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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 2 March 2015 Application Number: 2015-0302A Property Location: Leeper Park West Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Park/George Kessler Property Owner: City of South Bend Landmark or District Designation: National Register Historic Designed Landscape Landmark Rating: Local Landmark DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: Leeper Park is a designed landscape located north of the commercial and medical district of South Bend and divided by Michigan Street (US 33). Leeper Park West is bordered by Riverside Drive along the St. Joseph River, Park Lane to the South, Lafayette to the West, the bluff of Chapin Park to the extreme West and Michigan Street to the East. It is part of the 1911- 1915 Parks and Boulevard system designed for South Bend by George Kessler. ALTERATIONS: The duck pond was restored in 1979. The formal gardens were grown over in the 1980s. The playground equipment is not original to the Park. A Parking Lot south of the Tennis Center was added during the Madison School renovation along with lighting without COA. The tennis courts were replaced in 2007 and the "odor garden" was installed in 2008. New Playground equipment was installed 2013. APPLICATION ITEMS: Madison Primary Center will establish a garden for vegetables, flowers and some fruit trees along an ADA 8 ft. wide walkway sweeping the park edge from Lafayette and Bartlett west and then north in an arc to the south west corner of the tennis courts. Gary Gilot is the service project representative. See Attached. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Madison School has partnered with City Parks, Engineering, Beacon Health Systems, Notre Dame School of Architecture and College of Engineering Students including Tau Beta Pi Honor Society and Student Government "CommUniversity Day". Engagement to execute on April 11, 2015: A Garden-4sections totaling about 3000.square feet including all plants and adjacent small orchard; 8 feet wide ADA standard concrete sidewalk -initially 500 feet long; one monument circle and 2 flanking garden observation/education pads to be added(refer to diagram); 8 +/- historic lights of the style in Leeper Park East to be installed along the 8 foot walk. One on each side of the 3 bump outs along the walk, 1 close to Lafayette and 1 close to the northwest corner end of the current phase of the walkway. Additional lighting may be requested if path system is extended in the future toward Riverside Drive.; 8 +/- durable quality public benches ( see diagram of path system); 4 +8/ - umbrella tables near tennis court (per diagram); Opportunities for public art along the garden walk. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Leeper Park Standards and Criteria Garden: 9.4 Vegetation 1. Refer to Section 9.2.2 for items within this sections which shall be preserved. Also included in this section shall be the diverse variety of trees, shrubs, bushes and other vegetation which may or may not be indigenous to this region. Lists of such types of vegetation can be found in lists and inventories which were published in the annual reports of both the City of South Bend and the South Bend Park Commission from the years 1910 to 1940. 3 Alteration of existing or addition of new vegetation materials and features will be considered if they do not alter the basic concept of the historic landscape design. 5. When replacement of vegetation materials and features is necessary, it should be based on physical or documentary evidence. 6. If using the same vegetation material is not technically or economically feasible, then compatible substitute vegetation materials may be considered if they convey the same gwoth habit, form, foliage and bloom characteristics as the historic plant.9. Maintenance of, removal of, and additions of vegetation materials and features should consider maintinaing existing or