The Falls: A Visitor & Interpretive Center for the Upper Lock Image courtesy of Northern Spark “Surface” by Aaron Dysart Illuminate the Lock is a program of Mississippi Park Connection The Falls Initiative THE FALLS VJAA The Central Riverfront of Minneapolis is becoming a great destination for passive recreaiton, but there are few opportunities for residents and visitors to fully explores the unique potential of an urban riverfront, like being able to find a table within view of the water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Riverfront which have led location. Even before the closure, closed the Upper St. Anthony to a new relationship between the community plans made reference Falls Lock in 2015 when Congress people of Minnesota and our river. to the site as an important cultural suspended navigation authorization asset. Plans at the time of, or after, The Lock, which is sited in the Mill due to concerns about invasive the closure were more specific in District of downtown Minneapolis, species. The facility is the latest in their intent: a visitor center that could at the convergence of the Stone Arch a growing number of land use and bring people to the River, or more Bridge and St. Anthony Falls, could open space transformations on the specifically, to the Falls. not be in a more iconic or significant The vision for a visitor & interpretive center on the Lock is codified in multiple plans, adopted over many years. 20+ organizations are active in the coalition effort to implement it. Years of engagement and planning have resulted in numerous adopted guidance envisioning a visitor and interpretive center at the Lock. Above: plans by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Meet Minneapolis, the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, Minneapolis Downtown Council, and the National Parks Conservation Association. The Mississippi River is one of the park, riverside dining, access to the Great Rivers of the world, on par with water, and events. The Falls will the Nile and the Amazon in global create an iconic landmark and will be popular imagination. The Mississippi our community’s gathering place on is a defining natural feature of our the Great River. city, region, and state. As a destination, it will activate, At the moment, although there is a lot connect, interpret, and promote the of parkland abutting the River, there relationship between river and city are very few moments where the river in meaningful ways for millions of and the city come together in a way people. As we can see around the VJAA that transcends mere adjacency and world, from the people-friendliness of achieves a sense of connectivity and the harbor and canals of Copenhagen destination. The Falls will be one of to the revitalized waterfront of Buffalo, those moments. The redevelopment New York, industrial waterfronts of the St. Anthony Falls Lock will bring have almost limitless potential for a world-class visitor and interpretive redevelopment, and they can create experience to life, enhanced by a an iconic sense of place. VJAA Project Details The Falls will welcome visitors; VISITOR CENTER. An Upper Mississippi travelers seeking the quintessential host exhibits, meetings & events; visitor center serving the National Minneapolis experience on one offer dining & recreation with Park Service and Meet Minneapolis of the world’s Great Rivers. The spectacular views; & provide water will be designed with extensive Falls is envisioned as a hub of access. The site is seamlessly involvement by the City, Park Board history, recreation, activities, and integrated with Water Works Park and Minnesota Historical Society. It information. would serve residents, day-trippers, & the culturally rich East Town/Mill FOOD & BEVERAGE. Multiple options weekend visitors, and business District neighborhood. for food and drink, including a café, Upper Dock Lower Dock VJAA The Falls project overlooks the Mississippi River. It is surrounded by cultural and historic assets, and is within easy walking distance to the Minneapolis Central Business District, Gold Medal Park, the Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum, Downtown East Commons, U.S. Bank Stadium, and St. Anthony Main. The project is seamlessly integrated with Water Works Park. VJAA The Falls visitor and interpretive center is well positioned for substantial visitation. It lies at the convergence of Portland Avenue, Water Works Park, Mill Ruins Park, the Stone Arch Bridge, and the Lock. The site enjoys great views of the downtown skyline and St. Anthony Falls. Events, dining, education, full service restaurant, and catering event location, with structured options are envisioned. Patrons will parking, generous facilities, iconic & recreation will bring the enjoy both inside and outside dining views, and catering options available. options with exceptional views of the Mississippi experience to life PARKING. Convenient underground skyline, Stone Arch Bridge, waterfall parking will support visitors year- for millions of visitors. and the Mississippi River. round, serve