In connecting natural and urban areas, The Great River Project will bring people together. We welcome your input on the planning process as we move forward. Just fill in the Leave a Reply form below. Thank you for your interest in the project. Return to the blog to see what other topics you can comment on.

23 Comments

  • I believe 6 miles on one side of the 17 mile river corridor lie within the West End (W. 7th) neighborhood of St. Paul.It would be very important for this neighborhood to be represented on the planning group for this project. The designated representative of the Ft. Road Federation as the district council for this neighborhood is the logical representative. It has ties to the W. 7th Business Association and to it’s W. 7th Enhancement Coalition which has been working for the last year to improve and enhance the neighborhood. If connecting the city to the river park is a goal, many of the paths of connection will need to pass through this neighborhood. We have suggestions and comment in this regard.

  • With all the ethnic groups that lived along the river–both on the west side and the w 7th neighborhood–hope that the trails that lead to the river from these neighborhoods will have murals that tell the story of the connection of these peoples to the river.

    And a connection to the businesses…like the long disappeared brewery on what is now colborne..and the scmidt/landmark brewery off of Randolph.

    So excited to see how this develops!

  • There is an opportunity for the neighborhood to serve trail users. We often see signs on streets saying “Trail this way ->>>” but rarely do we see signs on trails saying “Streets this way ->>>” Trail users might like to know they can/could find some of these things within a few blocks:

    – drinking water, outdoor shower
    – bike repair and bright, stretchy, super-tight outfits
    – health clinic, air-conditioned community room
    – fire station or police substation/stables
    – Gatorade/ibuprofen vending machine

  • The connections that link neighborhoods to the river and each other should be rich with artistic and cultural interpretation. These should enhance the beauty and mystery/love of the neighborhood to make people feel pleasure and pride in where they live.

    Signage should be subtle, and the creation of intriguing places for a chat, rest, or to gain knowledge should be the aim. Use of native stone would enhance the sense of place.

  • Is they why our actual land value dropped by 10,000 the last 2 years, I sure hope this doesn’t mean we are going to be out a
    house. I wondered when the value of our land went down rather then
    our home. Please tell me we are safe. We love our neightborhood, &
    don’t want to move anywhere else. THANK YOU in advance.

  • 1) On the West side flats, limit development to parks and recreational opportunities (outfitters okay and minimal restaurants, but no new Condos!) Older industrial buildings are new opportunities for natural resources (rain gardens, wildlife refuges, not condos!)
    2) Restrict heights to allow views of the river (don’t build condos where the only people who are allowed views of the river are the condo owners as on the north side of the river now)
    3) Harriet Island’s fate needs to be determined-if the city wants festivals down there, then plan for it now and provide the parking, roads, etc, so West Side neighborhoods aren’t annually impacted. If not, then restore it to a natural neighborhood park (you don’t need miles of turf grass used only by geese-put some other amenities used by people in!) Imagine a bandshell used by bands you didn’t have to pay to get in and see! Like the Lake Harriet bandshell with weekly music series.
    I would love to see Harriet Island and the as-yet undeveloped land near the current US Bank site turned into a natural area/neighborhood park that restored natural habitat while fulfilling recreational needs of people.

  • Have programs to bring people to the park, not infrastructure. Programs having to do with nature – the woodlands, the River, history of the area, etc.

    • I agreed with you that the park should have the program to bring people to the park. The program can be something like an education program. In the Tidal Schuylkill River in Philadelphia has “ecology learning center classes”. The learning center is the resource center and research materials, so people can come and learn about ecology, history of the river. Since that main goal of the park is “more nature, more urban and more connected”. To be able to bring people down to the river area, I think it would be a good idea if there were an education program in this park. It would be more interested for people if there is a hand on workshop, nature tour, historical site tours, and bird watching. Those ideas might be able to make people become more interested in the ecology education program. Then, it might be able to bring people down to the river.

      Another good idea to bring people down to the river can be having the amphitheater. In Quad cities, there is the amphitheater that located in the riverfront area, also oriented toward the river to maximize views of the Mississippi, and to maximize views of this icon from the river. I think it would be good ideas if there were an amphitheater that located by the riverfront area. The amphitheater should be big enough to allow the larger event to occur. This amphitheater can host the event such as concert, comedy show, and opera. The amphitheater will not only bring people down to the river, but also improve the economic of the river as well.

  • I just purchased one of the condos on the north side; it is a treasure and I believe fits in nicely with the “more natural, more urban, more accessible” theme. I wish for a collaborative effort to develop a wonderful community center, with services, commerce, education, and tourism attractions. I would be honored to help in this effort as a new neighbor to the river and hopefully a good steward to the land I love.

