With the exception of building facade renovation, landscaping results in the most immediate and visible impact of any revitalization program. Planting hardy street trees and incorporating dryscape materials can create an attractive, human-scale setting and stimulate existing commercial activity in the Downtown.

Vegetative cover for the Downtown should be carefully chosen to enhance the natural landscape character of the area. Plant material should be drought resistant, fairly mature, and of a species that will not eventually outscale Downtown buildings by growing to excessive heights. Initially, trees of this nature may be more expensive, although reduced maintenance and replacement expenditures may be realized in the long-term future.

Planting hardy street trees can establish rhythm and develop distinct gateways to the Downtown. Design Guideline 7 shows this concept applied to Second Street. It is recommended that only one species be planted along a street in order to achieve visual continuity. Other plantings, such as shrubs, annuals and groundcover as well as dryscape materials (i.e. rocks, gravel, and other nonvegetative covers), can be incorporated to articulate outdoor spaces, provide privacy screen glare, and define or control pedestrian movement.

Design Guideline 7 - Streetscape - Second Street

It is recommended that a phased landscaping program be initiated to include both the installation of new landscaping and retention or enhancement of existing landscaping. An excellent place to begin the landscaping program is around existing public facilities which will serve as community models. Existing commercial ventures should then be encouraged to participate through the modest addition of such features as window boxes or movable planters. In addition to individual beautification efforts, landscaping along both sides of Third, Front, Second, Washington and Jefferson Streets would provide an attractive setting for commercial and residential expansion. The street tree program elements to be prioritized are as follows:

In addition to landscaping, the provision of other necessary streetscape improvements (i.e., period lighting, seating, trash receptacles, drinking fountains and kiosks) is recommended to foster an overall historic scheme and provide needed amenities for pedestrians. Street lights designed after the oil lamps once used in the early days of Monument will emphasize human-scale and express a "period" feeling. The recommended maximum height of the street lamps is 10 to 12 feet. Seating along walkways and in passive areas is important for pedestrians to rest and serves the additional function of prolonging visits to the Downtown. Wooden contour benches following the attractive design of the bench dedicated to Lucille Lavelett in 1982, are suggested to enhance the old town design theme. Coordinated trash receptacles and drinking fountains may also be provided to supplement other streetscape improvements. Kiosks, located next to the Town Hall and in the Monument Village Shopping Center, will serve as informational bulletin boards announcing important community events and upcoming attractions.

With few exceptions, the Downtown Core is tailored to the automobile rather than the pedestrian. As the core area redevelops, it is recommended that major emphasis be placed on pedestrian circulation needs. This should include a consideration of pedestrian safety, convenience, and amenities.

Basic pedestrian improvement objectives are threefold: increase safety, improve circulation and convenience, and improve aesthetics and amenities. Pedestrian safety improvements include the use of standard signage, delineation of distinctive crosswalks, removal of obstructions hindering sight lines of motorists, installation of human-scale street lights, and construction of pathways that are useable and safe for the handicapped or elderly pedestrian. Pedestrian circulation can be improved by providing wide walkways, consolidating and properly placing street furniture, and designating crosswalks at the midpoints of blocks. Improved pedestrian amenities include the installation of landscaping, lighting, and street furniture along walkways.

A well-designed pedestrian walkway system will become more critical as the Downtown Core redevelops. So that pedestrian circulation needs do not lag behind other improvements, it is recommended that the walkway construction program be coordinated with the street tree improvement program. Moreover, the Downtown walkway system should be linked to the community-wide bicycle/ pedestrian network, the New Santa Fe Trail, Lewis-Palmer Middle School, and existing parks.

Adequate parking, which is easily accessible to major streets and stores, is a primary necessity in the Downtown Core. To avoid later parking problems as the Core area develops, it is suggested that parking arrangements be pre-planned. The key aspects of such a pre-planning program include location, design, access, capital costs, financing, and maintenance.

The major responsibility for off-street parking should ultimately rest with the private sector since convenient parking is critical to the economic viability of commercial operations. These lots can be accommodated either behind stores or along the sides of buildings. When common or shared parking is proposed, a standard of one parking space per 125-150 square feet of gross leasable floor area might be considered in lieu of the Town’s zoning ordinance requirements for off-street parking.

As a supplement to privately developed off-street parking, the Town should investigate the feasibility of a public parking facility. A self-service parking lot would meet the future parking needs of the Downtown Core because parking demand should never reach high levels. A possible location for a public parking facility is shown on Map 4, Downtown Revitalization Concept. Although the recommended site is presently owned by the DRGW Railroad, the potential for a lease or outright purchase agreement should be evaluated in terms of public benefit versus cost. The site does have the advantages of being strategically located and in proximity to Limbach Park.

Studies have proven that the size of a community is directly proportional to the distance a parker is willing to walk to his destination. In a small community like Monument, it is unlikely a parker will walk long distances. As a consequence, the Town will have to assume the role in providing reasonable on-street parking. There are three general ways to reserve or increase this type of parking: changing from parallel to angle parking, designating specific curb parking areas, and establishing a "parking mall" where the street is restricted to through-traffic.

Although automobile/pedestrian conflicts are inevitable with angle parking, this type of on-street parking arrangement is recommended for the Downtown Core. The 450 angle is generally preferable as it requires a small change of direction to enter the stall and allows the traffic aisle to be reduced in width. Angle parking also has the obvious benefit of providing a greater number of spaces than parallel parking while not requiring as much depth or back-up space as perpendicular parking.

Parking lot design may even be more important than the number of parking spaces available. Parking lots should be designed and landscaped in order to complement or enhance the recommended old town theme. Landscaping and visual screening will also provide shade, reduce impacts from glare and noise, and buffer abrupt changes in land use. Access points to parking areas should be kept to a minimum and clearly defined to minimize automobile circulation problems. Additionally, a common landscape design element utilized at access points will clarify and soften the means of ingress and egress and begin to express visual continuity between businesses in the Downtown.

One of the best ways to create a catalyst for implementing the "Downtown Revitalization Concept" is to promote a program for upgrading the existing Limbach Park facility. Earth-berming and the planting of conifers along the DRGW right-of-way will substantially reduce noise, increase privacy, and establish a sense of enclosure for the park. By moving the existing playground equipment away from Front Street and enclosing the playground with a fence, the safety of children will be maximized. Planting additional street trees along Front Street with a few additional shade trees in the park itself is additionally recommended. With these basic design improvements (see Design Guideline 8), potential usage of the park may be increased.

Design Guideline 8 - Limbach Park Concept