R-308-94 Approving a master plan for general fry's landingRESOLUTION 202'
RESOLUTION APPROVING A MASTER PLAN
FOR GENERAL FRY'S LANDING
WHEREAS, The Illinois & Michigan Canal Advisory Commission has undertaken
the preparation of a master plan to provide for an overall recreational design for the area
known as General Fry's Landing; and
WHEREAS, the master plan is attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the master plan also contained a number of design option alternatives
which have been discussed by the Commission, and are specifically recommended for
inclusion in the master plan; and
and
WHEREAS, the recommended design option alternatives are attached as Exhibit B;
WHEREAS, the phasing and financing of the implementation of this master plan
shall be evaluated annually as part of the Village budget process.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the master plan for General Fry's
Landing and design alternatives be approved.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT, CO , WILL, AND DU PAGE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, on
this 02ef—C day of CL D�� , 1994.
Barbara Buschman
Alice Chin
Keith Latz
William Margalus
Richard Rimbo
Ralph Schobert
Approved by me this
Attest;
AYES NAYS PASSED ABSENT
CHARLENE M. SMOLLEN, Village Clerk
day of M
, 1994.
CHaE i2S140L'Ill, i la g a Clerk
A NESKI, Village President
EXHIBIT A
Concept Plan
I &M Canal Development Plan for
I &M Canal Commission, Village of Lemont
Abrams Teller & Madsen, Inc
5751 North Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60660
r
Concept
ATM's plan for General Fry's landing reflects
some preliminary work done for the entire
canal corridor. Generally, the Landing plan
shows the historical use of the canal as an
industrial transport network. The paved
(quarrystone) area follows a straight pattern
suggested by the canal route and also
suggests the original historic uses of the area
alongside the canal: for staging and storage
of a great variety of goods. We have
suggested a "vocabulary" of materials and
techniques (limestone, wood, native
vegetation) that might be repeated
throughout the landing to give visual,
educational, and aesthetic continuity to the
area.
The landscaping helps to define the space
and provide a parklike atmosphere. The
trees proposed are indigenous riveredge
canopy trees. A main goal of the landscaping
throughout the Landing and park area is to
screen the setting from adjacent industrial
buildings, vehicles and roads. There will also
be foundation shrub screen plantings to help
hide the industrial structures at the eastern
edge of the landing. These plantings will
repeat those along the Path (see below).
When Lemont relocates the Police Auto
Pound, plantings will be made to create an
additional visual barrier from the buildings
to the north. These plantings will also help to
more strongly identify this area with the
Canal and the rest of the park. Finally, the
pine grove at the north end of the site will be
enlarged.
The Planning Architect's plan called for a
pedestrian footbridge to link a proposed
parking area on the south side of the canal
with the Landing on the north side. Even if
parking is not provided, the bridge makes a
needed connection between the north and
south sides of the canal and provides a
crossing and entry to the Landing that is an
alternative to a busy street. Our plan
continues this concept and uses this area as a
logical entry to the Landing.
It may also be possible to add additional
footbridges —for instance at either end of the
Path.
All of the exhibits are theme driven and
oriented more towards concept rather than
object. The anticipated audience is both local
and regional, and will best be served through
exhibits that have an educational and cultural
emphasis.
The Lemont Canal Planning Committee
recommends that the Gazebo and the current
stone "General Fry" identification marker at
the north end of the Landing be retained.
Path
The main landscaping features of the path
continue the elements of the rest of the
Landing site: Native shade trees, a suggestion
of grassy prairie, limestone pavers, and
limestone blocks used for seating. Small
labels may be placed to identify the plantings
and explain the reasons for using them.
Overlook areas are provided that correspond
in materials and techniques to the Landing in
general and the Limestone exhibits in
particular.
The path within the Landing area will
remain unpaved in order to maintain an
authentic towpath environment.
Throughout the path, many features of
the natural and built landscape will be
interpreted using permanent signage and
trailside interpretive exhibits. These
features include wildfowl (herons, ducks),
small animals (deer, foxes), evidence of
past quarrying, squatter's homes, and
marinas.
