RIVERFIRST: Tom Leader Studio
Transcript of RIVERFIRST: Tom Leader Studio
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CONFLUENCE :A joining or flowing together of people and waters.
RIVERFIRST is inspired from the Dakota concept of BDote,a sacred joining of waters.
riverfirst
DESIGN
Tom Leader Studio / Landscape Architecture, Berkeley, CAKennedy & Violich Architecture / Architecture & Planning, Boston, MAKestrel Design Group / Landcape Architecture, Minneapolis, MNTimothy J. Griffin, AIA, AICP, LEED AP, Director, Saint Paul on the Miss. Design CenterDavid Motzenbecker, Landscape Architect, Minneapolis, MN
ENGINEERING
Sherwood Civil Engineering, Cambridge, MA/ San Francisco, CA / New York, NYInterFluve, Environmental Engineering, Madison, WI / Hood River, ORKnippers Helbig / Structural Engineering, New York, NY / Stuttgart, GermanySRF Consulting/ Traffic Engineering, Minneapolis, MNLBG-Guyton Associates/ Environmental Engineering, Saint Paul, MN
ECONOMICS
Donjek /Development Strategy, Saint Paul, MNEconomic Development Services/ Economic Strategy, Minneapolis, MNConsultEcon / Economic Planning, Cambridge, MAMortensen Construction / Preconstruction Management, Minneapolis, MN
David Frank, Schafer Richardson Real Estate, Minneapolis, MNMEDIA
Proverb / Graphic Design, Boston, MASolid Gold / Soundtrack, Minneapolis, MN
RIVERFIRST restores and expands the idea of confluence to include the joiningof healthy bio-filtered storm water tributaries with the river, flows of transpor-tation and information, flows of people, capital and green revenue sources. We
join renewal of the Minneapolis riverfront with municipal needs to grow a greeneconomy, provide jobs, join communities with healthy local food and improve theecological health of the Mississippi River in the 21st century.
The RIVERFIRST team is a confluence of creative interdisciplinary thinking, eco-logical research and design. The TLS/KVA team began with a core of designerswho have worked together and share an approach that questions and cultivatesthe originality of place. The team grew organically through extensive and continu-ous exploration of the Minneapolis community. Vital local knowledge and experi-ence with ecology and fluvial process, economics and planning, engineering, com-munity development, history and culture has expanded the team and overflowedinto the RIVERFIRST Network, a consortium of over 120 engaged citizen consult-ants, organizations and advisers. This process of learning and listening is a firststep that reflects how we will work to move this project forward.
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W A T E R
RIVERFIRST Park offers a comprehensive remediation of thecitys storm water management system and its conceptualtransformation into a confluence of tributaries that are natu-rally cleansed by planted bio-filtration designs and returned tothe River. The recovery of Northside wetlands, and the designof storm water remediation ravines on the East side integratePark land with municipal eco-infrastructure, public access tothe River and a wide range of recreation activities. As a sourceof public enjoyment and education, the RIVERFIRST Park shapesnew ways for people to engage, recreate and socialize along theriver, building public consensus to support the gradual openingof a closed pool and its t ransformation to a living river.
P A R K R E S P O N D S T O 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y C H A L L E N G E S
Mississippi River global transportation links
Mississippi River nutritional run off
Minnesota Watershed diagram
As we move forward our technology,
understanding, and our values and needs will
change - and so will the river. RIVERFIRST is
a vehicle for the public to better understandriver ecology and can change the way people
manage, interact, recreate, and perceive the
river. The natural rivers processes of mov-
ing sediment, creating beaches and riparian
vegetation and our public need for improved
water quality and functional ecology together
can drive the Park landscape and build a
broad base of public support to allow the river
to function more naturally.
- Lon Mickelson, INTERFLUEVE
The Minneapolis Riverfront Competition provides a
chance to consider how a Park system can protect the
national ecological heritage of the Minneapolis River-
front and the Mississippi River, provide for community
health and prosperity and prepare Minneapolis with
resilient, multi-tasking and sustainable eco-infrastruc-ture. River access may increase in value as energy costs
rise and warming climate shortens winter port clo-
sures. Green house gas emissions need to be reduced.
Storm water systems must be adapted to accommodate
increasing uncertainty in local climate variability. Urban
growth must be accommodated. The RIVERFIRST Park
considers these challenges as the means to enable a
blue & green way of life to flourish in Minneapolis and to
attract the brightest creative minds to live in Minneapolis
in 2050, when a more mobile work force will have their
choice of different regional mega-centers.
