Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan€¦ · MN River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail East Anoka Co. Regional Trail Sam Morgan Regional Trail. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park (Big Island)

ABOVE THE FALLS REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLANMinneapol is Park & Recreat ion Board

PARK MASTER PLAN PAGE 1-1

SECTION 1Planning Framework

MPR

B, 2

012

ABOVE THE FALLS REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN Minneapol is Park & Recreat ion Board


INTENTThe purpose of this Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan (2019 ATF Park Plan) is to guide the Park’s development, preservation, management, and improvement. The ATF Regional Park is part of the upper Mississippi riverfront generally located on both sides of the river between N Plymouth Avenue/8th Street NE and the Camden Bridge (43rd Avenue N/37th Avenue NE). The ATF Regional Park stretches 2.75 miles between North Mississippi Regional Park and the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park. Community leaders and residents have recognized the opportunity in this area to celebrate the Mississippi River, and seek through this master plan to enhance connections to one of the great rivers of the country. Continued acquisition and development of the ATF Regional Park will create a continuous regional park along Minneapolis Mississippi River frontage. Ultimately, the vision is to provide recreational opportunities within an ecologically-functioning framework. The combined Minneapolis and Saint Paul riverfront park system is one of the most significant linear riverfront parks in the nation.

This master plan provides guidance and direction on the acquisition, development, management, and operation of the ATF Regional Park. Approximately 3.1 miles of the total linear riverfront along the upper River is currently owned by public agencies, more than half of the total riverfront within the Regional Park. This plan shows how these parcels can eventually be linked to create a continuous park system that provides a new destination for park visitors, expands access to the river, and enhances natural resource quality. Consistent with MN Statute 473.313 the Metropolitan Council requires a master plan to be developed and updated regularly for each regional park, park reserve, trail and special recreation feature. This plan was crafted to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Council’s 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan, and has been updated to meet the Council’s standards for their 2040 Plan. For more information, visit http://www.metrocouncil.org/parks/parks.htm.

PLANNING AGENCIES

METROPOLITAN REGIONAL PARKS AND OPEN SPACE SYSTEMRegional parks are developed in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to preserve green space for wildlife habitat and provide a wide-range of natural resource-related recreational opportunities. Established in 1974, the Regional Parks and Open Space System is overseen by the Metropolitan Council in partnership with cities, counties, and special park districts. While the operation of the system is the responsibility of cities, counties, and special park districts, the Metropolitan Council supports it with planning, funding, and advocacy. In 2012, the system includes 51 regional parks and park reserves, 308 miles of 38 regional trails, and seven special recreation features.

MPRB’s planning time frame for this ATF Parks Plan is through the year 2030, corresponding with the Metropolitan Council’s (Met Council) 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan. To maintain accuracy and relevancy, the ATF Parks Plan should be updated at least every 10 years. This Master Plan is consistent with both the 2030 and 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plans. Plan approval by the Met Council

Regional Parks2030

Policy Plan Amended July 25, 2012

Met

ropo

litan

Cou

ncil



Figure 1.1 The Metropolitan Council Regional Park Map showing Above the Falls Plan Area

Central AnokaCounty Regional

Trail

Scott CountyWest RegionalTrailMinnesota Valley

State RecreationArea

Minnesota ValleyState Recreation

Area

MississippiRiver

Regional Trail

Luce LineState Trail

Dakota RailRegional

Trail

SouthwestRegional

Trail

Lake Minnetonka LRTRegional Trail

MinnesotaRiver GreenwayRegional Trail

Point DouglasRegional Trail

Coon CreekRegional Trail

Twin LakesRegional Trail

MN River Bluffs LRTRegional Trail

East Anoka Co.Regional Trail

Sam MorganRegional Trail

Lake MinnetonkaRegional Park

(Big Island)

Rice Creek NorthRegional Trail

North CreekGreenwayRegional Trail

KellerRegional

Park

Lake MinnetonkaLRT Regional

Trail

Crystal LakeRegional Trail

LakeIndependence

RegionalTrail

Luce LineRegional

Trail

Dakota RailRegional

Trail

Rush CreekRegional Trail

Bassett CreekRegional

Trail

Shingle CreekRegional Trail

Nine MileCreek

Regional Trail

Cedar LakeLRT Regional

Trail

Medicine LakeRegional Trail

NE DiagonalRegional Trail

Bruce VentoRegionalTrail

Birch LakeRegionalTrail

North CedarLake Regional

Trail

Highway 96Regional Trail

VictoryMemorial Parkway

Regional Trail

HardwoodCreekRegionalTrail

MinnehahaParkway

Regional Trail

KenilworthRegional Trail

River to RiverGreenway

Regional Trail

Ridgway Pkwy.Regional Trail

MN River BluffsRegional Trail

Nokomis -Minnesota River

Regional Trail

SouthwestRegional

Trail

MississippiRiver

Regional Trail

Central AnokaCounty Regional

Trail

ColumbiaPkwy.

