Big Marine Park Reserve’s roots extend back at least 40 years beginning with the Metropolitan Council’s Park Acquisition Plan and Program completed in 1967. That plan, along with the 1967 Washington County Comprehensive Plan, cast a vision for parkland on Big Marine Lake. The regional park idea caught the attention of numerous groups, including the Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Parks and Trails Council, and Department of Natural Resources.

In 1988, a Master Plan for Big Marine Regional Park Reserve was approved. Consistent with Metropolitan Council requirements, the Park Reserve represents one of eight regional landscape types found in the metropolitan community. The master plan conformed to a park reserve classification restricting active recreation to 20 percent of the total acreage, with the remainder focused upon preservation of the resource base.

Since the completion of the Master Plan, Washington County Park staff has established a critical mass of property ownership to foster park development. Currently, 636 acres of the proposed 1,920 acres have been acquired, a portion of which is available for active parkland.

SRF worked with the County to complete the first phase of development for the park reserve, which included:

• Swim beach facility with picnic areas and shelters, parking, and a playground
• Large group picnic areas
  
• Modern, group, and primitive campground facilities
• Park entrance facilities
• Boat launch and parking area
• Park entrance drive and internal access roadway circulation
• Trail development

Implementation of this phase provided an important springboard to develop the park and realize the original vision of a Big Marine.

An updated Master Plan for the remaining park reserve was completed in 2009.

Award

• 2008 Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence

When Three Rivers Park District purchased the Salvation Army Silver Lake Camp in 2001, an exciting process began of determining the role of Silver Lake in the metropolitan park and open space system plan. Silver Lake, whose Salvation Army operation dates back to 1921, is comprised of 22 building structures on a 120-acre parcel in suburban Ramsey County. The rolling terrain, quality woodlands, water amenities, and open space in an urban environment provide an attractive setting for open space recreation. 

Renamed Silverwood, the camp is a “special recreational area” that focuses on individual artists, art groups, school groups, and the general public, who create and enjoy art inspired by nature within a natural resource-based environment. 

Three Rivers Park District has an established mission of environmental stewardship through “recreation and education in a natural resource-based park system.” 

As a result, the development of Silverwood harmonizes the site’s natural and cultural resources.

Assisted by SRF, the Park District developed a master plan that envisions diverse site and building facilities that will host fine arts, folk arts, spoken art, performed art and other forms of artistic expression. 

SRF led a multi-disciplinary team through development planning, a cultural resources assessment, and an evaluation of the buildings. As site planning and schematic design alternatives were prepared for landscape and building components, the team developed a truly unique environment. Bridges, trails, roads, pedestrian amenities, and parking were designed and implemented to complement, and not impact, nature. Landscaping, resource management, and plant restoration were also key to the site’s ultimate success. 

Awards

• 2010 MASLA Award of Excellence
• 2010 MRPA Award of Excellence
• 2009 Business Journal Best in Real Estate

     

Harriet Island Regional Park is one of Saint Paul’s oldest parks and is the centerpiece of a 3,000-acre riverfront parks system. The original island was a heavily used civic attraction and included a public bath. The 70-acre park is the home of the Harriet Island Pavilion, a 1940 WPA project that is now on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The 8,500-square-foot limestone building is used seasonally as a picnic/large group pavilion. 

The City of Saint Paul redeveloped this very visible park located opposite downtown.  By transforming the existing site into a destination park attracting people to the river for entertainment, events and relaxation, the local landmark became a nationally recognized urban waterfront success.

SRF led a multidisciplinary team in designing the first phase of the $27 million park, which included the incorporation of two new ticket buildings, a Michael Graves designed bandshell and renovation of the Wiggington Pavilion. Our services included:

• Project management
• Community involvement
• Landscape architecture
• Site amenities
• Utility and infrastructure design
• Roadway and parking layout
• Integration of public art into site amenities
• Coordination with project Architect

Awards

• 2001 Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association Park of the Year Award
• 2002 MASLA Merit Award for Public Landscape Design