Inner Harbor Circulation/Promenade
The promenade at the Inner Harbor not only
connects the major Inner Harbor activities and attractions but is in itself a
major feature of the Inner Harbor – a place for casual strolls, jogging, early
morning bike rides and close interaction with the water and nature.
As stated in the Inner Harbor 2.0 plan, a
revitalized promenade will be greener with less run-off, and more planting
beds. Internal combustion vehicles will
be prohibited from the Inner Harbor promenade except for vehicles responding to
fire/safety emergencies. Any vehicles
for patrols, minor construction and maintenance, set up for events, deliveries
to ships will be electric vehicles. The
main spine of the Inner Harbor will feature similar materials, lighting,
furniture, banners, etc. It would be
appropriate to name the promenade in honor of William Donald Schaefer. The brick walkway running along the harbor
from the Rusty Scupper to the Science Center to Harbor Place and to the Pier 4
Power Plant is fairly well defined, however the section that travels underneath
the World Trade Center is in need of improvement. It is not handicapped accessible and is often
fenced off from public access. While
security needs of the building are important, allowing public access to the
water all along the harbor should not be compromised. If total access underneath the building is
not allowed, the promenade should be built out over the water south of the
World Trade Center in order to provide for a continuous
waterfront walkway.
A new dynamic for the main spine of the
promenade will be infilling the section of the harbor directly north of the
bridge leading to the Pier Four Power Plant.
At this point the main spine of the promenade will go through the
current Barnes and Noble space and continue to Pier 5 (where another infill
space will be created for more commercial use).
On Pier 5 the main spine of the promenade will travel south past the
Columbus Center and continue east along the extension of Eastern Avenue. At the Jones Falls the main spine of the
promenade will run along Pier 6 at the Jones Falls. A bridge over the Jones Fall will connect the
main promenade route to Harbor East and the rest of the 10 mile waterfront
promenade from
Canton to Locust Point.
An alternative route for the promenade
will be along the west side of the Pier Four Power Plant and the extension of
Eastern Avenue to Pier 4. This
alternative route will allow access
if the “Baltimore Emporium” space is closed or if this aspect of the plan is
not realized.
A closed circuit for the William Donald
Schaefer Waterfront Promenade can be accomplished with a physical bridge
crossing (details to follow) or a continuous water shuttle from the Rusty
Scupper to the south end of Pier 6. The
water shuttle will be free and distinctive from other water taxi service in
color, styling, etc. For example,
awnings of the boat could be the brick red of the promenade.
Off shoots of the promenade will be
walkways along the Piers. The offshoots
will be distinguished from the main promenade by signage, surface materials,
flags, furniture, etc. Areas next the
Aquarium or Maritime Center will be distinctive to these attractions. Also plazas off the promenade will be
distinguished from the main spine. These
plazas will include the amphitheater at Harbor Place, Constellation Pier, the
Science Center plaza, the Visitor’s Center Plaza at Conway Street, the Sondheim
– 9/11 Plaza at the World Trade Center.
Each plaza will feature appropriate signage, banners and
furnishings. Surface materials at the
plazas need not be the red brick of the promenade. The plaza at the Visitor’s Center could be
paved in block to create the appearance of a Ouija Board commemorating
William Fuld,
the Baltimore native and father of “talking boards.” A three foot high planchette
would be available for those who wish to utilize the “world’s largest Ouija
board.” Each plaza will be distinctive
and special activities will be encouraged for the plazas.
A “speaker’s corner” similar to Hyde Park
in London could be established at McKeldin
Square. To add a high-tech component,
our speaker’s corner could be linked to other similar places around the country
and world with a video screen to allow a free airing of thoughts and ideas
through physical and cyber space. This
“Link” could be both an attraction and a means of communication throughout the
world. Through the world wide web,
anyone with access to a smart phone or computer could view what is being
discussed at the Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Link.
On the outer edge of the Inner Harbor a
multi-use trail (pretty much established as connections to the Jones Falls and Gwynns
Falls Trail) will provide a quicker bypass of the promenade for pedestrians,
bicyclists, segways,
trams, etc. This outer trail should also be marked, signed and distinguished
from its surrounding to provide an easily understandable circulation pattern at
the Inner Harbor. A naming opportunity
exists for this outer trail.
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