Our project focuses on the design of strategic relation-
ships between larger social, natural, civic and economic
ecologies. Our approach conserves energy and maxi-
mizes the beneficial public impacts of the new Park by
asking: How can the presence or perceived waste of
one system be used to build another? The RIVERFIRST
Park proposes a set of creative, inter-related design
initiatives that function at multiple scales. Physical
concepts for the new Park design are expanded by Park
outreach strategies to raise public awareness about con-
sumer choice impacts on the overall River system. Theseinclude Park grown food and 1% Park profit streams
from RIVERFIRST green lawn fertilizer and clean road
salt. A solar Park WiFi network expands public access
to existing USGS river monitoring services and provides
local and national public education about the ecology of
the UMR, attracting world class institutional, corporate
and organizational partners to the RIVERFIRST Park
initiative. The RIVERFIRST Park proposal is visionary and
practical in the 4-5 year time frame and impactful in the
40 year frame of 2050. We want to jump-start a great
Minneapolis riverfront park at this critical environmental
tipping point. The design of the new Park can be a pow-erful public force that sets changes in motion.
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RECOVERY OF WETLANDSAREA FILLED IN THE 1950s
STORM WATER FLOW
GULF DEADZONE
500 FLOOD PLAIN
100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN
WETLAND TREATMENT
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M O B I L I T YH E A L T H G R E E N E C O N O M Y
RIVERFIRST proposes to use the Park as a catalyst to acceleratethe transition from smokestack industry to a 21st century greeneconomy based on logistical transportation advantages, smartand clean tech innovation. Existing train lines are retained for aGreen Port, which evolves to a Green Economy portal connectingthe city with Minnesota wind renewable energy, and Xcels newSolar Utility providing clean power for electric vehicles and onshore power OSP (cold ironing) for barges, trains and industryand reducing future energy cost risks, noise and emissions. Weare fully committed to work with policy makers to ensure that
jobs created in the Green Port and River City Innovation districtsare linked back to local residents who can bike, walk or take ashuttle bus to work.
A guiding principle in the RIVERFIRST proposal is to leverageParkland to improve the health of the river and the health ofthe city and its neighborhoods. Park lands create significantnew opportunities for urban agriculture, provide food security,and expand neighborhood access to healthy food and nutritionin ways that build community and build local businesses inorganic produce, the fastest growing, most profitable sectorof the US food market. Sales of 1% RIVERFIRST clean roadsalt and natural cleaning and fertilizer products generate Parkrevenue and raise public awareness of how everyday con-sumer practices can improve river health and community farbeyond the Minneapolis riverfront.
In 2010, the highest energy uses in Minnesota were industryand transportation sectors. RIVERFIRST Park incorporates asustainable multi-modal and interconnected public trans-portation system for commuting, recreation, and mobility inthe city area. New Knot Bridge bike/ski pedestrian walkwaysare attached to existing bridges to tie together the North andNorth East river shore trails, creating a world class recrea-tional and bike commuting network with Nice Ride stations.The new Library Square Park links the River with Twins Sta-dium Station improving suburban and regional public accessto the river on the Hiawatha LRT, the North Star and futureCentral, Southwest, and Bottineau LRT lines.
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INTERSTATE
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A new Prairie Loop clean bus shuttle
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the Burlington North Bridge.
ST. ANTHONY PARKWAY
COLUMBIA PARK
MARSHALLTERRACE
BOTTINEAU
SHERIDAN
ST. ANTHONY WEST
EAST BANK
MARCY HOMES
DOWNTOWN EAST
DOWNTOWN WEST
NORTH LOOP
NEAR NORTH
HAWTHORNE
GRAND ROUNDSBIKE TRAIL
CHURCHES
SLOW FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY GARDENS
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I-94 35W
MCKINLEY
CAMDEN
18TH26TH
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LOWRY
NORTH + SOUTHCOMMUTER RAIL
N MISSISSIPPI CO-OP SHUTTLE
GREEN PORTTERMINAL
TWINS STADIUMSTATION
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The Mississippi is still a working place for industry, but current
economic prosperity is hindered by the dislocated relationship be-
tween Minneapolis and its river. When we say put the river first,
we mean to renew its strength and diversity as a living ecosystem.
In doing so, we also put the health of the city first-physical, soci-
etal and economic.The RIVERFIRST design is guided by the dynamics of the river.
Where water carves and erodes, we employ the same principles to
create ecological stairways that connect the water and communi-
ties. Where it deposits new material, we mold this into new Park
lands. RIVERFIRST means renewing and using the natural land
topography to solve problems. Topographical design in section
reconnects Northsides historic Farview Park with the River and
new skilled jobs in the River City Innovation District. The North-
side Perkins Hill land form enables us to discover available land
in section for clean industry and a future Green Port. We create
moments of vertical separation between Park Trail and barge
operations, allowing Park, navigation, and industry to coexist. Riv-erbank topography organizes the remediation design of municipal
storm water and creates a public Park which provides Minneapolis
with flood mitigation and bio-filtration eco-services for the 21st
century.
RIVERFIRST initiatives create and enhance synergies among
existing infrastructures, community and ecological assets. Knot
Bridges tie together North and North East Park trails and link
the vibrant creative energy of the NE Arts District with the River
City Innovation District and Downtown. Real time stream water
monitoring from the USGS website is made public with smart illu-
mination along Knot Bridges. Biohaven Islands anchored to bridgepiers provide more than 8 acres of protected riparian habitat for
migrating birds and endangered wildlife. The River Talk iPhone
app and solar powered Park WiFi network provide unprecedented
opportunities for local and national public education about the
ecology of the UMR, attracting world class institutional, corporate,
and organizational partners to the RIVERFIRST Park initiative.
