[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]









FED: 3 latt



                             PROJECT REPORT


                                 FOR THE


             MAINE AVENUE WATERFRONT PARK DESIGN PROJECT











                              Prepared by:


              Casino Reinvestment Development Authority









                                    Li.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA
                                    COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
                                    2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
                                    CHARLESTON , SC 29405-24l3


 HT
 168
 .A85
 P76
 19690                                 P:--,cp-t, of Ter;C Library
 1990

              _'1990









ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This report was prepared under contract with the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Coastal
Resources, Planning Group with the financial assistance of the U.S.
Department  of  Commerce,   National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric
Administration, off ice of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,
under the provisions of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act,
P.L. 92-583, ai amended.









Page 2


BACKGROUND
Atlantic City's Northeast Inlet is located at the northeastern tip
of the barrier island at the Absecon Inlet. The Northeast Inlet
Redevelopment Plan was adopted by Atlantic City in 1987 to direct
a rebirth of that area. The Plan calls for the redevelopment of
the Inlet through the construction and rehabilitation of
approximately 3,000 residential units on seventy-five acres. The
Plan includes an open space element consisting of approximately
twenty-five of the one hundred acres covered under the Plan. The
Maine Avenue Waterfront Park is a major component of the open space
plan with five waterfront acres of park area planned for passive
recreation.


The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) is directly
involved with the implementation of the Northeast Inlet
Redevelopment Plan. The Authority channels casino obligations to
redevelopment projects and coordinates the resources and efforts
of various governmental agencies and private sector interests. The
Maine Avenue Waterfront Park is supported by both the City of
Atlantic City and the County of Atlantic.   In October  1989,
Atlantic County, Division of Parks and Recreation submitted an
urban waterfront park acquisition application to the NJDEP Green
Acres Trust Program. The application is currently under review.


If the funding application is successful, the CRDA will actively
support the County's involvement through technical assistance in
property acquisition and relocation. Once acquired, the park will
be owned, developed and operated by the Atlantic County Division
of Parks and Recreation.


In order to see the park project move forward, the CRDA submitted
a waterfront planning grant application for $10,000 to the NJDEP,
Division of Coastal Resources. The application was approved and
the grant agreement executed in May 1990. The purpose of the Page









Page 3


project is for the development of a conceptual design for the Maine
Avenue Waterfront Park.


Subsequent to the CRDA's application to the NJDEP for grant funding
an interest formed among several parties to develop a master plan
for the existing eight acre Historic Gardner's Basin Park.   An
Inlet Parks Review Team was formed to develop a Request For
Proposals (RFP). The team consisted of representatives from the
CRDA, Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreation, Historic
Gardner's Basin, City of Atlantic City and the Atlantic City
Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Agency. In March 1990
the CRDA, Atlantic County and the Historic Gardner's Basin
Foundation released the RFP to select a consultant to produce a
master plan for the Gardner's Basin Park and develop a coordination
plan for the seven park open space area. The RFP process resulted
in thirteen proposals being submitted for consideration.


The Inlet Parks Review Team reviewed the proposals and interviewed
five of the thirteen firms. In early May 1990, the contract was
awarded to the consultant team of Bower Lewis Thrower/Architects;
Andropogon Associates; and Urban Partners. The timing of the Inlet
Parks Study consultant selection coincided with the execution of
the CRDA/NJDEP grant agreement. Because both projects were similar
in nature it was agreed by the CRDA's Board of Directors and the
Inlet Parks Review Team that the Inlet Parks Study contract should
be amended to include the $10,000 waterfront planning grant for the
Maine Avenue Waterfront Park. The firm Andropogon Associates took
the lead on the project with Bower Lewis Thrower as the planning
support firm.









 Page 4


DESIGN ISSUES
The design of the Waterfront Park was complicated by difficult
existing site conditions. The existing tax block 96 identified in
the Northeast Inlet Redevelopment Plan as the area for the
waterfront park was separated from the water by a public right of
way, Maine Avenue. The Northeast Inlet Redevelopment Plan calls
for Maine Avenue to be decreased in width from one hundred feet to
fifty feet. The purpose of the change to the right of way is to
create a landscaped waterfront esplanade which uses the vacated
fifty feet for a new landward boardwalk. The waterfront connection
to the Maine Avenue Park would be interrupted by the remaining
fifty foot right of way.


