Pine And Swallow

Landscape Science/Engineering — Urban Soils /Land Reclamation

Urban soil conditions create many special problems for landscape construction in general and to support horticulture in particular. These problems include the presence of buried debris, soil contaminants, inappropriate soil chemistry, compaction, settlement, and stressful environmental conditions. Many of these problems also occur on land disrupted by mining or other major land disturbance. Pine and Swallow Environmental' multi-disciplinary expertise in geotechnical engineering, horticulture, soil chemistry, soil drainage and environmental engineering is uniquely suited to address these problems. P&S has frequently been called upon to assist in the design of new facilities in difficult locations, as well as to investigate and resolve problems at existing sites.

Profile Project
Deer Island
Location: Boston, Ma
The MWRA has recently completed construction of the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Boston Harbor. A massive landform was required both to visually isolate the facility from the residential community and accommodate the recreational public as part of the National Park system. Since new soil materials required costly barge transportation to the island, reuse of all-available on-island earth materials and minimizing off-island borrow was essential. The challenges of this project included slope stabilization and designing a growing media from essentially impermeable native glacial till soils. P&S designed soil mixes totaling more than 100,000 cubic yards that will support the extensive plantings and create a low maintenance naturalized setting. P&S also recommended appropriate plantings to stabilize slopes, add aesthetic value, and tolerate harsh New England coastline weather.
 
 
Representative Urban Soils & Land Reclamation Projects
 

Revere Landing Park, Charlestown, MA
Analysis of urban soil conditions for construction of park adjacent to Charles River Dam including Phase I and Phase II environmental investigations and remediation design for contaminated soil conditions. Recommendations for planting bed design, subsurface drainage, and soil management.

New Street Landfill, Cambridge, MA
Investigation of soil resources and horticultural issues at the site of a former landfill in Cambridge which had subsequently been extensively filled with waste materials from construction of the Red Line extension in Cambridge. Development of design guidelines to create athletic complex for Cambridge High School in environment affected by methane, rubble fill and extensive clay deposits.

Newbury Market Landing, Newburyport, MA
Geotechnical and horticultural investigation to construct waterfront park on randomly filled land with areas of municipal wastes. Recommendations for planting materials to withstand salt spray.

Industrial Site, Acton, MA
Removal of contaminated soils from 600 feet of stream bed and banks. Restoration of stream to recreate wetland ecology.

New York State Electric and Gas Corporation Sites
Investigation of land management and horticultural issues relating to development of four fossil fuel and four nuclear power plants. Recommendations for surface water management, soil resource management, erosion control and design of visual and sound barriers. Development of guidelines for disposal of ash for forty year power plant life.

Rutherford Avenue Buffer Zone, Charlestown, MA
Analysis of soils placed during construction of Central Artery excavation in order to create vegetated buffer. Design of planting beds and subsurface drainage network.

North Woods Subdivision, Groton, MA
Reclamation of abandoned gravel pit to create landscape amenities for a subdivision. Design of wildlife pond and conservation area as part of gravel removal plan.

 
 

Additional Recent Soils and Horticulture Projects
Harvard University: various campus landscape projects
Hudson River Parks, New York: master specification for five miles of water front parks
Dartmouth College: campus redevelopment
Wellesley College: campus renovation
Fresh Pond, Cambridge: naturalized park development
Battery Park City: park developments
Illinois Wesleyen University: landscape development
Vassar Street, Cambridge: sand-based structural soil for streetscape
Greenwich Academy: lightweight rooftop planting
Tunisia: landscape development for U.S. embassy
Boston Convention Center: rooftop, park and streetscape plantings