city of duluth quarry park mini master plan proposal

Quarry Park Mini Master Plan

City of Duluth October 9, 2015

Professional Consulting Services

01 Cover letter An introduction to our approach to serving the City of Duluth

02 Firm informationA little about us

03 Three referencesWondering what it’s like to work with us? Contact our clients!

04 Firm qualificationsA summary of our capabilities and additional representative experience

05 Project teamThe talented group of experts dedicated to this project

06 Teaming arrangements A summary of project responsibilities

07 Scope of workThe tasks we’ll perform

08 Project costProposed compensation for the basic and additional services we’ve proposed

09 Meetings detailMore information on our plan for communicating with staff and stakeholders

10 Proposed scheduleOur proposed project timeline

What’s inside

1. Cover Letter

Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 2335 Highway 36 West St. Paul MN 55113-3819

June 30, 2015 File: File Number

Attention: Attention Recipient's Address

Dear Recipient's Name,

Reference: Reference

Enter Body Text

Heading 1 Heading 2

HEADING 3

Heading 4

Regards,

STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.

Amy Strasheim Marketing Manager, Midwest Phone: (651) 604-4862 Fax: Fax Number [email protected]

Sender's Name Sender's Title Phone: Phone Number Fax: Fax Number Email Address

Agreement

Attachment: Attachment

October 9, 2015

Attention: Jim Shoberg Project Coordinator, Parks and Recreation City of Duluth 411 W First Street City Hall, Purchasing Room 100 Duluth, MN 55802

Dear Jim and Evaluation Committee:

Quarry Park is a space that locals have adopted to walk their dogs and picnic on a sunny afternoon. The site is also well-known among climbers as a sublime spot for ice climbing along the 100-foot cliffs of the former quarry. The City of Duluth wishes to further develop the park to provide opportunities for residents and adventure-seekers alike. Stantec is delighted to present our proposal to develop a mini-master plan and set the stage to realize the full potential of this unique place.

At its heart, this is a park development project. Stantec’s planners have experience effectively engaging stakeholders and the community at large to understand key priorities when it comes to public facilities. Our landscape architects have experience designing parks and open spaces to flexibly accommodate a range of activities from sports and group gatherings, to tranquil enjoyment or for children at play. We have a strong history of bringing welcoming and sustainable park facilities to life that reflect the larger community’s identity and recreational needs.

Speaking on behalf of our team, we would love the opportunity to work with the Duluth Parks and Recreation staff, the community, and other project stakeholders to unlock the full potential of this superb site. If you have any questions or would like additional information after reviewing our proposal, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we looking forward to hearing from you.

Enthusiastically,

STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.

Stuart Krahn, PLA, LEED-AP Fay Simer, AICP Principal Project Manager (651) 604-4861 (651) 967-4552 [email protected] [email protected]

2. Firm Information

59years of history serving Minnesota communities

1Quarry Park Mini Master Plan

FIRM INFORMATION

StantecConsultant, Park Planning, Recreational Facilities Design

We’re active members of the communities we serve. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The Stantec community unites more than 15,000 employees working in over 250 locations. Our work—professional consulting in planning, landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics—begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.

Stantec serves as a local leader rooted in a network of multinational, in-house expertise. We make long-term commitments to the people and places we serve and advance the quality of life in these communities.

Contact Information

Fay Simer, AICPProject Manager(651) 967-4552 [email protected]

Lucas KramerVolunteer Team Member,Climbing Expert and Community Leader

Lucas is a recognized leader in the Duluth climbing community. As the climbing coordinator at UMD, he teaches students to safely learn and appreciate the sport. And beyond 9-5, he is a founding member and President of the Duluth Climbing Coalition. In this volunteer capacity, Lucas has been heightening the presence of the sport in the Duluth community.

Lucas is a proud Duluthian and is invested in his community. When Duluth City Council members debated Quarry Park’s eligibility for tourism tax dollars, Lucas led a team of volunteer door knockers to converse meaningfully with the Quarry’s neighbors, effectively helping to lay the groundwork for this project.

Lucas has agreed to serve in a volunteer capacity on the Stantec team to provide insight from a climber’s perspective and to assist in community outreach efforts to ensure that climbers’ voices are heard through the planning process.

Contact Information

Lucas KramerClimbing Coordinator, UMD(218)[email protected]

3. Three References

4Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

Bossen Field Park MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Stantec master planned a 35-acre park by thoughtfully engaging many stakeholders, managing expectations, and designing a plan that its Community Advisory Committee could unanimously support on a slim construction budget.

Developed in the 1950s, Bossen Field Park is eight city blocks that serve as a city-wide recreation facility, hosting softball leagues, kickball leagues, high school baseball and other field sports. For many years, facilities were on dire need of upgrade to meet modern playing standards. Meanwhile, trends in park usership have shifted dramatically, as have

neighboring demographics. Neighboring children from immigrant families wanted to access to the park for soccer, but most of the space was booked by city-wide softball leagues.

Stantec, in coordination with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff, led a robust community design process that included a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of 19 members and an internal advisory committee of 12 members. We aided MPRB in piloting a Racial Equity Impact Assessment, where focus groups and innovative outreach (including an

online engagement platform) were employed to reach often unheard voices in this design process.

After critical listening sessions with various stakeholders whose ideas were seemingly at odds, Stantec detailed plans that balanced everyone’s voices, responded to trends in park usership, and integrated comments following participant review. By the end of engagement process, the CAC unanimously voted in approval of the Stantec master plan.

Reference

Ms. Andrea Weber, RLAProject Manager, MPRB Planning (612) [email protected]

The community design process had many stakeholders whose voices were balanced through a robust engagement process.


Through the Master

Planning process, we

helped the Minneapolis

Park and Recreation

Board pilot a “Racial

Equity Impact

Assessment” to

achieve equitable

stakeholder

engagement.

A Parks Commissioner

remarked, “I want to thank you and your team for the masterful job you did getting a plan for Bossen to the CAC that they could unanimously support. Several CAC members

and members of the

public to let us know

how much they appreciated the thoughtfulness of the process and efforts to incorporate design features desired by community members that don’t always feel like their voices have been heard.”


Maggie Daley Park Ice Ribbon CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Stantec designed a refrigerated ice ribbon that winds through the park landscape and provides a new winter recreational destination on Chicago’s downtown waterfront.Everyone knows Chicago is a fun regional destination during the summer, but what happens when the Midwestern winter hits? Looking to make Maggie Daley Park an attraction for visitors year round, the Chicago Park District worked with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. with Stantec as the ice consultant to develop a unique vision for the downtown waterfront park.

A quarter-mile ice ribbon (the largest in the US) winds through the park landscape, emulating the form of the adjacent Frank Gehry designed pedestrian bridge. The ribbon features 2-3% grades for additional dimension to the skating experience and blend within the natural contours of the park.

Much of the ribbon is built atop lightweight foam fill to minimize loads on the existing parking structure below the park. Designed for skating from November through March, the system incorporates multiple cooling zones to provide a series of refrigerated segments to relieve stresses induced from thermal movements. In the summer, the ice ribbon transforms to a pathway for circulation throughout the park.

A large centrally located, environmentally friendly refrigeration plant that uses downtown cooling district water for condensing is hidden from view in a mechanical building located within one of three large climbing features used for repelling.

Reference

Mr. Martin Roura AssociateMichael Van Valkenburgh Associates231 Concord AvenueCambridge, Massachusetts, US 02138(617) [email protected]

This unique outdoor adventure facility has become a premiere destination in Chicago.


The all-season park

features an

undulating ice

skating ribbon with

curves and grade

changes in the

winter, which

transforms into a

paved circulation

path in the summer

that provides access

to an imaginative

play area and

climbing facilities.


High Bridge Community Workshops MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ST. PAUL

Stantec designed a community outreach process that effectively created two-way conversation. Participants left with a greater understanding of the constraints MnDOT faces in a design process. MnDOT staff left with a clear sense of community desires regarding the project.MnDOT Metro District has plans to repave Smith Ave., Dodd Road, and the iconic St. Paul High Bridge. In order to fully address the needs of all users on this roadway, MnDOT staff asked Stantec to engage communities in St. Paul, West St. Paul and Mendota Heights much earlier in the process than is typical for highway reconstruction projects. Stantec’s team

designed a series of community workshops to help the public learn about the project and share input on desirable improvements for bicycling, walking, and driving along the corridor and on the bridge.

How do you meaningfully engage the public very early in the design process? How do you manage expectations so the public understands what’s realistic? This series of workshops boasted fun, community-centered events hosted at local businesses including breweries, cafes and restaurants. Interactive activities at each workshop encouraged participants to share

their desired roadway improvements and develop a real understanding of the trade-offs MnDOT makes to accommodate all users on a road. In fact, participants got to “design their own bridge,” cutting out scaled roadway elements such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and travel lanes and fitting them onto a scaled cross section of the St. Paul High Bridge. People left meetings saying “Wow, now I understand why all the things I want can’t fit on this road,” and “MnDOT sure has to make tough decisions when they design a road.”

