Walking
Path
1. The required width of the trail is to be six (6) feet. This will allow for persons to pass each other shoulder to shoulder without moving around each other.
2. The trail should be made of a hard surface material throughout its length. This material could be asphalt, asphalt mixed with rubber or other comparable surface material. Consideration should be given to possibly imprinting a surface design into the material.
3. Any foundation material (gravel) beneath all or portions of the hard surface is required only if its inclusion provides a cost effective improvement in the stability or life expectancy of the trail.
4. The surface of the trail needs to be level for ease of walking and use of strollers / carriages etc. This may require re-grading any slopes to make the trail level.
5. The surface needs to drain water to preclude the accumulation of puddles on the trail.
6. The trail should have sharply defined edges adjoining lawns or driveways.
7. Include small tasteful signage indicating trail at key points as well as markers every half-mile.
8.Four sitting areas should be constructed approximately equidistant from each other along the trail. Each sitting area should have one or two benches depending on anticipated usage.
One area on Broken Ridge Trail at the head of the lake should have a platform extended out over the stream inflow. This platform would include an arbor like structure and would be directly down the lake from the amenities site and serve as an architectural counter point (possible to the gazebo planned at the dock area). There exists the possibility of creating a small water feature just above the lake and below the platform that allows water to fall into the lake.
Another area may be incorporated in the gazebo planned for the end of the dock or within the vicinity of the clubhouse if the gazebo area is not available.
Benches should be placed in a single area along McLendon Hills drive.
One other area may be created in a wetlands area on the far side of the lake along Broken Ridge Trail.
9. All sitting areas utilize space in excess of the standard width of 6 feet and should be landscaped accordingly.
10. If a portion of the trail passes in front of the clubhouse then consideration should be given to changing the surface material of the trail within 100 feet of either side of the clubhouse that is in esthetic harmony with the materials fronting the clubhouse.
11. The trail, all or in part, should be handicapped accessible, including access for wheel chairs.
12. At any point where the trail crosses a street or other obstacle a permanent sloped transition area needs to extend from the trail to the street and back up to the trail – this would support ease of use by wheel chairs, strollers, carriages and children’s toys / wheeled vehicles.
12. Trash baskets are required at each of the sitting areas.
13. A ‘green’ buffer area between the road and the trail is required. This could be from two (2) to four (4) feet in width but should be a consistent width the entire length of the trail if possible.
Additional
Considerations:
Accent lights at the sitting areas might be used to encourage trail use in the evenings. These lights could be solar powered with a timer for fixed on and off cycles.
The landscaped areas around sitting areas should include plantings consistent with their unique location and should be designed to attract birds (ex. hummingbirds), animals (ex. ducks, beaver) and insects (example butterflies) depending on the sitting areas location.
Plantings owned and maintained by owners should be encouraged along the portion of the trail crossing their property. These plantings would be along the side of the trail closest to a house. This would allow for variability of plantings along the trail and still respect the rights of individual owners property design requirements.
Consideration should be given to whether the side of the trail facing the street should be free of plantings to allow for efficient cutting of the grass and access to the trails for maintenance.
The trail is envisioned as being designed of use for all members of the community: individuals, joggers, couples, handicapped persons and parents with small children and their associated toys. The trail is not for use by ANY type of motorized vehicle regardless of power source.