RiverFIRST News January 31, 2013

Creating visionary parks on the Mississippi Riverfront. 31.JAN.13 RiverFirst News Design Team completes two-day, three-event tour Earlier this month, the RiverFirst Design Team delivered a progress presentation to three major audiences: Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioners, the RiverFirst Steering Committee, and the community.   The Design Team’s work is emphasizing an adaptable approach to park and related development that will build on opportunities over time. Trail Loops, for example, are evolving from clip-on "knot bridges” originally proposed for as low-investment/high-impact connections across the Mississippi. Instead, schematic design is focusing on enhancements to the newly renovated Plymouth Avenue Bridge. Upstream, a design for linking future west bank sidewalks and trails to the recently opened Lowry Avenue Bridge has emerged in the shape of a spiraling bike and pedestrian “connector.” The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County – owners of the Plymouth and Lowry Avenue bridges, respectively – are facilitating exploration of these projects through collaboration with the Design Team and the Minneapolis Park Board. Many more details about other new riverfront trail loops can be viewed in the presentation.     > View & Comment on the Presentation Hall’s not well with Scherer Park – Yet The highlight of the Design Team’s presentation was Scherer Park. Minneapolis Park Board Commissioners, Steering Committee members and the public enthusiastically support the restoration of Hall’s Island. RiverFirst stakeholders at all levels are recognizing and vouching for its value both as a “singular” urban river attraction, and the first of several urgently needed habitat patches that will transform the Upper Riverfront from “ditch” to destination – for animals, plants and people. Permitting for Hall’s Island restoration is by no means certain. We are grateful for the support of agency and community partners, especially the National Park Service, as we work to bring Hall’s Island – and the Upper Riverfront – back to life.      Express Your Support       > Contacts & Links      Fact Sheets       > Scherer Park-Hall’s Island       > Hall’s Island Permitting       > R1 Eco Significance   Follow the blue-striped road Also presented by the Design Team was a proposed “kit of parts” for distinctive, R1-branded wayfinding and signage. The dynamic graphic system incorporates pavement marking, large-scale broadsides, and other visual “bread crumbs” with a mobile technology component to guide travelers to and along the riverfront. R1 Initiative Updates Tapping Water Works Water Works is rapidly gaining momentum, as the Minneapolis Parks Foundation spearheads a fundraising effort to create a forward-looking park concept for the proposed Central Riverfront destination. Look for an RFP this spring, when fundraising for Pre-development Phase II is complete. This work will be done in parallel with the Park Board’s planning in the Central Riverfront. Is Upper Harbor terminal? Fret not, the proposed Northside Wetlands Park is still on our radar. Jeremy Hanson Willis of Minneapolis CPED reported to the Steering Committee that the City is currently looking at multi-use scenarios (the updated Above the Falls plan makes redesigning the Terminal more flexible) and undertaking a land-use appraisal. Finance Strategy Quiz Quick, what three themes are emerging from Donjek’s research?      > Read this post to find out RiverFirst Initiative Managing Partners

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