Watertown Whitewater Park: A Public Engagement Proposal for Planning a Whitewater Park for the City of Watertown, MN

Abstract

This project was completed as part of a year-long partnership between Carver County and the University of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities Project (http://www.rcp.umn.edu). The Carver County Water Management Organization is investigating the feasibility of removing or restructuring a dam on the Crow River near downtown Watertown. The purpose of the removal/redesign is to improve the fishery in the river, reduce bank erosion, and potentially create an engineered whitewater recreation attraction to boost tourism in the area. The goal of this project was to develop a public participation plan to engage residents in conversations and planning about the dam restructuring and potential whitewater park on the Crow River. In collaboration with Carver County project lead Paul Moline, a team of students in PA 5253: Designing Planning and Participation Processes developed a public participation and engagement plan. A final report and poster from the project are available.