RegionalTrail

MississippiRiver RegionalTrail

Chain of Lakes- Otter LakeRegional Trail

MN River BluffsRegional Trail

TroutBrook

RegionalTrail

Lake LinksRegional

Trail

Sugar HillsRegional

Trail

Rice Creek WestRegional Trail

BunkerHills/Chain of Lakes

Regional Trail

St. Anthony Pkwy.Regional Trail

Rice Creek NorthRegional Trail

Rum RiverRegional Trail

Big RiversRegionalTrail

Scott CountyWest RegionalTrail

CedarLake Regional

Trail

Stinson Pkwy.Regional Trail

Rice CreekChain of LakesPark Reserve

Martin-Island-Linwood LakesRegional Park

Lake GeorgeRegional Park

Rum River CentralRegional Park

Mississippi WestRegional Park

Bunker HillsRegional Park

Coon RapidsDam Regional

Park

CarverPark

Reserve

Lake MinnewashtaRegional Park

LebanonHills

Regional Park

Whitetail WoodsRegional Park

MiesvilleRavine Park

Reserve

Lake ByllesbyRegional

Park

Bryant LakeRegional Park

Lake RebeccaPark Reserve

NoerenbergGardens

ElmCreekPark

Reserve

Eagle LakeRegional

Park

TheodoreWirth Regional

Park

Hyland-Bush-Anderson

LakesPark Reserve

Crow-HassanPark

Reserve

MississippiGorge

Regional Park

BakerPark

Reserve

Fish LakeRegional

Park

Gale WoodsFarm

Lake MinnetonkaRegional Park

Nokomis-HiawathaRegional

Park

FrenchRegional

Park

Silverwood

MinneapolisChain of LakesRegional Park

Bald Eagle-Otter LakesRegional Park

Vadnais-SnailLakes Regional

Park

SnailLake Marsh

Battle CreekRegional

ParkHidden

Falls-CrosbyFarm

Regional Park

ComoRegional Park,

Zoo & Conservatory Indian MoundsRegional

Park

Lilydale-HarrietIsland-Cherokee Hts.

Regional Park

Tony SchmidtRegional Park

Murphy-HanrehanPark Reserve

Lake WaconiaRegional

Park

Cleary LakeRegional

Park

Pine PointRegional

Park

Lake ElmoPark

Reserve

St.Croix Bluffs

Regional Park

Big Marine ParkReserve

SpringLake ParkReserve

Cedar Lake FarmRegional Park

TheLanding

CottageGrove RavineRegional Park

Kingswood

Long LakeRegional

Park

Spring LakeRegional

Park

BaylorRegional

Park

Anoka CountyRiverfrontRegional Park

Above theFalls

RegionalPark

MinnehahaRegional Park

NorthMississippiRegional

Park

Central Miss. RiverfrontRegional Park

PhalenRegional

Park

BruceVentoNature

Sanctuary

SquareLake

AnokaCounty

BloomingtonCarverCounty

DakotaCounty

Minneapolis

RamseyCounty

ScottCounty

St. Paul

Three RiversPark District

(Hennepin County)

WashingtonCounty

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Recreation Area

WilliamO'Brien

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AftonStatePark

FortSnelling

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AppleValley

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Twp.

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Bethel

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EastBethel

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Fort Snelling(unorg.)

Fridley

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GoldenValley

Grant

Greenfield

GreenvaleTwp.

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Hanover

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Hugo

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InverGrove

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LakeElmo

Lakeland

LakelandShores

Lake St.Croix Beach

Lakeville

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Lauderdale

Lexington

Lilydale

LinoLakes

LinwoodTwp.

LittleCanada

LongLake

Loretto

LouisvilleTwp.

Mahtomedi

MaplePlain

Maplewood

Marine onSt. Croix

MarshanTwp.

May Twp.

MedicineLake

Mendota

MendotaHeights

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Minnetonka

MinnetonkaBeachMinnetrista

Mound

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NewBrighton

NewHope

Newport

NewPrague

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NewTrier

NiningerTwp.