O V E R A L L P L A N
CARVING
CARVING
DEPOSITING
DEPOSITING
Minneapolis / St. Paul Grand Rounds Bike Trail
Fluvial Processes
Overall Plan
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LIBRARY SQ.PARK
(B) An urban livingroom for downtown,and a Gateway to theRiver connected bya Park landscape ofday-lighted storm
water tributaries tothe River.
BROADWAY RIVERDISTRICT
(L) A continuous green bike-way and Prairie Loop Shuttle
runs through the formerrailroad corridor connectingnew light industry, riverfrontparks, and the Bell Museumof Natural History at the foot
of Broadway Bridge
SPIRIT ISLAND(A) An illuminatedriver weir marks
the site of Spirit Is-land as the eye andsoul of the river.
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RIVERFRONTTRAIL
(F) A continuous greenPark Trail returns the
Riverfront to the publicand is designed to riseabove barge terminalsand coexist with sin-dustrial property and
operations.
GREEN PORT(H) The Port of Minneapo-lis evolves to a Clean En-ergy Port that drives theCitys global and regional
green economy.
northeastBLUFFS
(I) Dramatic high pointsover look the Mississippi
and downtown Minneapo-lis. Ravine landscapesremediate storm water
and form carved steppedeco-stairs for flows of
water, people and wild-life.
SCULPTURE PARK(K) A restored floodplain land-
scape for sculpture, visual artsand installation with dramatic
views to the Farview Park
Landscape Connector. Mar-shal Block adaptive re-uselive/ work housing provides
studios, exhibit and gatheringspaces to serve the adjacent
artistic community.
BIOHAVENS(J) A protected networkof floating islands that
provide 7.8 acres ofriparian habitat for en-dangered species and
migratory birds.
SCHERER PARK(C) A recreationalentry point to the
river parks forkayaks, bikes, ski-ers, and runners
and Community Arts
center.
WETLANDS(G) A molded alluvial
wetlands landscape is re-claimed to create a civicscaled climate changeeco-infrastructure that
provides bio-filtration forstorm water flows andincreased flood protec-
tion.
RIVER CITY(E) Expands the Citys medi-cal and smart tech businessbase, provides a significant
new job base and joinscommunities with healthy
local food and the means togrow it.
FARVIEW PARK(D) A major new park exten-sion with urban agriculturereconnects the high point of
the city with the river.
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The RIVERFIRST Park system begins with a multidimensional idea of public ac-
cess. This includes physical access to the river, access to education and information
about river ecology and access to jobs, and the full spectrum of tangible community
benefits that flow from the 21st century green economy along the river. Physical ac-
cess has been limited due to non-continuous parcels of city-owned land and industry
operations. The Riverbank North landscape design springs from seeing navigations
waste products as raw river material with which to build the new Park. We propose
a new beneficial and civic use of dredged sediments, which are currently stockpiled
on riverfront land and/or sold at very low cost for construction infill. The river sedi-
ments become the molded materials from which the RIVERFIRST park and public
riverfront trails are made. The first step is affordable, practical and impactful: pro-
vide public access to the River which can coexist with the existing industries. River
sediment is molded in berms enabling a continuous pedestrian and bike trail to rise
and bridge over the locations of existing barge terminals and operations. This cre-
ates an undulating and safe public Park trail along the Riverbank North which can be
built today with minimal impacts on industrial property, equipment, and operations.
The same process of molding land berms is used with a standard federally funded
highway overpass construction to connect to the North neighbourhoods. Our vision
is to reconnect the Citys historic high point, Farview Park, with the new Riverfront
trail system, extending a great plain of green that bridges over I-94, and providing a
direct land access to the River for people, animals, and storm water, without demoli-
tion of any existing homes.
R I V E R B A N K N O R T H : M O L D I N G T H E L A N D
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Existing Buildings
2nd Ave North
New Street side program
Housing Block
Commercial/Retail
Terrace
Tree grove
Shuttle Bus Stop
Nice Ride StationExisting Abandoned Tracks
Bike Path
New construction
Orchard
Washington St.
Administration/ Research Lab
Manufacturing
Truck/ Train Loading
Restaurant/ Cafe
Frontage Rd West
Pedestrian Bridge
Industrial BuildingFrontage Road East
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River Bank North aerial
Sections through West Bank
West Bank biodiversity
Top of Farview Park looking at river
I believe that this design reconnects the north side of Minneapolis to the Mississippi River
on several levels: ecology, community, and economics. The community has been poorly
served in terms of its portion of the Grand Rounds. The Farview Park program and land
bridge is a major public realm community investment. The conceptual reintroduction of
water flow from the city reestablishes the neighborhoods ecological watershed. The
economic investment enhances neighborhood value to the west and creates job oppor-
tunities (for residents) on the riverfront. Thinking about the future park also connected
an organically established team of local and national environmental designers to think
about the river first-- as a desirable means of community connection and a riverfront Park
destination.