The Stantec team helped MnDOT carefully time outreach messaging with the project delivery process, achieve high attendance at public open house events, and develop appropriate input opportunities that fostered meaningful two-way conversations about community desires and technical constraints of this project.

Reference

Ms. Tara McBride, P.E.South Area Engineer - Dakota CountyMnDOT Metro District(651) [email protected]

Meeting participants thanked us for the opportunity to provide meaningful input.


Hands-on design

activities generated

thoughtful

conversation among

participants and staff.

Meetings were held

at community venues

including breweries,

cafes and

restaurants.

Participants told us

this was the most fun

they’d ever had at a

community meeting.

Many thanked

MnDOT for hosting

the event.

Moments from one of the MnDOT High Bridge

Public Meetings

4. Qualifications


QualificationsParks and recreation spaces have unlimited potential to improve individual health, strengthen our communities, and protect our environment. We believe parks and recreation are an essential community service and that is why we always design with community in mind. We do this because we’re a part of the community too, and we care about the places where we live and play as much as you do.

Because trends in recreation are dynamic and ever-evolving, planning must provide for natural and recreational resources that will grow and adapt organically as community demographics and attitudes change over time. We specialize in developing plans that foster a connection with the earth while providing opportunities for healthful activities all generations can enjoy.

StantecPark and Recreation ExpertiseStantec provides comprehensive park and recreation planning, design, and program management services. Our approach to developing parks and open space systems is comprehensive and integrated, allowing communities to achieve their recreational goals while balancing high performance design, environmental stewardship and fiscal realities.

Through professional and technical experience, we turn ideas into reality, inspiring solutions that enable our clients to optimize existing sites and develop new parks and open space systems that integrate seamlessly into the community fabric. The results are spaces that stimulate the imagination, creating a vibrant and enriching experience for park users.

Because we are committed to providing appropriate due-diligence, insightful planning, creative design, and innovative solutions, we are able to transform our client and stakeholders’ vision and goals into functional and innovative parks and open space systems that add value and fulfill the public need for interaction and socialization.

Successful parks provide a mechanism to bridge diverse communities, promote active lifestyles, and enrich neighborhoods. With a roster of comprehensive services, we are able to support our clients at every stage, from initial concept to project completion and beyond.

Community outreach is an essential element in our work. We listen carefully and work collaboratively with our clients and the local communities to bring their vision to reality. We make recreation fit into the neighborhood fabric.

We take pride in delivering practical, implementation-driven plans. With a comprehensive understanding of how tools and strategies work on the ground, our plans are structured to provide accurate cost estimates and timelines, and prevent regulatory roadblocks.

Our experts are not only dedicated to park and athletic facility design, but also ecosystem design, and environmental preservation. By re-creating or restoring environments with energy, environmental, and water resources in mind, we design responsibly, and provide educational opportunities for those who visit these areas.

50+Stantec has developed park and open space facilities in more than 50 Minnesota communities.


Ice System Design Since 1974, Stantec has completed over 200 ice projects in 40 states and provinces throughout North America. Our range of projects includes everything from small mountain resort rinks, to community based arenas, to large outdoor/indoor skating venues. As industry leaders, we understand the importance of staying engaged with the ice community. We are a corporate member of many key industry associations such as the National Park and Recreation Association and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. Stantec has expertise designing new facilities and renovating existing ones, focusing on finding a feasible operationally efficient solution for the owner.

Adventure Sports Design In addition to more traditional facilities such as stadia, multi-purpose fields (natural and synthetic), baseball fields, soccer fields, running tracks, tennis courts, and basketball facilities, Stantec also specializes in creating exciting venues for adventurous users, including skate parks, BMX parks, and other wheeled and non-wheeled extreme sports.

Stantec’s Sport Design Group is comprised of athletes turned landscape architects and civil engineers. Our dedicated designers have extensive experience in designing and constructing outdoor athletic facilities and we utilize innovative technology to ensure efficient and cost-effective construction methods. We are committed to serving a variety of client types including preparatory and collegiate academic institutions, municipal clients, and professional sports franchises.


Additional Related ExperienceBielenberg Athletic Complex Playground, Splash Pad, and Ice RinkWoodbury, MinnesotaStantec provided design and construction services for a recreation area with regional appeal, including an accessible playground, splash pad, ice rink, and entry plaza. Our firm had previously master planned the Bielenberg Athletic Complex and provided design and construction services for the indoor sports dome, soccer fields, and other amenities.

For the next phase of improvements, the multidisciplinary team worked with the City and the Madison Claire Foundation to develop various areas for outdoor fun around the new field house building. These new site amenities include one of the largest fully accessible playgrounds, two splash pad areas, and shared gathering spaces to support the playground and splash pads, a refrigerated outdoor ice rink that serves as a flexible programming area for summer events, and a new entry plaza into the new field house building.

Stantec’s landscape architects sought to create a sensory rich, exciting, and educational environment. The landscaped entry plaza to the playground features an extensive butterfly garden. The team designed a playground container with a poured in place unitary surface, featuring a playful flower form. Around the play equipment, which was selected and will be placed by the local manufacturer, extensive landscaping and shade trees define the play area. Between the playground and the new splash pads, several arbors and trees provide shade to a gathering space adjacent to a restroom building. The splash pads feature equipment targeted to different age groups, in order to provide a comfortable and safe environment.

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Master PlanBlaine, MinnesotaThe Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is a 511-acre dedicated open space that will be protected from development within Blaine’s Parks System under a conservation easement. As part of the master planning process, we were tasked with connecting the public to this outstanding example of Anoka Sand Plain by aligning a meaningful trail system, siting minimal supporting infrastructure (i.e. parking, restrooms) and facilitating the wetland permitting process with the appropriate agencies. Our overall approach was to snake in a series of minimal trails to preserve the existing ecology and the site’s inherent beauty, all while being mindful of potential user groups and ADA access.

We thought through access to the site with specific consideration for adjacent land uses including concerned residential neighbors, regional trail system connections, and ongoing landscape restoration maintenance needs. Our process for aligning these trails was founded on a rigorous natural resource inventory and GIS analysis of over 30 data layers. We grounded this level of analysis and conceptual trail alignment in the experience of walking these alignments and making adjustments based on user experience and maintenance considerations. This balance resulted in the elegant winding of eight miles of trail planned in a combination of soft natural surface type trail, non-fill based boardwalk type trail, and hard surface type trail. Trail type decisions were based on user experience, accessibility, and construction and long-term maintenance costs.

Since the master planning process, we have secured an additional contract with the City of Blaine to implement the master plan. Currently we are raising community support for this project and reaching out to important stakeholders such as the Educator Community, who we envision will utilize this site as a regional environmental education venue. We are making additional efforts to leverage additional private and grant-based funding.


The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN

Sept 2014 / Project #_193802777 Sept 2014 / Project #_

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LEGENDExisting TrailsParcelsExisting City ParkSite 7 BoundaryPotential Open Water HabitatIntrepretive CenterPublic RestroomsParking Lot/DrivewayHard Surface TrailSoft Surface Trail (with hard surface alternative)

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900 ContourDelineated WetlandDelineated Wetland Upland TransitionDelineated UplandAvoid Impacts AreaMinimize Impacts Area

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RESOURCES


Posse Grounds Park, Bike Skills ParkSedona, ArizonaThe City of Sedona needed a bike park for their growing mountain bike community. With over 14.5 acres of forested land adjacent to the Posse Grounds Park available for development, the City asked our team to help design a bike park geared for all skill levels.

Teamed with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), a non-profit, public-supported organization focused on promoting mountain biking opportunities, our action sport team set out to design a premier bike park that connected to the existing pedestrian trails as well as utilized the existing infrastructure of the site (roads, parking, and restrooms).

Our team held numerous public meetings to gain feedback from the local community on the desired features and trail amenities. Based on that input, our design offers a little something for everyone.

The final park design includes a flow trail, bump and jump trail, tech flow trail, drop area, pump park/ trail, tot loop, dirt jump park, dual slalom, and a skills zone. The trails were designed to fully maximize the elevation change of the site as well as around existing watersheds to minimize environmental impacts.