the restaurant and dining EXHIBITION. There is museum-quality options, and replace the current space planned for both permanent riverfront surface parking, which will and temporary exhibitions. Rich be lost with the construction of Water interpretive potential is present Works Park and The Falls (including at the Lock: the Falls’ relevance to parking spaces on the Lock, abutting American Indian history and culture, Fuji Ya, and at Mill Ruins Park). the industrial eras of lumbering and OPEN SPACE. An active urban park milling that grew “the flour milling VJAA will seamlessly connect to Water capitol of the world,” and the era of Works, the Stone Arch Bridge, and monumental civil works that opened the Lock itself, offering access to bike the Upper River to commercial rental, water transportation, and a navigation. Current contributors to new portage route for kayaking and Minneapolis culture and creativity canoes. A public space and plaza will would find an audience as well, with provide opportunities for outdoor millions of visitors projected annually. programming and activation year- Educational and heritage enrichment VJAA round, while providing a platform opportunities will be identified and for the best scenic views in town – of developed with key stakeholders. both the skyline and the river. EVENTS. Event space will be equipped WATER ACCESS. Access to water to accommodate civic, cultural, taxis, kayaks, canoes, and other entertainment, business professional, recreational or leisure boats is and private functions. The site is possible at both ends of the Lock. VJAA anticipated to be a highly desirable Broader Significance The Falls will contribute to civic The Falls is not conceived in isolation, Getting on the river has historically & state identity. It will contribute but rather as one of several riverfront been difficult. In the future, it may to economic & community projects above St. Anthony Falls. be quite common to see public development outcomes for the This group of projects contributes docks on the Upper River. In 2017, a entire riverfront. to conditions that could prove charter service called Minneapolis transformative to the Upper River. Water Taxi began providing service The St. Anthony Falls is the only out of the Boom Island marina (www. The Upper Lock was one of three waterfall on the entire length of the mplswatertaxi.com). In 2016, Paddle locks constructed by the U.S. Army Mississippi River. The Lock, which Share launched, and is operating Corps of Engineers to provide access allowed boats to traverse the nearly out of the East Channel. Meanwhile, to the Upper Harbor, which was 50-foot change in elevation, engages private docks for two restaurants in dubbed “the greatest inland harbor in the waterfall directly. All of this takes Northeast Minneapolis - the Sample the country” by boosters. The Upper place in a National Park that threads Room and Psycho Suzi’s - are utilized Harbor was the end, while the series right through the downtown of a by patrons arriving for a night out by of Locks were the means. The historic major city. Conditions for an identity- water. relationship between the Upper Lock making project with significance far and the Upper Harbor Terminal has As public awareness of recreation beyond the limits of the project site the potential to be reinterpreted opportunities, charters, and “ports are clearly present. and built upon. Docks that once of call” on the Upper River grows, it In addition to an iconic placemaking served commercial barges could be seems likely that more riverfront land opportunity, a significant economic repurposed for new kinds of vessels owners and boating service providers development opportunity awaits. and passengers. will invest in developing the amenity. Anoka Coon Rapids Port of Minneapolis St. Paul The Falls MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL Prescott RIVER RECREATION AREA Hastings THE 10-STATE GREAT RIVER THE “MISSISSIPPI HEADWATERS THE FALLS, SITED AT THE ONLY ROAD, A NATIONAL SCENIC STATE” CLAIMS 565 MILES OF WATERFALL ON THE MISSISSIPPI, BYWAY, FOLLOWS THE THE TOTAL ROUTE, CROSSING 43 ANCHORS AN ICONIC URBAN MISSISSIPPI & IS CALLED “THE COMMUNITIES IN 20 COUNTIES WATERFRONT IN A NATIONAL PARK, BEST DRIVE IN AMERICA” ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT UPPER HARBOR GLUEK PARK 26 AVE BOOM NORTH HALLS ISLAND NICOLLET ISLAND ISLAND UPPER LOCK & WATER WORKS “We support the St. Anthony Falls Upper Lock as the centerpiece of an iconic civic & cultural destination, reflective of our shared history, for the use & enjoyment of all.” SAFA Friends of the Riverfront ST. ANTHONY FALLS P.O. Box 580545, Minneapolis, MN 55458-0545 ALLIANCE ! Tel: 612.379.2662 [email protected] November 2, 2016 Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street NE Washington, DC 20426 Via Electronic Filing Resolutions of support for repurposing theRe: UpperDraft Environmental Lock Assessment have (EA) for Crown been Hydro passed by the Docket Nos. P-11175-000, P-11175-024, P-11175-025 City of Minneapolis & the MinneapolisDear Ms.