The extent of the path and interpretive
devices will be along the entire length of
the path —from Route 83 to the Will
County line. The unpaved portion of the
towpath will also be improved along this
route, as required.
A suitable identification sign will be
included at the entry to the site. This will
be near the existing parking lot, as shown
in the drawing. The parking lot is
privately owned and must remain as is
throughout the course of the renovation
project. However, a low berm or barrier
will extend the path along the canal
through the parking lot.
The Sanitary and Ship Canal will also be
interpreted along the trail— including
information about reversing the flow of
the river system and uses of the Canal
today.
The path itself would be hard surfaced
crushed stone, (or other similar, easy to
maintain material) properly graded and
drained. All amterials used will permit
access by disabled visitors.
Boat tie rings and appropriate
interpretive labels along the path may
also be used.
Limestone Exhibit
The limestone exhibit consists of a
limestone arch structure to provide a
sense of entry to the landing and to serve
as a backdrop for an interpretive exhibit
panel describing the limestone industry
and the growth of Lemont and the
surrounding area and towns. The
irregular form of the arch, growing out of
the quarry face, also connotes the many
buildings and monuments that were
made from local stone while not
portraying any specific structure. The
arch is in a setting that is graded and
roughly surfaced with coarse stone to
imply a quarry setting. In this setting,
quarry tools (or reproductions) may be
displayed. The focus here, and
throughout the Landing exhibits, is to
portray the lives of workers and others
who contributed to the growth of the
area. Photos, graphics, and labels will be
used to help convey this story.
Seating— limestone blocks to reflect the
feeling of quarrying and the arch —will be
provided here and throughout the
Landing area. The blocks may be a
repeated element along the Trail and,
perhaps, as a model for future work in
selected areas of the Canal Corridor.
An additional exhibit area consists of
several landscape elements at the eastern
section of the Landing area. It may be
possible to explain the area and the
limestone industry using landscaping and
large quarry blocks. The progression of
the landscaping exhibit would be:
1. Virgin prairie —a new planting to
show how the first settlers
encountered the area.
2. An area of raw limestone to show the
natural history and "discovery " of
the mineral.
3.. An "excavated" area using a
landscaped berm and partially buried
limestone to show quarrying and,
possibly, some of the larger tools
used.
The blocks could be an element that is
used, throughout the Landing.
Canal Boat
The canal boat is a full –scale replica, built
of wood, or other suitable outdoor
material. It sits in a pavilion that will
house additional interpretive displays,
panels, photographs, and (if available)
objects. Since the exhibits are covered, but
essentially outdoors and unattended, they
must be constructed so as to withstand
the rigors of climate and vandals. These
kinds of materials and techniques are
usually more expensive than their indoor
counterparts. The exhibits will describe :
1. Canal boat construction. The
description may include full -size
cutaways to show construction
details, diagrams, plans, tools,
shipyards, and launching.
2. Canal construction. Since there are
not many early photographs of the
Canal, it may be good to commission
original illustrations to focus on this (and
other) aspects of the canal story. A
model of a section of the canal and locks
under construction is also a possibility
3. Workers. Exhibits describe the life of the
men and women who built the canal and,
subsequently, settled in the area.
Photographs (where available), drawings
and tools (real or reproduction) will be
used. A comparison may also be drawn
between these people and those who
provided financing for the canal and
owned the warehouses.
4. General information. Photographs,
graphics and labels to describe the canal
route, function, how the barges were
pulled by mules, competition with other
forms of transport (mainly railroads),
storage facilities, other area commerce,
transport logistics, etc. All graphics and
other information will be accessible to
disabled visitors.
Implementation
Due to the nature of the work, it will be
necessary for landscaping to take place
during the warmer months (April thru
September). However, comprehensive
design, detailing and production of exhibit
elements could start immediately.
Cost estimates presented can easily be phased
according to which areas of the plan coincide
with other work being done in the Village.
