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Big Trees Lodge Pool Fence Replacement (YH 2018)
Yosemite National Park » Big Trees Lodge Pool Fence Replacement (YH 2018) » Document List
The swimming tank (pool) at the Big Trees Lodge (formerly the Wawona Hotel) was installed in 1917. The tank is a 30 by 70 foot rectangular reinforced cast concrete basin painted blue with "Wawona 1918" stenciled on the southern face. An 8-inch concrete edge (bond beam) extends above the 30-inch wide concrete deck that surrounds the tank.
Historically, the swimming tank did not have a fence around it. In 1981/1982 a 3-foot tall white picket fence was added around the pool to address safety concerns. While there were other picket-style fences on the property during the historic period of significance, the visual effect of the white pickets around the tank is quite noticeable and unnecessarily detracts from the historic hotel buildings and grounds. The existing white picket fence does not meet current health and safety codes. The California Department of Health has determined that the Big Trees Lodge swimming tank requires a fence that is 60" or higher to comply with safety regulations.
The 2012 Cultural Landscape Report recommended replacing this fence: "The existing fence interrupts the once open feeling surrounding the swimming tank, but is required by code for safety. The existing fence does not meet the 6-foot code requirement and the fence design is not compatible with the historic character of the site."
The concessioner will replace the existing non-historic white picket fence surrounding the swim tank at the Big Trees Lodge with one that will be less conspicuous and consistent with the guidance provided in the CLR. The frame structure for the fence would be 1.5-inch steel with black matte powder coat finish (enclosure 3: fence design). The vertical posts would be a maximum interval of 60-inches and would require concrete footings of 30-inches deep by 12-inches in diameter. Concrete footings would be below grade to avoid the appearance of exposed concrete. The bottom rail of the fence would be no higher than 3-inches above grade. The top rail of the fence would be 72-inches (6-feet) to comply with safety standards. The fence would be infilled with a forest green matte powder-coat ¼-inch wire mesh on a 2-inch grid. Approximately 55 posts would need to be placed in the 60-foot by 100-foot perimeter fence.
Two gates would be installed in the fence. The gates would look like the fence but would be a 36-inch-wide version of the main fence panels. The gates would use a hydraulic closing device due to speed of closing allowing for accessibility and a positive latch for additional safety. The existing pedestrian trails to the swim tank will not be modified at this time.
Historically, the swimming tank did not have a fence around it. In 1981/1982 a 3-foot tall white picket fence was added around the pool to address safety concerns. While there were other picket-style fences on the property during the historic period of significance, the visual effect of the white pickets around the tank is quite noticeable and unnecessarily detracts from the historic hotel buildings and grounds. The existing white picket fence does not meet current health and safety codes. The California Department of Health has determined that the Big Trees Lodge swimming tank requires a fence that is 60" or higher to comply with safety regulations.
The 2012 Cultural Landscape Report recommended replacing this fence: "The existing fence interrupts the once open feeling surrounding the swimming tank, but is required by code for safety. The existing fence does not meet the 6-foot code requirement and the fence design is not compatible with the historic character of the site."
The concessioner will replace the existing non-historic white picket fence surrounding the swim tank at the Big Trees Lodge with one that will be less conspicuous and consistent with the guidance provided in the CLR. The frame structure for the fence would be 1.5-inch steel with black matte powder coat finish (enclosure 3: fence design). The vertical posts would be a maximum interval of 60-inches and would require concrete footings of 30-inches deep by 12-inches in diameter. Concrete footings would be below grade to avoid the appearance of exposed concrete. The bottom rail of the fence would be no higher than 3-inches above grade. The top rail of the fence would be 72-inches (6-feet) to comply with safety standards. The fence would be infilled with a forest green matte powder-coat ¼-inch wire mesh on a 2-inch grid. Approximately 55 posts would need to be placed in the 60-foot by 100-foot perimeter fence.
Two gates would be installed in the fence. The gates would look like the fence but would be a 36-inch-wide version of the main fence panels. The gates would use a hydraulic closing device due to speed of closing allowing for accessibility and a positive latch for additional safety. The existing pedestrian trails to the swim tank will not be modified at this time.