CHIPPEWA FALLS RIVERFRONT PARK PHASE 1: MASTER PLAN REVIEW AND EVALUATION E-NEWSLETTER #1 Friday, April 4, 2014 MISSION STATEMENT: VISION 2020 CHIPPEWA FALLS Enhance the natural beauty, recreational opportunity and appropriate accessibility of the Chippewa River and shoreline for the use and enjoyment of residents of and visitors to the Chippewa Falls community. A NEW RIVERFRONT PARK The City of Chippewa Falls, after 20 years of planning and visioning, is poised to unlock its economic, social, and environmental potential through the creation of a new riverfront festival park and enhanced entryway at Bridge Street and River Street into downtown. In following the 2007 Chippewa Falls Downtown Riverfront Plan and the April 2013 Chippewa Falls VISION 2020 Report, the City has taken first steps in the realization of this new riverfront park. Design efforts along with community and stakeholder input are currently underway. Interested citizens may attend monthly project Steering Committee meetings and future public open houses as well as send comments and questions via email to Project Manager, Jayson Smith from the City of Chippewa Falls. Phase I, Master Plan Review and Evaluation project activities wrapped up with a twoday design charrette on March 25th and 26th. Phase 2 Synthesis and Refinement of Alternatives will occur in April, May, and June 2014 and culminate with a presentation to the City Council.
2 FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS: MARCH 6 & 12, 2014 On March 6 th and 12 th, 2014 the design consultants and city planner met with several focus groups to gather input on what the community and various stakeholders would like to see in the new riverfront park. This informal method of information gathering evokes a grass-roots level of ideas by the participants and is highly effective in garnering the true needs of the community. The focus group categories that participated included: Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce Chippewa Falls VISION 2020 Chippewa Falls Main Street Chippewa Falls Senior High School and McDonell High School Students Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Health and Wellness Outdoor Enthusiasts Xcel Energy. Information gathered from these focus group activities and initial site analysis provided the inspiration for the following design principles, goals for the riverfront park, and the park program elements during this first phase. PARK PROGRAM ELEMENTS: Park Amenities restrooms, storage, shelters, play features, furnishings Downtown Entry New, attractively landscaped downtown entryways and parking areas Trails internal circulation and connections to regional trails; Bike facilities racks, repair station, rentals; Trailheads wet (portage)/ dry, fountains, wayfinding signage, benches, connection to islands Water Recreation fishing, boating Amphitheater small gatherings, seating Farmer s Market ADA Fishing Pier & Access to Water see and touch the water Seasonal Elements canopy cover, pergola (sun/shade control) Food vendors/ food trucks, BBQ grills Ecology wildlife viewing, shoreline restoration, bird blinds, interpretive signage, stormwater management Educational Opportunities Xcel hydro electric, renewable energy, riverine ecology, water use Planting and Landscape maintained and native, frame views Business Opportunities equipment rentals, food and beverage Technology & Communication Public WiFi
3 DESIGN PRINCIPLES The ten design principles, provide a framework for the riverfront park development that is persistent over time. These principles will be used to guide decision-making at every phase of the project from concept to construction and can be applied to future park maintenance or improvements. 1. Elevate the downtown riverfront as the brand and entryway for Chippewa Falls. 2. Minimize vehicular intrusions, leverage and maximize use of existing on and off street parking resources. 3. Employ a multimodal, pedestrian first approach to achieve universal access. 4. Seek an appropriate balance of urban and natural landscape. 5. Embrace the dynamic riverine ecosystem. 6. Balance year-round, multigenerational active and passive recreational programming and complement the existing park system. 7. Reinforce and build on both downtown and regional context. 8. Leverage riverfront park as an economic catalyst, generator, and stabilizer. 9. Park design should be adaptable to changing conditions through the river, biodiversity, materiality, programming, operations, and maintenance. 10. Celebrate spirit of place, history, and built heritage. GOALS FOR THE RIVERFRONT PARK The goals listed below provide a summary of the desired outcomes that the program elements as a collective within the new riverfront park and entryway will bring to the City of Chippewa Falls: Create an attractive and active gateway to downtown and the riverfront. Create a festive downtown riverfront focal point. Provide for a variety of experiences passive, active, small, large, natural, and human-made. Support and leverage local/downtown businesses. Strengthen local and regional connections. Celebrate spirit of place, history, and built heritage.
4 WORKSHOP & OPEN HOUSE: MARCH 25 & 26, 2014 A two-day design workshop and open house, as part of the Phase I Master Plan Review and Evaluation, provided multiple opportunities for hands-on community involvement in the design process for the proposed riverfront park in downtown Chippewa Falls. This workshop session was held to evaluate the park goals, programming, and master plan as related to new site analysis and recent focus group input, while maintaining the overall framework of the VISION 2020 goals. DESIGN WORKSHOP On Tuesday, March 25 th, community members were invited to City Hall to participate in a design charrette in which ideas, stories, issues, constraints, and opportunities were brought to paper along side with the design consultants. The outcomes from this workshop were two distinct design concepts presented to the Steering Committee at the end of the day for further feedback and design direction. OPEN HOUSE The day after the workshop, Wednesday, March 26 th, the design consultants met with City staff including traffic engineering and police, fire, and emergency response stakeholders, technical design staff, and community members as the two concepts were prepared for the open house and presentation advertised for that evening. The open house was held from 4:30-6:00 pm with an attendance of approximately 25 community members and stakeholders.
5 Summary of the Design Concept Alternatives Two distinct concepts were presented at the open house for the proposed riverfront park. A program diagram was developed for each concept as well, to simplify the park program elements and highlight the differences between the two concepts. The concept designs provide a more illustrative picture of the opportunities, program elements, and features proposed for the park. To view the full diagrams and concepts visit the project webpage at: http://www. sehinc.com/online/ chippewafalls ALTERNATIVE #1 The Chippewa Falls Confluence celebrates the river by bringing it into the park creating another island, opportunities to touch the water, and shoreline ecological enhancements. The plan integrates the downtown and park with a Farmer s Market promenade along River Street, features a small event amphitheater in the heart of the space, highlights the entry into downtown, and enhances the passive activities and programming at Allen Park. ALTERNATIVE #2 The River s Edge at Chippewa Falls features multiple experiences along the shoreline including an accessible fishing plaza, links to a series of outdoor rooms providing different levels of programmed opportunities within the park, and incorporating a strong civic space mirroring the new entry into downtown. The plan includes an internal trail network within the park that connects to regional trails and celebrates the passive and historical activities at Allen Park.
6 NEXT STEPS...PHASE 2: SYNTHESIS AND REFINEMENT OF ALTERNATIVES Tuesday, April 22 nd Tuesday, May 27 th Meeting Location: Chippewa Falls City Hall 30 W. Central Street Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Steering Committee Meeting 3:00 pm Steering Committee Meeting 3:00 pm Community Meeting 6:00-8:00 pm LOOK FOR THE NEXT E-NEWSLETTER #2 IN JULY 2014. Comments? Questions? Please contact: Jayson C. Smith Project Manager jsmith@chippewafalls-wi.gov 715.726.2729 Or visit http://www.sehinc.com/online/chippewafalls.