- Tim Griffin , Saint Paul Design Center
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Farview Park High Point
Existing Neighborhood
Neighborhood storm water collection
Urban Farm and Greenhouses
Daylighted Stream and Landform Park
Pedestrian Bridge
Farmers Market
Barge RestaurantRail line
Barge Theater
New Office/Research
Waterfront Plaza
Riverfront Amphitheater
Park Pavillion
Barge Restaurant
Nice Ride Bike Station
26th Steet Bike Path
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External Growth(Day care, security, bank,clinic, cafeteria, groundsand prototyping)
Development(Education)
Internal Growth(Base employees)
The Farview Land Bridge is the centerpiece for the new River City Innovation District,
which draws on Minneapolis expertise in innovative materials, medical, scientific
and smart technologies. A zone of four story office and light industrial buildings
offset the Parkland tax base. Renovated industrial buildings are adapted for work/
live housing near term. A future education and job training cluster and hotel will be
developed along the Lowry Bridge.Farview Park marks the historic high land point in the City. This park will now
extend across I-94 to reconnect North Minneapolis to the river, providing access
to the center of the River City Innovation district. A new highway bridge includes a
community-based urban farm and hoop houses with CO2
harvesting for plants from
the highway below. A seasonal storm water stream will descend through a series of
public park rooms with pedestrian bridges and land berms.
In cooperation with North side community leaders and organizations, RIVERFIRST
Park farming offers a new model for local, sustainable urban food production that
celebrates diverse cultures and culinary traditions while building local communi-
ties. As more people and businesses in the City adopt local Park-grown foods, the
more they may question mega-scaled mono agriculture policies which must rely on
chemicals and fertilizers that inevitably leek into the river.The River City district will attract corporations such as Coloplast who can recruit
employees who value a life style with proximity to Park trails, locally grown and
healthy food, and a sustainable commute by bike or shuttle bus. Corporations cre-
ate a job base that includes corporate employees and trainees, clinics, food, dining
and local catering services, banks, health clinics, fabricators, and small businesses
associated with rapid prototyping and advanced manufacturing. The RIVERFIRST
strategy includes a conference center for continuing and higher education and job
training to develop the skills needed by workers and employers in a dynamic global
economy.
R I V E R C I T Y F A R V I E W P A R K L A N D B R I D G E
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Land bridge a
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Farming Gardens c
Hoops Houses dI-94 e
North 3rd St f
River City and Farview Park detailed plan
Potential job growth
View from Bridge, crossing over farmers market
Section through Land Bridge
The River City Innovation district on the west side of the river presents substantial ad-
vantages to employees and employers. Located adjacent to the interstate, the area is well
suited for employers that: value a central location in the metro area and/or quick access to
downtown; integrate prototyping or production operations with management, scientific, tech-
nical and management professions; and depend on ready access to the unique transportation
infrastructure in the area.- Janna King, Economic Development Services, Inc.
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Barrier Islands with bridges
Emergent wetlands and aquatic gardens
Riverine wetlands
Daylighted storm water channels
Lowry Hub Training and Education
Transit Hub
Riverpark
Riversteps
Climate change impacts on the river and Minneapolis
are characterized by extreme uncertainty and variabil-
ity. Averaged climate projection data from the Interna-
tional Panel on Climate Change 2007 simulation models
suggest that 2050 temperatures in Minnesota could
extensive river water evaporation in summer causing
droughts and/or low water events. As water residence
times increase in low flow events, there is a greater risk
for bacteria blooms, impacting Minneapolis water quality
and human health, as well as river biology and wildlife.
Evaporated water in the atmosphere also creates the
chance for many more damaging summer storms, with
heavy precipitation and floods as river soils dry and
loose capacity to absorb moisture.
These 2050 climate scenarios point to the need for City
leaders and citizens to rethink fundamental priorities
and make changes, while planning for municipal climatechange adaption strategies. The City of Minneapolis
and the Parks Board have the opportunity to create a
significant municipal eco-infrastructure that is also a
place for leisure, community activities, and close daily
contacts with nature. RIVERFIRST guiding principles are
to develop economies of scope: 1) where every possible
infrastructure investment works across multiple lines
of business; 2) nest discrete decentralized solutions into
larger synthetic Western and eastern riverbank systems
and, 3) use triple-bottom-line economics to compare
and generate alternatives - where alternatives are morebroadly generated based on an integrated strategy to
deliver the full range of city and eco- services.
Lowry Plaza South
Lowry Plaza North
Railroad Terminal
Green Port
Green Port Office/Manf.