We have park improvement experience in the following cities:Afton, MN

Anoka, MN

Apple Valley, MN

Appleton, WI

Brooksfield, WI

Burnsville, MN

Cambridge, MN

Centerville, MN

Chaska, MN

Cottage Grove, MN

Crystal Lake Park District, IL

Dayton, MN

Delafield, MN

Eagan, MN

Edina, MN

Falcon Heights, MN

Forest Lake, MN

Franklin, WI

Fredonia, WI

Grafton, WI

Greenfield, WI

Hastings, MN

Hennepin County, MN

Hinckley, MN

Hudson, WI

Jackson, WI

Lake Elmo, MN

Lakeville, MN

Lindenhurst Park District, IL

Litchfield, MN

Manitowoc, WI

Maple Grove, MN

Melrose, MN

Menomonee Falls, WI

Medina, MN

Milwaukee County, WI

Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota DNR

Mundelein Park and Recreation District, IL

Muskego, WI

Neosho, WI

New Berlin, WI

New Prague, MN

Newburg, WI

New Hope, MN

Northfield, MN

Oak Park Heights, MN

Orono, MN

Owatonna, MN

Ozaukee County, WI

Pewaukee, WI

Plymouth, MN

Rochester, MN

Rockville, MN

Round Lake Area Park District, IL

Sauk Rapids. MN

Saukville, WI

Shakopee, MN

Somerset, WI

Spring Lake Park, MN

St. Cloud, MN

St. Croix County, WI

Stillwater, MN

Summit, WI

Three Rivers Park District, MN

Watertown, WI

Wauwatosa, WI

West Bend, WI

West St. Paul, MN

White Bear Lake, MN

Windom, MN

Woodbury, MN

5. Project Team

125+awards Stantec has won for projects ranging from public engagement to urban design, and landscape architecture



PROJECT TEAM

Stantec has assembled a superior interdisciplinary team of designers, land use planners, community engagement specialists, and a resident climbing leader to serve the City of Duluth on this unique project. Our team brings proven expertise with the community design process; parks and trail master planning, design, and construction; bike skills parks; and ice parks and ice systems, among others.

The Stantec team is a full service group of professionals. Our team specializes in park and recreational design, and are adept. We have outstanding experience working in an integrated team environment with municipal clients and stakeholders and offer an extensive portfolio of relevant project experience. Stantec is committed to continuity of approach, effective team coordination, and clear client communication. Our team of professionals

is ready and equipped to tackle this project immediately and with enthusiasm thanks to years cultivating experience in parks and recreation master planning for communities.

Stantec has served northern Minnesota communities including Proctor, Cloquet, and Eveleth; as well as Superior, Wisconsin. Our team is excited at the prospect of working for a community as dedicated to parks and open space as the City of Duluth. Our Senior Principal, John Shardlow, has been serving as the Chair of the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) for the past several years. Potential conflict of interest considerations have kept us from pursuing work related to the St. Louis River Estuary open space and trail planning work that MLT has been coordinating for the City. John stepped down in June; and although MLT is sorry to see John begin his exit, we are thrilled to be able to propose this collaboration with you.

We are committed to the community design process; to both express the desires and address the concerns of City staff, key stakeholder groups, and last but certainly not least, the residents who currently use and those who will visit Quarry Park in the future.

Your vision is unique. You need a welcoming, sustainable neighborhood park that integrates specialized recreational programming.


PLA, LEED AP

Senior Associate/Principal in Charge

Education Related Experience

Registrations

Masters of Business Administration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2011

Master of Arts Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1998

Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy (Biology-Minor), St John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1990

Master of Arts, Philosophy, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1994

Parks and Sports/Athletic Facilities Bossen Field Park - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Development Master Plan - Blaine, Minnesota

Camel’s Hump Overlook Park - Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Quarry Lake Park, Greenfield East/Park Meadows Park, and Riverside Fields/Riverside Bluffs Parks - Shakopee, Minnesota

Bielenberg Athletic Complex - Woodbury, Minnesota

Levee Park Concept Master Plan - Hastings, Minnesota

Huber Park Final Design - Shakopee, Minnesota

Athletic Park - Hinckley, Minnesota

Lake Hiawatha Park Master Plan - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Park, Trail, and Open Space Plan - Shakopee, Minnesota

Registered Landscape Architect #4474, Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards

LEED Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council

Registered Landscape Architect #40002, State of Minnesota

Stuart Krahn

Mr. Krahn’s professional experience includes 18 years as a landscape

architect on numerous public and private projects and four years as a design/

build contractor. Stuart has a theoretical and practical understanding of

project development processes, from feasibility studies and master planning

through design, construction, and maintenance. Stuart has delivered more

than 40 park and recreation projects throughout the Upper Midwest.

For this project, Stuart will be the Principal-in-Charge, helping guide the master

planning process and ensuring the Stantec project team has the resources to

execute their roles seamlessly.

Adept at critical thinking and creative problem solving in the areas of

planning, site design, and making the most of budgets, he enjoys using these

skills in helping clients bring unique and enjoyable projects to reality.


Fay Simer brings a range of planning experience to her work with an emphasis

on translating technical information to a wide variety of audiences. Fay uses a

variety of facilitation techniques, including dynamic presentations, advisory

panel facilitation, focus groups, open houses, and small group facilitation to

engage and inform meeting participants and achieve desired meeting

outcomes. Fay uses critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to link project

details with big picture goals.

As Project Manager, Fay will ensure that every meeting is a worthwhile use of

participants and clients’ time. Fay excels at keeping meetings focused,

creating clear and succinct messaging, and developing input opportunities

that respond to the right questions and issues at each phase of a project.

A climber and avid outdoor enthusiast herself, Fay is excited to engage

community members and users of Quarry Park about their priorities for this site.

AICP

Project Manager and Community Engagement Specialist

Education

Memberships

Related Experience

Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Minnesota Humphrey School, Minneapolis, MN, 2009

Bachelor of Arts, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2006

Member, American Planning Association

Member, Past President, Women’s Transportation Seminar

Member, Young Leaders Executive Board, ULI

coordination with City leadership and overseeing development of concept designs. Fay helped the City navigate a community engagement process that was respectful of the dominant interest group and balanced the needs of all users.

MnDOT High Bridge Community Workshops, St. Paul, MNThe Minnesota Department of Transportation asked Fay to lead community conversations about desirable bicycling, walking and driving improvements to the St. Paul High Bridge and adjacent roadways. MnDOT staff wanted to engage the public early in the design process before key decisions were made. Fay hosted a series of fun, community-centered workshops at local businesses including breweries, cafes and restaurants. Interactive activities at each workshop encouraged people to share their desired roadway improvements and develop a real understanding of the trade-offs MnDOT makes to accommodate all users on a road. Fay’s ability to develop appropriate messaging and input opportunities was key to creating meaningful and respectful conversations through this project.

Fay Simer

City of Minneapolis 26th & 28th Streets Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements, Minneapolis, MNFay led community outreach for the City of Minneapolis to understand public preferences regarding the addition of protected bike lanes along a pair of one-way streets that traverse residences, hospitals, parks, and commercial nodes. Fay was responsible for neighborhood engagement,


*completed prior to employment with Stantec

Ally works on park and open space projects related to ecology, green infrastructure, and recreation. These projects include park master planning, natural resources inventory/analysis, site design, and brownfield redevelopment.

Ally brings unique perspective to this project having had the privilege of studying Quarry Park as a graduate student. She has intimate knowledge of the site and has already engaged multiple stakeholders throughout that design process, and is wholly committed to designing a park that expressed the desire of its surrounding community

Ally’s design process is deliverable-focused to make the most of project budgets. She produces graphic materials, written reports, and other project deliverables that aid concept development and communication, public engagement, and construction document processes. Allyson is passionate about the community design process. After work, she spends copious amounts of time on a mountain bike, running trails, foraging, and taking photos.

MLA

Project Designer

Education

Related Experience

Memberships

Masters of Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2013

Bachelor of Arts, Ecology, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, 2009

communicating her work with clients and the larger community.

Quarry Park* - Duluth, MinnesotaWhile a graduate student, Allyson studied the Duluth Parks and Trails System and grounded this system study in the Quarry Park site. She connected with key stakeholders of the site to learn about their hopes and concerns for the Quarry Park site, which she incorporated in her final design proposal and implementation strategies. She proudly presented this vision to Mayor Ness in December of 2012.

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Master Plan -Blaine, MinnesotaAllyson led an intense natural resource study of a 511-acre dedicated open space. She planned public access points, trail alignments, and supporting infrastructure were carefully planned to enhance user experience of a stunning, unique ecotype, to maintain the ecological integrity of the site, and to balance capital and on-going maintenance and operations economics.

Executive Committee Member, American Society of Landscape Architects - MN Chapter

Member, Healthy and Resilient Cities Regional Council of Mayors Committee, Urban Land Institute

Allyson Czechowicz

Bossen Field Park -Minneapolis, MinnesotaAllyson was instrumental in the master planning process for a 35-acre park in South Minneapolis, which included a robust community design component of both traditional and innovative engagement activities led by Stantec. She led the concept design and development processes,


Katrina Nygaard works on a variety of projects bridging design and planning.

She has engaged with stakeholders in projects across Minnesota to solve

complex problems and gather input to ensure solutions meet community

needs. She is passionate about environmental justice and ensuring that all

residents have equitable access to parks and natural amenities.

