Minnehaha Falls Access and Viewing Area Infrastructure Improvements

Minnehaha Creek and Minnehaha Falls are important cultural, historical, and recreational areas in the land that is now known as Minneapolis, the State of Minnesota and beyond. Currently, the south portion of Minnehaha Falls is largely inaccessible to the public due to the deteriorated condition of stairs and walls, eroding slopes, and instability of certain pathways and access points. The current condition does not reflect the importance of this gathering space.

The current condition of infrastructure allows an opportunity to reconsider the alignment and materials to achieve the goals listed below. We are seeking public input early in the design process to help determine the path forward. The layout, materials, and interpretive elements selected will influence the project costs, phasing, construction methods, duration of construction, and maintenance.

The project will seek to assess and rebuild these access points and viewing areas, stabilize and revegetate the eroding slopes and respect and reflect the full cultural and historical significance of this space while providing safe access to the Falls, Creek, and other areas of the park. Access and viewing area infrastructure concepts aim to respond to dynamic site geologic and hydrologic conditions with a restorative touch on the landscape while complementing the natural surroundings and existing infrastructure.

The project currently has enough funding to get started with one phase of improvements, and additional funding will be needed. Feedback received during engagement will be used to help create a preferred concept. We aim to seek concept approval later this fall and work to create construction documents over the winter and spring of 2025. Additional information about project cost, phasing, and construction timeline will be shared once the preferred concept is developed.

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Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls

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* 1. What does Minnehaha Falls mean to you and your community?

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* 2. How do you currently access and use this space, and do you face any barriers?

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* 3. What do you hope to see as an outcome for these improvments?

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Existing Infrastructure Current Condition Image

Existing Infrastructure Current Condition Image

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Existing Wall Condition Ratings
The current condition of the stone-veneered concrete retaining walls, concrete stairs, concrete viewing areas, and handrails are degraded to the point to require a majority to be replaced. This condition allows an opportunity to fully consider whether to replicate the existing infrastructure or to reimagine this infrastructure to better reflect the full cultural and historical significance of this space, allow better access for people of all abilities, work better with existing site conditions, and have a lighter touch on the landscape.

Existing Wall Condition Ratings<br>The current condition of the stone-veneered concrete retaining walls, concrete stairs, concrete viewing areas, and handrails are degraded to the point to require a majority to be replaced. This condition allows an opportunity to fully consider whether to replicate the existing infrastructure or to reimagine this infrastructure to better reflect the full cultural and historical significance of this space, allow better access for people of all abilities, work better with existing site conditions, and have a lighter touch on the landscape.

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CONCEPT A - Replicate WPA Stone Veneer Infrastructure
A design and layout that largely rebuilds and replicates existing viewing areas and staircases along the current alignment. The middle viewing area would be removed and relocated to the base of the Falls to accommodate desire and save construction costs. The new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. Materials for construction would include stone veneer concrete retaining walls with traditional green steel handrails along the staircases and viewing areas with gabion walls placed within the landscape to retain the slope. This option would most closely match existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have the longest duration of construction and highest cost, and highest impact to the landscape of the three concepts.

CONCEPT A - Replicate WPA Stone Veneer Infrastructure<br>A design and layout that largely rebuilds and replicates existing viewing areas and staircases along the current alignment. The middle viewing area would be removed and relocated to the base of the Falls to accommodate desire and save construction costs. The new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. Materials for construction would include stone veneer concrete retaining walls with traditional green steel handrails along the staircases and viewing areas with gabion walls placed within the landscape to retain the slope. This option would most closely match existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have the longest duration of construction and highest cost, and highest impact to the landscape of the three concepts.

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* 4. What elements do you like, or would you change about Concept A?

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CONCEPT B - Restorative Landscape With Natural Stone
A layout that reimagines access along a sloped trail with some stairs that weaves it's way through the landscape and allows for rest and viewing areas with interpretive elements. This design would work with the topography of the site and use sustainable trail grading techniques along with gravel surfacing and natural stone steps to provide to provide safe and easier access for people with a variety of mobility capabilities. The option for simple steel handrails along the trails and stairs with tempered glass balustrades at viewing areas lend an opportunity to view the landscape in a whole new way. The landscape would be restored with deep-rooted native plantings suitable for shaded, damp hillslopes. A new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. This option would be a departure from the aesthetic of the surrounding existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have a moderate cost and duration of construction along with lower annual maintenance costs.

CONCEPT B - Restorative Landscape With Natural Stone<br>A layout that reimagines access along a sloped trail with some stairs that weaves it's way through the landscape and allows for rest and viewing areas with interpretive elements. This design would work with the topography of the site and use sustainable trail grading techniques along with gravel surfacing and natural stone steps to provide to provide safe and easier access for people with a variety of mobility capabilities. The option for simple steel handrails along the trails and stairs with tempered glass balustrades at viewing areas lend an opportunity to view the landscape in a whole new way. The landscape would be restored with deep-rooted native plantings suitable for shaded, damp hillslopes. A new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. This option would be a departure from the aesthetic of the surrounding existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have a moderate cost and duration of construction along with lower annual maintenance costs.

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* 5. What elements do you like, or would you change about Concept B?

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CONCEPT C - Restorative Landscape With Wood and Steel
A more substantial departure from the traditional layout and materials, this angular layout that reimagines access along a sloped trail with some stairs that navigates it's way through the landscape and allows for multiple rest and viewing areas with interpretive elements. This design works with the topography of the site and would use sustainable trail grading techniques along with thermally treated wood and steel elements to provide to provide durable, safe and easier access for people with a variety of mobility capabilities with a light touch on the landscape. The wood walking surfaces would have design elements and a slip resistant coating applied periodically to keep users stable and safe. The landscape would be restored with deep-rooted native plantings suitable for shaded, damp hillslopes. A new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. The option for artistic handrails along the trails and stairs with tempered glass balustrades at viewing areas lend an opportunity to view the landscape in a whole new way. This option would be a departure from the aesthetic of the surrounding existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have a moderate cost and duration of construction along with moderate annual maintenance implications.

CONCEPT C - Restorative Landscape With Wood and Steel<br>A more substantial departure from the traditional layout and materials, this angular layout that reimagines access along a sloped trail with some stairs that navigates it's way through the landscape and allows for multiple rest and viewing areas with interpretive elements. This design works with the topography of the site and would use sustainable trail grading techniques along with thermally treated wood and steel elements to provide to provide durable, safe and easier access for people with a variety of mobility capabilities with a light touch on the landscape. The wood walking surfaces would have design elements and a slip resistant coating applied periodically to keep users stable and safe. The landscape would be restored with deep-rooted native plantings suitable for shaded, damp hillslopes. A new purpose built viewing area at the base of the Falls would accommodate people wanting to get a close up view, while also keeping them off the hillslope and out of unsafe areas. The option for artistic handrails along the trails and stairs with tempered glass balustrades at viewing areas lend an opportunity to view the landscape in a whole new way. This option would be a departure from the aesthetic of the surrounding existing infrastructure along the north slope of the Falls and the rest of the park, which were installed as a maintenance project by the WPA in the early 1940s. This option would likely have a moderate cost and duration of construction along with moderate annual maintenance implications.

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* 6. What elements do you like, or would you change about Concept C?

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* 7. Which concept do you like best? (1 = Best, 3 = Least)

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* 8. Is there anything else you want us to know for these park improvements?

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