A Full Look at the Wheatley Downtown Urban Visioning Concept Plan

Concept Plan Option 1
Developed from early discussions and impressions, Design 1 explores a specific approach to economic development and storytelling. Recognizing the amount of seasonal through-traffic passing along Talbot Road, the boat serves as a unique feature and curiosity encouraging visitors, and those passing by, to stop when they may not have, be drawn in, and ultimately interact with the amenities of downtown. The boat pays homage to the heritage and culture of Wheatley, tying the identities of the waterfront and up-town Wheatley together into a cohesive image for locals to be proud of and visitors to learn from. The site is a vibrant space for locals allowing for socializing, festivals and relaxing; a destination park you can consider to be “the backyard of Wheatley”. We fully recognize the boat shown is an open water vessel, not a Great Lakes trawler. If chosen, the boat would be a design process in itself to execute appropriately.

Take a Closer Look at Concept 1 Plans »

Concept Plan Option 2

Design 2 emerged a bit later in our process as our team fielded more and more input from the community. It was developed over many iterations and revisions. One of the key starting points was the desire to accommodate 20 farmers market stands or Christmas Village Booths (which now both designs provide space to accommodate.) Business and economic development take a slightly different approach in Design 2. Whereas Design 1 provides an attraction, the overall function of Design 2, for the existing and future community, becomes the catalyst for a busier, more animated, and more consistently engaged downtown core. Design 2’s form is based on the geography of Wheatley, a series of parks within a park, each interesting, dynamic, and playful, connected by a main circulatory “river.” This flow explores the cycle of give and take between the land and water, utilizing “inland habitats” (the planted mounds and swales) which feed into the main “river” of circulation leading to the “open water” of the main intersection of town.

Take a Closer Look at Concept 2 Plans »