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Nee, Jac-ken

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LANDSCAPE DEVILMENT FOR NAVAJO HILL OF MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK by Jac-ken Nee B. S. National Lin-shie University, Nanking, China 1946 A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Horticulture KANSAS STATE COLLIDE OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCE 1958 L 2667( Tire ci-5( 744/V :fee ("oft, TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION History of Mesa Verde National Park 1 Location of Navajo Hill 2 PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN 2 PROCEDURE OF DESIGN 3 GENERAL PLAN 6 COMMERCIAL ARE. AND ACTIVITY CINTER 6 GRADING'. AND PLANTING PLAN 9 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS 9 CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGMENT PLANTING LIST 16 REFERENCES 17 INTRODUCTION The purpose of the study underlying this thesis was to design a site plan and landscape development for overnight visitor facilities on Navajo Hill in the Mesa Verde National Park, in southwest Colorado. Landscape plans have been made for the development of this area with careful consi- derations for the existing topographic and climatic conditions. History of Mesa Verde National Park The Mesa Verde, meaning green table, was given its name because of its juniper and pinyon pine trees that give it a verdant tone; it is fifteen miles long by eight miles wide. Mesa Verde National Park was established to preserve the ruins of hundreds of dwellings which prehistoric Indians built on mesa tops and in the caves of a score of rugged canyons. It rises 1,500 feet above the surrounding valleys. For about 1,300 years agricultural Indians occupied the Mesa and surround- ing regions and from the hundreds of ruins that remain archeologists have com- piled one of most significant chapters in the story of prehisipric America. The agricultural Indians began to drift into the area shortly after the be- gining of the Christian Ei,a. At first the culture was simple but there was constant progress and by 1,200 A. D. they had reached a high cultural level. In 1906 the Congress set aside an area of approximately 50,000 acres on the Mesa Verde as a national park. Today this area is recognized as the Nation's major archeological preserve. The trip to the top of Mesa Verde is made over a spectacular highway, from which the visitor obtains magnificent views into four states. The memorable ride along the north escarpment is followed by 2 a beautiful winding drive passing through dense juniper and pinyon forests. Location of Navajo Hill The Navajo Hill site is located nearly in the center of the Mesa Verde National Park. It is nine miles from the northeast park entrance and four miles from the Chapin Mesa the southern park headquarters. The elevations of Navajo Bill vary from 7,880 to 8,140 feet above sea level with Navajo Canyon and Little Sods Canyon on its west and east sides respectively. PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN The present heavy visitation to Spruce Tree Point development and the archeological sites located on Chapin Mesa is threatening park values. For this reason,, it is recommended by the National Park Service to move over- night facilities to the Navajo Hill site. Hence it will become the hub of activities from which the visitors can fan out to two important areas Chapin Mesa and the Wetherill area. The trips to the archeological sites would then be on a day-use basis and much greater protection can be given to these principal park areas. The objectives of this thesis is to develope plans for Navajo Hill to include a center for concessioner-provided lodging facilities and related services for visitors, park administration, visitor orientation, and natural history interpretive program. The visitor service program has been expand- ed to provide a complete interpretive program for both archeology and natural history. 