A second difficult site condition was the existence of the
Hackney's Restaurant. The restaurant is currently closed but plans
are underway by a developer, working with the CRDA, to re-open the
historic restaurant. It has been agreed by state, county and city
interests involved with the park's development that the Maine
Avenue Waterfront Park and the Hackney's Restaurant could have a
complimentary relationship.   Support for the re-opening of the
restaurant has been given in concept by the NJDEP, Division of
Coastal Resources and the NJDEP Green Acres Program.


PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
The September 17 memo to the CRDA by Andropogon Associates
(Attachment "All ) provides a description of the elements of the
Park design. In summary, the preliminary design includes a large
open green lawn for strolling, kite flying, picnicking or ball
playing. The lawn opens the park to scenic view corridors from
several neighborhood vantage points adjacent to the park. A series
of landscaped paths roam the park and connect with the new
boardwalk esplanade planned for Maine Avenue. A connection is also
made to the Hackney's Restaurant. The parking for Hackney's has
been significantly buffered from the park by using an irregular










 Page 5


parking lot shape and generous landscaping.


The design calls for a new beach area to be created on the Inlet.
The beach is created by removing the bulkhead and using rock banks
to stabilize the sides of the beach. The rock bank also makes the
connection to the bulkhead north and south of the beach.   The
waterfront design will allow people to enjoy the water from the
beach or from the terraced pavilion, planned to contain educational
displays about the sea.


PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
As set forth in the scope of work, the CRDA advertised and held a
public information meeting to discuss the Maine Avenue Waterfront
Park Design Project. A notice of the public meeting appeared in
the Atlantic City Press on Friday September 7.  A copy of the
notice is provided as Attachment "'B".  News Center 40 was also
notified of the meeting.


The CRDA has been in contact with the area residents through a
presentation and discussion of the project at the First Ward Civic
Association meeting held on September 4. CRDA will attend a second
meeting of the First Ward Civic Association scheduled for October
2 to address the final design project.


REGULATORY CONS ISTENCY
Andropogon Associates has worked diligently to meet the
requirements of the of the Green Acres Program, the NJDEP, Division
of Coastal Resources Rules of Coastal Resources and Development,
the Northeast Inlet Redevelopment Plan and concerns expressed by
the Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreation, the Atlantic
City Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency and the City of
Atlantic  City.   On August  1, 1990  a meeting was held with
representatives of the Green Acres Program, Bruce Becktloff and
Robert Beck and representatives from the NJDEP, Division of Coastal









Page 6


Resources John Weingart and Karl Braun. The purpose of the meeting
was to discuss the first draft of the plan. Several revisions to
the plan have been incorporated as a result of comments and
questions raised during that meeting.


A follow up meeting with Donald Carey, NJDEP Engineer resulted in
the engineering details of the beach area being clarified.  Mr.
Carey has suggested that a new surface level jetty be constructed
on the north side of the beach area to stabilize the erosion of
sand and encourage its deposition. Mr. Carey also recommended that
the "Sea Steps" begin further from the water's edge to help prevent
scour under the steps.   It was discussed that the engineering
design of the steps utilize large overlapping concrete or granite
slaps which would work in a self healing way, through the weight
of the slaps and the layering position, when erosion from heavy
storms occurs.


The recommendations of the NJDEP engineers have been incorporated
into the final park design. The jetty is not shown of the final
project map based on the need for further design analysis with the
coastal engineers.


NJDEP CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS
The Maine Avenue Waterfront Park is located at the northeast tip
of Atlantic City. Atlantic City is considered to be a development
region by the NJDEP, Division of Coastal Resources. This analysis
addresses the park's consistency with the NJDEP, Division of
Coastal Resources Rules on Coastal Resources and Development
(N.J.A.C. 7:7E-1.1 et seq) as follows:


I. Public open space (7:7E-3.38)
The NJDEP policy encourages the creation of new open space
development in the coastal area. The Northeast Inlet Redevelopment
Plan provides for the Maine Avenue Waterfront Park as a new public









Page 7


open space area for use by residents in the surrounding
neighborhood as well as visitors to Atlantic City. The objective
of the Redevelopment Plan is to restore the Inlet as balanced
residential community. The Plan provides for approximately 3,000
dwelling units in the Northeast Inlet at build out capacity. The
Maine Avenue Park is an essential ingredient to the open space and
recreational needs of those residents. The design developed under
the NJDEP grant directly enhances the quality of life for the area
residents by providing access to the waterfront as well as a large
open grassed area for active and passive recreation.


