KPA Co-Chairs: Mike Fischer & Paul Vogel

Sub-Categories and Goals

Green Infrastructure | Downtown Renaissance and Historic Preservation

Regional Governance | Urban Planning/Urban Villages

Mini Vision

The Greater Mankato and North Mankato region should continue to develop our naturally vegetated corridors connecting to a network of greenspace, havens, creeks and rivers. Woven within this network of greenspaces would be the development of walkable green villages, and the revitalization and redefinitions of our historic downtowns. Thus creating a cultural, civic, governmental, residential and an entertainment heartbeat for these communities. We should embrace the knowledge of our citizens for their understanding of the many relationships between our natural resources, social needs and economic growth. It is vitally important to plan for and manage green infrastructure as for our built environments. This can be accomplished through intergovernmental cooperation and sharing of our collective resources.

Community Planning section of original plan

Successes of 2008-09

• Renamed the City Center Business Association to the City Center Partnership to better reflect all the partners.

• Created a mission, vision and guiding principles of the City Center Partnership.

• Engaged over 70 volunteers on four different committees of the City Center Partnership.

• A City Center brand was created and launched to provide a regional identity for the downtown.

• Planted additional trees to the pilot sites and developed a “adopt a site” program for businesses to purchase & plant an area. (Bend of the River Million Tree Project)

• Increased boulevard tree plantings. (City of Mankato)

• Connected neighborhood associations, including Lincoln Park, Washington Park, Highland Park, with the City Center Aesthetics & Livability Committee.

• Completed Phase I of Riverfront Park. (City of Mankato)

• Adopted a long-range plan for the development of Benson Park. (City of N. Mankato)

• Formed the Historic Preservation Commission. (City of Mankato)

• Completion of various building beautification & restoration projects. (City of Mankato and N. Mankato)

For 2007-08 Successes see the 2007-08 Annual Report