Phases of Development
Are you ready for a sneak peek?!?!
It’s time to share the overall vision for the Clarksburg Yard that we — with the help of Nature Sacred, EnviroCollab, and our community — have put together for the new space.
There are so many special, little, design features that are built into the plans for everyone to enjoy. But before I get too specific, I want to give you the big-picture overview of plans for the Yard broken down by the three phases of development.
PHASE ZERO :: Where We Are Now
Right now on the land we have a church building and a couple of small parking lots. These will remain on the land throughout the development and after it’s done. You can see these existing structures on the overall plan in the image above. They are located in the lower left corner of the image.
The current phases cover the development of the “front yard” of the church, the portion between the church building and Frederick Road. We have hopes to develop the “back yard” sometime in the future too, but that will be down the line, and the topic for another blog at a later date.
PHASE ONE :: Cafe + Play
The indoor cafe will be the economic engine that allows us to sustain the space and programming that happens at the Yard. We’ll have a full espresso bar, tea, healthy smoothies, and light fare to start.
The indoor seating area will be compact, but the outdoor surrounding area will be furnished with communal tables under a pergola, vining plants, and string lights, cafe tables with umbrellas on a stone patio, gas fire pits with moveable Adirondack chairs, a few raised community garden beds, and a small stage set against the cafe wall with a movie wall above and a mural on the other side.
On the west side of the cafe there will be a nature play and picnic area with low earthen berms, balancing logs, stump climbers, and shade to keep sweaty kids cool as they play and explore.
PHASE TWO :: Community Path, Hearth + Stage
A community path will lead pedestrians and bicyclists from the Frederick Road bike path into the space past rain gardens and meadows scapes, a small fruit tree orchard, and many native plantings. Bikers can park their bikes at the bike racks and relax on hammocks, relax on benches located along the path, or play yard games in the open field.
A community stage covered by a shade structure and equipped with electric hookup will provide opportunities for the community to gather on the flexible open lawn area to enjoy concerts, open mics, and movie nights.
PHASE THREE :: Explore + Restore
This section includes a meditation labyrinth set amidst a meadow surround that sits atop of a hill cascading into the forest. This space will complete the “front yard.” While still connected to the overall space, it is set aside for more quiet and contemplative purposes. Eventually, we hope this area will become the transition zone between the “front yard” and “back yard.”
We’ll have more on the “back yard” another day. :)
What We Imagine…
We imagine commuters who are crawling down Frederick Road because I-270 is backed up, will pull into the parking lot for a latte and a breakfast sandwich.
We imagine parents of preschoolers will meet up for smoothies and a cheese tray as their tots play in the nature play area.
We imagine remote workers walking from their home offices at lunchtime and staying longer to work from the beauty of the space.
We imagine middle and high school students stopping for a snack on their walk home from school and staying to hang out with friends before heading home.
We imagine students completing service hours on-site and learning about gardening, native plantings, water ecology, and community caretaking.
We imagine interest-based classes for middle and high school students taught by community members.
We imagine neighbors meeting up in the evenings for a cup of decaf around the firepit and then walking home slowly together.
We imagine late nights of local musicians, outdoor movies, yard game competitions, and little ones catching fireflies at dusk.
We imagine connections being sparked and relationships being made — life being lived in this space.
I can see it now! Can you?
Help Make It Happen
If you are as excited about this as I am, please consider donating to support the project! Every little bit helps us reach that next goal!