Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Design Charrette 

What is a Charrette? Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR.	Charrette is a French word meaning "little cart" and, as the story goes, at the end of an architecture class the professor would collect the students' work in a little cart. It has come to describe a process of brainstorming, developing alternatives, and graphically interpreting potential solutions for a given problem - and usually this process happens within a very short period of time. It is a strategy frequently used in design professions to quickly generate ideas and solutions to problems. In our case we had some land and we needed assistance coming up with ideas on how neighbors and visitors would like to use the property. And so our day progressed. . .
The charrette began with a brainstorming session, followed by a tour of the site, and then participants had an opportunity to sketch ideas on paper.	Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR.   Project Manager Paul Holmes guides participants around the site.
Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR. Conservation Director Bob Hill explains some of the important aspects of the landscape.	Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR.   The 12.5-acre property contains an important wetland area at the westerly terminus of the canyon and has the potential to include hiking and horseback riding trails, spaces for education classes, and several important interpretive nodes.
This property holds great significance and we are hopeful that it will becomes a community meeting place that will hold information on the natural and cultural history of the area highlighting the flora and fauna.	Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR.  As a community service project sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (SC/ASLA) and under the direction of Professor Joe Donaldson, students Mary Grover, Kelly Iwasko, Andrea Garcia, and Anna Hjelmroos assisted community residents generate ideas for the future of the property by visitors. Because the students were familiar with the charrette process, as well is being able to graphically interpret ideas, their assistance in mapping conceptual ideas for the use of the property was beneficial.
Cal Poly Landscape Architectre students (l to r) Kelly Iwasko, Mary Grover, Anna Hjelmroos and Andrea Garcia with a couple of conceptual maps.   Charrette participants work to map ideas.   If you have thoughts about the potential use of the area and would like to send a message to the project manager please use the email link at the bottom of the page. We welcome your ideas!	Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR.   Ideas generated during the brainstorming session include: use of bat/bird houses to attract wildlife use of informational stations for educational purposes have small group experiences on site - areas for quiet and passive recreation areas for picnicking establishing a docent program build a mixed-use boardwalk to make connections between areas build a drinking fountain establish a staging area for equestrians and  hikers building a system of trails and viewing platforms  making the area wheelchair accessible making connections across Hwy 1and to the CA Coastal Trail designing a ceremonial center (8-sided patio, 4 directions, 4 seasons, mobile sculpture, Chumash inspired design) involving other communities (Chumash) in the design create pockets of discovery parking in the low spot - a strip for horse trailers  use of sustainable principles in design (local materials, compostable toilet, on-site drainage, restoration of native vegetation) maintain natural integrity of site Potential constraints: safety issues - neighborhood watch power lines views of homes traffic speed maintenance $ vandalism dumping drainage erosion avoid asphalt wind
Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR. A wonderful cross-section of the community participated in the event including adjacent neighbors to the property, residents of Black Lake Canyon and Nipomo, students from Nipomo High School, Land Conservancy staff and Board members, as well as representative from local groups such as Ride Nipomo, CA Coastwalk, Juan Bautista de Anza Trail, South County Advisory Committee, and Save The Mesa.	Photo: Courtesy of Mike McAndrew - TPR. Land Conservancy Board of Trustee member and Nipomo resident, Herb Kandel, presents Former Executive Director, Ray Belknap (shown with grandson, Zack), with a plaque in appreciation of his work on behalf of Black Lake Canyon. Also presented with a plaque was Bob Hill. The plaques were made by local artist David Gurney and depict Black Lake Canyon.
What is in a Name? Let’s name this place!  Please use the email button to add your suggestion for a name. This unique piece of land deserves a unique name!	Suggestions that came up during the charrette include: Black Lake Natural Area Black Lake Terrace Chumash Terrace Callender Knoll (Terrace or Preserve) Canyon Gateway Conservation Area Please - don't be shy! Let us know your ideas.
lc@special-places.org