II. Resort/Recreation Use Policies (7:7E-7.3)
This policy requires that "each waterfront municipality should
contain at least one waterfront park on each body of water within
the municipality."   The Maine Avenue Waterfront Park design is
consistent with this policy through the provision a new
neighborhood beach area for Northeast Inlet residents. The design
also incorporates the new beach area and park paths into the
existing Atlantic City boardwalk system. This connection provides
access to the greater Atlantic City ocean waterfront.


111. Vegetation (7:7E-8.8)
The Northeast Inlet section of Atlantic City is the harshest
environment in the municipality.   It has been the experience of
Atlantic City officials and private interests that successful
landscaping is a great challenge in the Inlet. Although the design
project does not seek to develop the level of detail required for
a landscaping plan, it is the recommendation of the project
consultants that only indigenous plant material be utilized in the
Maine Avenue Waterfront Park. This recommendation has been made
based on the need to have plant species which are suitable to
survive in high wind and salt environments. The consultant further
recommends indigenous plant species for the park as a mechanism to
support the migratory and native wildlife. The recommendation does









Page 8


not propose to create wildlife habitat but seeks to provide plant
species utilized for food and shelter.


IV. Public Access to the Waterfront (7:7E-8.11)
The Maine Avenue Waterfront Park is directly consistent and
supportive  of this coastal  development policy.   The park is
designed to accommodate neighborhood and regional users. Several
paths open to the neighborhood sidewalks to allow pedestrian
entrance from every surrounding street.   The park design also
incorporates automobile parking areas on three sides of the park.
Provisions for handicap access to the existing elevated boardwalk
have been made through five percent grade ramps.


V. Scenic Resources and Design (7:7E-8.12)
The Northeast Inlet Redevelopment Plan requires that several view
corridors be maintained in the Inlet. The Maine Avenue Waterfront
Park is one of those corridors. The design of the park, with the
elevated pavilion, will allow a bountiful view of the Absecon Inlet
and Atlantic Ocean. The connection of the park's pathways to the
existing Atlantic City boardwalk system further enhances the
opportunity for views.  The planned re-opening of the Hackney's
Restaurant as a compatible use with the park will permit enjoyment
of the Absecon Inlet/Atlantic Ocean view during inclement weather.





Slip-1 7-9a          MIDN   1!5    a  AND  MO  PO  aON   0,43S    -IATM3  P0 I

                                          ATTACHMENT "A"


 Andropogon ALssociates, Ltd.
 Ecodaoruai I'la,,inmV i-Lusn
 3174 Shurn ! ane Pfriladeivhia PA 19128

         17 September 1990 FAX -Memno


        To!  Susan.Nev, CRDA                                    FAX it: b09-347-21733

        FRON: Caroi Franklin                                    No. or makes to ioUow- 4

        RE: MAINE AVEINJE WATERFRONT PARK

        The.la-ine.Av-enui-e' aterf~rornt P~ark was originailv conceived of as occuppy~ng -ne
        szinzie 6lock boundied 'bvN~ew, H-amnvhshire, Mladisoni. M\eirose and M~airne av.erLes.
        9ec--utse the -:ar. wasc-directly opposite _Hackney s Restaurant. wnic,&f is to be
       -eno\ ated :nto a _:;,-.,-eat restaurant, -.he cr)oblern of rivt  a~n  r       c:r.
       :2e rar.K aid occc--ing much. or the ailotea rark siace nas aiwav- ceen a proc.~:ni
              .:u:'rc~rn  assoiedby, reconfigurn~nzhe coundaries or :ne ca.    , nc;,,ie 2;
       -~mai c~ry ceach and a 5iizn.I1.cant piece or Mamre Avenue whnere i,'_-orderca tne r-ar,,
             :n nesour~aserr. uarant, ana -osnan  Hackney s carklr.naa

       4:0U.;re'.t"cu a ionaer thinner  L   wihailow,,ed a diagonai connectncn'  :er'
                :~    iaen-_al neigncorncodr totecocean at-Abeo  Inlet.

