Learn how Saint Paul collaborated to fast-track implementation of a 120-year-old concept for the “Grand Round,” a circuit of 26 miles of interconnected multimodal parkways. This led to reprioritizing street projects to complete miles of protected trails over several years. Highlight the disruptors and challenges and the planning interventions that will be presented to overcome the challenges. The concept of the Saint Paul Grand Round was developed over 120 years ago by Horace Cleveland, the landscape architect known for planning the parks system connecting the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Right-of-way was acquired and streets were built, but the parkways were never developed into multimodal amenities, as seen in Minneapolis.
In 2014, Saint Paul used one-time economic development bonds to fast-track the development of a design plan and construction of the first segment of the parkway system. The timeline dictated that the construction project must be designed at the same time as the design plan for the entire corridor. Work included multimodal design, branding, historic integration, collaborating with a public artist, and community outreach. The work led to reprioritizing how Public Works ranked their five-year-plan and allowed the city to leverage federal funding for portions of the system. As a result, miles of off-street or protected trails and sidewalks have been built over the last six years. The Grand Round includes a variety of parkway typologies and directly connects neighborhoods to regional parks, commercial nodes, and the Mississippi River. The success of the project has changed the way people navigate the city.
Describe how this presentation will bring forth new ideas and actionable planning methods/approaches with tangible outcomes to advance inclusive and equitable community planning? Implementation prioritized segments in majority BIPOC neighborhoods. The project team worked to expand opportunities expand participation, including through the creation of the citizen advisory committee and pop-up outreach.
Learning Objectives:
Utilize historic precedent and existing public assets to inspire modern planning and design interventions.
Understand site-specific urban design and placemaking principles for multimodal parkway networks.
Understand effectiveness of outreach and implementation strategies to fast-track planning projects.
