River Greenway Project

There has been kind of an evolution regarding the River Greenway project over the last 3 capital improvement programs. The CIP River Greenway Project  incorporates the vision outlined in the 2004 Greenway & Riverfront Master Plan.  

This Master Plan is an interesting read and clearly set out a greenway vision for the entire city back in 2004. The plan broke out various zones, with the Downtown Riverfront identified as Zone 1. Two concepts were identified, with Concept A including an event center, along with retail and hotel/residential uses. Concept B identified uses without an event center.

Two public open houses were held and the top ten list of uses were identified for Zone 1:

• Riverside Dining
• Pedestrian River Crossings
• Amphitheater
• Downtown Riverwalk
• Integrated Sculpture
• Attractive Bridge Treatment
• Outdoor Market
• Bike Trails
• Entertainment Arena
• Urban River

It is interesting to take a look at this project and the project description in the past three capital improvement programs. Below is the project information copied directly from the the last three 5 year CIP plans:

 

10/07/09 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 2010 - 2014

CITY PROJECT NUMBER: 189064 DEPARTMENT: 64- PARK/RECREATION

DEPARTMENT PROJECT PRIORITY: 3
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
DEMO EXISTING RR BRIDGE AND BUILD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER BSR, GREENWAY
IMPROVEMENTS, DESIGN & CONSTRUCT (10); STATION POINT, DESIGN (10,12)
CONSTRUCTION (10,12) OF=DONATED FUNDS
TOTAL 5 YEAR PROJECT COST: $2,584,480
PROJECT TITLE: RIVER GREENWAY IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROJECTS:
The City Council approved a resolution that allowed the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Zip City Partners LLC that gives the City an option to purchase property on the old Zip Feed Mill site for the construction of an events center. As a consideration, the City agreed to make improvements on City owned property adjacent to the Zip City Partners property and construct a pedestrian bridge connecting the east and west banks of the Big Sioux River. This project follows the conditions of the agreement and encorporates the visions of the adopted Sioux Falls Greenway and Riverfront Master Plan. The master plan also identified a need for shaded rest areas along the recreational trail. These station points would also provide way finding information, mile markers, drinking fountains, and related amenities.

 ($2.1 million in engineering and construction costs funded by bond funds was programmed in 2010, along with $49,680 in sales tax funds for engineering and construction costs.)

6/25/10 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 2011 - 2015

CITY PROJECT NUMBER: 189064 DEPARTMENT: 64- PARK/RECREATION

DEPARTMENT PROJECT PRIORITY: 36

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

GREENWAY IMPROVEMENTS, FALLS PARK TO 6TH STREET, DESIGN & CONSTRUCT (11);

STATION POINT, DESIGN & CONSTRUCT (14) OF = BIG SIOUX ENVIRONMENTAL FUND (11)

OF = DONATIONS (14)

TOTAL 5 YEAR PROJECT COST: $1,908,936

PROJECT TITLE: RIVER GREENWAY IMPROVEMENTS

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROJECTS:

The adopted Sioux Falls Greenway and Riverfront Master Plan outlined

improvements the public wanted to see along the Big Sioux River Greenway. This project will construct those improvements on the east bank of the Big Sioux River from Falls Park to 6th Street. These improvements consist of seat walls, a bump out into the River, widening the bike trail, lighting, ramps down into the greenway from 6th Street and various landscape improvements. These improvements will clean up the greenway corridor, provide better access to the river, and use the river as an amenity to draw people downtown. This project will use the Big Sioux Environmental Fund to fund construction. The master plan also identified a need for shaded rest areas along the recreational trail. These station points would also provide way finding information, mile markers, drinking fountains, and related amenities.

($1.8 million funded with "other financing" was programmed for 2011 and $43,560 was programmed in 2014 using "other financing" and sales tax funds.)

6/22/11 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 2012 - 2016

CITY PROJECT NUMBER: 189064 DEPARTMENT: 64- PARK/RECREATION

DEPARTMENT PROJECT PRIORITY: 1

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

GREENWAY IMPROVEMENTS, 8TH STREET TO 10TH STREET PHASE 2a, CONSTRUCT (12)

TOTAL 5 YEAR PROJECT COST: $1,064,260

PROJECT TITLE: RIVER GREENWAY IMPROVEMENTS

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROJECTS:

The adopted Sioux Falls Greenway and Riverfront Master Plan outlined

improvements the public wanted to see along the Big Sioux River Greenway.

Phase 2a will begin construction from 8th Street south to approximately the

River Ramp. Improvements will consist of concrete river walls, stepped edges

into the river, accessible ramps from 8th Street and the railroad bridge, the

possible replacement of the exisiting railroad bridge, widened bike trails,

lighting and landscaping improvements. These improvements will clean up the

downtown greenway corridor, improve water quality, provide better access to

the river, and use the river as an ammenity to draw people downtown. The

river greenway improvements project has spurred private redevelopment

downtown, and will continue to do so in the future. A downtown TIF is being

evaluated and may provide funding to supplement the city's sales tax

investment in the greenway. If TIF becomes available, the department will

look to amend the CIP and continue the greenway improvements along the CNA

Surety redevelopment site and other redevelopments as applicable.

(The only money programmed for this project is in plan year 2012 and the $1,064,260 is for construction using sales tax.)

Master plans are important to the future vision of any city. They become living documents, a road map, for city and elected officials. It appears elected officials and city officials don't refer back to adopted master plans as they set their own agendas.

City officials change; elected officials rotate in and out every four to eight years. Continuity in planned vision is supposed to happen with master plans but who knows if that actually occurs when elected officials come in with their own pre-conceived notions regarding their "vision" for a city.

2004 was a long time ago and things evolve, no doubt about it.  Funding of this project seems to be evolving plan year to plan year.You be the judge on where you think this project is going and if this project is being completed as envisioned back in 2004.