Kingston, NY: EDD served as the lead ecological consultant to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the 520-acre former industrial zone and limestone quarry in Kingston, NY, on the western banks of the Hudson River. The final masterplan transforms the area into a public park with heavy emphasis on natural amenities and demonstrating the property’s extraordinary diversity of ecosystems. The EDD team, in cooperation with The Olin Studio and Hudsonia, conducted an historical ecological and geological site review, including a hydrological site survey of soil and surface water patterns to inform priority recommendations for habitat preservation and restoration.
EDD also completed a detailed ecotype mapping to construct a Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) model which evaluated habitat patches based on species richness and strata health. The FQA allowed the team to iterate path networks and program zones to minimize impact to high value habitat. EDD’s final masterplan reccomendations included a range of interventions to enhance ecological, recreational, and educational benefits on a local scale while also addressing the site’s larger role in the Hudson River Estuary and negotiating park maintenance, cost, and various site users. The masterplan received the 2024 ASLA Honor Award for Analysis and Planning.
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CLIENTS AND PARTNERS
Scenic Hudson
The Olin Studio
Hudsonia, Ltd
McLaren Engineering Group
Baird Architects
