HA(BAT)AT
Fall 2015 LA 438: Design Workshop Studio 1, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Team: Atyeh Ashtari, Grant Penfield Haugen and Kristy Raasch.
Project Location: Danville, IL, USA
This project utilizes abandoned mines along the Vermilion River to render a landscape which encourages bat population growth as well as human recreation.
HA(BAT)AT Corridor A riparian bike trail allows Danville residents and visitors alike to ride alongside the Vermilion between downtown, existing city parks as well as Kickapoo State Park. The trail additionally connects to the existing Kickapoo Rail Trail which extends west into Urbana. An auxiliary immersion trail offers users of the corridor an opportunity to explore the prairie and HA(BAT)AT landscape.
Prairie Restoration Planting endangered plant species along with other perennial grasses. By increasing biological diversity and species richness, the greenway will become a healthy and sustainable environment.
Prairie Landscapes Exhibiting a planning pattern that mimics the surface configuration of a stripe mined landscape. twisting and turning rows of prairie plants act as a labyrinth which can be explored off the main trail or viewed from a distance on the path.
An Immersion Trail During summer months, trail visitors will have the opportunity to view bats above the prairie landscape.
The Greenway Trail Running alongside the Vermilion River, offering opportunities for year round recreational activities and leisure pursuits.
A Biking and Walking Trail Hugs the Vermilion River Along the trail, markers indicate where HA(BAT)AT mines are present 45 to 85 feet below the surfaces, set back from the designated route. These markers allow visitors to be aware of and learn about the caves without disturbing the bats.
Supporting Endangered Bats During summer months, nearby bat boxes keep mother bats and their pups safe and close to feeding sites.
Supporting Endangered Bats During winter months, gated underground mines provide protected hibernation environments.
Ellsworth Adventure Mine Giving human explorers an opportunity to traverse 35 feet below the surface to experience the subterranean landscape of Danville and learn about the city’s rich mining history.