Orchards
Nice Ride Bike Station
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W E T L A N D S : A C I V I C E C O - I N F R A S T R UC T U R E
Wetlands Detail Plan
Annual Precipitation and Temperature
View from barrier islands
Section through the wetlands
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Established vegetation
Live stake stabilization
Depositional Zone
Wetland Zone
Riparian Forest
Storm Water Detention
Upland Forest
Bike Path
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A 21st century Park offers Minneapolis a chance to
step back and reassess how the citys recycling, heavy
industry and port businesses are conducted, what toolsand infrastructure are used, and how green house gas
emissions can be reduced. If smokestack industries
go away or are relocated, it only shifts the site of
the problem as aquifers, groundwater, storm water and
river are inevitably linked in Minneapolis.
RIVERFIRST proposes to use the Park as a catalyst to
accelerate the transition from smokestack industry
to a 21st century green economy. We imagine a green
port, which evolves to a green economy portal connect-
ing the city with Minnesota wind renewable energy,
providing clean on shore power OSP (cold ironing) for
barges, trains and industry and reducing future energycost risks, noise and emissions. Minneapoliss first
Barge Loading
Material Processing / Transfer
Rail Line
Dredge Spoil land formsDay lighted storm water channels
Storm water treatment cells
Bike and pedestrian trail
Pedestrian bridge
Open cell green/vehicular surface
Gravity Reservoir / Skate Pond
Open space / Storm water corridor
Outdoor Velodrome
Excel Solar Field / Bio-remediation field
Orchard
Smart Trail lights
On-shore powerElectric car charging station
electric vehicle charging stations will be located here.
By engaging the land in section, our proposal meets
the current Port space needs in half the footprint, den-sifying operations and increasing efficiencies. Day lit
terraces provide storage and workshop facilities with
green business incubators and corporate headquar-
ters above, all with strategic logistics access to train,
interstate and river. Five green economy corporate
headquarters would increase port job density from
less than 1 job per acre today to over 1,000 skilled jobs
per acre.
The plan provides Minneapolis with a Green Port that
is also a working Parkland with needed civic scaled
storm water remediation ponds, 2 acres of permeable
ground surface that provides future climate changefloodplain carrying capacity, and clusters of diverse
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S U S T A I N A B L E I N F R A S T R U C T U R E : G R E E N P O R T
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Brussels
Seattle
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Memphis
St. Paul
Minneapolis
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floodplain forest. RIVERFIRST begins by providing public access to the river, initiat-
ing a comprehensive Park trails system and returning the river shore to the public,
allowing citizens to become the catalyst for change. Barge spoil berms are molded
and remediated with planting allowing a public Rivershore trail to flow over barge
terminals, which can remain and co-exist with the new Park.
Green Port Detail Plan
Port vs Green Comparisons
View from Port building terrace
The Green Port provides global reach, energy efficiency and the competitive logistics advantageoffered by multiple class 1 railroads, a river port, an intermodal yard and an interstate. This uniqueconfluence of transportation assets will be of strategic economic importance as energy prices increaseand businesses seek to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining global access.- Janna King, Economic Development Services, Inc.
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A series of Knot Bridges tie the North and Northeast river trails together. Pedes-
trian and bike/ski pathways attached to existing bridges connect the lower Park river
shore trails with higher streets and bridge heads improving ready public access
at intersections of development, mobility and Parkland. Commercial clusters are
developed at the bridge heads. The existing bridges are logical supports for this ini-
tiative, both metaphorically as urban places where people are in closest contact with
the river and literally, because they can support pedestrian and bike ways.
The Knot Bridges create impactful virtual public connections with the river throughInternet based river education programs. Each bridge supports a solar powered
K N O T B R I D G E C O N N E C T I O N S
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Higgens Eye Mussel(Lampsilis higginsii)
The Higginseye wasthe firstfreshwatermussel to receivefederal protection,which tookeffectin 1972Degradation oftheMississippi Riverin the formof navigation improvementsandpollution severelyrestricted the range ofthisspecies.Today,the lowerSt.CroixRiverhasone ofthe largestremainingHigginseye populationsthroughoutthe species'range.
Location: TheMightyMississippi!Attheriver- 55 Photos
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CAMDEN BRIDGE
PACIFIC BRIDGE
LOWRY BRIDGE
NORTH BRIDGE
PLYMOUTH BRIDGE
BROADWAY BRIDGE
BNSF BRIDGE
Existing NP-BNSF Bridge a
Public Knot Bridge b
Viewing Area c
Floating Island d
River Run Turbine e
Solar Panel Array f
Wifi Emitter g
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Park Wi Fi repeater and a system of night time illumi-
nation that makes public river conditions recorded from
the existing USGS Water Watch system. Possibilities
include real time stream flow levels, dissolved oxygen
and temperature data that will help the public under-
stand the Rivers metabolism. Wireless devices could
be integrated with real time river data. The expanded
RIVERFIRST River Talk mobile application could enablethe public to listen to the river and observe animals in
their natural habitats through non-intrusive land and
water based web cams. This initiative could become
a source of income for the park, especially in partner-
ship with local university and research institutions and
national conservation organizations that currently do
not have a smart phone outreach platform. Citizens of
Minneapolis could begin to forge a new relationship
with their river, one that they could experience physi-cally and access or share from anywhere.
