Envision Shakopee

EXISTINGCONDITIONS, ISSUES&OPPORTUNITIES

Development patterns common in the 1950s - 1990s across the United States have contributed to a loss of a distinct sense of place in many cities. With the proliferation of information, corporate franchises, construction practices and infrastructure, we see ubiquitous housing developments and strip retail centers across the country that look nearly identical to one another. In these places, there is little to indicate to a user precisely where you are except for the climate and the occasional local business or native plant—there is no “there” there. While Shakopee has areas that lack a sense of place, this plan has clear direction for the city to leverage its unique assets, history and culture to foster the growth and development of authentic spaces that are cherished by the community and visitors to the city. Unique assets—natural and built Two of Shakopee’s most distinct and unique assets are its historic downtown and connection to the Minnesota river. Community engagement identified both areas as priorities for city investments. Throughout the plan, recommendations guide the future development of these important assets for the city, with goals that will preserve Shakopee’s historic architecture, leverage economic development, bolster community aesthetics, foster civic life and promote community health. Sense of place & the built environment Many places in Shakopee—such as along the Highway 101 corridor and along Marschall Road—suffer from a lack of unique identity. The plan supports infill and redevelopment in these areas, and across the city, that are authentic to Shakopee and will promote a strong sense of place in key areas.

Community events & public gathering spaces Community events in public spaces are essential places where neighbors come together, where new relationships are formed and existing ones strengthened. Community events support neighborhoods and sense of place by their ability to bolster community pride, build the city’s brand, support local businesses, provide community education services, support community health, and more. In the community engagement process for the plan, outreach was conducted at Rhythm on the Rails events. These popular events are a great example of how important community gathering can be to participation in civic life. Events, marketing & tourism Not only are events an important part of strengthening the Shakopee community, but also they are important marketing tools to bring visitors into the city. Events are a prominent feature on the Visit Shakopee website because they have a regional draw and are an important way the city tells the story of its assets and attractions. The city should take part in marketing community events and investing in high-quality public spaces for those events to be held. Neighborhoods & community building Supporting neighborhoods can support sense of place as well as promote public safety and health. For example, design guidelines that enhance community aesthetics and include items such as street lighting promote safety and contribute to better air quality in neighborhoods. Other items that help to build community in neighborhoods include promoting neighborhood connectivity, implementing traffic calming measures, and investing in neighborhood parks. Each of these items are discussed in more detail in the Built Environment and Natural Environment sections.

Neighborhoods & Sense of Place 4

109 ENVISION SHAKOPEE | SECTION III: COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT