Well, the past six weeks have been extremely busy. Tasks have fallen into the following categories, and generally proceeded in this order:
- Corridor Orientation
- Preparations for the Kick-Off Meeting
- Project Kick-Off & Field Trips
- Plan Review, Summary & Analysis
Initially, I was not convinced that corridor orientation was necessary for me since I live here. After our first canoe trip I quickly understood the importance of actively engaging with the river. This provides an experience from which I can draw and one similar to other park users. We saw amazing wildlife. A wild turkey hen with a rafter of chicks following her and a doe with a fawn up north. One of the most impressive sights was seeing a bald eagle chasing an osprey who had just caught a fish! This occurred right near the Ford Parkway in the center of the Twin Cities!
Preparations for the project kick-off and field trips were time consuming but worthwhile. A lot of scheduling, organizing, and collecting materials.
The project kick-off consisted of several meetings to review project scope, provide a context and history, and introduce the park to the consultant and DSC. We planned several field trips to orient everyone to the corridor. The first was a boat ride covering most of the mid section of the river. The second was a 30-mile bike tour primarily covering the confluence area where we followed several recently installed MRT signs! Lastly, a driving tour from St. Paul to Hastings with a memorable stop at Shaar's Bluff. Absolutely stellar views of the river as it widens!
My scope of work has increased dramatically to include collecting, reviewing and providing a summary analysis of all local, regional, state plans. The summaries, a foundation for the consultant's work, need to be completed immediately. This task will identify plans beneficial for use in developing the ATP. So, for the next several weeks this will be my singular focus!
