Below is a contribution from GMPT Business Member Webber Recreational Design. For more information, please…
Business Member Highlight: HKGi
Below is a contribution from GMPT Business Member HKGi. For more information, please visit hkgi.com.
Since 2015, HKGi has developed plans for seventeen parks and trails that have achieved regional designations by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC). We tailor the planning processes to meet the unique needs of the park development context and the clients and stakeholders for each project while also producing long-range park plans that meet GMRPTC planning requirements. For several of these plans, we assisted with entering materials and text into the GMRPTC online application portal. The long-range park and trail plans we have developed for Greater Minnesota clients have also provided the foundation for successful grant applications for GMRPTC Legacy funding and for park and trail grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Our clients have secured over $16 million in GMRPTC grant funding, and HKGi has written successful grants worth $2.2 million in DNR funding for clients in Minnesota.
HKGi recently led a park planning process in collaboration with the City of Grand Marais to develop the Grand Marais Recreation Area Master Plan. The plan was approved, and the park was designated as regionally significant in July of this year. Significant features in the park include:
- A marina with access to Lake Superior
- Access to the Gitchi Gami State Trail
- A wooded conservation area with extensive hiking trails that provide spectacular views of the lake
- Walkable access to their vibrant downtown
- A campground for RVs and tents with over 200 campsites
- Event space for community gatherings
The planning process included meetings with local stakeholder groups, online surveys seeking input from community members and visitors, and outreach at a local music event. We worked with city staff to conduct an evaluation of existing site conditions, issues, and opportunities and developed two concepts for consideration. Following this engagement, we developed a preferred plan, along with a cost analysis and a phasing strategy. Recommended improvements identified in the plan include upgrades to the campground facilities, marina expansion, expanded and improved lakefront trails, and a DNR trailhead facility. We congratulate the City of Grand Marais on the regional designation, and we look forward to the park evolving over the coming years!
Contact Gabrielle Grinde, Principal Landscape Architect, at gabrielle@hkgi.com for more information about our services.
Related Posts