Knot Bridge and Network Plan
RiverTalkfor IPhone, Fish Talk
Detailed Knot Bridge
View of Broadway Bridge with newKnot bridge
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At 2,320 miles, the Mississippi River is a vital migration corridor for 60 percent of
North Americas bird species. A protected network of floating Biohavens will restore
riparian in-river habitat essential for migratory birds, provide nesting and staging
areas and support endangered aquatic and land animals and plants. These include
native mussels, blandings turtle, osprey, logger head strike and karner blue but-
terfly. The Biohaven islands will create over 8 acres of restored habitat and enhancethe enjoyment and exploration of the River by kayak.
Instead of costly, disruptive hard structures with high embodied energy construc-
tion, Biohavens are based on water buoyancy and resilient soft engineering prin-
ciples that utilize an innovative flotation system made of robust, lightweight geo-
textiles and 100% re-cycled PET materials.
Soil placed on top of the island provides an enduring nutrient medium for plants and
shrubs, and small trees. Biohaven Islands can also support harvests of wild rice and
native berries, and can be adopted and supported by local organizations or corpo-
rations. Existing bridge piers are used to tether the floating islands, and their habi-
tat remediation and restoration mission is consistent with ACE objectives. The shape
of the islands is designed to accommodate a river placement and the edges of the
islands are protected with solar powered marine pumps (currently used for house-boats) to avoid ice stacking in winter. A downstream island is anchored on springing
ropes allowing it to simply move aside if bumped by barges. A hinge connection at
the bridge bearing acts as a load transfer for downstream running water and wind.
Side stabilization is provided by anchors. All connections would be constructed in a
way to allow a safe support during moving water levels.
B I O H A V E N I S L A N D H A B I T A T S
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A pair of linked, floating islands create 63,000 SF of habitat
offers the river a bio-remediation capacity that can absorb 32
kg/day of phosphorous or about (1681 gallons) of dish soap per
day, based on the new Minnesota regulation of .5% max phos-
phates in detergent. In addition, the same pair of linked, float-
ing islands can eliminate 636.63 kg of nitrates per day, remov-
ing the nitrate content of about 224 - 25 pound bags of lawn
fertilizer! Biohaves are essential, multidimensional habitats.
Aerial Perspective looking north
Section through Biohaven Habitat
View from Lowry Bridge looking back at the city
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Bridge Support
Float (Styrene foam)
Maintenance free dock construction
material: reclaimed plastics, PVC
Pivot Point
Lightweight soil mix
Osprey nest habitat
Fixed IslandFloating island
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The RIVERFIRST proposal increases biodiversity in all of the Parks vegetated zones:
upland forest, riparian forest, wetlands and prairies. Steep riparian forest areas
move from the bluff overlook down to the river. The banks are stabilized with boul-
ders and large woody debris which are essential to create habitat components at
the toe. Established vegetation of willows and cottonwoods stabilize the bluff slopes
with smaller species will be sedges, lovegrass, smartweeds, rudbeckia, asters, ar-
rowheads, and bulrush, rushes. The North east bluffs support a targeted approach
to conservation biology to attract animals that are endangered or at risk. These in-
clude native mussels, Blandings turtle, osprey, peregrine falcon, wintering eagles,loggerhead shrike and the Karner blue butterfly.
The RIVERFIRST park design for the North East side follows principals of carving
produced by the action of river water on the northeast side limestone bluffs. When
the river current meets a shoreline with an outside curve, water erodes the bank
material over time. It continually carves into the land and creates steep slopes or
vertical faces. The North east River bank is composed of resistant material frac-
tured sandstone and tightly packed glacial till. We carve into this resistant material
to create ravines and terraces. The ravines allow city storm water to be remediated
instead of falling directly into the river. Stepped ravine ecostairs channel water,
provide habitat and access to the public to the rivers edge. Carved land material is
reused on site to form raised terraces with intimate views of treetop habitats, win-tering eagles, and broad overlooks to the river.
N O R T H E A S T B L U F F S : C A R V I N G T H E L A N D
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NorthEast Bluffs Aerial
East Bank Biodiversity
View from river, looking north
Section through Bluff
View from Lowry Bridge, looking at Bluffs
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Tiny warblers and vireos I have seen on the southern tip of Texas travel this big wide flyway, this river of birds. Of all the
places these neotropical migrants cross the Mississippi, this area in Minneapolis is the least forgiving. Today, that now
changes. So, lets put the fat back in the land, with giant migrating sturgeon in the upper river again, and sandbars that
move around from year to year. Heres the chance we have been waiting for. Lets say goodbye to the scrap and rubbish
piles of our past abuses. Please join me in saying hello to a new river relationship with our Mighty Mississippi.
