Courtesy of Delaware State Parks

BLUE BALL BARN. ALAPOCAS STATE PARK
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
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As part of regional improvements to the Route 202 and Route 141 area, the State of Delaware undertook improvements of over 225 acres as active and passive recreational use.  The project was divided by regional transportation improvements into two halves.  The eastern half emphasizes passive recreation and environmental benefit, while the western half includes active recreation.  Regional stormwater management was proposed on both sides.

Duffield Associates participated in this LEED Gold certified project on several levels as the project progressed.  Initially, Duffield Associates consulted on and provided design for innovative regional stormwater management.  Working closely with the project team, Duffield Associates utilized conservation design techniques including bioswales, underground infiltration and detention to manage the anticipated regional stormwater, as well as more conventional stormwater management approaches.  These approaches required complex hydraulic modeling of regional and local conditions, as well as field investigation of hydrogeologic conditions to evaluate the feasibility of each concept.  Ultimately, a design incorporating both conventional and conservation techniques was implemented.  Our civil engineers assisted the project team in taking the proposed Blue Ball Dairy Barn (which included an addition) through the New Castle County land development process.  In addition to the required New Castle County record plan, Duffield Associates also obtained necessary permits from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC).

Duffield Associates also provided the geotechnical and structural design of pedestrian/small vehicle bridges along trails incorporated into the parkland.  Additionally, Duffield Associates provided civil engineering services for the new parking lots and entrance roads in support of the adaptive reuse of the Blue Ball Barn as a public facility.

Environmental services included identifying and quantifying asbestos-containing building materials, lead-based paint systems and environmental conditions in site soils.  Prepare technical specifications, monitored and documented asbestos abatement, lead-based paint removal and management of environmentally impaired soils.