Location : The Cape Cod Canal, Buzzards Bay, United States
[Description]
The Buzzards Bay Village Association is delighted to launch a single-phase, open International Design Competition, calling for innovative proposals for a park encompassing up to 20 acres with extensive frontage along both the Cape Cod Canal and Main Street in Buzzards Bay. The primary goal is to create an intergenerational recreation area and cultural asset for local residents, while also stimulating downtown economic redevelopment.
The Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is Buzzards Bay’s most notable architectural feature and serves as a welcoming gateway for visitors arriving by both land and sea. Our vision is to develop a dynamic park that will enhance the vitality of this historic Massachusetts district.
The mission of the Buzzards Bay Village Association focuses on the revitalization of the Main Street/Buzzards Bay area into a thriving hub for business growth, job creation and maintenance, housing, local and regional transportation, and a center for cultural, historical, social, and recreational activities—benefiting both the residents of the Town of Bourne and its visitors.
The Main Street area has languished due to years of neglect, insufficient business and public investment, and two public policy decisions aimed at improving traffic flow through the village to nearby communities. Previous attempts to reverse the decline or rejuvenate the area have only partially succeeded because they did not address the underlying needs in a systemic manner, incorporating principles of smart growth and modern village development.
In this proposal, we introduce the concept of eco canals. The canal traversing the land will be reimagined, not as a waterway, but as a greenway that loops back across the terrain. The salinity of the seawater from the canal will be mitigated by plants such as sea lavender, smooth cordgrass, and other grasses. This flourishing plant life will enhance the greenway’s quality, and this success can be achieved through the combined efforts of local residents and the patronage of visitors to the canal.
Designed by KIM MIN JAE
Collaborators : Park Sang Wook, Lee Tae Suk, Chun Sung Hyun