General paving and landscaping can be
worked out and completed under a contract
with a landscape architect and the exhibit
elements including interpretive labels could
be designed and fabricated in 1995.
I i •
Options
It has been suggested that the following
options be considered:
1. That the gazebo be relocated to a site, to
be determined, that is outside of the
General Fry's Landing park area.
2. That the existing stone marker that
identifies the site be eliminated or
relocated.
3. That the existing flagpoles, fencing,
crushed rock and other landscaping at
the existing entrance be eliminated or
relocated.
4. To locate the canal boat display under the
Lemont Road highway overpass.
Funding Sources
Here are some suggestions for possible
sources to obtain funding for the proposed
renovation project:
1. The Illinois Transportation
Enhancements Program
Funds historical preservation projects
related to canals. Existing grants that
currently cover trails could possibly be
expanded to cover interpretation of the
General Fry's Landing.
2. Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley
Foundation
3. TIF Funding
4. Local business might be interested in
sponsorship of all or some of the project:
Wonder Bread
Peter Russell
708.482.7770
Bodie - Hoover Petroleum Corp.
David F. Lyons, Jr.
708.257.7781
Folger Adams Co.
Donald A. Shoup
708. 739.3900
K. A. Steel Chemicals Inc.
Matt Koupal
708.257.3900
Uno -Ven Co. Refinery Others include:
J.K. Bassett Barcoat Inc.
708.257.7761 Botts Inc.
D & B Fabricators
Dudek, Inc.
Cost Estimates
The estimates provided are for budgetary
funding only. Since the elements have not
been concretely designed, a final quotation
would need to be obtained before contracts
could be worked out.
Trees and Shrubs:
(28) - 3" Caliper Trees 61 $400 each 11,200
(20) - 36" Height Shrubs @ $40 each 800
512,000
Landscape Exhibit:
Prarie
Discovery
Quarry
Paving:
Limestone - 5,000 sq.ft. ® 811.00
Path - 10,000 sq.ft. ® 55.00
Footbridge:
Seating:
Two (2) benches
Limestone Archway:
Arch
Exhibit Elements
1,000
3,500
5,500
510,000
55,000
50,000
5105,000
515,000 - 25,000
$ 1,700 - 3,000
6,000 - 10,000
4,000 - 8,000
510,000 - 18,000 •
Interpretive Identifiers:
(40) Enamel Panels ft 5250 each $10,000
Canal Boat'. $25,000 - 50,000
Typical Overlook':
Reading Rail
Bench
Landscaping
3,000 - 5000
850 - 1,500
700 - 1,000
$ 4.850 • 7,500
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Detail:
Proposed
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east of
Harlem
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(pending
clarification)
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Limestone
arries
Stone Quarries Were Used
For Building Materials
A permanent interpretive exhibit of
the history of the Lemont area..
Exhibit materials and techniques
were designed to compliment the
historic home used for the exhibit
space. Photomurals, screenprinted
graphics and dimensional figures
were used throughout the exhibit.
The mounts were individually
designed and custom made.
Shown is a detail of a quarry
workers and a building from the
19th century. The building was
designed for easy access and
visibility.
Will County Historical Society
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EXHIBIT B
GENERAL FRY'S LANDING RECOMMENDED DESIGN OPTIONS
GAZEBO
During a subsequent implementation phase, the gazebo is to be relocated from its present
location to a specific location to be determined later.
COMMEMORATIVE BRICKS
When the gazebo is relocated the commemorative brick display shall be relocated to a
prominent site within General Fry's Landing.
STONE MARKER
As part of the paving and landscaping of the parking lot, the General Fry's Landing stone
marker will be relocated to the entrance of the lot and incorporated into the lot design.
ENTRYWAY FENCING. ROCK, LANDSCAPING AND FLAGPOLES
The fencing, rock, and landscaping will be relocated. The flagpoles will remain in their
present location.
CANAL BOAT LOCATION
The canal boat display will be located to "line up" with the terminus of Lemont Street at
the I &M Canal for visibility from Main Street and Illinois Street.