Dolly Copp Campground Roads and Site Renovation

Client: US Forest Service
Location: Gorham, NH
Service: Environmental Planning and Permitting, Landscape Architecture, Site Civil Engineering
Market: Government, Sports and Recreation

Work With Us

Project Overview

The LA Group, as prime consultant assisted the US Forest Service with the design, engineering, and permitting of a $3.2M campground renovation. Project objectives were to fully renovate the campground without compromising the historic/cultural setting of a 19th-century farmstead, early 20th-century forest camp, and CCC era projects, while accommodating for future use.

Project improvements included design of new gatehouse and kiosk; redesign of entry queuing, ticketing, and bus and RV parking; design of site renovations for new pump-out station and maintenance area; design of 11 sites for placement of new pre-fab toilet/shower buildings; design of new timber vehicle bridge replacement; complete upgrade of all campground roads and parking areas; design of accessible trail improvements; and complete renovation of campsites including parking and social core area, and expansion of campground sites for seasonal volunteer workforce. Also included is an assessment of building and landscape conditions for existing crew quarters and historic visitor center (CCC structure) facilities for needed repairs, stabilizing, accessibility, and bringing the buildings into compliance with current codes. Scope also included comprehensive replacement of wayfinding signage.

Scope of work included project management; site reconnaissance; refinement/redesign of USFS prepared concept plan; constructability analysis; codes analysis; coordination of geotechnical testing; regulatory permitting included Alteration of Terrain (AoT), Shoreland, and Wetland Permits from NHDES; DD and CD documents; class B cost estimate; limited construction administration; and QA/QC. The project was completed on time and on budget.

Project Highlights

Preservation of historic setting of 19th-century farmstead, early 20th-century forest camp, and CCC era projects while accommodating future use.
Complete renovation of entrance area and gatehouse, roads, and campsites.
Developed phasing plan to maintain campground operations during construction.
Designed accessible trail improvements and improved connectivity.
Provided comprehensive wayfinding signage design.
Prepared numerous environmental permits.

Challenges/Benefits

As with many large and revenue generating projects a key programmatic requirement is to keep the facility operational during construction. The LA Group accomplished this by designing a phasing plan that allowed strategic areas of the site to be under construction while maintaining a variety of camping options available to visitors. Maintaining entry contact, circulation and access to campground facilities, and provision of temporary facilities and other factors were accounted for when designing the project and approach to construction phasing.