Contextual Analysis:

The park is made up of fragmented parcels

It sits on sensitive tidal wetlands

It is an overgrown site that prevents views of the harbor beyond

The site is highly constrained due to the following:

• odd shape of the parcels and existing uses

• the natural wetlands and tidal pond dividing the park in two

• it’s on the edge of a high traffic Main Street and State Route

• the built environment extends into the park (including a popular restaurant)

• it has a sacred war memorial

• the park is defined architecturally by a stylistic mix of commercial “Western False Front” and historic residential architecture 

• the Park is located in one of the Town's 16 Historic Districts (See Town of Brookhaven HDAC).

Bookended by two important historic homes

• Brewster House 1665

• Historic Roe Tavern 1703 (to be relocated)

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The key question is:

What should the Setauket Harbor Pond Park become?

• an Idyllic Green Space (a visual work of art to be viewed only);

• a Historic New England Green (a romantic allegory celebrating a past time and place);

• an Informal Public Green Space where people could stay and relax (includes limited public accommodations);

• a Program Park (with limited cultural or historical activities);

• a mix of some aspects.  

 

What design questions should we ask:

• Should the park foster a sense of place and community identity?

• Should a center be defined to help conceptually organize this fragmented and constrained park?

• Should this park include passive activities that attract a mix of ages and interests vs. one-dimensional park with limited appeal?

• Is this a park that one spends time in (as opposed to a place where one passes through)?  If so, should it have shelter?

• How do we define the sensitive edge between the water, wetlands and the land?

• Should parking be provided for the community to visit and how do we hide it to visually enhance green space?

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Existing Three Village Parks and Types:

• The Stony Brook Village Green and Hercules Pavilion is a successful romantic New England Village Green that abuts a protected harbor.  The design solution deconstructed an entire village to create an architype of one person’s individual vision based on contemporary precedents of the times like Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia to create an historic Disneyland, as if the Village Green was always there.  Ward Melville was able to do this because he was unconstrained in land purchases, budget, regulatory review and vision during the depression.​

• Other Public, Park and Natural Space Typologies in Three Village.​​

 

Additional Factors:

• future park expansion and connection to Town Beach on Shore Road

• public funding mechanisms for initial development (municipal bonds or park district taxing authority, etc.)

• life cycle costs, maintenance and staffing

• SWPPP, environmental impact and regulatory restrictions

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Architectural Historical Background and analysis:

• Old Ruhland's Garage (currently the East Setauket Automotive Building). This building is part of a historic stylistic ensemble of late 19th and early 20th century buildings in the Setauket downtown streetscape.  It is strongly suggested that some aspect of Historic Preservation be made and memory of the building's façade be retained to create the spatial definition of streetscape.  The façade can also act as formal public entrance and starting point of the park.  The Park is located in a Town Historic District (See Brookhaven HDAC) that requires architectural review and comment. 

• Historic Roe Tavern (1703), currently located on Millie Lane, East Setauket, NY.  This building important because the Culper Spy Ring was run out of the tavern during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington slept at the Roe Tavern on April 22, 1790, to thank the spy ring for their efforts.​​​​​

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Relocated Historic Roe Tavern to Main Street

 Estimated budget costs for moving and historic restoration work is approx.: $800,000+ (includes site work and foundation) 

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