Northfield

NorthOaks

NorthSt. Paul

Oakdale

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Oak Park Heights

Orono

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Ramsey

Randolph

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RavennaTwp.

Richfield

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Rosemount

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St.Francis

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St. MarysPoint

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Chanhassen

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BentonTwp.

CologneYoung

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America

Chaska

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Twp.Victoria

NewGermany

Watertown

WatertownTwp.

HollywoodTwp.

HancockTwp.

Rogers

Hastings

Stillwater

DellwoodStillwater

Twp.

WaconiaTwp.

Mayer

LaketownTwp.

SpringLake Twp.

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MinnesotaValley

State Trail

Browns CreekState Trail

Luce LineState Trail

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494

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Miles

Regional Parks, Reserves and Special Recreation FeaturesState Parks and Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area (State Land)MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Federal Land)Park EntrancesRegional TrailsState Trails

Public Water Access Sites

Carry-In

Trailer Launch

REGIONAL PARKS, PARK RESERVES, AND SPECIAL RECREATION FEATURES

H6

* Map LocationUse the letters and numbers to find a

location on the map. Example above: H6

Map Location *

Anoka County Parks (763)757-3920 www.anokacountyparks.com

D6 Anoka County Riverfront Regional ParkC6 Bunker Hills Regional ParkC6 Coon Rapids Dam Regional ParkA6 Lake George Regional ParkA8 Martin-Island-Linwood Lakes Regional ParkB5 Mississippi West Regional ParkC8 Rice Creek Chain-of-Lakes Park Reserve (Wargo Nature Center)B6 Rum River Central Regional ParkAnoka County Regional Trails: Bunker Hills-Chain of Lakes (C7), Central Anoka County (B5-B7), Coon Creek (C6), East Anoka County (C7), Mississippi River (C5-D7), Rice Creek North (C8), Rice Creek West (D7), Rum River (A6)

City of Bloomington Parks (952) 563-8877 www.bloomingtonmn.gov

G6 Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Park Reserve

Carver County Parks (952) 563-8877 www.co.carver.mn.us/parks

G1 Baylor Regional ParkF4 Lake Minnewashta Regional ParkG3 Lake Waconia Regional ParkCarver County Regional Trails: Dakota Rail (F1-F2), MN River Bluffs (G4-H4), Southwest (G3-G4)

Dakota County Parks (952) 891-7000 www.co.dakota.mn.us/parksK9 Lake Byllesby Regional ParkG8 Lebanon Hills Regional ParkJ10 Miesville Ravine Park ReserveH9 Spring Lake Park ReserveI8 Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Dakota County Regional Trails: Big Rivers (F8), Minnesota River (G7), Mississippi River (F8-H10), North Creek (H7), River to River (F8)

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (612) 230-6400 www.minneapolisparks.org

E7 Above the Falls Regional ParkE7 Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional ParkF6 Minneapolis Chain-of-Lakes Regional ParkF7 Minnehaha Regional ParkF7 Mississippi Gorge Regional ParkF7 Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional ParkD6 North Mississippi Regional Park (MPRB part)E6 Theodore Wirth Regional ParkMinneapolis Park and Recreation Board Regional Trails: Cedar Lake (E6-E7), Columbia Parkway (E7), Kenilworth (E6), Luce Line (E6), Minnehaha Parkway (F6-F7), NE Diagonal (E7), Ridgway Parkway (E7), St. Anthony Parkway (E7), Shingle Creek (E6), Victory Memorial (E6)

Map Location *

Three Rivers Park District (763) 559-9000 www.threeriversparks.org

E4 Baker Park Reserve F5 Bryant Lake Regional Park G3 Carver Park Reserve (Lowry Nature Center) C6 Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park C4 Crow-Hassan Park Reserve D5 Eagle Lake Regional Park C5 Elm Creek Park Reserve (Eastman Nature Center) D5 Fish Lake Regional Park E5 French Regional ParkF3 Gale Woods Farm G6 Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Park Reserve (Richardson Nature Ctr) F3 Kingswood F3 Lake Minnetonka Regional Park D3 Lake Rebecca Park Reserve E4 Noerenberg Gardens D6 North Mississippi Regional Park (Three Rivers part) D7 SilverwoodG5 The Landing

