Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kimley-Horn and Associates, ©Steve Uzzell, All Rights Reserved
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With its beautiful scenery and in proximity to many lakes, trails, and rivers, Bemidji, Minn.—also known as the “City as a Park”—was seeking ways to enhance its existing system. In 2011, the city and residents demonstrated their commitment by passing a half-cent sales-tax referendum, up to $9 million, with all resulting revenue dedicated to park and trail improvements.
City Park was considered to be one of the most critical redevelopment park projects in the region. An antiquated 80-acre park adjacent to the Bemidji Middle School and neighborhoods, City Park was built partially over a landfill and was in critical need of updates, repairs, and restorations. While the existing park included amenities such as the Neilson Reise Ice Arena and local curling club, softball fields, baseball field, lighted ski trail, hockey rink, and 9-hole disc-golf course, several challenges needed to be addressed—including space limitations and the park’s ability to accommodate a variety of active lifestyles. The city brought in Kimley-Horn to complete the final design, facilitate public involvement in the process, and collaborate with the city and its residents to ensure City Park would reflect the active, outdoor lifestyles in the area.
Planning With The Community
A high level of public interest in park redevelopment emerged from numerous user groups, not only to improve the park but also to preserve its unique features. Separate focus-group meetings were held for skateboarders, disc golfers, cross-country skiers, softball associations, hockey teams, skateboard groups, neighbors of the park, and the general community to identify needs and wish-list items during the planning process. Kimley-Horn worked with Site Design Group to integrate skatepark items into the master plan, leaving room to expand the skatepark when funds became available. Each group provided input on the design, amenities, positives and negatives of the current park, and their vision for the future.