Public project: The Rail Yard, Shelburne Falls, MA

The Rail Yard is disconnected and separated from Shelburne Falls by changing times­—and a steep hill. Despite its central location, its use is unclear, its potential unexplored. How can we relink the Rail Yard to the village? How can we create a place in harmony with the town and the adjacent neighborhood? This place is rich in history. The rails remain active. Locomotive horns still echo in the surrounding hills. With some well-considered place-making, the Rail Yard can again be linked to Shelburne Falls. It can become a place for people, plants, trolleys and trains. A place where ecology can heal and protect the river. A new kind of junction for a new time—where you still get a great view of a beautiful village that hugs a bend in the river.