Winter 2021-22 Hometown Messenger

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“This is a great opportunity to build on our community’s vision from the early 2000s,” Mars said. “The vision of Huber Park being a destination playground and main focal point of our community dates back to the 1990s and beyond.” The Huber Park Community Build Play ground Committee raised more than $200,000 in cash donations and $65,000 of in-kind donations from more than 100 companies, organizations and residents to make the wood playground a reality. More than 4,000 Shakopee elementary students contributed their hopes, dreams and ideas to be incorporated into the final design and layout of the playground. In October 2005, more than 800 volunteers donated their time over the span of 14 days to construct the playground. “When we say it was a community effort, we mean that in every sense of the word,” Mars said. “The community rallied together to design it, fund it and eventually build it. It’s the perfect example of how working together makes us stronger as neighbors and as a city.” THE PLACE TO BE Throughout the years, Huber Park has been home to thousands of Shakopee memories. From the days of pickup baseball games and rodeos more than 30 years ago to Derby Days in the early 2000s and the Big Taste of Fun in recent years, there’s no mistaking this park lives at the core of Shakopee’s identity as a city. That’s why the City Council continues to reimagine ways to make this riverfront desti nation a place where residents and visitors from neighboring communities want to spend time, Mars said. “Our parks and trails master plan isn’t set in stone, but it certainly lays out the vision of how we hope to see our parks evolve in the coming years,” he explained. One of the key points made in the parks master plan is that people crave more access

Huber Park playground's wood design is unique and well-loved by the community, but it will need replacement as some of the wood components are unable to be repaired.

to the Minnesota River. The city’s ultimate vi sion is to restore and stabilize the riverbank, both for the sake of the city's infrastructure and for improved river access, including eventual restoration of the historic marina into a launch site for canoes and kayaks. Mars said he foresees opportunities for improved walkability in the future, as well, including easier pedestrian access from downtown to the historic Holmes walking bridge across Highway 101. For the immediate future, though, the focus is on the playground and ensuring Shako pee residents have ample opportunity to provide their hopes, dreams, thoughts and ideas for what the playground will look like and include. “A lot of folks in this town poured their time and money and passion into the community build playground, and we want the new playground to be a community effort, as well,”Mars said. “Tell us what you want to see there or maybe what you don’t want to see there. We want to know it all.” The city is accepting the community’s feedback through February 2022. After that, concept plans will be drawn and presented to the community for another round of in put and feedback. Construction of the new playground is not scheduled until 2023.

WEWANT YOUR OPINION! Help us make the most of Huber Park's new playground by providing your input and ideas. Visit www.ShakopeeMN. gov/huberparkideas to give us your two cents. You can also scan the QR code below using your smartphone camera, then click on the link that pops up.

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