RiverWalk By David J. Laliberte V ic e -C h air , M is s is sip p - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

By David J. Laliberte

V ic e -C h air , M is s is sip p i P ar t n e r s T u e sday, A p r il 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

Imagining a

RiverWalk

Champions of the Mississippi River in the St. Cloud urban area

Ecosystem Tourism Urban Development Active Recreation

The Mississippi River in Our Community

• St. Cloud Times Editorial Board

(Feb 19, 2015):

“respectful [and] smart development” of the Mississippi riverfront

City of St. Cloud’s Comprehensive Plan (2014-2015):

“greater attention to the Mississippi River”

Central Minnesota Community Foundation’s Community Priorities (2012-2015):

“revitalize” the Mighty Mississippi

• St. Cloud Urban Area Mississippi River

Corridor Plan (2011): the river as an

“irreplaceable community asset”

Action items:

Riverfront promenade Amphitheater Interconnected trails on river’s west shore

The Mississippi River in Other Communities

Winona, MN—Levee Park Dubuque, IA—Mississippi Riverwalk La Crosse, WI—Downtown Riverwalk

Proposed RiverWalk

Centennial Park Hester Park Cathedral H.S. Civic Center Wilson Park

• St. Cloud

Hospital

Construction pending

Obstructed: Parked cars block river

Unsafe: Recreators, traffic side-by-side

Unattractive: “De facto” fishing area uninviting

Underappreciated: natural river vista unnoticed

Barren: riprap shoreline virtually denuded

Eroded: Remaining tree roots compromised

Pine Cone Road Trail —future

Proposed Rotary RiverWalk

• St. Cloud Area Trails Overview

Centennial Park Hester Park Cathedral H.S. River’s Edge Convention Center Wilson Park

• St. Cloud

Hospital

Phase 1 Phase 2 Construction pending

possible future trail connection to Sauk Rapids

Proposed RiverWalk

RiverWalk:

 Rehabilitated shoreline, native plants Improves shoreline stability, wildlife habitat  10’ wide asphalt trail connections to Lake Wobegon, Beaver Island Trails  Wooden boardwalk Antique streetlights, benches  Scenic river overlooks Sweeping vistas, benches, historic interpretative panels  Fishing piers  Riverside green space Public art, picnic area  Expansion possible Future amphitheatre/public gathering space?

Cathedral football field Water Treatment Plant

15’ 36’ road (two-way traffic, parking both sides) Mississippi River

Public Right-of-Way

Diagram adapted from City of St. Cloud’s Lake Wobegon Trail Planning Study, Jan 2014

Weeds/ gravel riprap

Current 5th Avenue, Looking North

25’ uninviting shorefront

Maintained yard buffer

15’ Mississippi River

Public Right-of-Way

Diagram adapted from City of St. Cloud’s Lake Wobegon Trail Planning Study, Jan 2014

Spectacular 40’ shorefront

Envisioned 5th Avenue, Looking North

6’ grass/ flower divider 20’ road (one-way traffic south, parking one side) 10’ asphalt trail 4’ grass/ flower divider 8’ boardwalk native plants

Proposed Conditions

Maintained yard buffer

Side-by-side trail & boardwalk

Downtown Lakewalk, Duluth, MN

10’ wide asphalt trail

Boardwalk with benches

Scenic overlooks

Fishing piers

Public art, historic & interpretative panels

Rotary riverside branding

Possible riverside amphitheatre

Lake Hills Amphitheatre, St. John, Indiana

Rehabilitated shoreline—native plantings

Rehabilitated shoreline (Lake George—before)

Rehabilitated shoreline (Lake George—AFTER)

Rehabilitated shoreline (Sauk River—before)

Rehabilitated shoreline (Sauk River—AFTER)

Rain gardens

Governor’s Fishing Opener Rowing Races Canoe & Kayak Rentals

Events & programming—on the water

Waterski shows

Pumpkin Contest & Regatta Milk Carton Boat Contest & Races

Events & programming—on the water

Powerboat races Triathlons/swimming races

Events & programming—on the shore

Food Truck Festival, Global Market, Burger Battle Granite City Days Parade route/ Fourth of July daytime activities 5Ks as part of convention activities

Interpretative hikes

Events & programming—on the shore

CentraCare, Community Education health programming Plein Air painting Board & lawn games

Events & programming—education

Naturalist talks Library book readings/ Stearns History presentations Rotary International water initiatives Little free library

RiverW verWalk alk Impact on Community

• Fair, beneficial to all—free access for entire community; all land publicly
• wned; adjacent homeowners retain street access
• Capitalizes on momentum—construction imminent on trail section

connecting proposed RiverWalk to downtown; local sales tax funding is hastening Lake Wobegon Trail construction; RiverWalk project could coincide with 5th Avenue sewer-line improvements, Mississippi River drawdown

• Visible, impactful, significant—long-awaited Mississippi River destination

reaching downtown St. Cloud; spectacular nexus between the nationally-known Lake Wobegon Trail and the Beaver Island Trail; among the largest shoreline rehabilitation projects in Central Minnesota history

• Draws people to destination—active recreators, downtown shoppers,

community residents seek connections to the river; strengthens and diversifies downtown St. Cloud’s appeal; boosts regional tourism, area branding