3 PROCEDURE OF DESIGN The purpose of this design was to relate the development to the natural setting as simply and economically as possible. To accomplish this, an effort was made to comprehend the scope and scale of buildings and to relate them with the existing terrain. Preliminary studies were made showing the location and orientation of the various park structures, parking and facilities. Gradine: and planting studies were also made. A final plan was then made by combining the more desirable solutions of the various portions of the preliminary sketches. This composite plan is shown in Plate I. It shows the general layout and landscape treatment of the entire area.. The rendering was made with watercolor on paper and was drawn to the scale of one inch equaling one hundred feet. The commercial and activity area were enlarged to the scale of one inch equaling forty feet and this also was rendered with watercolor. It was in- dicated as Plate II. Plate III illustrates the grading and planting plan for the commercial area activity center.. It was drawn on Vellum tracing paper to the scale one inch equaling forty feet. Construction details are shown in Plate IV with pencil on Vellum tracing paper. EU' AT:ON OF PLATT: T IAMIDOC AI ED M 11D1I7MICEDDERHT DPOIM HA7A00 MMIlnDN, HZ\VEQDR7,41 S C. L CY" SUBMITTED 11J PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF- REQUIR_EMEHT," FOR THE DEGREE 1.48.57ER_ OF SCIENCE DEPART IA Eu7 OF- HOR.7 !CULTURE ILA,JSAS STATE COLLEGE 19 5 8 THE 6 GENERAL PLAN The main purpose of Navajo Bill is for overnight visitor facilities. It was assumed that accomodations will be required for approximately six hundred visitors and an additional residential development for housing concession personnel and the park staff. The hotel was located on the highest elevation of the site to command a good view in two directions. Other features to be included in this area are: a campfire circle, natural history museum, a con- cession with groceries, an all-faith chapel, a service station, and a first- aid and fire station. The administration building or park office, three sto- rage buildings and the utility area were located at south end of the mesa, at the lowest elevation in the site since they are to be occupied in winter as well as summer. A park employee's dormitory and five staff housing units were located near this group. Between the hotel or commercial section and the administrative groups, there are three housing groups consisting of sixty-eight housing units for family visitors. The main park road passing this site was relocated to the west of the hill to give a greater area for development. The old road was maintained as a secondary road. COMMIILIAL AREA AND ACTIVITY CINTER All public service facilities including overnight housing, a centrally located hotel, concessions, service station, natural history museum and camp- fire circle were grouped together within walking distance to avoid mass mi- grations by car. A post office and a visitor orientation counter were pro- vided for on the ground floor of the hotel. An all-faith chapel was located 240 feet west of the hotel. Three concessioner-employees' housing were ti EXPLANATION OF PLATE II Commercial Area and Activity Center aMPIEMITERCHL,72 ,A,C 117RVW fj ,A MID C,AnD Er,' MEC 7 a; GPM 11P CH ID- TEN TO D2 N NA 7 DC DDEE `MATE 2L\ 1 ED EZZ 4eALE: .20 ALL iIT1 CNLIL tfit 111 '4r ' r 44-) 4r) L & A./ 0 PALOPOSED GR_AOIMG' TREES DECIDUOUS .7 14 P.- U 4. - - - CA. OF E. SUBMITTED ILI PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF ThE R_EQuitLEMEI.ITs FOIL THE DEGREE MASTER OF ,-,C.I.EuCE DEPAILTMEAJT OF- HOILTICULTULE 14-4,1.2AS STATE COLLEGE a located south of this area. Adequate parking lots were located between build- ings. GRADING AND PLANTING PLAN The prevailing winds at Navajo Hill are generally from the northwest and on occasion, there are fairly heavy snows; however, temperatures are not se- vere. The rainfall is very light. Grades have been carefully studied by following the existing contours and an attempt has been made to fit the proposed roads and buildings into the best possible site, Care has been exerted to enhance the natural beauty of the area and provide for soil drainage without soil erosion. In developing the planting plan, the designer has been conscious of the function of tree and shrub plantings