Fort Vancouver Cultural Landscape Report

IMPLEMENTATION

INTRODUCTION

The preferred alternative was selected because of its ability to satisfy the primary design criteria established by the park and region at the time of the report and within the context of the existing project parameters. If these project parameters change in the future, some changes may have to be made to the landscape plan, however, the changes should still comply with the park's preservation objectives and the management concepts developed in this report. The preferred landscape plan addresses and meets the design criteria as follows:

a. The plan enhances interpretation of the HBC cultural landscape by interpreting and reconstructing key historic features including circulation routes, vegetation, structures, and small-scale features. The park's preservation treatment philosophy is reinforced by recommendations that preserve, restore and reconstruct key landscape features. The recommendations emphasize that reconstructions should only occur when they can be supported by accurate documentation and research.

b. The plan addresses several major circulation issues identified by the park and region during the project. Visitors enter the site from the southwest to reestablish the historic entry from the historic river front area, they travel through the historic gate along the road, and reestablish the primary historic entries to the stockade by entering through the two gates on the south side of the stockade. Vehicle access is provided from Highway 14.

The visitor parking lot is relocated west of the stockade (outside Zone I), is within a reasonable walking distance from the stockade, and allows for overflow parking (across the historic river road for special events). This location acts as a boundary and buffer to contemporary development along the southwest corner of the park. A major advantage to this location is that the parking lot can be effectively screened and compliment the historic character by planting native trees and shrubs that were historically part of the conifer forest that extended into Kanaka Village. The parking lot location also ties into the proposed pedestrian overpass from Historic Apple Tree Park so that all visitors enter the cultural landscape from the same area. Although the historic resources of this area (Zone II) have been heavily impacted by contemporary development, the area is still important in terms of interpretation and visitor access to Kanaka Village. With careful planning and design, archeological resources in Kanaka Village should not be disturbed by constructing a gravel parking lot in this area.

c. The resources of the core historic area receive maximum protection in the plan because, except for interpretive trails and the fee station, no contemporary features have been developed in Zone I, and inappropriate contemporary uses such as a picnic area and maintenance storage area will be consolidated in the NPS administrative zone.

d. The plan restores the historic scene, provides visual continuity and distinguishes between HBC and U.S. Army resources by using materials that are appropriate for distinct areas. For example, HBC resources, the Vancouver Barracks parade ground, and NPS administrative area are distinguished by reestablishing historic vegetation for Fort Vancouver, maintaining the lawn and native trees of the parade ground, and maintaining contemporary plantings for the administrative area. In addition, recommended maintenance practices enhance the appropriate character for each area.

e. The design specifies that Federal accessibility and safety standards are met, but also recommend surface materials that are historically correct or compatible in character. For example, while existing documentation suggests that there was no defined path within the stockade, for accessibility, safety, and comfort reasons, a path will be constructed to allow easy access to all stockade features.

f. Contemporary visual intrusions such as the railroad berm, highways, army development, and proposed visitor parking lot, are screened in the plan by the reestablishment of historic native vegetation.

g. The design establishes a stronger link between the Columbia River and the stockade by increasing interpretation at the river front, and connecting the proposed WDOT pedestrian overpass to the main visitor entry point.

h. In Phase II of the plan, the visitor center will be relocated to a reconstructed building in the stockade, to consolidate major interpretive resources.

The landscape plan for Fort Vancouver is described in the framework of three implementation phases. Each phase reflects the overall objectives of the plan by defining a sequence of tasks and goals leading toward full implementation of the landscape plan. For several aspects of the plan--specifically related to reconstruction or long-term management goals--additional research or planning documents will be required. These are detailed to the degree possible within the scope of this project.

Compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, must be met prior to implementation of any design treatments described in this report.