A Design Garden

..............................

December 7, 2006

Rail Trail garners design award for landscape architecture

By Laura Petersen ~ Del Mar Times

Solana Beach residents know and love their meandering stretch of Coastal Rail Trail and Betsy Schulz’s exquisite gateway arches at the south trail entrance. Outside recognition for the trail is also growing. The trail and arches won two awards at the Orchids and Onions Awards on Nov. 17, an architecture design competition hosted by the San Diego Architectural Foundation.

The coastal rail trail, a linear park running between the railroad and Highway 101, designed by the Schmidt Design Group, won an award for landscape architecture. Schulz's masterpieces won in the environmental graphics category. "We are really proud we were able to step up and be the first city to complete their rail trail," said council member Joe Kellejian, who accepted the awards on behalf of the city, along with Schmidt, his partner Steve Shupper, and Schulz.

The countywide effort to create a 40 mile long trail spanning from Oceanside to downtown San Diego for walkers, joggers and bicyclists is ongoing. Solana Beach completed its 1.7-mile portion in 2005 and the arches were completed this summer.

"Let's hope that other cities along the rail trail draw inspiration from this terrific project," jurors for the competition said The Orchids and Onions Awards is a . long-standing people's choice program to raise awareness about the built environment. The public nominates well-designed projects for Orchids or architectural duds for Onions. Anine-person jury made of professionals and artists select the winners. This was the first year the competition was held after a four-year hiatus, and the first year people could make nominates online. Of over 200 unique nominations, 14 Orchids and 12 Onions were given out.

These awards make number six and seven for the Solana Beach Coastal Rail Trail. The linear park has been recognized by local chapters of the American Society of'Landscape Architects and the American Concrete Institute, as well as the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

In 2005, it was named Project of the Year by the American Public Works San Diego Chapter, which applauded both the design and execution of the project.

"Of the seven awards, I'm very proud of the Orchid," Schmidt said, "because it represents that the project has been designed at a very high level, and also that it is popular with the community." A tremendous amount of community input, led by Deputy Mayor Lesa Heebner and council member-elect Mike Nichols, was incorporated into the final design of the trail. Materials, structures and vegetation throughout the trail represent the ocean, beach and bluffs.

"The inspiration really came from the community," Schmidt said. "It reflects the organic feel of a beach community."

During the awards ceremony at the Birch Theater in North-Park, well-known architect Teddy Cruz praised the project for activating and bringing to life the small space between two major transportation corridors, the railroad and Highway 101.

"You might say it is leftover space," Schmidt said "We were able to take it, enliven it and make it an active part of the community.

The judges also appreciated the incorporation of public art into the trail with Schulz's arches that depict the history of Solana Beach with colorful tiles.

"We very much enjoyed working with Betsy," Schmidt said "Not only is she'a great artist, she is a great person and shares the same philosophy of drawing inspiratiot:l from the cominunity."

Only one other project in North County was selected for an Orchid in North CoUnty - Queen Califia's Magical Circle, a collection of mosaic sculptures designed by Niki de Saint Phalle in Escondido's Kit Carson Park. Award Co-chair Maxine Ward suspects this may be due to lack of publicity for the re-Iaunch of the competition this year and expects more nominations from the area next year.

The awards were started in 1976 by the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects, but took a break in 2002 because they were criticized as too trivial and costly.

"I've always though it is a very helpful awards program," Schmidt said "It's controversial, but it stimulates conversation and helps us grow better as a city and county because we're looking at ourselves with a critical eye."

This is not the first Orchid for Solana Beach. The redesigned train station was recognized in 1996 for superior architecture, graphic design, signage and interior design. The Cedros Design District also won a planning Orchid in 1995.

These pats on the back confirm Solana Beach is doing a good job with planning and design, but Nichols points to the many residents walking their dogs or jogging along the trail everyday as the more important form of praise.

"The real success of the park is that it's so well used," he said.

^ Back to Top