Direct Design Assistance: Bluff Street Park, Minneapolis, MN, 2004

The area known as Bluff Street Park is located within the West Bank Community of Minneapolis. Owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and situated along the Mississippi River between the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis, this land has the potential to become an amenity for neighborhood residents, students, workers, and passers by. Currently, the area is in poor shape and is unused by residents. The Bluff Street Park Committee was formed to spearhead discussions about how the area might be developed and to help make those discussions reality.

The Committee contacted the Design Center seeking assistance in developing an overall vision for the park. To gauge neighborhood preferences, the Center created a survey for residents and stakeholders to comment upon what uses and activities would best suit the park. The survey was distributed at the annual neighborhood meeting. A poster outlining the issues, opportunities, and constraints associated with the park was also created for this meeting.

The results of the survey showed a preference for restoration of the native plant communities, walking and biking trails, and "a place to get away from it all". Response to the survey indicated little support for sports fields or housing on the site. The design team created three concept plans for the committee to review. The designs included areas of restoration, passive recreation, and outdoor seating. The concepts will be used by the Bluff Street Park Committee to gain support for the project and get feedback on which design to move forward with.

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Outcome: The committee used the design to lobby the Park Board for increased attention, signed an Adopt A Park Agreement with the Minneapolis Park Board, had an earth day clean-up on site in 2006, and have been active in seeking funding for improvements.

 





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