as screens for: reducing reflecting surfaces, slowing the force of the wind, enframing vistas, and preventing erosion. The selection of plant materials has been limited to plants native for the area to retain as many of the existing trees and shrubs as possible. The native plant material is adapted to the very light rainfall and brings the natural beauty of the mesa into the commercial area and activity center. CONSTRUCTION DETAILS Several construction details for parking guard rails, seats for camp- fire circles, park signs, wood guard post,. and campfire circle stage were shown on the Vellum tracing paper with pencil on Plate IV. 0 IMPLAIUTION OF PLATE III Grading and Planting Plan IPTIakRIVEHt a IlakilDEMIT4 11.21A,M LAIIIIDOCAMC EIDDinirlICIMMIDREDCHT Dreg?, HAW&QUQD 11111111 71MUIDIE MAUTIICDRA1 4 R. L 4 0*- 0 IIMr-- NOW ------- PLANTING 19rutAAArAl 9412419 IC IC. 1J1411- 1.Yea.4/1.4,11,1 TLiV2. 1 Pb 2 I 00 I 41, 4 90 90 4 14 VI 04 11911.9v Ir. mouitwan 0(OPUI-040/111 111 411/ 4414 01110.. 101111. 1.20.4 t 1,111.14 110 1,11/... COMIC*. tVPIVoltel.11 AIRUI79 (.4-(..01/011.5 R. (-4 A6/.07 :14 140 I t f 14ULATA ',Alma, AI...1441A 12 7 1,472141 II 71 UTA11141414 14 20, 2-0.1.41A 11.,4AI x KA"A DEC101/1/11 IS 47 A. 11 1A1,19 It Ion ti TA TA ..A74 14 04 Al101 HU, I lomdion. r samotAau 11 41 A 11...,C.MI-1,11, 1 141(.1 110 ,CANillo nt.sundaj., 101 72 EA Af.A411.. * 14 4 4 4 4 1 4 * tit:449.4..A.... 19 91 A1111,614 PAR.Alm WA ,11 47 E 4411:5 1-2.A. Amer rI A 74J4A Mork 91 44 irA. oar, 7.1.4A R0C4Af40a.. 22 44 U. 44 At.,* 47.e749 25 72 12.4.04,44A %A....m& .9 25 RAU-9 CEILE-9,4 CA.A....A. 25 27 69A.., AKA 7110 WI 11141, In Arr. rs......A.rurt 21 'Alt rm. 1)14 AV st ttf I.A F5.40.1.6,50.1 Y 271 0,9 PAY.1111 WM V1TACIvA LIST COMMON *4 ---------------- -711.114 ------------------------------- ---- --------- (1....rrThra_20 ,!2,;(1 a *VOMIT T*0 IN PARTIAL F ULAI -- -- T of TN. 14.RINIA.P. IA A IST FOIL TN* DIPOILIrfr - /AAA. T Da- oh. PIA N_RN 0i.PALT INPUT 046 14 OLT 'CUL TULIP ATATA 60LLIPeIP ...' ..... Pa. EXPLANATI Vona ruction Details Fir!,. 1 Letail of Parking Guard 7i1 F . 2 DPIIPil of Seats for Campfire Circle Fig. 3 Deteilar :rood Guide Poet Fig* 4 Detail Of Perk Signa Fig. 5 Detail of Campfire Circle Ster COMMTRUJC.T11017 11DRUA.1110 LAI ODD a: ADP DC DD DE DC la 11" DE DC :RY T QD RkZ 17 A, \Sr ,A\ QD llll 11 mizok. V DEM. ED EC MA °E'II OM DP IIK OW' DIrTAIL OF PAP.41114 4UAD RLIL Ear ORAL 1$' %MS KS, Gmems.t. ukoui ow, r OfriAlL OP WOOD 61X0Ir OW4 No Kau& FOS, uSi- P&S,1411.16 011,06.4 OULY VODD E /7 P L A ui 4.- ? (""-- r SOLE s 140%f 94'SLAEEN A L .1_1 I 0 SCALE A4 400Ne I I.ULF7.VI,OWIIt IVO 111 90ah ', - - 104 wepp SS C44 11,011 MULTIPLE DINECTIOMAL 41611 *MOP 1. PL101, P.PCKT..1070 1.50.0 11.1700 ..1.50sTs Pt ISELOV 044.1.0. 1140,11T 1. UM., CM-04900 41,041 50,1- ELEVATIOLI 14,041 ELFV01104S4 Dil,6-cT104AL 516LIS DiTAIL OF P1714 414144 DiTkIL Of CANN-Mk CILOLI- 41AGL r .4' eV ar 4UIUITT&'D IU PALTIAl. Mila-11.1.1.4011T CPO TOM P.PrOWILAriAiliTS FOL TOIr DLit 1641TOIL Of 4GI6NC6 DSPOILTIAI-Prr OP- 140/1.11COLTIPLIr COLL041011, 114 CONCLUSION This was a problem of relating many types of buildings of different func- tion and architecture to the topography of the site. The designer's one li- miting factor was the provision for large numbers of visitors without destroy- ing the naturalness of the area. The designer feels that the plans are func- tional, well adapted to the site, provide for a maximum of beauty, and that they present a satisfactory solution for the problem. 15 ACIMOVILIMGMENT The author wishes to thank Professor Leon R. .?uinlan for his invaluable instructions in solving problems and for his constructive criticism and sug- gestions. Also to the personnel of the Yestern Office of the National Park Service as well as the Superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park for their cooperation in the selection of topographic maps, references and informations. 16 PLANTING LIST SCIENTIFIC lima Evergreen Trees Juniperus monosperma Sarg. Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Juniperus utahensis Lemmon. Pinus edulis Engelm. Pinus ponderosa Laws. Pseudotsuga glauca Nhyr. Evergreen Shrubs Juniperus communis L. Yucca baccata Deciduous Trees Acer glabrum Torr. Celtis reticulata Torr. Fraxinus anomala Wats. Catercus gambelii Nutt. Quercus utahensis Rydb. Robinia neomexicana Gray. Deciduous Shrubs Artemisia tridentata Nutt. Ceanothus fendleri Gray. Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. Elaeagnus argentea Zursh. Falluaia paradoxa Endl. Fendlera rupicola Holodiscus dumosus Rhus glabra L. Rhus trilobata Nutt. Ribes cereum Doug]. Sarcobatus vermiculatus Torr. Shepherdia argentea Nutt. Vine Parthenocissus vitacea Hitche. COPSION NAME Cherrystone Juniper Rocky Mountain Red Cedar Utah Juniper Pinon Pine Ponderosa Pine Colorado Douglas Fir Dwarf Juniper Datil Yucca Dwarf Ikple Thick-leaved likekberry Dwarf Ash Gambel Oak Rocky Mountain Mite Oak New Mexican Locust Big Sagebrush Fendler Geanoth Curlleaf .lountain-mahogany Silverberry Apache-plum False Lock Oran7e Bush 7tockspirea Smooth Sumac Lemonade Sumac Wax Currant Greasewood Silver Buffaloberry Virginia Creeper Nomanclature used by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 17 REFERENCES Books Eckbo, Garrett Landscape for Living. New York: F.W. Dodge Corp., 1950 Good, Albert H. Park and Recreation Structures. U.S. National Park Service, 1938 Taylor, A.D. Camp Stoves and Fireplaces. The Forest Service U.S.D.A., 1937 Vandersal, jilliam R. Native goody Plants of the United States. United States Government Printing Office, 1938 Yard, Robert Sterling The National Parks Portifolio. United States National Park Service, 1931 Handbook of Park Practice. The National Conference on State Parks, 1955 Kelsey, Harlan P. and Dayton, William A. Standardized Plant Names. American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature, 1942 Bulletins Story, Isabelle F. Glimpses of Our National Parks. gashington: United States Government Printing Office, 1941 =girth,. Conrad L. The National Park Service 1936. United States Government Printing Office,. 1957 Mesa Verde National Park. gashino.ton: United States Government Printing Office, 1934 Mesa Verde National Park, Reviced 1955. United States Government Printing Office, 1955 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPRINT FOR NAVAJO HILL OF EISA VERDE NATIONAL PARK by Jac-ken Nee B. S. National Lin-shie University, Nanking, China 1946 AN ABSTRACT OF A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree VASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Horticulture KANSAS STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCE 1958 The purpose of this thesis was to design a site plan and landscape development for overnight visitor facilities on Navajo Hill in the Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Resa Verde National Park was established to preserve the ruins of hundreds of dwellings which prehistoric Indians built on mesa tops. The Navajo Hill site is located nearly in the center of the Park. It will become the hub of activities and used for overnight visitor facilities. The objectives for the development of Navajo Hill was to develop a center for concessioner-provided lodging facilities and related services for visitors, park administrations and visitor orientation and natural history interpretive program. The designer tried to comprehend the scope and scale of those re- quired different function and architecture to the topography of the site. His one limiting factor was the provision for large number of visitors without destroying the naturalness of the area. Four final plans were made by combining those more desirable solu- tions from preliminary studies. They were:. the general plan for Navajo Hill, the commercial and activity area, the grading and planting plan of the commercial and activity area, and the construct details. The designer thinks that the plans are functional, well adapted to the site, provide for a maximum of beauty, and that they present a satis- factory solution for the problem. 

Landscape development for Navajo Hill of Mesa Verde National Park

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Landscape development for Navajo Hill of Mesa Verde National Park

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