Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

HUBER PARK CONCEPT PLAN Huber Park is the central hub of Shakopee. It’s prime location on the banks of the Minnesota River provides a natural gathering point for the community. This site has played an important role in the City of Shakopee. It is the site of the original Holmes landing and Holmes trading post. These places were critical to the city’s development. The proposed Huber Park renovation revolves around rebuilding connections that have been lost or disintegrated over time.

DOWNTOWN Downtown is separated from the park by Highway 101, which is a formidable pedestrian barrier that needs to be addressed. The connection between downtown and the park will be strengthened with extensive pedestrian improvements at key crosswalks that will use paving, color, and landscaping to slow traffic down and create a more attractive pedestrian experience. A direct at-grade crossing from Bedrock Park to the historic bridge is proposed with a landscaped pedestrian median to beautify the entrance to downtown from the west, and to slow vehicular traffic. Additionally, views from downtown and 101 will be opened up with selective landscaping and viewshed framing. Additionally, redevelopment opportunities pose an opportunity to provide greater interaction with the park and bring the downtown business fabric across 101. Coordination with Scott County is required for this full vision to be realized. HISTORY This site along the Minnesota River Valley, where the prairie gave way to the floodplain forest, has always been rich in cultural resources as well as a major transportation corridor. The proposed Huber Park improvements demonstrate tremendous potential to reconnect people to this rich history by telling the story of Huber, Holmes, Quinn, and Native Americans, and the previous peoples that lived here. There are a number of opportunities for multi-media approaches to storytelling at Huber Park, along the riverfront, at Memorial Park, and at The Landing. The City of Shakopee is currently engaged with Scott County, Three Rivers Park District and the SMSC to develop a history and interpretation plan that will likely include signage, brochures, art, play elements, and new technologies such as augmented reality. A number of themes and stories have been identified for interpretation along the newly developed Minnesota Valley Cultural Trail (as further explored in the Memorial Park concept plan later in this chapter). This feature will integrate with the Pathways of Shakopee effort, The Landing’s teaching program, and SMSC’s storytelling. A true collaboration to tell this story will only serve to build community, rebuild trust, and reconnect the community to its own history.

Key Connection Themes:

» » River access » » Downtown » » History » » Community RIVER ACCESS

River access is a primary focus of the park master plan. The riverbanks along Huber Park will be restored using bioengineering techniques to be more resilient against increased flooding pressure and protecting sanitary sewer infrastructure buried beneath the park. Rock vanes use large native stones to armor the river bank, as well as provide view corridors and informal access to the river for river viewing and fishing. The river bank will be cleaned up to improve viewsheds and its steep banks modified to increase safety and improve vegetation establishment. Bioengineering techniques provide additional aquatic and terrestrial habitat while increasing the park’s resiliency. Physical access to the river is proposed at key points, and the historic marina will be repurposed to provide an input site for canoes and kayaks on a proposed water trail. The water trail will have multiple exit points at The Landing. A collaboration with Three Rivers is proposed to provide expertise and programming to make this successful. Natural trails following the riverbank will be formalized to provide a unique experience, and the historic river bridge will be open and accessbile with seating and landscaping to frame dramatic views of the river corridor.

When naming some of the newer amenities in Huber Park, it will be

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