Like Ally, Katrina has also worked on parks master planning in Duluth as a

graduate student. Katrina analyzed how the Point of Rocks Park and the Lake

Superior Trail may better serve West End residents and community groups. She

will bring her experience and relationships with local stakeholders to this

project.

Katrina’s work at Stantec has focused on the development of engagement

tools that gather input, educate, and excite communities about upcoming

projects in their neighborhoods.

Education

Related Experience

Memberships

Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2015

Metropolitan Design Certificate, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2015

Bachelor of Arts, Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chicago, Illinois, 2013

Point of Rocks* - Duluth, MN Katrina explored the rugged natural features of Point of Rocks in Duluth, including its cliff faces, historic rock quarries, informal climbing and views to Lake Superior. Community members indicated that this space was underutilized and physically fragmented the community. Katrina designed three formal recreation and community spaces that built on local assets and provided opportunities for recreation, exercise and community gathering. These spaces aided in bridging the gaps between East and West Duluth, individuals and their community, urban and wilderness settings.

MnDOT High Bridge Community Workshops, St. Paul, MNStantec led a series of workshops along the High Bridge and Highway 149 to gather input about desired roadway improvements and community needs. Katrina assisted the team with the development of materials for these workshops including educational boards, community issues mapping and a road design trade off activity. Katrina received numerous compliments from clients and meeting participants for her eye-catching and easy to understand graphic materials.

The Number One Parks City* - Minneapolis, MN In 2014, the Trust for Public Land named Minneapolis’ parks system the best in the country. Working with local community groups, Katrina analyzed the parks system and its historical development, highlighting inequities in parks funding, location and programing. Her research included recommendations on how the Park Board may better serve diverse populations throughout the City and be the “number one parks city” for everyone.

Member, American Planning Association

Katrina Nygaard

Planner


Lucas has more than 16 years of climbing experience, both enjoying the sport

personally and instilling a love of it in others as an instructor. He currently directs

the climbing program at UMD. As a climbing instructor, he will inform designs

that are safe for users, inclusive to all levels of climbing, and responsive to

critical climbing-specific management practices.

Importantly, Lucas takes time to build relationships with neighbors, He brings

with him an established rapport with the local community best summarized as

grassroots.

Lucas is a recognized leader of the Duluth climbing community and brings with

him a full community of climbing enthusiasts thrilled to contribute at the

Community Workshop and help the plan be successful. Lucas advocates for the

sport in many capacities, proving himself masterful at building community

wherever he goes. He serves on both the Minnesota Climbing Coalition and the

Duluth Climbing Coalition and regularly hosts socials and organizes park clean

ups.

Volunteer Team Member

Climbing Expert and Community Leader

Education Related Experience

Registrations

Associates of Applied Science in Outdoor Recreation, Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, NY

Bachelors of Applied Science in Recreation - Outdoor Education, University of Minnesota Duluth

UMD Associate Director - ClimbingAs the Associate Director of Climbing at the UMD Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (since 2010), Lucas manages a combination of 18 volunteer and paid student staff and two on-site climbing walls. Incorporating climbing-specific skills training, personal and professional development, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, Lucas helps students develop a professional demeanor in a safe and positive learning environment.

Minnesota Climbers Association - Board MemberCollaborates with climbers, regional, state, county, city, and local organizations to advocate, maintain, develop, and care for climbing resources in the state of Minnesota.

Duluth Climbers Coalition - Board PresidentCollaborates with the City of Duluth, St. Louis County, and local climbers to advocate, maintain, develop, and care for climbing resources within the city limits of Duluth.

Climbing Wall Instructor Course Provider, Professional Climbing Instructors Association

Single Pitch Climbing Instructor Course Provider, Professional Climbing Instructors Association

Single Pitch Instructor, American Mountain Guides Association

Lucas Kramer

Memberships

Member, Access Fund

Member, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education

President of the Board, Duluth Climbers Coalition

Board Member, Minnesota Climbers Association

6. Teaming Arrangement

Stantec forms the right team for every unique project. We have systems in place to advance projects efficiently.



TEAMING ARRANGEMENT

StantecStantec will serve as the consultant on the Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan project. We will provide overall project management and the following services.

• Site inventory and analysis• Facilitate Duluth city staff meetings• Lead community outreach • Site program analysis and assessment• Primary planning and design• Cost estimates• Implementation strategies

Additional optional services could include:

• Management of project website to solicit additional public input outside of meetings.

• Built-to-scale model of Quarry Park site to foster understanding of a topography-heavy site by community members and stakeholders; to focus input.

Lucas KramerLucas will serve in a volunteer capacity on Stantec’s team. We will consult with City of Duluth staff to determine the appropriate time and points in the project to tap into his resources. We envision asking Lucas to participate in the following capacity:

• Member of the Working Group• “On-call” expert for technical and questions

related to climbing facilities during concept design

• “On-call” local climbing community leader to vet out potential climbing program operations and maintenance.

• Assistance in running Community Workshop• Assistance in promoting and advertising the

Community Workshop to the climbing community.

Stantec is the prime consultant for this project.

7. Scope of Work

SCOPE OF WORKOUR PROJECT UNDERSTANDING AND WORK PLAN

The City of Duluth intends to acquire property to formally designate and

program “Quarry Park,” located at the defunct Duluth Sand and Gravel

Quarry in West Duluth. Master planning is an opportunity to collectively

envision a new, multi-functional neighborhood gathering place for residents

and visitors alike.

The community design process we lead, in particular, will ensure that the master plan is rooted in the people using the park. Moreover, as experienced consultants, the park infrastructure we recommend will be backed by the superior expertise of our in-house team to ensure master plan recommendations are feasible, economical, and realistic.

Our approach to the Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan will be strongly anchored in input from Duluth City staff, key stakeholders, nearby residents, and the larger community the park is intended to serve.

This master plan will serve as a long-range plan to meet the community’s park, trail, and recreational needs. These needs are outlined in Duluth Parks and Trails planning documents and will be further understood through critical conversations with city staff and a thoughtful community engagement process. Additional needs will be identified by a rigorous study of the park site.

Meeting all of these interests is indeed paramount to a successful master planning process. Already, we understand that there is much to

navigate in the Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan. By leveraging our depth of experience in park planning and development, we have crafted a robust process to ensure these needs are met in the final mini master plan.

Our specialized design experts will help you plan a superior park.


The master planning process at Quarry Park will commence with an objective inventory of existing conditions including but limited to facilities, current uses, existing ecology and natural beauty, and relationship to immediate neighborhood context and larger Duluth Parks and Recreation System.

Here is our current understanding of the project site with respect to current vision for the park.

LOCATION

Casket Quarry is located in West Duluth north of the Canadian Pacific Railroad at 57th-59th Avenues. South of the rail line are residents of the Cody Neighborhood. North of the rail line, in relation to the park are Loll Furniture light manufacturing immediately to the southwest; Oneota Cemetery to the west; West Skyline Parkway and Brewer Park to the north; & two families whose homes dead end into N. 57th Ave W, yet north of the rail line.

Quarry Park today is accessed by taking N 59th Ave north across the rail line and into the unpaved city-owned parking lot (image below) adjacent to the Epicurean manufacturing space. From this lot, there are a series of informal trails that wind into the Quarry’s basin or up onto the cliff side.

CONNECTIVITY

This park is conceptualized as an important link from the West Duluth waterfront on up the hillside to the Duluth Traverse Biking Trail and Superior Hiking Trail. Erosion-resistant, native soil- based, non-ADA accessible trails are currently envisioned to forge this connection. A smart trail alignment

and trail material and vegetation management plan should be developed to effectively maintain these important connections.

HISTORY

The name “Casket Quarry” is derived from the site’s significant past as a hillside stone quarrying operation – and a concrete operation that provided, among other goods, caskets. In 1903, the site was first developed for quarrying operations, chosen for the obvious lens of gabbro that outcropped to the surface. The Duluth Crushed Stone Company quarried gabbro, sometimes called black granite, in varying sizes for uses as road stone, railroad ballast, concrete aggregate, and riprap for harbor protection.

There may be historical features that are revealed through the site inventory and community design process. We are excited about fielding such revelations and would work them into potential concepts for review by all design process participants.

CONTEXT AND LAND USE


CODY NEIGHBORHOOD

LOLLFURNITURE

ONEOTACEMETERY

BREWERSPARK

TWORESIDENCES

N 59th

Ave

W

N 57th

Ave

W

^ Duluth Traverse Trail

Skyline ParkwayApprox.

Locatio

n

Superio

r Hikin

g Trail

QUARRY PARK SITE

NORTH ^

Canadian Pacific Railw

ay

Highland St


When the quarry was abandoned, it became tax-forfeited land to the county. Thus the Quarry Park site today is located on 18.79 acres of county-forfeited land. We understand that the city is in conversation with St. Louis County to perhaps arrange a land swap in order to gain ownership of this parcel(s). The City is also interested in securing 7.22 aces from the Oneota Cemetery in order to house supporting park infrastructure.