            .~~~~e~  curn  aK:  esiqned to na-ve r%-e ma',or rarr5:

               1. F-he Victorian P'ark
                nh~s -jece -or -ne Dark. -he one ul- ecrz v adiacent to new res, -ent nai
               jev~eicment. .s desi-ned as a iar-ze, 5imr,!e and tracditiona. -reen parix
               ipace wrhic.- sweevs un -lo a cen~rai piaza located at tne 'unctnon _-2nweer.
               .and and~ -.-arer. Smaller, entry -.iazas at the corners or Madison, aria
               Meircse avenues. andin the center or th'e oioci< off New Ha~:~Ave!'enu
               Trcvide nel~ch~orhooci entrances and smail -.avedisirtrnn 'areas wactn
               ~cuinture, ::ower  eaancd zounains.

                  mecnrai -cortion of: the Victortan -ark is ouen: aire  erx  i~ 

              'Looc aroun-d the Dark ano. wanciers in and out of these grcoves. lhegroe O
                     ~.r no cco~eeivcloedbut have holes within. them  nccrasnar'
              _,;aces tar sitting andipicnicking. The major use fo  hi  aw   rea C'alJui hit
              .nformai recreation, -such' as stroilIrtn, sittig,2 pIC"ikn.  tein'';
              .risbee zamnes. The Dark should be elegant and attrac-11 ye a~asiuah
              %-edding parties and restaurant ratrons, as well as neiehborhcoi~
              ovho couidt use it as an extension oi their backvards.





Sup   1 7-90   MO"   1 5 1.   9              NDROPO  aON   P:4-SS.   ;IATE s                   p. Ia



          -7 `Seotemnber 1990 FAX Memo -- 2

                  2. Ocean Overlook
                  Placed on the seawall, the point at which the land and the ocean meet, t~
                  overlook includes a shaded sitting- area with benches under a circuiar-
                  trellis, an open-air performance area for plays reached from broad Sittna
                  steps, and two exhibit pavilions.

                 The inner circle of the plaza is 42 feet in diameter. the same dim-ension as a
                 circus ring, and can accommodate small groups or solo vericr.-ances, or
                 even smaill outdoor circus acts, such as juggesilwso    :crormn,.n
                 anirais;. Looking, towards the riaza from the great lawn, the treilises and
                 e~xhibit Paviiions are silhouetted aearinst theskv. From the v.,aza ,tseir. -:"e
                 '-ackdron for any perrormance would be the ocean.

                 7ne two exnibit pavilions termnate the trellises ana fra.Me thae vew. Thlese
                 2-1v~iions can incorvora-e cdrinikira rountalrns and mna's ror stLr--.,ers anc,
                 ciCvchis-s on the outer w!'ail where tnev will, be visible from :he bav;a.
                    neecavilions could be enclosed and couldrcrovide storaee :'Cr

                   or~mav curose, however. w',ouCld e to vrovi de svace tar a r ermanen:
                educationai exhibit whiich w,,ould introduce visitors to tlne whcie inlet.- Park
                ~-:vsrem. Ot~her exhibits could b.-e Ldisuiaved here, and these ehbt
                ,couid aiso smill out on-o the claza for special events. As cart cf th--le
                -:errmanent ectucationai exhibit,- thae oavinz of the inner clzi nccr-crates
                -n, n;-srorca-i rau:.;cal comenass. and the broad grarire s'ers tht eatner,.:-,
                :ne seawail are marke~a to :ndicare ~the tide levels, rV;1nL~ tne Ces~c- or:n
                --are< -rnc -ne iarge natu.,ai events tfat sha--e the ciace.

