Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

be said about being so close to downtown and a city, yet fully enclosed in a natural environment, the trail could stand more regular maintenance attention and amenities. There is little signage encouraging users to stay on the trail, and wayfinding/distance calculation is challenging without constant use of a GPS-enabled device. The trail eventually wraps up to hug the pond at Memorial Park, until one reaches the location of the former trail bridge which was removed for safety concerns. Plans to replace the bridge are underway, and the City is replacing the bridge as soon as due diligence in completing an archaeological assessment of the area is done. Until then, trail users must backtrack and find their way to city sidewalks to eventually meet up with the state trail when it jumps to follow the Highway 101 right of way at the west entrance of The Landing. The trail leads one from a historically significant park on the west side of town, along a river historically used by indigenous and European inhabitants, into the historic district of Chief Sakpe’s village of Tinta Otonwe, Memorial Park, The Landing, and the greater region that is connected via the State Trail. In all, trail users traverse the natural landscape along the riverfront without being told the full story of the incredible cultural history of this area. Signage is starting to pop up thanks to the efforts of the Shakopee Heritage Society’s Pathways of Shakopee project, who have installed a series of historically informative signage downtown and in Memorial Park, but this effort could be expanded upon into a greater cultural trail concept.

CHALLENGING PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO RIVERFRONT FROM DOWNTOWN.

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Park + Trail Planning

SEDIMENT REMNANTS AFTER RECEEDED SPRING FLOODING IN HUBER PARK.

PATHWAYS OF SHAKOPEE SIGNAGE IN MEMORIAL PARK.

NATURAL AREAS ALONG PATH AREMAINTAINED IN SOME AREAS AND OVERGROWN IN OTHERS.

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SHAKOPEE PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN | PARK + TRAIL PLANNING