Policy: DCR recognizes and protects the cultural significance
and unique character of historic
parkways in the urban and state parks systems which provide vital
transportation links and recreational experiences within a historic and natural
landscape. Working toward a balance of resource protection, safety, and recreation,
DCR will plan, design and undertake maintenance, rehabilitation, restoration
and reconstruction of its historic parkways in accordance with the DCR Historic
Parkways Preservation Treatment Guidelines (DCR 2006).
Applicability: This policy
applies to planning, design and maintenance activities for all DCR owned and/or
controlled parkways, whether funded and managed by DCR or by a private entity
or another state agency. The planning
process outlined in the Guidelines is designed to ensure that transparent decision-making
and public participation are a critical component of major modifications,
rehabilitation, restoration or reconstruction projects that have the potential
to alter the character of a historic parkway.
The comprehensive assessment and design process, described in detail in
Chapter 2 of the Guidelines, should be undertaken for projects that may
result in one or more of the following:
·
Alterations to
the way a parkway currently functions (speed, capacity or safety),
·
Introduction of new elements such as signage systems, traffic
control measures, grade separation, incompatible landscape features, lighting systems or signals,
·
Change in the balance among users (bicyclists,
pedestrians and vehicles)
·
Removal,
rehabilitation or reconstruction of a significant historic feature such as a
bridge, lighting or landscape features.
·
Restore parkway
function or historic character lost to previous alterations.
Table of Contents: The
description of and general implementation guidelines for this policy follow
below.
Appendices: Following this cover sheet as an attachment are the
Historic Parkway Guidelines.
Procedures: The following implementation strategy will ensure that
all activities on historic parkways in the DCR system are carried out in
accordance with the Historic Parkway Preservation Treatment Guidelines
(referred to as “the Guidelines”) and to provide the many stakeholders the
opportunity to be informed and provide input on those activities. The strategy includes agency rollout,
integration of the Guidelines into existing DCR systems, participation by the
public and annual reporting to the DCR Stewardship Council.
1. The Commissioner shall designate a staff
person to coordinate agency implementation of this policy.
2. The agency shall initiate a program of
professional development to provide training on the Guidelines and other
relevant subject areas to help DCR planning, engineering, project management
and operations staff perform key functional tasks related to planning, design
and maintenance of its historic parkways.
3. Public participation is essential to DCR’s
implementation of the Guidelines. The
public participation strategy for a historic parkway project shall include a
broad range of stakeholders and shall encourage the public’s involvement early
in the parkway planning process. The public
participation plan shall be customized based on the specific project undertaking
and shall focus on the following benchmarks:
In
instances where the agency is unable to meet the intent of a treatment
guideline for a specific parkway element, DCR’s public participation plan shall
incorporate an appropriate amount of outreach to ensure adequate public review
and comment on the deviation from the treatment guideline.
4.
DCR will integrate the parkway maintenance Guidelines into the Facility Administration
Maintenance Information System (FAMIS) work order system to ensure that
baseline goals and level of service are consistent throughout the parkway
system.
5. DCR will conduct annual system-wide spring
reconnaissance inspections and evaluations of historic parkways (1) to identify
and schedule immediate/emergency maintenance repairs after the winter season,
(2) to schedule annual planned maintenance activities for the Spring and Summer
season, and (3) to identify capital equipment needs and major capital
improvements. DCR will incorporate the
data collected during spring reconnaissance into FAMIS and other DCR systems.
The spring reconnaissance inspection will provide a framework for establishing
annual priorities, setting project categories, developing timetables for
implementation and identifying project funding mechanisms.
6. Each September DCR will hold one or more public
forums to report and solicit input on capital and operational activities. Input received at public forums will be
evaluated and considered by the Commissioner for inclusion in an annual parkway
improvement plan, which will be posted for public review. This plan will guide DCR’s annual operating
and capital budget planning relative to parkway improvements and maintenance.
7. Upon review and approval of the Commissioner,
DCR will present the annual parkway improvement plan at the November
Stewardship Council meeting for review and concurrence.
8. Application of the Guidelines does not
preclude compliance with relevant federal, state and local laws, regulations..
9. The Guidelines may be revised from time to
time. Substantive changes will be posted
on the DCR website for a minimum of 21 days so that the public will be afforded
the opportunity to comment.