Project Summary
Klingner led a team of consultants, including SWT and Convergence in the development of a riverfront master plan for the City of Quincy, Adams County, and Quincy Park District. Within a period of 12 months, the consultant team solidified a new vision for one of the area’s most valuable assets by proposing new attractions and refreshing existing infrastructure.
Several existing infrastructure projects are already underway along Quincy’s riverfront — each playing an important role in the redevelopment process. Planned improvements within the next ten years include updates to nearby streets; dredging the Quincy Bay; new features in Lincoln Park; and, most notably, a new bridge at York Street. The master plan capitalizes and coordinates these changes, creating a cohesive structure for future development.
During the study period, the team identified numerous stakeholders and held stakeholder meetings, received 2,796 survey responses, and hosted two interactive virtual open houses. The first open house gauged public interest in different possible attractions, while the second garnered feedback on two preliminary concepts. These various forms of engagement allowed the team to better understand the needs and priorities of surrounding businesses and the community. A project website and an interactive story map were also developed to share details of the project.
The proposed design, which incorporates the community’s input, connects Quincy’s downtown area with the riverfront via a ramp leading to the heart of Clat Adams Bicentennial Park. This ramp solves a decades-long problem by creating an accessible pedestrian route down the bluff. Below, visitors can experience events on a permanent stage, an interactive play area, terraced river access, courtesy docks, connections to the Bill Klingner Trail system, a bridge to Quinsippi Island, and more. The plan also calls for a cruise boat dock and converting the Memorial Bridge into a scenic overlook.
Flood mitigation received major consideration during the development of this plan. The addition of low floodwalls and elevating key attractions will dramatically reduce flooding in the core area.
