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This little urban creek
was once a dumping ground for toxics. But soon Paradise Creek instead
will attract hikers and joggers onto trails through native flowers,
across board walks through trees at canopy height and along a foot
bridge crossing the mouth of 10 acres of restored wetlands.
At the water’s edge,
visitors to Paradise Creek Nature Park will explore a “tidal garden”
that turns wetlands into sculpture. They’ll be able to jog up a terraced
“earth works” sculpture that will give a view of the creek and the
nearby Elizabeth River from 50 feet in the air.
Those are some of the
design elements in a new Master Plan for the park, prepared for The
Elizabeth River Project by Clough Harbour Associates, a firm that has
designed many of the state’s parks. For the Paradise Creek site, located
on 40 acres off Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth, Clough Harbour enlisted
a guest artist, Michael Singer, who added some of the more creative
elements including the landscaped sculptures. Singer has worked around
the world on public spaces that celebrate the interface of humans on the
environment.
 Looking
north, along a berm that divides the wetlands from the
forested landscape, a tree canopy walk offers a unique
perspective. At right, a path leads to the wetlands.
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The Elizabeth River
Project is spearheading development of Paradise Creek Nature Park to
achieve the cornerstone project of a five-year plan to restore
environmental quality on the Paradise Creek tributary to the Elizabeth
River – as a model for restoring the larger river and the Chesapeake
Bay, “one creek at a time.”
The park is
envisioned as a partnership with the City of Portsmouth and will not
only conserve and restore wildlife habitat, but will provide the first
Portsmouth park oriented toward individuals enjoying the outdoors
through activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing and Frisbee golf,
versus team sports. The Elizabeth River Project will launch a Capital
Campaign to raise the funds for completing purchase of the land and
adding the park amenities, with groundbreaking as early as 2008.
 Looking
northwest, a wooden bridge connects pathways
accessing a complete loop around the
wetlands while providing clearance for
paddlers and an exit to Paradise Creek.
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Find out how you can
help. Call Barbara Bodenstein, project manager, 399-RIVR. She’s
especially looking to contact outdoor recreation groups interested in
learning more about the park.
Click here to download the
Master Plan for Paradise Creek Nature Park. (Large pdf file) |
Looking
east, past "The Oval", a view of the wetlands can be seen as an
expanse from Victory Boulevard. 