                3. The Reintorced Beach
                A4 new-, seawail made of larae. -.1aced. natural boulders. ,~la :c --o5-2
                    :or~~the existing ievties, is brcua.-t richri into the heart cr the carK- ius
               -evornd th-Ie boundaries of aid Maine Avenue, creatinz a smnai rortecteci
               c:ove at th6e exltsin~z citv beachi. Broad zranite stmes takeethe vtI:-=.
               oc-aoK< dowvn to me Sanav'reacn,. 1-hese Steus die aw~a%, lrlro :ne -=P
               'Coui~ders of the seawali on either side or'-,.e cove.

               En~zzneers tramr the New [ersev Devartment of Natural -Lesource-cos~
               Divi'sion, have reviewed the desian and mnade several Suzz-21ztcris ;n
               have beern :corvorated. Concerned that broad concrete --iatforrms
               ,oreviousiv vrouosed .would be undermined by w.,,ave action and brea.ï¿½ ~c
               the Coastal Resources engineers have suzgeSted instead th-at the level
                  ~hnefrom cark to -beac~h be effected by shorter steus of overi-~cln2 ez
              paving wnich would be designed with a epfotZ. 7   :.nC,.rC'cea
              granite blocks would be an i.deal material for these sters. Agzain, to rcreve- t
              scour, the engineers suggested that these steps begin only at mean hign ::de
              level of vlus or minus 6 f;eet. The remaining Dortion of the'beach would le
              sand, protected by the large existing jetty and a new small jetty nose buntl
              adjacent to the en~d oi Hackneyl s existing' parking lot. The e'ngrineers -eir that









17 SevtemI-er 1990 FAX (Memro - 3

        even without the addition of a small jettv beside Hackney s park~ing, 5anc,
        wouid g-enerally build up on the beach.

       4. The Boardwalk connection
       Puiiin~z in the seawall and making it a continuation or the mnaior sea -ron,
       path allowed elimination of the piece oi boardwalk which is curren:~r
       located over the water and is unsightly and in poor repair, and biocxs the
       ocean view (Elimination of this piece of boardwalk is recornmendeai bv txe
       C1oastal ResourCes Division of NTDEP). The Coastal Resources enqineer5
       'Iave suzaesl-ec that the seawail Dath be widened 15 feet to accollr!oci0a e
        bcvcies anci to allow bicyclists and veiesirians a continuous route. : he
       .-mail covered ravi ,'ons which mnark< the transition fromt board-aalk to)
       ,_;eawa;I :atn are seoara:ed from this mzain circulation routre. Th e coarciwa~
         ::. rnt cr Hacknev s will remain adlnthe 5eawail oath to ther o  5 oe,,
      Nla:'ne Avenue Esuianade one block nortn.

        P.1arkin-
      ,Carking 'cr 150 cars is Provided I curec:.v adjacent to HaCki-eV 5 o :01, u-.
           nce--aarking :s conrigured to, aiiow the oark to wrac around ::.e ,t a'!"
       -e rrarnecd :: both the rark< and the ocean. Even with 10carS. :ne-re are
         ira sianas or vegetat.-on vrovided -.i'uhin the iaraer otant a wo.occie'
      patnwxay reacs  .rcv  rom thie park to the restaurant, ;'rrcn-mna sz-
      -,a-.<,: estaurant connecron and, Cre atinz a sense that th-e rark 5ue
        :ncu c. :e rarKi:na lot to -he resta urlant entrance.





  S.UP-17--90  MON  15:  1   NDROPCCON  Asssrlnz4ESrp




            .7 September ï¿½990 PAX Mlemo --4





















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                                            ATTACHMENT "B





The Press. Atlantic City, N.J.-Friday September7, 1990





                   MNTCE 01-OP UlLuCkEETING BY THE
            .cAsmn@ElNvESmENDEVELOPMAENT AUTOIT"Y
                 REC=LATING TOTHE MAINE AVENUE
                      WATERFRONTy PARK DESIGN
                  ago Malm     06wiu    somoole AUNWIrtWA elih  a


               PLC~UPTOWN COMPLEX SCHOOL AN Puw    M.,V


                In~~~m an f bhf 96. ,IM .  yNe
                 I~mnmb~Maha~ aw mod Mdion AvWnue. The.
            h111malw Muin solf ime emm" d d aiON.

                     AlamIRSit,    1.OSO

           Pub. Sew. 1.1