The Landplan Group was contracted at this point to serve as aesthetic design consultants, design charette facilitators and project Landscape Architects. The project would involve a variety of input areas and became the most diversified project they have ever been involved with. In order to bring this project to completion, Landplan had to lead the creative design effort for the north and south end improvements; Develop the public art concept with public input; Design the final mural selected; Solicit artists for the project; Lead community input sessions for Parkers Mill Road and the North End, work with the Community Arts Council, develop landscape plans for Parkers Mill realignments, develop project visualizations for public presentation, develop an interactive 3-D model for long range airport master planning and develop drive by scenarios for Versailles Road and Parkers Mill Road.

North End Design Solutions

As a first step, we were asked to take a look at the required North End retaining wall. The structure necessary for the embankment would run 600 feet along Versailles Road at an approximate height of 30 feet and then turn slightly and run an additional 300 feet at an oblique angle to the road. It was clear the scale of the wall would dwarf the adjacent historic walls that surround the Keeneland Race Course property. The solution involved breaking up the scale of the wall through use of limestone knee walls, columns, ornamental iron fence panels and Boston Ivy placed on a stone veneered retaining wall panel.

As we turned the corner and the wall ran an additional 300 feet directly in line with the aircraft approach and landing zone, the use of landscaping would be prohibited by the FAA. Birds and other wildlife attracted by vegetation do not make good neighbors to jet engines. Shade trees, evergreens, shrub masses and other elements typically used to screen views would not be allowed in this area. In essence, many of the traditional methods we would employ for reducing visual impacts and screening unsightly views would be prohibited.

The artist, Eric Henn, took the design drawing done by Landplan and projected the image onto the wall at night and painted during the day. Eric did 90 percent of the painting.

This led to developing a completely new way of dealing with a landscape backdrop make it a theatrical moment. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

We developed a concept for the landscape plan that would not use landscaping. The idea involved creating a three dimensional scene along the front of the retaining wall that would allow the wall to serve as a theatrical backdrop. We wanted the real and sculpted landscape along the edge of the wall and the painted backdrop on the surface of the wall to become one element. We solicited input from the Lexington Arts Council, Keeneland Race Course, local horse farm owners, pilots and airport staff, and the Lexington Urban County government and developed several alternatives before a final mural image was finalized. The scene would be applied to the wall as a painted image.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The 35 million dollar project involved a 600 foot extension of the paved safety area which exists at the end of the primary runway surface and included the subsequent extension of approach lighting, navigational aids, communications, radar and guidance equipment.

View Full Size Image

South End Design Solutions

We turned our attention to the south end and on the many issues facing the relocation of Parkers Mill Road. Through a series of public input sessions we guided several key decisions. Prior to looking at the actual landscape requirements for the roadway, we developed a plan which explored the roadway in terms of landscape typology. Working with the State Historic Preservation Office and land owners, we first determined what kind of road we wanted to have once the project was complete. In a nutshell, we did not want a typical improved road section, we wanted to recreate a rural Kentucky lane. On a rural road the trees are nearly in the pavement in many instances, a condition that is not possible given local standards which require landscaping to be clear of the ROW.

A compromise was reached in order to allow a more context sensitive condition. This involved meeting with the State Transportation Cabinet in order to ease current landscape requirements. This would allow us to place trees, perennial masses, rock outcrops, and stone fence fragments (all elements of a rural lane) much closer to the roadway. It was important to see this piece of road fragment as a part of the continued rural lane and not view it as a completely separate link. Landscaping would need to take on a bit different form to achieve this look, while maintaining strict safety standards. The overall concept was accepted by the state DOT.

With the stream relocation came a significant riparian corridor planting area. This severely constrained the area was available to plant on the south side of the road. We were interested in the creek becoming a more important characteristic of the corridor as viewed from the road. Working hand in hand with the hydrology and stream relocation engineers we mixed native plantings with the required riparian plantings to create a more natural appearance. We developed a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The planting area considerations included: Utilizing Native species; Natural planting patterns and forms; Low maintenance plant species that will not require excessive chemical fertilizer/pesticide use close to a waterway and ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The embankment and wall that will border the corridor on both sides were too massive to screen with planted elements. The design calls for interest along the roadsides with flowering shrubbery and extensive perennial plantings that create waves of color and draw attention away from less desirable views.

Lexington and the surrounding communities are internationally known as the location of majestic horse farms and attract thousands of tourists and race fans each year. This retaining wall is more than simply a retaining wall?EUR??,,????'?????<

Visualizations

Concurrent with other projects, we began a series of visualizations for the airport and the community. The BGA asked our firm to develop a three dimensional model for the entire property which would include both the north end and the south end future improvements. This model served as a planning tool for all future projects as well as a visualization tool to aid in the public understanding of project impacts. From this model we were able to develop a series of ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Conclusion

Typically, a Landscape Architect?EUR??,,????'?????<

Landplan?EUR??,,????'?????<

---

Bluegrass Airport Safety Zone Improvements
Lexington, Kentucky