ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This is a summary and overview of information about the management of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. The Grand Rounds is the result of more than 100 years of planning, development, and operations by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. For just as long, it has survived, thrived and matured with widespread public support. The Grand Rounds has emerged to become the central organizing influence in one of the nation’s best park systems. With such a long history, its “Corridor Management Plan” is in reality a vast collection of documents, resolutions, ordinances, regulations, plans and designs which have been prepared, enacted, and amended over the decades. No single document could truly claim to compile all the literature that now guides the dynamic and vital management of this national treasure. The Board wishes to recognize and commend the valuable contributions and leadership of the Federal Highway Administration, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and many other organizations which are now successfully focussing national attention on the importance of scenic byways. The Board appreciates how the Federal Highway Administration has advanced the art and practice of corridor management planning for scenic byways and hopes the organization of this manual effectively follows and supports the Administration’s guidance. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 400 South Fourth Street, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1400 612-661-4800 President: Scott L. Neiman Vice President: Patricia Hillmeyer Commissioners: Thomas W. Baker Rochelle Berry Graves Vivian M. Mason George Puzak Edward C. Solomon Annie Young Dean Zimmermann Superintendent: David L. Fisher For More Mary Barrick, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Information: 612 661-4827 Prepared by: David L. Dahlquist Associates, Inc. 3 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) was created by an act of the Minnesota Legislature in 1883. Its purpose is to establish, acquire, develop, and maintain parks, wildlife sanctuaries, forests and playgrounds. In addition, the MPRB provides public access to and maintains historic sites, lakes, rivers, streams, and other natural habitat. Since its inception, the MPRB has grown from a few city parks to a nationally renowned park system of over 6,000 acres of land and water. The MPRB receives its revenue from a variety of sources. These revenue sources include tax levies on properties within Minneapolis, grants in aid from the Minnesota Legislature (including Local Government Aid, Homestead and Agricultural Credit Aid and grants from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, user fees and charges, and gifts of land and money. The MPRB also depends on the City of Minneapolis' bonding authority for capital improvements. The citizens of Minneapolis are the prime constituency served by the MPRB. The MPRB, as an implementing agency for the metropolitan area regional park system, also helps meet the outdoor recreational needs of the city, region and state. Mission The MPRB's mission is to strive to permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve and enhance the City's park land and recreational opportunities on behalf of all current and future citizens of the City of Minneapolis. Form of Government The MPRB is an independently elected body. Since its creation, the MPRB has been a semi-autonomous political subdivision, having the powers granted to it by the Minnesota Legislature established by the City Charter and allowable under common law. The MPRB ' s position as a separate, independent political subdivision allows autonomous action in providing recreation services, facilities and educational experiences consistent with fulfilling its purpose and mission. The MPRB has a unique relationship with other governmental units. Its rights and responsibilities in this regard are governed by various acts of the Minnesota Legislature. In 1921, the City of Minneapolis adopted a home rule charter and incorporated the 1883 law into the City's basic governing document. There are several charter and legislative provisions which afford the MPRB unique legal status and rights. The Metropolitan 4 Parks Act passed by the Minnesota Legislate in 1974 authorizes the Metropolitan Council to adopt a system plan for regional recreation open space. This legislation also provides for funding, acquisition, development and redevelopment of the MPRB system through bond sales authorized by the Legislature. In 1985, additional legislation was passed requiring the MPRB, the cities of St. Paul and Bloomington, suburban Hennepin Parks, and the six counties of the Metropolitan area, to prepare a Master Plan for regional recreation open space under their jurisdiction. These political subdivisions are also required to acquire, develop, and operate these park lands. The MPRB recognizes the importance of forging positive relationships with other political subdivisions which complement those mandated by the Minnesota Legislature. From time to time, the MPRB has formed partnerships with other political subdivisions allowing both to work together towards common objectives. The MPRB continues to seek ways to cooperate with other political subdivisions, as well as certain private entities, in pursuit of common goals all the while remaining cognizant of its primary responsibilities. The Grand Round Parkway and Byway Setting In virtually any discussion of the Mississippi River, whether the history, economic impart, or its recreational assets, sooner or later the City of Minneapolis will be motioned as a significant example. On the local, regional, national or global scale, it is difficult to separate Minneapolis from its identity as a river city. Minneapolis started as a lumber and grain milling center on the Falls of St. Anthony (the only Falls of the Mississippi River) because of its economic benefit. Over time the river has evolved into a recreational asset. Nearly all of Minneapolis’ famed Grand Rounds Scenic Byway system encircling the city, uses either the river, the lakes or tributaries that drain into the River. Part of the travel route through Theodore Wirth Park offers outstanding examples of natural prairie environments as part of the landscape. The Minneapolis Grand Rounds Scenic Byway system offers a multitude of diverse amenities and can provide travelers with a unique tour of one of America's finest urban park systems. Water, woodlands and trails are the main stays of this system which encompasses over 6,000 acres of land in addition to 14 lakes, several lagoons, four islands, three creeks, one river, and three waterfalls. The most striking part of the Byway’s roadway is its close proximity to the resource itself. Along the Mississippi River, it’s tributaries, lakes, lagoons and other landscapes are all highly visible to the user and are maintained with that in mind. In most cases the landscape itself has dictated the roadway design. For example, along Minnehaha Creek the roadway tends to be curving and meandering like the creek itself, whereas along Victory Memorial Parkway the effect is more formal as it travels through a neighborhood laid out in a grid. The roadway is either one or two-way (and never more than two lanes wide) with pull-offs or parking bays allowing the motorists to pull off and directly experience the resources. In many cases access from feeder roads is minimized in order to prevent further intrusion and protect the environment. The 5 roadway is continuous and follows the natural contours of the land. Roadside amenities include informational kiosks and plenty of picnic areas. 6 LOCATION Corridor Map Corridor Boundaries The corridor boundaries of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway include the following areas: • The traveled roadway and its various intersections with crossing streets—owned primarily by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). • The parkway right-of-way associated with the portions of the parkway designated as a scenic byways—owned primarily by the MPRB. • Adjoining park lands, pedestrian and bicycle trails open spaces including lakes and wetlands—owned by the MPRB. • Land areas and development seen from the traveled roadway of the scenic byway—owned by private owners. Corridor Mapping A variety of sources of corridor mapping and data exists—historic and contemporary-- and is maintained by the MPRB as part of its ongoing and annual planning and operations activities. Additionally, the City of Minneapolis and other regional public agencies maintain a considerable inventory of citywide mapping and data on land use, zoning and other related topics. All pertinent and accurate sources of mapping are, by reference, made part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. Locations of significant intrinsic resources have been illustrated on USGS 7½ minute quad maps. Updates will be conducted in 1998 with the completion of the Byway interpretive master plan. An overall orientation map of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway follows. 7 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Highway Design & Maintenance Standards Design & Maintenance Standards The roadways which comprise the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway have been established for many decades by the MPRB. The Board maintains policies and design standards for the maintenance, repair and design renovation of all parkway sections to assure safety as well as integration of the roadway with the adjoining park character. Additionally, as park and parkway master plans are periodically updated, standards