PHYSICAL SITE

The process for this quarrying was to cut into the hillside forming an artificial topography characterized by a relatively flat “meadow” below, a

sheer cliff, and the area above the cliff that melds back into the surrounding hillside (topographic model below - looking west). The shape of the space created by this cut-away quarrying operation was a semi-regular oval oriented to the northeast and southwest, cliff side west.

The scale of the quarry is significant. The meadow is comparable to four regulation football fields. The cliff is 1,000 feet long and reaches 100 feet in height, with much variation in its height resulting from the level of gabbro debris “foothills” at the base of the cliff (see section-elevation at bottom of page).

The top of the cliff offers sublime views of the city, its harbor and Lake Superior, akin to the offerings of Skyline Parkway (image above)

Having studied this site before, we already have a strong understand the quarry’s topography and significant scale.

MICROCLIMATE

0ft 100ft

The site’s scale is remarkable

“Meadow”

The site has an existing beauty and access to

stunning views of the city

Cliff Face


There are three things that contribute to a unique microclimate at Casket Quarry. Due to the Quarry’s orientation, the meadow and cliff receive nearly full sun during the day, with shade falling only come afternoon. Meanwhile, the gabbro cliff is heavy and dark, absorbing and carrying heat. And finally, due to the adjacency of Lake Superior and Duluth’s chilly reputation, the meadow at the Quarry is relatively warm and sheltered.

Our 4-season planning approach will work with this innate microclimate; its affect should weigh heavily during the ice farming feasibility/planning process.

HYDROLOGY

The Quarry itself is situated on the larger hillside of West Duluth. During and after rain events, water cascades from higher elevations and into the Quarry. This flow is slowed by wetlands perched just above the Quarry. These wetlands slowly release water like a saturated sponge, which then trickles over the quarry face for up to two weeks (image above top)

Wetlands also exist in the meadow section of the Quarry. After water enters the Quarry, it pools in low-lying areas of the meadow, forming rocky-bottomed wetlands (image left bottom) that may

eventually reach the stream that runs adjacent to the site. During the winter, depending on the fall’s water table level and winter temperatures, water seeps over and through the cliff face and freezes, resulting in dramatic sweeps of ice.

We understand that any park planning must respect the current hydrology of the site in an effort to work with existing conditions and to honor the level of development that the winter climbing community has already invested into the site.

ECOLOGY

This manipulation of the hillside slope, hydrology, and the quarry abandonment have led to a novel array of species at the Quarry Park site. Species hail from bedrock outcropping, wet meadows, post fire birch-aspen communities, and opportunistic invasives from urban lots like buckthorn, plantain, and smooth brome. A plethora of insect and avian species were observed on site as well.

Our project team has decades of combined experience in ecological restoration solutions. We will take a goal-based management approach to the Quarry Park site vegetation and will collaborate with key city staff to ensure management regimes are sustainable for staff.

NATURAL BEAUTY

The Quarry site is striking and highly seasonal. The perched wetland community is characterized by a dense green ground cover punctuated by bright white aspen and birch trunks. Walking along the cliff you experience alternating views of the Duluth harbor, then wild thicket, then expansive view, and so on. Vista moments along the cliff edge are usually foregrounded by bedrock outcropping of gabbro whose color ranges from a rich brown to black and in more textures than can be described. There is a lot of graffiti on stone faces, and much debris from what appears to be things like television sets and bicycles that were heaved over the top of the cliff. The meadow is rough due to the extensive rubble that has been strewn about. But there are informal paths that cross-cross the site, and the wetlands in the meadow-area are richly black-bottomed and

Water trickles over the cliff face regularly

Wetlands exist in the Quarry ”meadow”


reflect the supreme green of well-hydrated vegetation and blue sky. It’s calming to sit in the meadow near the cliff after a recent rainfall and listen the drizzle of the water running over the cliff face.

During the winter, the sublime nature of the quarry is even fiercer. The trees drop their foliage and leave the heavy brown and blacks of the cliff stark against the snow that blankets the cliff top and meadow. Ice cascades form naturally from certain areas of the cliff face and serve as the backbone for the existing ice climbing experience.

We greatly appreciate the contrasting aesthetic of the site. Our approach would be to work with the site’s drama, to look for ways to enhance it and to create highly seasonable experiences for users.

STAKEHOLDERS

In order to get a strong idea of the current and near future land use issues, we understand that the chosen consultant will first meet with City of Duluth Staff, including Parks and Recreation, Planning, Property and Facilities, and Maintenance Operations, and then with neighborhood community clubs and business groups.

Moreover, we understand that the selected consultant is being asked to thoughtfully engage with the public who uses, might use in the future, and is otherwise affected by the development of Quarry Park. Community participation is paramount to this Park’s development process.

Stakeholders of this park master planning process may include (but are not limited to) additional neighborhood community clubs and business groups, environmental restoration groups, historic

preservation groups, the University of Minnesota - Duluth and St. Scholastica, the Duluth Park and Recreation Commission, the Duluth Tree Commission, neighbors and general public, the Minnesota Land Trust, Fit City Duluth outdoor recreation user groups like the Duluth Climbing Coalition and COGGS (biking).

We are highly experienced in both tried and true and innovative stakeholder management as part of the larger community design process. We look forward to rooting the master planning process in the balanced desires of the community.

CURRENT PROGRAMMING/USES

Today, there appear to be three primary program groups of the Quarry Park site. They are marginal uses, neighborhood uses, and climbing uses.

The marginal uses of the site have left a significant visual footprint of graffiti on the cliff face and other quarry rubble, as well as refuse from what appears to junk that has been heaved over the edge of the cliff (images opposite). Anecdotes from community members point to demographics like restless teenagers as the usual suspects for this marginal- type use. One man one site told us he had been frequenting the site, “forever…especially for tagging parties where the cops would leave [them] alone.” This marginal-type use of the quarry is also evident in the 10+ fire rings that visitors have built over time, both in the meadow near the cliff and along the cliff ridge. This type of use is congruent with the site’s decades-long existence as a marginal space within the City’s fabric.

On the flip side, the Quarry is located quite close to many residences and as a result, many people come

Winter image showing how the site’s mood

changes with the seasons


to the Quarry for more accepted type uses like trail running, dog-walking, using the gabbro “foothills” as playground equipment, taking photos, and enjoying the site’s natural setting.

Thirdly, the climbing community is a current user of the quarry. This active use is less apparent to people who visit the site; you have to either be looking for bolts up the cliff face or else have to stumble across one. The climbing community has been developing routes at the Quarry Park site for over a decade and is heavily invested in the site.

By inviting visitors into Quarry Park with welcoming signage, easily navigable trails, and a clean, safe, fun, and beautiful experience, destructive behaviors like graffiti and littering should decrease dramatically. By providing simple amenities like restrooms, picnic tables and perhaps an open-air shelter, passive park users will have a more pleasant experience and be encouraged to organize larger gatherings.

Families, too, will be incentivized to spend more time at the Park if there are restrooms for children who enjoy playing on some of the more innocuous chunks of rubble from the former quarrying operation.

To be successful in managing these extra visitors, we will take care to address user-group specific issues such as off-leash dogs and dog feces, climbing safety measures, and to discourage vandalism of park property. Importantly, we intend to respond to the question of how to keep a neighborhood park feeling neighborhood-centered when serious infrastructure is invested in to bolster specialized recreational programming such as ice climbing.

Some sport climbing routes have been developed, but cannot be enhanced to the site’s constraining geology.

Evidence of “tagging” illustrate the marginal-type uses of the site today.

Much of the refuse on site seems to have been there for years like this rusting bike.


SAFETY AND PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT

To become a successful neighborhood park, wayfinding and connectivity to the local neighborhoods are critical, as is adjoining Parks facilities like Brewers Park, the Duluth Traverse Trail, and the Superior Hiking Trails.

The Quarry Park site is not currently welcoming. For example, one climber we met called the place, “spooky.” The plethora of graffiti and refuse indicate the space is not managed, which is antithetical to the ethos of a strong neighborhood park.

Planning Quarry Park to be safe is critical. Our team highly recommends the appointing of a Duluth Police representative to the project’s working group. We desire to work closely with this individual to understand safety goals of a park from the Police Division’s standpoint and to vet out our design concepts to this end.

Although the site is challenging due to its size and distance from the street, we will be creative in utilizing Crime Prevention through Environmental

Design (CPTED) principles when master planning the new park. Some of the main principles we plan on studying include:

• Open visibility – eyes on the street / eyes on the park. We will be aware of sight lines and what obscures them, both with physical features like quarry rubble and plant materials.

• Safe and effective lighting levels on pedestrian pathways and parking areas and areas.

• Understanding site circulation, both pedestrian and vehicular, and avoiding dead-ends or entrapment possibilities. Providing accessibility.

• Providing safe and active spaces that discourage criminal behavior. Territoriality, show that the park and its spaces are cared for by careful and thoughtful design.

• Working with neighbors to understand crime in the area and at the park and how to avoid it through good design.

• Maintenance. Only build what can be maintained effectively and ‘owned’ by the general public and park users. Foster stewardship in the park by neighbors and users like the climbing community.

As identified in the 2010 Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the goal of meeting the Parks’ goal of providing a safe and clean place to recreate be taken into account for the new mini- master plan for Quarry Park.

We understand that the city intends to complete a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment of the site to vet out any potential issues related to the site’s

Graffiti like this note to “Leave NOW!” is antithetical to a welcoming park.

An example of graffiti on the quarry face.


former industrial use. We commend this proactive decision and look forward to integrating any findings in the master planning process.

OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

Data will be gathered during working group meetings and the community workshop to develop the program for Quarry Park. This document will be vetted out as early as the concept development stage (Task 2.1) with an eye for sustainable operations and maintenance. This vetting process will be completed by both by the consultant team (including our climbing community liason team member, Lucas Kramer) and especially Duluth Operations and Maintenance staff (as determined by City staff ). The City’s O&M staff ’s input will help the consultant team understand staff capacity, standard O&M practices, and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and cost reduction.

Quarry Park is a more remote site, despite being located within the city, and its anticipated operations and maintenance must respect that reality. We will outline future user groups, their likely frequency of use and seek to find options regarding minimizing and consolidating maintenance and operations costs while focusing on sustainable approaches for site based activities. We understand that the Duluth Climbing Coalition will be operating the climbing program (and its O&M) on site; we will work closely with Lucas to appropriately divvy up park maintenance and operations from general park maintenance.

O&M modeling will be used to make recommendations for appropriate materials selection and take into account not only climbing program needs, but also address trash and recycling, and any site furnishings, lighting, or shelter/restroom facilities. This process will include the identification of life-cycle cost alternatives and comparisons for any park furnishings and facilities, site-based programs like climbing, and vegetation management strategies. While initial costs may be higher to purchase and install higher quality equipment, infrastructure, and or facilities, the lowering of overall maintenance cost over the life of the product will be the goal of our

recommendations.

O&M modeling will ensure that the Quarry Park meets user needs, leverages its key partnership with the DCC, and does not burden city operations and maintenance staff. Our team’s intent is to help Quarry Park become a model park of sustainability for the City and builds the Duluth Parks and Recreation Division’s reputation as smart, respectful, and forward thinking.

THE LARGER DULUTH PARKS SYSTEM

The Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan is outlined in the St. Louis River Corridor Project Vision, a vision voted on by the City Councilors in March of 2015, and endorsed by Mayor Ness as:

• Supporting environmental restoration

• Enriching neighborhood quality of life

• Attracting new homebuyers

• Establishing new visitor destinations

• Stimulating appropriate development, &

• Leveraging additional funding

Eighteen million dollars is being raised by a new 1/2 and 1/2 Tourism Tax and the City anticipates leveraging an equal or greater amount to bolster this recreation corridor development effort. In short, the City is using tourism dollars to create more tourist dollars. This is a economic development strategy that a outdoor- recreation-identifying City can get behind.

Quarry Park is named in the Vision Plan as the “West Duluth Climbing Park,” under “Other Projects,” thus the full budget of the Park’s development has yet to be determined. City Staff intend on applying for grants to bolster Quarry Park’s construction budget this spring, and thus are asking the chosen consultant to wrap up the master planning process by mid-November.

We understand from city staff that it may be perceived by the public as slightly controversial to acquire new land when there is much Duluth Park space to already develop and maintain. This is understandable. The 2010 Duluth Parks and


Recreation Master Plan clearly outlines, “Invest, not expand; to favor maintenance and reconstruction of existing infrastructure over infrastructure expansion.” It will be important during the community engagement process to clearly articulate how Quarry Park fits into the larger Duluth Parks Master Plan:

Principle 1 – Provide Safe, Clean, Fun and Beautiful Parks. Quarry Park has been operating as an informal park, and as such, is neither very clean nor safe. Development will prioritize a clean and safe place for the community.

Principle 2 – Ensure Adequate and Stable Funding. Special funding has been raised to pay for the development of Quarry Park

Principle 3 – Build Partnerships. Quarry Park is being partly championed by the nascent Duluth Climbing Coalition. This partnership is ideal and as such, we have partnered with their president, climbing expert and community leader Lucas Kramer.

Principle 4 – Ensure Equitable Access. By developing Quarry Park, West Duluth residents will become aware of the park and frequent it more often, legitimizing the expenditure.

Principle 5 – Connect the Community. Quarry Park has been conceptualized as forging a connection between West Duluth waterfront up the hill to other parks and trails such as the Duluth Traverse Trail.

Principle 6 – Connect with Nature. Quarry Park is a beautiful and unique destination, unlike any other park in the Duluth system with its cut away space and pioneering ecology. Whether you are on the ridge line enjoying the view of the harbor listening to hawks or recessed in the meadow watching water striders across black rocky-bottomed, Quarry Park is a large space and lends itself to feeling connected to nature.

Principle 7 – Continue to Meet Evolving Needs. The Quarry Park master plan is attempting to meet the needs of many evolving stakeholders such as the climbing community who would like a legitimate place to climb, and to increase access for beginning climbers, including youth.

Principle 8 – Be Sustainable. Quarry Park is not developing pristine forest but stewarding a site degrading by the mining industry.

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Principles & Objectives: The Path to 2030

The Duluth Park and Recreation Master Plan’s subtitle - The Path to 2030 represents a path to follow to realize the potential of the Duluth parks and recreation system. Much of the plan recom-mendations revolve around connections - not only connecting the community physically with paths and trails, but strengthening connections socially, economically and environmentally.

The Master Plan recommendations focus on eight basic prin-ciples for the Duluth parks and recreation system (parks, fund-ing, partnerships, equitable access, trails, nature, recreation, and sustainability) that will help build Duluth as a more connected community. These principles and the associated objectives are based on community and stakeholder input, current plans such as the Duluth Comprehensive Plan, and a detailed evaluation of the tremendous opportunities and the pressing challenges facing parks and recreation in Duluth.


SUGGESTED PROGRAMS

We look forward to engaging City and Community in a community design process. However, some potential uses for the new park space have already been called out in the RFP. They include:

• Quiet space to convene with a unique ecological system

• Highlighting the stunning vista of Duluth, canal park and a working harbor.

• Dog walking

• Picnicking

• Larger gathering space for fun activities like movies in the park and neighborhood or city-led fund-raisers

• Bike skills park

• Children’s nature play

• Sport climbing

• Ice and mixed climbing.

Some sport climbing exists already on site. Further development of sport climbing routes is naturally constrained by a layer of stone sub to the gabbro that is highly flaky and unstable.

Additionally, the hydrologic condition of the Quarry is less than ideal for warm weather climbing. As wetlands drain, water drizzles over the cliff ’s face – rendering hand and foot holds dangerous, even for experienced climbers.

We are confident in the strength of our network of climbing community like the Duluth Climbing Coalition, the Minnesota Climbing Coalition, and the community who uses and helps farm the ice climbing park at Sandstone, MN, and even at Ouray Ice Park in Colorado. We intend to leverage this network to request critique at key moments in the planning process to ensure that we accurately determine the feasibility of farming ice at Quarry Park, to understand the potential issues inherent to the supporting infrastructure, understand how much benefit is gained by this infrastructure, and communicate this all to City staff and design process participants, and reflect this in the final

master plan and accompanying narrative.

Planning for ice farming is not a common venture. But with nationally renown ice design engineers and a full time ice farmer/park manager on our team, and grounded in the local climbing community, we are confident in our ability to integrate the nuances of planning this winter program at Quarry Park. Some of the major issues we’re already talking about among our team are

• The location of the water source (the drilling of a new well)

• Potential permitting of that water, depending on how much water will likely be used per day and per year.

• The type of plumbing to move water from the well to the cliff face

• The types of shower heads (how well they maintain a fan-spray pattern and the size of droplets)

• Level of daily labor involved during the height of the winter climbing season– turning valves on and off

• Optimal temperatures for ice farming

• Nuances of creating variable levels of ice climbing – including softer inclines and thicker routes

We are excited about vetting out enhanced ice climbing at Quarry Park, determining its feasibility, planning its supporting infrastructure, and working closely with the local climbing community to maintain buy-in and integrate their management plan.


DESIGN APPROACH: “INFORMAL IS CHEAP”

We will keep two primary things in mind during the mini-master planning process:

1) The Quarry Park site has its own authentic beauty. This beauty is related to its industrial history, a unique hydrology, pioneering ecology, and a breathtaking view of the city and lake. Restraint is a key design tenant we will maintain when master planning the park. In this win-win situation, restraint keeps an estimate of probable cost down.

2) The Quarry Park site already functions well in some respects. Our we understand our job as planners and designers to ENHANCE the site according to what we hear during the community design process - to make it more safe, functional, and maintainable. Some things that we will be sure to build from are:

• Existing Material. There are literally tons of gabbro rubble in ranging sizes strewn across the site. We may explore utilizing this rubble in our design and planning process.

• The current climbing program. Volunteers have put years into developing routes for both warm weather and ice/mixed climbing. We will not interfere with what has been heroically established.

• Gathering areas. There are at least a dozen informal gathering areas. These can indicate where people may want to gather in the future.

• Informal path networks. Often informal path networks indicate where people want to go. We will pay attention to that.

• There is a fascinating hydrologic system on site that includes wetlands and a correlating ecology.

• Connecting with Nature. This is a principle in the city’s 2010 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Quarry Park is a terrific opportunity to do that.

We are entranced by the uniqueness of Quarry park site and how it can better meet user needs in the future. We intend to build from what is currently working.

An informal path


Informal gathering areas like this already exist. We should build on what’s already working on the site.

One of the existing fire rings.


WORK PLANFor this project, we will develop a detailed work plan in collaboration with the Duluth Park and Recreation staff that best captures the overall vision for the Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan. The following outline describes the tasks we offer as a starting point for that collaboration.

ONE: Start Up and Background ReviewTask 1.0 Project Kick-off Conference Call

We will start the project with a kick-off call among the Stantec team and key City staff. This will be an opportunity to introduce the project team; confirm roles and responsibilities; define reporting relationships; and verify the work plan, schedule, deliverables, project goals, and objectives. We will also identify available base information and data that the City is able to provide and the timeline for doing so. Lastly, we will identify members of the Working Group and set dates for Working Group Meetings 1 and 2 and the Community Workshop.

Task 1.1 Existing Site Research/Site Walk

The project team will visit the Quarry Park site and document key aspects to be integrated into Task 1.2. This will take place in conjunction with a meeting when our team is already in Duluth.

Task 1.2 Inventory, Analysis and Base Mapping

We will prepare an initial site analysis of the park property and immediate surroundings. This analysis will be represented on a base map created with data made available by the City. The primary areas of analysis will include:

• Natural systems and features, including topography, drainage, vegetation, and aesthetics

• Surrounding land uses and potential views

• Access, circulation, and traffic

• Existing infrastructure (trails, water source, where current users appear to gather, etc.)

Task 1.3 Working Group Meeting #1 – City of Duluth and Key Stakeholders

We will host a workshop with key City staff and stakeholders to review the inventory and analysis and determine their perception, vision, and concerns for Quarry Park. We also propose to meet with City staff in-person prior to the Working Group Meeting to review project progress and materials.

Task 1.4 Community Workshop

We will invite the public and key stakeholder groups to participate in a workshop to identify programming priorities for the Quarry Park site. If desired by City staff, we can also host a website to converse with the public about the master plan’s development throughout the process (see Additional Service noted in Project Budget).

We will summarize Tasks 1.3 and 1.4 with a programming document that identifies all of the desired features of the park and assigns preliminary priority to them.

Deliverables:

Kick-off Meeting

Inventory and Analysis Map

Working Group Meeting #1

Community Workshop

Prioritized Programming Document


TWO: Concept AlternativesQuarry Park could accommodate a wide range of recreational uses. Using input gathered during Task 1, we will develop three concept alternatives depicting the working group and the public’s priorities for the site. We recommend that these concepts be shared with the public via an online platform. We will convene the Working Group a second time to identify a preferred concept and key implementation considerations for that concept.

Task 2.0 Develop preliminary concept plan alternatives

The project team will develop three conceptual design alternatives for the park that explore programming ideas expressed at the community workshop and first working group meeting. Any active programming that was prioritized during these workshops will be explored with Stantec experts and partners, working together to brainstorm, develop, and vet out the conceptual design alternatives.

Task 2.1 Working Group Meeting #2 – City of Duluth and Key Stakeholders

We will present the three concept alternatives to the Working Group along with any public input received on the concepts. We will ask the working group to identify a preferred concept. We will also ask the working group to identify specific facilities required to support the programming elements depicted in that concept and discuss maintenance considerations of the preferred concept.

Deliverables:

3 Concept alternatives

Working Group Meeting #2

THREE: Planning & Design, Cost Estimates, Implementation StrategiesTask 3.1 Develop primary concept plan

After receiving input from the working group, we will either hybridize concepts or refine one of the design alternatives into a single preferred alternative for recommendation to city staff.

Task 3.2 Develop narrative of mini-master plan, project goals and objectives

We will write an accompanying narrative documenting the project goals and objectives as developed at the initial project kick-off meeting, working group meetings, and community workshops.

Task 3.3 Develop opinion of probable cost

We will develop an opinion of probable construction costs and work with City staff to estimate maintenance needs for any improvements to the park.

Task 3.4 Develop implementation strategies and project phasing plan

We will work with our in-house experts and Lucas Kramer to identify implementation strategies and phasing for the prioritized programming elements of the park.

Task 3.5 Complete final revisions and submit final plan

Stantec will provide the draft mini-master plan to City staff for final input. Stantec will make one round of edits on the plan before sending an electronic copy of the final draft to City staff.

Deliverables:

Draft concept plan

Narrative including goals, opinion of probable cost, implementation strategies, and phasing plan

Final Mini Master Plan

8. Cost of Services

49

Stantec Consulting Services Inc.


COST OF SERVICES

“On schedule and on budget.”

The words every client wants to hear. It’s all in the planning and preparation and, of course, having the right people and the right tools for the job. Stantec’s project managers have established systems for maintaining tight control on budgets.

As work is initiated, we will capture actual costs with Stantec’s state-of-the-art accounting system; a labor distribution report will be expedited on a weekly basis to the project manager, allowing for both review and tracking of costs.

On a monthly basis, total costs incurred by task order, including accruals, will be generated and forwarded for payment.

The cost estimate on the following page is based on our interpretation of the tasks necessary to successfully complete the Mini-Master Plan process for Quarry Park. Know that we are open to refining and negotiating tasks and staff time to meet the needs of the Duluth Parks and Recreation.

Total Estimated Mini-Master Plan Consulting Fee: $24,736

Date:

10-0

9-20

15

Quar

ry P

ark M

ini-M

aste

r Plan

PRO

POSE

D BU

DGET

Proj

ect S

cope

nam

e

Lucas Kramer, Climbing Expert & Community Leader

Hours Subtotal

Fee Subtotal

Stuart Krahn, Principal-in-Charge

Fay Simer, Project Manager, Community Engagement Lead

Allyson Czechowicz, Project Designer & GIS Analysis

Katrina Nygaard, Planning & Engagement

Hours Subtotal

Fee Subtotal

Hours Subtotal

Fee Subtotal

hour

ly ra

te $

-

$

169

$

1

25

$

96

$

90

1St

art U

p an

d Ba

ckgr

ound

Rev

iew8

-$

118

12,34

4$

126

12,34

4$

Task

1.0

Proje

ct Ki

ck-O

ff Con

feren

ce C

all0

0-

$

0

22

04

442

$

444

2$

Ta

sk 1.

1Ex

isting

Site

Res

earch

/Site

Walk

22

-$

02

20

444

2$

6

442

$

Task

1.2

Inven

tory,

Analy

sis, a

nd B

ase M

appin

g0

0-

$

0

216

422

2,146

$

22

2,146

$

Ta

sk 1.

3W

orkin

g Gro

up M

eetin

g #1

22

-$

014

140

283,0

94$

303,0

94$

Task

1.4

Comm

unity

Wor

ksho

p4

4-

$

0

2020

2060

6,220

$

64

6,220

$

2Co

ncep

t Alte

rnat

ives

10-

$

49

5,203

$

59

5,203

$

Ta

sk 2.

0De

velop

Pre

limina

ry Co

ncep

t Plan

Ske

tches

/Opti

ons/A

ltern

ative

s8

8-

$

2

320

227

2,813

$

35

2,813

$

Ta

sk 2.

1W

orkin

g Gro

up M

eetin

g #2

22

-$

010

102

222,3

90$

242,3

90$

3Pl

anni

ng &

Des

ign,

Cos

t Est

imat

es, Im

plem

enta

tion

Stra

tegi

es5

-$

555,7

47$

605,7

47$

Task

3.0

Deve

lop P

rimar

y Con

cept

Plan

11

-$

12

160

191,9

55$

201,9

55$

Task

3.1

Deve

lop N

arra

tive o

f Mini

-Mas

ter P

lan, P

rojec

t Goa

ls an

d Obje

ctive

s1

1-

$

0

12

47

677

$

867

7$

Ta

sk 3.