Peter MacDonagh, Kestral Design Group
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Mississippi Overlook/Belvedere
Riverfront Sculpture Park
Ravine / Ecological Stairway
Pedestrian / Bike through-wayPedestrian / Bike loops
Marshall Concrete Residential/Studios
Childrens Art Camp
Biohaven floating island
Urban Farm
Arts Plaza and Pavilions
Art Greens
13th Street art corridor
Bike / Pedestrian Trail
Market Rate urban housing
Art Center
Kayak launch park
Recreational rentals / caf
Wood raft platforms
Year-round swim barge and spa
Pedestrian bridge
Sloping green
Entry Plaza
Forest
Existing Marina
Nice Ride Bike Station
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A R T S D I S T R I C T : B L U E A N D G R E E N L I F E W A Y S
Detailed Plan of East Bank
Section through Ravine
View of Lowery Hub from Marshall Block
Unpackaging Concept
The Mississippi River offers the perfect setting for the Bell Museum of Natural History and/or a Native American Museum.The site near the Broadway Bridge offers a stunning view of downtown, good visibility and excellent access to transit, down-town and the interstate. As the first major arts/cultural institution to locate north of downtown, the museum will anchor avisitor industry cluster that provides employment opportunities and strengthens a revitalized business district on Broadway
west of the i nterstate. - Janna King, Economic Development Group
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Providing additional co-ops and community gardens would
allow the citizens of Minneapolis and its waterfront an unique
opportunity to take part in their own food production. Farmers
markets could also take part, selling organic berries, vegeta-
bles, and various fruits. Locally grown RIVERFIRST agriculture
will be produced, packaged, and shipped from Green Port.
Work in art/design/music fields. A
Caf culture, with galleries, small
music venues, art shows and per-
formance theatre.
In the summer, activities include hiking,
mountain climbing, off-road biking, fishing,
swimming, kayaking, running, and rowing.
There is also a set of diverse winter activi-
ties for all to enjoy, such as cross country
skiing, snow-shoeing, ice skating, and ice
hockey.
U R B A N A G R I C U LT U R EA R T S
R E C R E A T I O N
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S C H E R E R P A R K : A N U R B A N R I V E R S H O R E
Scherer Park Kayak Launch
Pool View
Pro Forma
Aerial View of Scherer Park
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Located along the only river bend shore with south/west exposure, the new Scherer
Park restores Halls Island and offers a river beach cove with a an amazing skyline
view of Downtown. Scherer Park re-introduces the public to the core idea of the river
as a living, dynamic eco-system which produces its own landscape of sand bars and
shallow pools that shift shape according to winter melts, patterns of sediment deposi-
tion and river flows. This is a place where people can get their feet wet, a living land-
scape which cant be mapped because it is different each day.
As a demonstration site for the new Park system, market rate housing and artist
work/live studios define the edges of the park, enjoy spectacular views up and down
river, and overlook Scherer Park as watchful neighbors bringing people, safety and
activity to the park corridor and generating6 times more in property taxes than the
current facilities, as indicated by the outline Development Pro Forma.A community art center on Sibley Street will provide an opportunity for working adults,
youth and retirees to access studio space and develop their skills. Working artists
from the area will gain an opportunity to network, teach, and exhibit at the Center,
allowing the Park system to link the creative energy of the NE arts district with the
innovation capacity of the Northside River City innovation district.
A public promenade of timber strips lifts and dips to reveal riparian landscape, creat-
ing playful large urban deck chairs for sunning and working outdoors. Park main-
tenance revenue is generated through local restaurant tenants making use of North-
side Park-grown organic produce and locally-sourced food, a swim/skate facility on
Halls Island and a public kayak launch. This new park and aquatic landscape space
is the central launching point and trail head for all visitors who wish to explore the
RIVERFIRST trails by kayak, foot, bike or on skis. Minneapolis residents: Where else
can you kayak on the Mississippi in the still of the morning before you go to work?
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D O W N T O W N M I N N E A P O L I S
Nicollet Mall / Plaza
3rd St. Plaza
Forest with caf pavilions
Green
Storm water collection stream
Wetland gardens
Cancer Survivors Garden
Roof water reservoir
Riparian Forest GatewayDaylighted storm water channel
Nice Ride Bike Station
This open space creates the much-discussed green urban living room that has
been missing from downtown Minneapolis. The park creates the water source and
visual center piece of a great forested gateway to the downtown connecting to the
river along Hennepin Avenue. Available open spaces and surface parking lots can be
converted to surface drainage ways within this native forest. The park is designed
as great sloping planes of lawn, emerging from the forest which receive rainfall and
gently tilt toward a wetland water course flanking Nicollet Mall and flowing toward
the River.
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Library Square detail plan
Aerial view of Library Square
Water flow fiagram through site
Aerial view of Spirit Island
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The story of Spirit Island symbolizes what has been lost along the Mississippi by Eu-
ropean settlement. It would be impossible to restore Spirit Island because the loss
is too significant to make it authentic. As an opening to a process led by the Dakota
people, the image of a limestone weir is offered. The weir establishes the footprint
of Spirit Island and the hole in the river is the first step in asserting this the loss. The
inaccessible void evokes a palpable sadness. It is lit from within marking endurance
and hope. Each increment in the weir is symbolic of the stages of re-building over
the next 50 years: laying a foundation, re-building prominence, re-inhabiting withsoil and species, and learning.
