Gorge Reach District Councils: Highland, Macalester-Groveland, Merriam Park and Desnoyer Park Improvement Association

The meeting began with the open house and an opportunity for attendees to become acquainted with the National Great River Park. Maps of Saint Paul and the Gorge reach were located throughout the room and Saint Paul city employees were present to answer questions. A short presentation played describing the role GIS (Geographic Information System) computer mapping has had in the process.

Council member Jay Benanav welcomed the workshop participants. He gave an overview of the National Great River Park concept and expressed his eager involvement throughout the process.
  
Bob Bierscheid, director of Saint Paul Parks & Recreation presented the introduction to the National Great River Park. He explained the purpose of the workshop as an opportunity for community members to inform the National Great River Park Framework chapter and identify criteria and principles to drive implementation. Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation, Saint Paul Division of Parks and Recreation, Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development will be collaborating to create the new Framework chapter. He then gave a brief introduction to the Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework and how the community workshop information will be utilized.   

Patrick Seeb, Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation, provided background information about The Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework and its motivation to lead the National Great River Park. He listed the planning work to date and next steps for the following year. There was a short questions and answer session before the discussions.

About forty Gorge residents, concerned Saint Paul citizens and river advocates attended the meeting. Groups of eight sat at a table lead by facilitators: Jody Martinez, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation; Don Ganje, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation; Mark Basten, City of Saint Paul Public Works; Lucy Thompson, City of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development; Jane Prince, Council Member Jay Bananov's Council Aide.  Residents had the opportunity to express what the four principles of the National Great River Park means to them. Each person introduced him or herself and wrote down on a note card their answer to each question:

• In the Gorge, what does it mean to be a regional asset of national significance?  What goals and principles should guide the enhancement of the asset?
• In the Gorge, define what it may mean to be “more urban”?   What goals and principles should guide that evolution?
• In the Gorge, define what it may mean to be “more natural”?   What goals and principles should guide that evolution?
• In the Gorge, define what it may mean to be “more connected”?   What goals and principles should guide future connections to the Mississippi River?

They then went around the table to share their answer with the group. Facilitator paraphrased the answers and recorded comments (PDF) on a flip board. Discussions continued for about 15 minutes on each question.

Each group selected a spokesperson to report out to the whole group. The spokesperson highlighted their group’s common themes and criteria (PDF). Similarities between the groups emerged and will be used to guide the development of National Great River Park chapter of the Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework.