Below are a few of the top choices identified by the community for how to design the public land near Minnehaha Creek:
- Features which provide different viewpoints and places for resting, such as benches, near sidewalks and trails
- Amenities and trails which are accessible for people of all abilities (ADA accessible)
- Informal landscaping with large canopy trees
- Dynamic water which moves and falls throughout the site
- Trails and other connections which support people walking, biking, or taking transit to their destinations
- Management of stormwater through innovative design such as rain gardens
- Public restroom facilities
- Year-round outdoor recreation and entertainment for people of all ages and abilities
- Use of the creek as a “water trail” for canoeing, kayaking, or tubing which includes boat landings and rest facilities for paddlers
- Elements which engage children to play or learn
The community also met representatives from Alatus, the developer recently selected by Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the City of Hopkins to redevelop a portion of the site as a transit-oriented development. Alatus shared their preliminary concept plan for the site with the community, which includes a mix of housing options and commercial space. You can view the preliminary concept plan and share your feedback by visiting the City of Hopkins web page.
All the ideas collected from the community at these events, prior listening sessions, and through multiple surveys, are currently shaping preliminary designs for the public natural space at the site. Following the community open houses, a two-day design charrette (or planning session) between the project partners was held that visualized how different ideas fit on the site while still meeting all project goals, such as treating polluted stormwater.
As the design for the public natural space continues to evolve, the City of Hopkins and Alatus, in coordination with MCWD, will be working together to create a plan for further engaging the community on the redevelopment portion of the project site. All of the project partners look forward to continuing this conversation with the community at future events.
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