11/01/04 - DRAFT1 King Bridge Partnership A partnership of The Kingfield and Bryant Neighborhood Organizations

11/01/04 - DRAFT2 Project Mission To reconnect South Minneapolis neighborhoods through the construction of a pedestrian bridge over I-35W at 40 th Street that will serve as an iconic gateway to Minneapolis.

11/01/04 - DRAFT3 South Minneapolis prior to I35W Circa (1960)

11/01/04 - DRAFT4 Project Goals The new bridge will be: Safe Artistically significant Environmentally sensitive Functional A capstone for the RiverLake Greenway An asset to the neighborhoods and the City

11/01/04 - DRAFT5 Why a New Bridge is Needed The existing bridge: Is a minimally utilitarian and aesthetically unappealing structure built in 1965 Was designed with little input from the community Represents an attempt to pacify a community that was torn apart when the freeway trench was constructed Hindered the connection between mostly low income nonwhite residents and mostly middle class white residents Is unmemorable and unattractive when viewed from the freeway

11/01/04 - DRAFT6 Why a New Bridge is Needed Has overgrown, dangerous and inaccessible approaches Does not provide safe passage for children or adults to the community center at Martin Luther King Park Is a critical substandard component of the 4.5-mile RiverLake Greenway that connects Lake Harriet and the Mississippi River Is invisible and uninviting for pedestrians and bicyclists traversing the RiverLake Greenway Has an 8’-0” wide deck that is substandard for current bicycle and pedestrian use Is underutilized due to the above conditions

11/01/04 - DRAFT7 Reconnecting Old Friends The RiverLake Greenway: Is a grassroots project involving six neighborhoods Begun in 1995, the RiverLake Greenway will link six City parks, several commercial nodes, churches, and other important neighborhood institutions Provides a critical third east-west link for non-motorized transit across South Minneapolis The RiverLake Greenway is scheduled to be completed in 2008 The bridge will act as a capstone to the RiverLake Greenway.

11/01/04 - DRAFT8 Strengthening Community Connections Currently 60 percent of the kids who use MLK park are from the East Side of I-35W Park staff reports that at times kids run across the current bridge because they’re afraid they’ll be trapped on the bridge

11/01/04 - DRAFT9 Design Vision Reconnect neighbors and a community separated decades ago Reflect the history, needs and aspirations of the surrounding communities Designed by a qualified, creative or design team selected by a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Safe for shared bicycle and pedestrian use Flanked by entrance gateways that support and enhance the bridge design and facilitate safe access

11/01/04 - DRAFT10 Design Vision The result of a precedent-setting organizational model that incorporates architectural and artistic prominence into a meaningful citizen participation process Become a landmark structure for the RiverLake Greenway Encourage city residents and visitors to embrace non-motorized transportation Become a source of civic pride for Minneapolitans and an inspiration for an estimated 200,000 people who travel under the bridge every day

11/01/04 - DRAFT11 What is possible…

11/01/04 - DRAFT12 What is undesirable…

11/01/04 - DRAFT13 WEBB BRIDGE – Melbourne, Australia Span: 361 feet Cost: $1.75 million Completion date: Architect: Denton Corker Marshall Architects

11/01/04 - DRAFT14 PUENTE DE LA MUJER – Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires Span: 525 feet Cost: $5 million Completion date: Architect: Santiago Calatrava

11/01/04 - DRAFT15 Design Process The King Bridge Partnership will be responsible for the design process of the new bridge The basics of the design process will be: 1. Recruit an advisory committee to assist with design and funding 2. Establish guidelines for an RFQ process 3. Secure design funding 4. Identify possible designers and distribute RFQ’s 5. Select short list of designer/design teams to develop preliminary plans. (The plans will recognize MnDOT’s standards and specifications) 6. Select design finalist(s) 7. Offer design commission and upon acceptance: A. Develop a preliminary project schedule from design through construction B. Develop a construction budget

11/01/04 - DRAFT16 Next Steps Step 1 – Continue to engage residents and community leaders (this will be ongoing throughout the process) Step 2 – Secure support from local elected officials for project Step 3 – Begin to seek funding (private & public) Step 4 – Begin Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process Step 5 – Secure support from residents and community leaders for design Step 6 – Secure funding for final design and project construction. Step 7 – Construct bridge Step 8 – Dedicate bridge Step 9 - Celebrate

11/01/04 - DRAFT17 Contact Info For more information on the King Bridge Partnership contact