2De

velop

Bud

get N

arra

tive &

Opin

ion of

Cos

t for P

lanne

d Imp

rove

ments

11

-$

21

82

131,4

11$

141,4

11$

Task

3.3

Deve

lop Im

pleme

ntatio

n Stra

tegies

and P

rojec

t Pha

sing P

lan2

2-

$

2

26

616

1,704

$

18

1,704

$

Ta

sk 3.

4Co

mplet

e Fina

l Plan

Rev

ision

s, Su

bmit F

inal P

lan

00

-$

11

40

667

8$

6

678

$

2323

-$

860

120

4022

823

,294

$

25

123

,294

$

4Co

nsul

tant

Exp

ense

s: ve

hicle

milea

ge, m

eals,

mee

ting m

ateria

ls, op

en ho

use r

efres

hmen

ts1,4

42$

BASI

C SE

RVIC

ES T

OTAL

24,73

6$

5Ad

ditio

nal S

ervic

e Opt

ion

#1 -

Enha

nced

Com

mun

ity D

esig

n Pr

oces

s0

-$

171,6

06$

171,6

06$

Task

5.0

Build

to-S

cale

Mode

l of Q

uarry

Par

k Site

00

-$

00

16

763

6$

7

636

$

Task

5.1

MySi

dewa

lk On

line E

ngag

emen

t Plat

form

Crea

tion a

nd M

ainten

ance

(*)

00

-$

02

08

1097

0$

10

970

$

Addi

tiona

l Ser

vices

Sub

tota

l0

00

02

114

341,6

06$

171,6

06$

6Co

nsul

tant

Exp

ense

s: M

odel

Mater

ials o

nly ($

150)

. *NO

TE S

tantec

is ab

le to

offer

MyS

idewa

lk se

rvice

at no

char

ge ex

cept

labor

to m

anag

e site

conte

nt15

0$

1,756

$

Cons

ulta

nt T

eam

TOTA

LB A S I C S E R V I C E S

Volu

ntee

r Tea

m M

embe

rs

Stan

tec

Clim

bing

Exp

ertis

e/ Co

mm

unity

Lea

ders

hip

Basic

Ser

vices

Sub

tota

l

ADD'TL. SERVICES

ADDI

TION

AL S

ERVI

CES

TOTA

L

9. Meetings

53

Stantec Consulting Services Inc.


MEETINGS DETAILWe have propose three stakeholder or community meetings to gather input for this plan. We will coordinate with City staff to solidify objectives and refine agendas for these three proposed meetings. Outlined below is our typical starting point for such meetings.

In addition, regular communication between Fay Simer and Jim Shoberg will be critical to keep both teams abreast of project progress and are intended to be focused opportunities for discussing draft deliverables and meeting preparations.

Task 1.0 Project Kick-Off Conference Call, one hour duration.

A project kick-off meeting will be held with the City’s Project Manager key staff, and the Stantec team.

DRAFT MEETING TOPICS:

• Introduce project team from both City and Stantec. Confirm project team roles and responsibilities, including reporting

relationships and City staff availability.

• Articulate clear project goals, objectives, and deliverables.

• Discuss community engagement process.

• Discuss available site data – identify gaps and make plans to resolve, if possible. Make arrangements to transfer data to the Stantec team.

• Identify Working Group members and set Working Group meeting and Community Workshop dates

• Identify other concerns and make plans to resolve

Task 2.0 Working Group Meeting #1 with key City staff and core stakeholders at City Hall, up to two hour duration.

The Stantec team will meet with key City staff and core project stakeholders identified at the project kick-off. Potential working group members include Lisa Luokkala, City staff representing permitting and parks/trails maintenance, Hansi Johnson of the Minnesota Land Trust, City Councilor Fosle, and representatives from UMD, Fit City Duluth, the Minnesota Climbers Association, and the Cody Neighborhood.


• Present findings of Inventory and Analysis

• Conduct SWOT Analysis of perceived site Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Discuss findings.

Communication is the CORNERSTONE of a successful project.

• Identify programming desires, categorize as either passive or active, then assign a preliminary priority ranking to them.

Task 3.0 Community Workshop at community venue chosen by City Project Manager – up to two hours in duration.

We will invite the public and key stakeholder groups to identify their priorities for a revived Quarry Park. We recommend an open house format hosted at a local restaurant serving hearty snacks to participants.

DRAFT FORMAT OF OPEN HOUSE STATIONS:

• Site analysis maps and post-its available for comment and discussion of existing conditions

• Presentation of Working Group’s identified Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Constraints

• What do you like to do at Quarry Park? Solicit comments on current and existing programming.

• How do you want Quarry Park to feel? Voting activity on different words or images describing the potential character of the park.

• How do you wish to use Quarry Park? What’s important? Interactive station encouraging participants to design their ideal park.

• Next steps discussed, information about staying up-to-date on the project distributed, comment sheets requested.

Because we know not everyone has room in their schedule for public meetings, we highly recommend augmenting this process with MySidewalk, an online platform for community engagement. Stantec makes this tool available to our clients at no additional costs. Fees shown under Additional Services in our Cost of Services indicate staff time required to manage content of this site.

Task 4.0 Working Group Meeting #2 with key City staff and core stakeholders at City Hall, up to two-hour duration.

Using input gathered at Working Group Meeting #1 and the Community Workshop, Stantec will develop a list of desired program elements and three concept alternatives for Quarry Park. At Working Group Meeting #2, we will present these three concept alternatives along with any public feedback received via the online platform.


• Present preferred program elements and three concept alternatives

• Identify Working Group’s preferred concept alternative

• Identify specific facilities required to support the programming elements depicted in that concept.

• Discuss maintenance considerations of the preferred concept.


10. Schedule

PROJECT SCHEDULEProposed schedule for the project: December - March 2016

The City has not identified a proposed start date for this project. Based on our conversation with Lisa Luokkala and Jim Shogren, we understand that City staff desire that the mini master plan be completed in time for springtime grant funding applications.

At Stantec, we employ a robust quality control process to ensure that your project is completed on the agreed upon schedule. We have proposed a tentative schedule based on our current understanding of project needs. We are assuming a Dec. 1 authorization to proceed for purposes of illustrating our timeline. We would expect to refine

this schedule and identify deadlines for deliverables after we are selected as your consultant and have identified start date for our contract.

We have allocated the appropriate resources to avoid project delays and deliver the project within our proposed timeframe. Should the City require a shorter delivery schedule, we are prepared to modify this timeline to accommodate your needs.

Our team has the capabilities and capacity to fulfill your project needs.

Stantec is committed to helping the City of Duluth prepare a plan in time for upcoming grant opportunities.



Date:

10-0

9-20

15

Quar

ry P

ark M

ini-M

aste

r Plan

PRO

POSE

D SC

HEDU

LEAs

sum

es si

gned

auth

oriza

tion

to p

roce

ed re

ceive

d by

Dec

1

Proj

ect S

cope

Mon

thW

eek

12

34

12

34

12

34

12

34

1St

art U

p an

d Ba

ckgr

ound

Rev

iew

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1.0

Proje

ct Ki

ck-O

ff Con

feren

ce C

all

Task

1.1

Exist

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ite R

esea

rch/S

ite W

alk

Task

1.2

Inven

tory,

Analy

sis, a

nd B

ase M

appin

g

Task

1.3

Wor

king G

roup

Mee

ting #

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Task

1.4

Comm

unity

Wor

ksho

p*

2Co

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Task

2.0

Deve

lop P

relim

inary

Conc

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es/O

ption

s/Alte

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Task

2.1

Wor

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Mee

ting #

2 *

3Pl

anni

ng &

Des

ign,

Cos

t Est

imat

es, Im

plem

enta

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Stra

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Task

3.0

Deve

lop P

rimar

y Con

cept

Plan

Task

3.1

Deve

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arra

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f Mini

-Mas

ter P

lan, P

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Task

3.2

Deve

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udge

t Nar

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of C

ost fo

r Plan

ned I

mpro

veme

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Task

3.3

Deve

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and P

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lan

Task

3.4

Comp

lete F

inal P

lan R

evisi

ons,

Subm

it Fina

l Plan

4Ad

ditio

nal S

ervic

e Opt

ion

#1 -

Enha

nced

Com

mun

ity D

esig

n Pr

oces

s

Task

4.0

Build

to-S

cale

Mode

l of Q

uarry

Par

k Site

Task

4.1

MySi

dewa

lk W

ebsit

e Cre

ation

and M

ainten

ance

*de

notes

a me

eting

Feb

Mar

ADD'TL. SERVICESB A S I C S E R V I C E S

Dec

Jan

2335 West Highway 36 St. Paul, MN 55113

city of duluth quarry park mini master plan proposal

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