. The Firm J2 civil engineering expertise is in water, sewer, paving and grading, with an emphasis on water resource engineering. The landscape architecture department specializes in master planning, urban design, park and recreation design, multi-use trails, environmental restoration and commercial and municipal facilities. Project sizes have ranged from 1/2 acre and 1 acre urban pocket parks to over 600-acres of environmental restoration. The staff comprises 31 technical, design and support professionals, including nine professional engineers and six registered landscape architects. ?EUR??,,????'?????< Western Power Line Trail Project Team |