Three Rivers Park District Regional Trails: Bassett Creek (E5-E6), Cedar Lake LRT (F6), Dakota Rail (E4-F3), Lake Independence (D4-E4), Lake Minnetonka LRT (F3-F5), Luce Line (E5-E6), Medicine Lake (C5-E5), MN River Bluffs LRT (F5-G4), Nine Mile Creek (F5-G7), Nokomis-MN River (F7-G7), North Cedar Lake (F6), NE Diagonal (E7), Rush Creek (C5-C6), Twin Lakes (E6), Shingle Creek (D6-E6)

Washington County Parks (651) 430-8368 www.co.washington.mn.us/parks

C10 Big Marine Park ReserveG10 Cottage Grove Ravine Regional ParkE10 Lake Elmo Park ReserveD10 Pine Point Regional ParkG10 St. Croix Bluffs Regional ParkC11 Square Lake

Washington County Regional Trails: Hardwood Creek (B9-C9), Point Douglas (H10)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (651) 296-6157 www.dnr.state.mn.us

F11 Afton State ParkF7 Fort Snelling State ParkH4, I3 Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area

B11 William O’Brien State Park

Minnesota State Trails: Brown’s Creek (D10), Gateway (D10-E8), Luce Line (E1-E5), Minnesota Valley (G5-J3)

Arch

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Map Location *

Ramsey County Parks and Recreation (651) 748-2500 www.ramseycounty.us/parks

D9 Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park (Tamarack Nature Center) F9 Battle Creek-Indian Mounds Regional Park (Battle Creek part)D7 Long Lake Regional ParkE8 Phalen-Keller Regional Park (Keller part) D7 Tony Schmidt Regional ParkD8 Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park

Ramsey County Regional Trails: Birch Lake (D8), Bruce Vento (E8), Highway 96 (D7-D9), Rice Creek North (D7), Rice Creek West, (D7), Trout Brook (E8)

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation (651) 266-6400 www.stpaul.gov/parks

F9 Battle Creek & Indian Mounds Regional Park (Indian Mounds part)E8 Como Regional Park, Zoo & ConservatoryF7 Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm Regional ParkF8 Lilydale-Harriet Island & Cherokee Heights Regional ParkF7 Mississippi Gorge Regional ParkE8 Phalen-Keller Regional Park (Phalen part)

Saint Paul Regional Trails: Bruce Vento (E8), Sam Morgan (F7-F8), Trout Brook (E8)

Scott County Parks (763) 559-9000 www.scottcountymn.gov (Operated in partnership with Three Rivers Park District)

J4 Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park I6 Cleary Lake Regional ParkI6 Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve I5 Spring Lake Regional Park

Scott County Regional Trails: Scott County West (G4-H5)

Arch

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University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (952) 443-1400 www.arboretum.umn.edu

National Park Service

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (MNNRA) (651) 290-4160 www.nps.gov/miss

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (715) 483-2274 www.nps.gov/sacn

United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley

Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center (G7), Bloomington, MN (952) 854-5900

Rapids Lake Visitor Center (H4), Carver, MN (952) 361-4500

For information about accessibility at each facility, please contact the individual agency listed above.

Map Advisory:This map is published for general reference purposes. Although reasonably detailed and believed to be accurate, the regional park boundaries depicted on this map are intended only to reflect the general location of the park boundaries. Park users should be aware of the boundaries and limits of the regional parks, park reserves, and trails while visiting or using those facilities. Changes to regional park boundaries may have occurred since the publication of this map.

Activities

TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN REGIONAL PARKS SYSTEM



is necessary to be eligible for regional parks system capital funding for land acquisition and development. Required plan elements addressed in this master plan include:

• Boundaries and acquisition costs

• Plan for stewardship

• Demand forecast

• Development concept

• Conflicts

• Public services

• Operations

• Citizen participation

• Public awareness

• Accessibility

• Natural resources management

MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARDThe Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages one of the most extensive urban park systems in the United States. The Minneapolis Park System has grown to over 6,800 acres of land and water in 180 park properties, including local and regional parks, playgrounds, golf courses, gardens, picnic areas, biking and walking paths, and nature sanctuaries. The system includes the 55-mile Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. It is overseen by a nine-member Board of Commissioners which is an independently elected, semi-autonomous body responsible for maintaining and developing the system. MPRB provides planning, programming, maintenance, and police protection for the park and recreational facilities in its jurisdiction. The MPRB works cooperatively with the Metro Council, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, State Legislature and nine other implementing agencies to operate the regional park system.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board was created in 1883 by an act of the Minnesota State Legislature and vote by Minneapolis residents. The mission of the MPRB is to permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve and enhance its natural resources, parkland and recreational opportunities for current and future generations. The MPRB exists to provide places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather, celebrate, contemplate, and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community, and the environment.