• Respectful development—Utilization of active space adjacent the river

coexists with environmental and conservation best practices

• Involves Rotary members—Rotarians can assist in replanting shoreline,

building boardwalk alongside experts

• Sustained in perpetuity—maintenance shared by City of St. Cloud Parks &

Recreation, Lake Wobegon Trails Association

Riv iverWal erWalk Lead Partners

Riv iverWalk erWalk Partners

Potential Collaborators

Riv iverWal erWalk Conceptual Costs

Data provided by: Scott Zlotnik, City of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Shea, City of St. Cloud Public Services Director Greg Berg, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District Shoreline Specialist David Leapaldt, IIW Minnesota Senior Architect

• Engineering study, planning

$300,000

• Permitting/geotechnical/testing

$70,000

• Demolition/grading/

$900,000 **in CIP for 2018**

sewer improvements/road reconstruction

• Lighting/wiring

$400,000

• Trail/boardwalk construction

$900,000

• Overlooks/fishing piers

$500,000

• Shoreline rehab/

$350,000

native plantings/irrigation Total Estimated Cost: $3,420,000

**These figures are generalized cost estimates only and are subject to revision**

Riv iverWalk erWalk Possible Grants

Data provided in part by: Scott Zlotnik, City of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Shea, City of St. Cloud Public Services Director Greg Berg, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District Shoreline Specialist

Funding Agency

Grant Name

Award Size

DNR Aquatic Plant Restoration

$35,000 - $75,000;

Available for shoreline plants, too

Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources Clean Water Fund (2008 Legacy Amendment)

$66,000 - $705,000;

Local contribution required

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Section 319 Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Control

$300,000 max;

45% local match required

U.S. Government Recreational Trail Program

$1,000 - $250,000;

25% local match required

National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

$250,000 - $500,000;

Local contribution required

DNR Outdoor Recreation Grants

$1,000 - $100,000;

Local contribution required

Riv iverWalk erWalk Grants, con’t

Data provided in part by: Scott Zlotnik, City of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Shea, City of St. Cloud Public Services Director Greg Berg, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District Shoreline Specialist

Funding Agency

Grant Name

Award Size

Initiative Foundation Thriving Communities Initiative

$5,000 average;

For planning, not capital expenses

DNR Parks & Trails Fund (2008 Legacy Amendment) $20,000 minimum;

Local match encouraged

Central Minnesota Community Foundation Bernick Family Foundation Grants

$3,000 - $50,000;

For health & wellness activities

DNR Outdoor Heritage Fund (2008 Legacy Amendment)

$5,000 - $400,000;

100% local match required

Preliminary Total Possible Grant Funds Available (10 grants):

$387,000 - $2,585,000

Riv iverWalk erWalk Timeline

Data provided by: Scott Zlotnik, City of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Shea, City of St. Cloud Public Services Director David Leapaldt, IIW Minnesota Senior Architect

Year 1

Begin conceptualizations, hire design/plan/engineer consultant, Rotary member input, Mississippi Partners-led dialogues with community

• rganizations, private fund-raising

Year 2-3

Submit Request For Proposal (RFP) with City of St. Cloud and begin engineering study, permitting, grant applications and public hearings

Year 3-4

Groundbreaking: road demo, sewer improvements, road reconstruction Construction: of trail, lighting, boardwalk, overlooks, fishing piers Shoreline rehabilitation

Grand Opening

• St. Cloud town plat, 1869

Lake e Ge George ge

Imagining a

RiverWalk

The End

Addendum 1: existing Fifth Avenue road widths

(measured curb-top to curb-top)

32’ 6” 25’ 4” 23’ 8” 36’ 2” 36’ 4” 36’ 4” 36’ 4” 36’ 4”

Addendum 2: Duluth Lakewalk widths

Asphalt trail:

9’ 2”

Boardwalk:

6’ 6”

Median:

4’ 10”

PRELIMINARY - NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION 1 Herbicide Treatment (Rodeo or equal) & Site Preparation 1 Job 2,500.00 2,500.00 2 Erosion Control Blanket (NAG C125BN or equal) 2100

• Sq. Yd.

3.00 6,300.00 3 Erosion Control Blanket (NAG SC150BN or equal) 6000

• Sq. Yd.

2.00 12,000.00 4 Hardwood Stakes, 6" 8910 Each 0.25 2,227.50 5 Cover Crop - Annual Rye 150 Lb. 2.50 375.00 6 Native Grass Plugs 3800 Each 2.50 9,500.00 7 Native Grass Seed 24.0 Lb. 30.00 720.00 8 Wildflower Plugs 3800 Each 2.50 9,500.00 9 Wildflower Seed 15.0 Lb. 150.00 2,250.00 10 Trees and/or Shrubs (1-2 Gallon) - Transitional Zone 235 Each 35.00 8,225.00 11 Vines (1-2 Gallon) - Transitional Zone 235 Each 25.00 5,875.00 12 Trees and/or Shrubs (1-2 Gallon) - Upland Zone 150 Each 35.00 5,250.00 13 Recording Fee 1 Each 46.00 46.00 64,768.50

TOTAL

64,768.50

Addendum 3: Shoreline rehabilitation cost estimates

submitted by Greg Berg, Stearns County SWCD