  • It is imperative that the bank fisherman is not disregarded in this project. At present one needs to risk life & limb in dangerous areas, or trespass to get to good spots. The river contains almost every kind of fish known to MN, and to concentrate on asthetics (whose opinion?) while ignoring those who seek such activity is just wrong! For the most part, accessible places are lousy spots to fish.
    The city decision makers who opted to make plans (as yet unfulfilled) for the eyesore 1931 grain elevator, while scrapping the iron staircase up the southern bluff was also a major mistake. People still used the stairs, but what good is the elevator? I would bet that one of the selling points for those ugly condos was that demolition of the elevator would soon happen. Those unfortunate enough to spend that much money for a riverside home are left with a view blocked by someone’s pet project.

  • I was very excited about the river project and the possibility that it could create easier access to the park by making it easier for those us living nearby to cross Shepard Road. However, I see that my neighborhood is designated as ‘potential’ infill…which in city development parlance means ‘it’s a done deal.’

    My heart is in my stomach.

  • Being a member of the Battle Creek neighborhood for many years, there is a problem that I have found with my particular stretch of the Mississippi. If any of us have traveled down to the land surrounding the Pig’s Eye Lake and Mississippi, you’ll know how densely industrialized it is. I feel like I have given up my portion of the riverfront to companies, and this is something that I would like to see changed. I have looked through the design plans and it seems that the design team has shied away from trying to make any new developments there, whereas I feel there are real opportunities here that have yet to be realized. I understand that there are regulations and hoops that would need to be jumped through in order to build any structures there; however, I know that my family and I would love some attraction to draw us to this portion of the river. One idea that initially pops into my head is the possibility of building an observation tower in this area. If you will check out the LA River Revitalization Master Plan (http://www.lariverrmp.org/CommunityOutreach/pdf/LARRMP_Final_05_03_07.pdf), you’ll see that the community desired to get up above the city and see the vast views of the Mississippi. My neighbors and I have agreed that this would be an incredible site and opportunity. This would not only create a central place for our community to gather, but will also help to improve our community as a whole. If we could see a structure built just for us in the midst of the industrial area, it would help to develop a sense of the community’s identity, linking the community to the river. I invite you all to check out this Master Plan for any thoughts that might spark a new idea for our own riverfront.

    • The most important vantage point to take when considering river space usage is to view the river as a social asset to the city. Currently the social aspect is being over looked. Unfortunately the problem of neighborhoods being blocked off from the river by industrial usage is not uncommon. Just like Pig’s Eye, Harriet Island and many other parts of the river are blocked off by industries. These zones don’t merely act as an inconvenience because people have to walk through them, but more like a physical barrier. The industries intimidate citizens making the passageways between the industries impassable. The problem now becomes the accessibility of the river and its assets. With well-planned and well-constructed paths connecting the neighborhoods to the river, there is no longer a need to remove the industries. This doesn’t mean the industries shouldn’t be removed, removing the unsightly companies would be a great way to clean up the river front and the land that is freed from the vacant industries could be used for other amenities. Here is a plan from Minneapolis that emphasizes the removal of industries and rail roads http://www.mnhs.org/places/safhb/pdf/researchReport/ArchitectureHistoricPreservation07/ArchitectureHistoricPreservation07ResearchReport.pdf. This plan recognizes the need for the River front to be cleaned up and switch its usage from industrial to social so that neighborhoods are more incorporated.

  • Your redevelopment of Crosby Farm Regional Park stimulated my interest; I am currently a member of the surrounding community and have a few ideas about how you could better integrate Crosby Farm with the Surrounding neighborhood and urban fabric. I really appreciated your proposal’s ideas about “greening” Sheppard Road and transforming it into a pedestrian friendly road. I feel like in order for Crosby farm to be successful its necessary to link it to other natural Parks in the community, similar to the Minneapolis Park and Minnehaha Parkway System. There needs to be vast improvements in access to the site if you want your development to be successful. I think there should be at least three major access points to the site, with profound gateways/entrances to help stimulate interest from the public. You discuss redevelopment opportunities along Sheppard road, this is an excellent idea. For the Mississippi River and Crosby farm to be the focal point of a waterfront neighborhood, the new development has to incorporate live, work and play scenarios. Similar to The Tidal Schuykill River Master Plan. In this proposal they incorporate a range of housing types, mixed use development and River related businesses to help broaden their target demographic and bring more people to the water! I noticed in your master plan that the type of development was unspecified, so when brainstorming these development ideas take this precedent in consideration. I mean who wants to hang out by a bunch of parking lots, car rental agencies and a liquor company? This development is creating a barrier to the riverfront. Providing multiple bicycle/pedestrian linkages from Highland Park and Homecroft Park may make it easier to bring the people down to the river. But what kind of development will support these linkages? And help the surrounding community overcome this commercial barrier?