The 2007-2020 MPRB Comprehensive Plan sets the vision and direction for the park and recreation system. A key implementation strategy is to “Continue to expand physical access to the Mississippi River in a manner that is aesthetically compatible with the riverfront and sensitive to ecological function, giving priority to implementing the Above the Falls Master Plan” (p. 24). This 2019 Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan is an important step in realizing that strategy.

MPRB SySteM:• 6,809 acres of land and

water

• 180 park properties

• 55-mile Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

• Ranked annually since 2013 as the #1 park system in the nation by The Trust for Public Land



PREVIOUS PLANNING PARK BOUNDARY EVOLUTIONIt has been nineteen years since the Above the Falls Regional Park was created and codified with the original master plan in 2000 (Figure 1.2). In the convening years, the regional park boundary has evolved in minor but important ways from the original by means of several amendments adopted by the MPRB and approved by the Metropolitan Council (Figure 1.3). With this 2019 master plan update, the park boundary is further refined as shown in Figure 1.4. Boundary adjustments reflect changed circumstances in land use, realities in land acquisition, and refinements in redevelopment/park development strategies.

Because of the Above the Falls’ urban setting and the ambition expressed through the master plan to transform the upper river corridor from private land to public park, the activity of land protection (through acquisition, easement or other means) is an ongoing effort and will be for years to come. An important word or concept related to this issue is “inholding”. Inholding refers to lands inside the defined boundary of the regional park that are, at present, privately held. In 2000, there was a greater share of upland (non-river) within the ATF Regional Park boundary that was inholding than land in which the MPRB held a legal interest. Through successful land acquisition and easement activities, the balance has shifted to more than 50% of upland within the park boundary in which the MPRB holds a legal interest and a minority share still in the category of “inholding”. See Table 7.1 in Chapter 7 for a tabulation of current ATF Regional Park inholdings and associated land protection value.

ABOVE THE FALLS MASTER PLAN (2000)Above the Falls: A Master Plan for the Upper River in Minneapolis (2000 ATF Plan) articulates the city’s vision for the upper Mississippi River. The plan was adopted in 2000 by both the City Council and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). Among other goals, the plan envisioned the development of the upper Mississippi riverfront into a regional park amenity. The plan was approved by the Metropolitan Council to establish Above the Falls Regional Park in 2000. The 2000 plan addresses more than park and open spaces; it seeks complementary redevelopment of areas adjacent to ATF Regional Park to capitalize on the River’s charms which are currently relatively unavailable to area residents and visitors. The 2000 ATF Plan articulated the following objectives:

• Provide public access to the river through a continuous system of riverfront parks and trails

• Create a system of Riverway Streets to link the adjacent neighborhoods to the river

• Enhance the ecological function of the river corridor

• Link the upper River to the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

• Realize the area’s potential for economic development

• Establish urban design guidelines for future development

Figure 1.2 Above the Falls Master Plan adopted by City of Minneapolis and MPRB in 2000



Figure 1.3 Above the Falls Regional Park Boundary prior to 2019 Master Plan Update

SCHERERBROTHERS SITE

§̈¦94

1720 MarshallPark Board Property

COLUMBIAPARK / GOLF

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Olson Park

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Legend

Above the Falls RegionalPark Boundary as of 2012Minneapolis Parkand Recreation Board

°

0.5Miles



Figure 1.4 Above the Falls Regional Park Boundary (2019)

SCHERERBROTHERS SITE

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COLUMBIAPARK / GOLF

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Above the Falls RegionalPark Boundary as of 2012Minneapolis Parkand Recreation Board

°

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Upper Harbor Terminal parcels (excluded from the park boundary)

(2019)



IMPLEMENTATIONSince 2000, significant progress has been made towards achieving the original Above the Falls vision, particularly in the areas of park and trail improvements. These are illustrated in Figure 1.5, and include:

• Trail and park construction in 2007 and 2008 on the west bank between Plymouth Avenue and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge north of Broadway

• Extension of West River Road North to the BNSF railroad bridge, with parks development of the adjacent riverbank land

• The construction of Edgewater Park in 2006 with funding support from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO)

• Acquisition, environmental remediation and park development of Gluek Park and Sheridan Memorial Park on the east bank

• Acquisition and environmental remediation of the Scherer Bros. Lumber site on 8th Avenue NE

• Ongoing acquisition of riverbank properties to expand ATF Regional Park, with recent progress made on the east bank

NEED FOR A PLAN UPDATEIn 2009, the Minneapolis City Council renewed its commitment to this area by directing City planning staff to pursue a review and update of the 2000 ATF Plan. Led by the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development, the City’s Above the Falls Master Plan Update was adopted by City Council in 2013. At the same time, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board initiated a high-profile and ambitious initiative to refresh the park vision for the same area, resulting in RiverFirst: A Park Design Proposal and Implementation Plan for the Minneapolis Upper Riverfront (RiverFirst). These combined efforts (along with subsequent implementation and developments since then) have informed the MPRB’s creation of this Above the Falls Regional Park Plan.

THE 2013 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS ABOVE THE FALLS MASTER PLAN UPDATEThe City’s 2013 ATF Update renewed the vision of the original 2000 ATF Plan, focusing on guiding land use while “developing the Mississippi riverfront into a regional park amenity in north and northeast Minneapolis.” The plan supports new investment and improved environmental quality - leveraging the unique and valuable asset that is the Mississippi River.

The 2013 ATF Update differs from the original 2000 ATF Plan in some areas by recommending changes to land use guidance based on extensive market-feasibility analysis and community engagement. The plan affirmed a renewed appreciation for some uses that were initially dismissed in the original plan. It also articulated a more robust implementation section strategy with clearer action steps. The plan recognized that the vision must be realistic and achievable within a given time frame. While the City’s 2013 ATF Plan Update supported the long-term view of the original 2000 ATF Plan, it focused more attention on near-term implementation, some of which has already been accomplished.

ABOVE THE FALLS MASTER PLAN UPDATE

CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS CPED – LONG RANGE PLANNING DIVISION

105 5TH AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 200MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55401

ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL JUNE 14, 2013



Figure 1.5 Implementation steps and other development completed since the 2000 ATF plan

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RIVERFIRST RiverFirst is a long-term vision for transformation of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis beyond its historically industrial roots to address contemporary opportunities including new forms of recreation that engage the river, ecological stewardship, mobility, and a green economy that employs local residents. Within this sweeping vision is a set of design recommendations for phased parks development, in particular along the upper Mississippi River.

The RiverFirst vision for parks along the upper Mississippi was approved by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on March 14, 2012, following an international design competition and subsequent visioning process led by design team TLS/KVA in 2011. This gave rise to the RiverFirst Initiative, an interagency partnership of MPRB, the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation focused on realizing the RiverFirst vision by implementing priority projects.

Since initiating RiverFirst, there has been some justifiable confusion about the relationship between it and the Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan. The ATF Regional Park Master Plan (like other regional park master plans) is adopted policy of the MPRB used to guide the organization’s actions and investments within the park’s boundary. RiverFirst is the brand of an ongoing community call-to-action for transforming Minneapolis’ upper riverfront from private shoreline to public parkland with adjacent redevelopment. It suggests park and other public space investments across two regional parks (ATF and Central Riverfront) and investments within but also beyond regional park boundaries.

Figure 1.6 shows RiverFirst’s long-term vision, which goes beyond parks, stormwater management and trails to address larger urban design issues by envisioning the growth of creative industries, commercial amenities, and residential communities in a way that reinforces both the RiverFirst initiatives and the City’s redevelopment goals.

Figure 1.7 summarizes RiverFirst’s near-term vision for parks, stormwater management, and trails -- particularly those within the ATF Regional Park boundary.

Many components of the RiverFirst park vision have been integrated with elements from the 2000 ATF Plan to inform this updated 2019 ATF Park Plan Update.

RiverFIRST: A Park Design Proposal and Implementation Framework for the Minneapolis Upper Riverfront

March 15, 2012

The RiverFirst vision was approved by MPRB in March, 2012, following an international design competition and many months of community engagement.



Figure 1.6 RiverFirst long-term urban design vision (2012)

This expansive vision extends far beyond the ATF Regional Park boundary, and addresses many urban development issues in addition to park development.

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Components of this near-term parks vision have been integrated with this 2019 ATF Park Plan.

Figure 1.7 RiverFirst 5-year vision for parks development (2012)

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Documents

Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan€¦ · MN River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail East Anoka Co. Regional Trail Sam Morgan Regional Trail. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park (Big Island)