Our submission for Spirit Island is something we think might be appropriate to recognize the loss of a scared place and mark the living
presence of the river as a teaching place. But, we dont think this is a decision that we - or the Jury - can make. This vision of Spirit Island
should be considered as a suggestion. The decision for what happens here needs to be made by native people using the process they con-
sider appropriate, including the use of native artists to design it and native people to build it. It will take time to develop understanding,
relationships and trust.
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R I V E R F I R S T N E T W O R K
Minneapolis Mississippi River Critical Area Plan
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Institute of Hydrology, Hans Moser
World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
Climate Change Impacts on U. S. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
United States Global Change Research Program
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
National Academy of Engineering, Henry G. Schwartz Jr.
Journal of Geophysical Research
Natural Resources Research Institute,University of Minnesota Duluth
Georgia Ports Authority
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Metropolitan Council, Steven BaloghMetropolitan Council Evironmental Services, Kent Johnson
National Wildlife Federation: Charting a New Pathfor Minnesotas Electricity Generation and Use
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Bruce Monson
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CPG Corporation
Conservation
National Eagle Center
Economic Development Services
Northside Economic Opportunity Network
Neighborhood Development Center
Get to No-Mi
Harrison Neighborhood Association
TWIN CITIES RISE!
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
West Broadway Coalition
Northside Resident Redevelopment Council
Hawthorne Neighborhood Council
NorthWay Community Trust.
Windom Park Citizens in Action
Waite Park Community Council
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
St. Anthony West Neighborhood Organization
Bottineau Neighborhood Association
Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association
Sheridan Neighborhood OrganizationLogan Park NeighborhoodColumbia Park Neighborhood AssociationBeltrami Neighborhood Council
Minnesota Neighborhood Revitalization Program
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Jordon Area Community Council
EmergeNeighborhood development
Research/Institution
Clean Energy Resource Teams
The Green Institute
Mrs Meyers Clean Day
Energy
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Xcel Energy
Biking
Freewheel Midtown Bike Center
Nice Ride Minnesota
Bikes Belong, Zach Vanderkooy
Bicycle City/ HU school of Public Health, Anne Lusk
One on One Bike Shop, Andy
Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition
Great River Greening in St Paul
The Nature Conservancy
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Green PortCollins Woerman
Inland Navigation Europe
Minnesota 2020
Unified Ports of San Diego
Minnesota Post
C40 Cities - Climate Leadership Group
Port Metro Vancouver
American Water Resources Association - Green Ports Intiative
Twin Cities Businesses
The Design Observer: The Water/Front
Shift Boston - Barging Through Boston
Federation for American Immigration Reform
Floating Island International
Encore Heureux, Paris
St Anthonys Falls River Lab, Jeff MarrChanges in River Morphometry and Water Quality byPatrick Brezonik & Chris Paola - PDF
National Parks Service, John Anfinson
Historical Information Services, Nino D'Andrea
US Army Corps of EngineersWater Resources CenterNatural Resources and Forestry, Randy UlrichCultural Resources, Ginny GnabsikHydrology and shoreline, Jon HendricksonLock and dams, Leon Mucha
University of MinnesotaRobert (Bob) SykesMinnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Minneapolis Star Tribune, Steve Berg
Minnesota NPR
Audubon Neighborhood Association
St. Anthony East Neighborhood AssociationNortheast Park Neighborhood Association
Minneasota Digital Library
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Kevin KenowMinnesota Water Science Center, James Stark
River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseEngineer Research and Development Center
Minnesota Department of Health, Patricia McCann
Organizations
Target
Coloplast
3M
Saint Olaf Lutheran Church
River of Life Luthern Church
Sustainable Food
Victory 44, Erick Harcey
Youth Farm and Market Project, Lucia Watson
City of MPLS CPED, Amanda Arnold, AICP
Gardening Matters
Bright Farm
MNPLS Farmers Markets
Twin Cities Natural Food Co-ops
Eastside Food Co-Op
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
National Cooperative Grocers Association, Central Corridor, CVCV
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Gotham Greens
Land Stewardship Project
Cornucopia Institute
Northside Healthy Eating Project
Arts
Northside Arts Collective
Artspace Projects Inc, Greg Foley
Juxtaposition Arts, DeAnna Cummings
Biko Associates, William Smith
Nicholas Legeros
With our team, the Minneapolis Riverfront design process has unfolded like a
charette, only on a broader and deeper scale than Ive seen before. Since No-
vember, this team has pulled together volumes to inform a thorough approach
to a complicated river corridor. There are many meeting points in the project
area that present opportunities. One of the things that excites us most is the
prospect of tying together these junctures in ways that create urban vitality
and economic value.
Jon Commers, Donjek Associates