Congratulations to the Wilson & Company Project Team that designed the Trailhead Park-n-Bike facility in Peoria and recently won a 2018 ACEC of Arizona Grand Award!
The New River Trailhead at Fletcher Heights incorporated cooperative funding, a unique spoke and wheel design, and innovative use of materials to overcome challenges related to connectivity, accessibility, topography, drainage, and utilities. The project incorporates amenities to promote the health, welfare, and sustainability of the community, including exercise and stretching areas, benches and bike stands, a large shaded ramada, lighting, landscaping, a chilled drinking fountain, and trash and recycling containers accompanied by a pet watering station.
Wilson & Company partnered with Waibel & Associates to design the new trailhead, which was then constructed by Valley Rain. The project was completed through a combination of federal and local funding sources. The City of Peoria successfully secured funding from the Maricopa Association of Government’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Design Assistance program, which provided funds for project scoping and concept design (15% plans). Following the concept phase, the City of Peoria moved forward with the final design and construction through its Capital Improvement Program.
The new trailhead, completed in late summer 2017, was designed to accommodate vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The design team and contractor worked closely with the City of Peoria throughout the development of the project – from concept design options to the final constructed elements.
The original budget for design and construction was approximately $1.14M, and the project was completed for $1.09M, including $194,000 in budgeted and expended design fees. The trailhead opened on August 3, 2017, ahead of its original deadline of September 30, 2017.
The bicycle-themed parking area, designed to resemble a cog and spoked wheel, provides easy circulation for its users. The project used a number of common materials, but in creative and aesthetic ways, including:
- Existing hardscape techniques were used to emphasize the spoke and wheel bicycle theme, with the scored concrete and a variety of colors.
- The pattern for the board formed concrete in the retaining wall was oriented vertically to visually balance the horizontal line of the walkway, and lead your eye upward.
- The ramada was also constructed with common materials, but the arrangement of the materials fulfilled several functions. In addition to providing much-needed shade, the ramada itself was constructed with an angular roof, oriented with the high end toward the river to maximize airflow and effectively cool the space.
The Phoenix and Albuquerque offices collaborated on this design effort. Additionally, the Survey Group provided the Transportation Group with drone coverage and video editing which greatly helped in securing the Grand Award.