  • It would be a great way to get communities invested in the riverfront parks near to their neighborhoods by integrating seasonal festivals celebrating the nature and cultural history of the location. These would utilize temporary structures over permanent infrastructure in order to allow for increased preservation of the natural environment. Festivals could celebrate natural events, such as the spring flooding – utilizing it as something to bring people to the river as opposed to draw them away. Different riverfront parks cold also host winter festivals, transforming existing trails into cross-country skiing routes for charity tournaments for example. Festivals would also present the river as something to celebrate. We could allow local non-profits and community organizations to set up booths to educate the general public on the importance of river preservation. Creating festivals could also lead to important partnerships and sponsorships from local corporations in order to generate increased revenue for general upkeep of the parks and preservation of the land.

  • Current plans for Hidden Falls Regional Park to serve as one of the major activity centers of the Great River Park seems like the perfect translation for this often-forgotten public space. As I look through published project documents I simultaneously see promise and opportunity for the future of this park.

    Today Hidden Falls can barely be called a ‘regional’ park. Despite its natural beauty, scenic views, abundant gathering spaces and boasting of one of the only visible falls features along the twin cities’ stretch of the Mississippi, this park is not well known. This can be addressed in part by some of the comments on accessibility and signing for this park. More importantly, a ‘regional recognition’ can be addressed by the amenities and type of ‘place’ that will be created here.

    I see promise in Activity Center thoughts on interaction with the ‘urban village’, a place to ‘touch the water’ and of family play/community gathering and programmed open space.

    I see opportunity in the physical, visual and demographic characteristics of this space and its adjacent communities.

    Physical and visual connections should be integrated into plans for revitalizing this space. Hidden Falls represents the first ‘major’ activity center for visitors entering the Great River Park from north on the Mississippi. How will the plan ‘announce’ to river traffic that they are in the Great River Park? If Meeks dam and the Summit Overlook are not prime activity centers, then Hidden Falls represents the opportunity to make a statement of what the Great River Park means- to foot, water and vehicle traffic.

    Highland neighborhood has ~50% families and 50% people living on their own. The median age is middle 40’s; people who live here love it, and seem to stay. I encourage you to make Hidden Falls a more dynamic community space- not just one of family play, but one that will invite aging residents to enjoy its amenities. Residents who will be nearing retirement in the next 10-20 years.

    I hope to see Hidden Falls transformed into the place Horace Cleveland originally intended to be- a regional destination that serves all and connects to broader river and community spaces.

  • “People want to connect – to touch the water’s edge and move with the River’s flow.” I agree completely that through establishing natural and urban areas along the riverfront, this project will bring people together. Discovering this connection between the City, its neighborhoods and people, to the Saint Paul’s riverfront parks will assist in creating a space that everyone will use. Through identifying the access points and strengthening these locations through eliminating barriers such as: railroads, gorges/bluffs, or main roads that intersect within the park, will help connect and contribute toward getting people to the river. Through these changes the Mississippi River will become a part of resident’s everyday life.

    Through my studies of the Great River in the bi-state St. Louis area and its focus on expanding and enhancing opportunities for the public, it creates prospects for better understanding through education and recreation activities. The riverfront on St. Louis focuses on the ecological and social aspect through expanding its volunteer habitat restoration and learning programs. Creating a location that the public will in enjoy and continue to visit in future can be established by discovering how people want to enjoy the space that is provided. Looking at other locations like Davenport, Iowa, redeveloped their riverfront to satisfy a variety of people by installing a stake park, more pathways, playgrounds, spray grounds (sprinklers), and active recreational sports, all contribute to the success of the park.

    I believe its focus on becoming a more connected plan will create this prefect atmosphere that is comfortable to all. This is the master plan that will set the stage for future redevelopment all along the riverfront, so successfully making an imprint now is important.

  • I am very concerned about the soccer field proposal at Victoria Park in the West 7th neighborhood. There has been strong resistance from the surrounding neighborhood as seen at Fort Road Federation gatherings, among other places, from the start. The Great River Passage master plan is an incredible opportunity to connect the neighborhood to the river… The astro turf and flood lighting of the soccer field proposal is completely contrary to the GRP goals of “more natural” and “more connected”. I am (as well as my neighbors are) very confused by how we rejected the idea of the soccer fields in neighborhood meetings and then saw the soccer fields show up in the GRP proposal. The bluff topography at the Victoria Park site is a treasure! And should not be filled up with astro turf and flood lighting. Lets instead connect this amazing site with the undeveloped portion of Crosby Farm on the opposite side of Shepard Road with trails. Lets uphold the GRP goals of “more natural” and “more connected” as we carefully plan Victoria Park.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *