| Master of Landscape Architecture Graduate Project: Improving the Quality of Living for the Will Rogers Courts Historic District Community through Sustainable Principles Fall 2008-Spring 2009 |
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| Westwood Community Plan Planning document for the Westwood Community 142,041 KB (very large file) |
| Westwood Master Plan Layout plan for historic community 66,716 KB (very large file) |
| Draft Site Analysis Draft document of site analysis for Westwood. Mostly for research purposes. 97,914 KB (very large file) |
| Site Analysis Reference Page Reference page for Draft Site Analysis document. 90 KB |
| Please cite my work: Jord Llyonal Wilson, "Improving the quality of Living for the Will Rogers Courts Historic District Community through Sustainable Principles" (Master of Landscape Architecture Graduate Project, University of Oklahoma, 2009) |
| Site Analysis |
| Opportunities and Constraints to Community Diagram |
| Westwood Community Plan |
| Access |
| INVENTORY / ANALYSIS/PROCESS |
| STRATEGIES / IMPLEMENTATION |
| Integration |
| Environment - Living, Work, & Play |
| Sense of Place |
| Implementation |
| DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS STREETSCAPES |
| Case Studies |
| DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS COMMUNITY AND CIVIC DEVELOPMENT |
| Exchange Avenue |
| Westwood Boulevard |
| 15th Street |
| 16th Street |
| Cultural Nodes |
| Industrial Art Center |
| Gateways - Placemaking |
| Urban Creek Enhancement |
| Urban Forest Program |
| Housing Project - Landscaping for Improved Quality of Living |
| Street Column Detail |
| Graduate Project Documents |
| WESTWOOD MASTER PLAN |
Introduction
This project represents the culmination of my studies for the Master of
Landscape Architecture Professional Degree at the University of Oklahoma.
The Graduate Project is a series of three classes, (1) LA 5950 Graduate
Project Proposal, (2) LA 6950 Applied Research, and (3) LA 6596 Graduate
Project.
Project Goals
The goal of this project is to design development guidelines and a master
plan for the Westwood Community including the Will Rogers Courts Historic
District (WRCHD). The design will incorporate the issues specific to the
cultural landscape of the WRCHD, and will place special emphasis on the use
of sustainable principles.
Project Background and Overview
The two issues that collide in this project are “addressing a cultural
landscape” and “applying sustainable principles”, which are supported by an
extensive amount of available literature.
During the early 1900s Oklahoma City experienced rapid growth. It sprung up
overnight with the Land Run of 1889 and rapidly became an industrial center.
The neighborhoods surrounding Westwood were built to service the packing
and auto industries of the south side of the city.
The American Boulevard frequently was used as a spine of development.
Westwood Boulevard is a classic center-median-boulevard typical of the City
Beautiful Movement. Rotary Park was designed at the request of the Rotary
Club after doing a survey of the moral and educational opportunities available
to the young boys of Oklahoma City. Designed by George Kessler in 1922 its
main premise was using supervised play as a means of reform and to keep
the young boys out of the pool halls of Oklahoma City. Rotary Park was a hub
of activity in its early days. Kite flying contests, swimming, tennis, and ball
games were just a portion of the planned activities found at Rotary Park.
This project represents the culmination of my studies for the Master of
Landscape Architecture Professional Degree at the University of Oklahoma.
The Graduate Project is a series of three classes, (1) LA 5950 Graduate
Project Proposal, (2) LA 6950 Applied Research, and (3) LA 6596 Graduate
Project.
Project Goals
The goal of this project is to design development guidelines and a master
plan for the Westwood Community including the Will Rogers Courts Historic
District (WRCHD). The design will incorporate the issues specific to the
cultural landscape of the WRCHD, and will place special emphasis on the use
of sustainable principles.
Project Background and Overview
The two issues that collide in this project are “addressing a cultural
landscape” and “applying sustainable principles”, which are supported by an
extensive amount of available literature.
During the early 1900s Oklahoma City experienced rapid growth. It sprung up
overnight with the Land Run of 1889 and rapidly became an industrial center.
The neighborhoods surrounding Westwood were built to service the packing
and auto industries of the south side of the city.
The American Boulevard frequently was used as a spine of development.
Westwood Boulevard is a classic center-median-boulevard typical of the City
Beautiful Movement. Rotary Park was designed at the request of the Rotary
Club after doing a survey of the moral and educational opportunities available
to the young boys of Oklahoma City. Designed by George Kessler in 1922 its
main premise was using supervised play as a means of reform and to keep
the young boys out of the pool halls of Oklahoma City. Rotary Park was a hub
of activity in its early days. Kite flying contests, swimming, tennis, and ball
games were just a portion of the planned activities found at Rotary Park.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s Oklahoma experienced extreme poverty, and as a result slums could be found along the North Canadian River.
Numerous attempts to address the problem failed. In 1935 President Roosevelt with the WPA program set 30 architects, lead by J.O. Parr, to work on what
was called the Rotary Park Housing Project. In spite of significant local opposition the “slum clearance” project proceeded. Today Will Rogers Courts exists
as one of the United State’s first PWA housing projects, and it remains in remarkable condition.
Site Background
Will Rogers Courts Historic District is located south and west of the core of Oklahoma City. It is just north and west of the Capitol Hill District and East of
Stockyard City. WRCHD is linked to the early industrial and aviation development of Oklahoma City. It has strong roots in early political involvement and
populist sympathies. The WRCHD is representative of the poor urban core found in many U.S. cities. It has been left out of urban renewal and economic
development plans of Oklahoma City.
Methodology
The methods of research I employed for this project included site inventory and analysis, literature overview, case study analysis, comparative analysis
and historical review, and graphic representation
Intended Audience
The intended audience for this project is the, City of Oklahoma City, the OKC planning and parks departments, and the members of my Graduate Project
Committee.
Intended Outcomes
The intended outcomes of the project are to address the environmental, social, cultural, economic issues of the Westwood Community, and to produce a
plan and guidelines for the City of Oklahoma City to enhance and better the quality of living for the residents and neighbors of the Westwood Community.
The plan will seek to address the complex issues associated with the Community including issues related to the cultural and historic past with a special
focus on sustainable principles. The plan and guidelines will provide solutions that improve the environment of the residents, the surrounding
neighborhoods, and Oklahoma City.
Numerous attempts to address the problem failed. In 1935 President Roosevelt with the WPA program set 30 architects, lead by J.O. Parr, to work on what
was called the Rotary Park Housing Project. In spite of significant local opposition the “slum clearance” project proceeded. Today Will Rogers Courts exists
as one of the United State’s first PWA housing projects, and it remains in remarkable condition.
Site Background
Will Rogers Courts Historic District is located south and west of the core of Oklahoma City. It is just north and west of the Capitol Hill District and East of
Stockyard City. WRCHD is linked to the early industrial and aviation development of Oklahoma City. It has strong roots in early political involvement and
populist sympathies. The WRCHD is representative of the poor urban core found in many U.S. cities. It has been left out of urban renewal and economic
development plans of Oklahoma City.
Methodology
The methods of research I employed for this project included site inventory and analysis, literature overview, case study analysis, comparative analysis
and historical review, and graphic representation
Intended Audience
The intended audience for this project is the, City of Oklahoma City, the OKC planning and parks departments, and the members of my Graduate Project
Committee.
Intended Outcomes
The intended outcomes of the project are to address the environmental, social, cultural, economic issues of the Westwood Community, and to produce a
plan and guidelines for the City of Oklahoma City to enhance and better the quality of living for the residents and neighbors of the Westwood Community.
The plan will seek to address the complex issues associated with the Community including issues related to the cultural and historic past with a special
focus on sustainable principles. The plan and guidelines will provide solutions that improve the environment of the residents, the surrounding
neighborhoods, and Oklahoma City.