Background 

Staff is proposing a partnership with local non-profit, Great River Greening (GRG), which leads community-based restoration of prairies, forests, and waters throughout Minnesota. GRG is currently developing its proposal to the Outdoor Heritage Fund and is seeking partners who have projects that seek the restoration and enhancement of upland, shoreland and aquatic habitat. GRG has 25+ years of helping public and private landowners with ecological expertise, funding and, if feasible, community engagement. Typical project areas often involve park lands, natural areas, wildlife refuges, nature centers, and other comparable lands. This year, GRG projects will be focused on restoration/enhancement with in the seven county metro area related to the three major rivers and their associated tributary systems. 

Proposed Project 

Staff has proposed to partner with GRG on the city owned land located west of Huber park between Bluff Ave and the Minnesota River. The site is 8.66 acres and contains a the historic Schroeder Brick house and several residential structures which will be demolished as part of the effect to restore the area to outdoor recreation. The goals for this project would be to protect, preserve and enhance Shakopee’s water resources, open space and other natural resources, strengthen beneficial connections between the natural world and built environment and lastly, cultivate a culture of environmental awareness, stewardship and respect.

Shakopee was once part Big Woods forest - part oak savanna, part prairie and part floodplain along the river. At this time, the city would seek partnership to support the restoration of the area, mainly restoring oak savanna and the floodplain to varying degrees depending on the location of park/trail (more manicured and maintained along the trail and "let-go-to-nature" closer to the river). This restoration work will be an effort to remove invasive materials, clear overgrow vegetation and re-introduce the native landscape of the riverfront.

Next Steps

If selected as a project partner, staff and Great River Greening will establish a scope of work to be covered by the grant partnership which would be brought back to the City Council for review.