MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS

1. It is important to retain the integrity of the historic landscape at Munson Valley by protecting the general canopy cover, viewsheds, and building and circulation layout. These land patterns and relationships define the historic context of the site and contribute to the historic scene. It is important to maintain "a commanding view" of the administrative complex upon arrival to the site (Lange, 1932). The view corridor to the administrative plaza from the road should remain unobstructed and other areas adequately screened.

2. All modern intrusions such as above ground utilities, maintenance structures, and service areas that conflict with the historic scene should be screened or ideally removed. Future intrusions on the site should be avoided, but if necessary, should be appropriate in scale, color, and mass and adequately screened. (See Building and Structures Recommendation #2.)

3. Additional site work is necessary to identify and document existing and remnant plant materials and stonework to verify location, design, function, condition, and maintenance requirements.

4. Based on recommendations in this document concerning the plaza area and Superintendent's Residence, Treatment Guidelines should be developed to address maintenance issues common to both sites involving one or more of the following: replacement of plant materials; appropriate construction details; and general maintenance practices for the grounds. These guidelines should be generated by the Cultural Resources Division in collaboration with Park staff.

5. An overall site design and specifications for the historic landscape should be developed for the site. Upon completion of this plan, a comprehensive maintenance plan should be developed according to the conditions outlined under item four.

Utility box at the middle group of employee residences

BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

1. All historic structures on site within the historic district should be preserved and maintained under an approved cyclic maintenance preservation program. All significant structural resources should be incorporated into the Maintenance Management System, and the Inventory Condition Assessment Program (ICAP), including the Superintendent's Residence, Administration Building, and Ranger Dormitory.

2. Propane tanks sited in front of the employee residences are inappropriate and negatively impact the historic landscape. Burial, relocation or removal of the tanks is required.

3. No new structures should be sited in the historic district or in view corridors surrounding the district. If new structures are required, they should be compatible in siting, orientation, texture, color and materials to existing structures.

CIRCULATION AND ACCESS

VEHICULAR
1. The administrative plaza should remain the main visitor arrival point. Visitor parking should remain concentrated in the plaza area. Employees should continue to use the parking lot north of the Administration Building.

2. Altering the width or character of historic roads is strongly discouraged. New roads should not be added to the site without careful consideration of the potential visual and physical impact to the historic site.

3. The condition of remnant stone curbing throughout the plaza area should be assessed to determine an appropriate strategy for rehabilitation or replacement as noted under the maintenance and management recommendations.

4. Reestablishment of stone curbing surrounding the planted "island" between the Mess Hall and Warehouse should be considered.

5. Bicycle parking should be provided in the plaza parking area and in the parking lot north of the Administration Building.

Parking lot north of the Administration Building

Planting "island" between the Messhall and Warehouse

Remnant stone curbing around the ellipse and plaza area

CIRCULATION AND ACCESS

PEDESTRIAN
1. Retain original circulation patterns.

2. The condition of all flagstone walkways, stone steps and the Munson Creek bridge should be assessed and an appropriate maintenance strategy for stabilization and preservation determined as noted under the maintenance and management recommendations.

3. Random paths that cut across the ellipse in the plaza and in front of the Ranger Dormitory, and Administration Building negatively impact vegetation and should be discouraged. Plantings should be reestablished as a way to discourage the development of random paths.

West flagstone walkway at the Superintendent's Residence

VEGETATION

1. Additional research is recommended to determine if recommendations for plant maintenance were made with the original design and, when appropriate, those guidelines should be incorporated into new guidelines. A maintenance plan should be developed for the site incorporating those recommendations as appropriate. All landscape maintenance guidelines should be integrated into the Maintenance Management System, and Inventory Condition Assessment Program (ICAP).

2. Selective clearing and removal of plant materials currently obstructing views or undermining the integrity of historic structures should be removed after consultation with the regional historical landscape architect.

3. All new plant materials used at the site to replace materials in poor condition or to reestablish plantings that are no longer evident should be selected from the plant list on page 18.

SITE DETAILS AND MATERIALS

1. Site furnishings (light fixtures, garbage cans, bike racks, signs and interpretive displays) should be visually compatible with the identified elements of the rustic style including scale, texture, and the general site character of Munson Valley. Furnishings should meet all applicable codes and regulations. Complementary design rather than replication is the preferred treatment for rehabilitation and/or replacement of site features.

2. Signs
a. An overall sign for the site plan should he developed based on a hierarchy of style and type of information required. The plan should be consistent with the park-wide plan and should address the possibility of reestablishing Rustic style signs at the administrative complex.

3. Stone Features
a. The condition of remnant stone features should be assessed in collaboration with the regional historical architect and historical landscape architect to determine an appropriate strategy for stabilization and maintenance, including cleaning and clearing of vegetation to enhance visibility as noted under the maintenance and management recommendations.

4. Lady-of-the-Woods
a. Maintain adequate trail access to the sculpture.
b. Replacement of the Mission 66 routed sign with a rustic wood sign should be considered.
c. Routine cleaning of the sculpture should be included within the cyclic maintenance preservation program.

Picnic table and stone fireplace at the Superintendent's Residence

Extant boulders once used as a traffic control device for the old entrance to the plaza