 A PAC(ked) summer
The Riverview Corridor Project has had a busy summer with public involvement opportunities and committee meetings. We held a virtual open house in June as part of a five-week public review of the Purpose and Need document. In July, the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) accepted revisions to the Purpose and Need document and endorsed sending it to the Federal Transit Administration. And in August, representatives from Ramsey County and the Riverview Corridor Project team celebrated with community members along the corridor at National Night Out. If you missed the open house or the PAC meeting, you can find agendas, minutes, presentations and more at riverviewcorridor.com. The PAC will meet again later this fall to discuss technical work and focus on Bdote/Fort Snelling, the river crossing and the Mall of America station. Visit riverviewcorridor.com for details and future committee meeting dates.
 Your feedback is essential
On August 10, Riverview Corridor Station Area Planning Task Force members and project staff toured the Randolph, Otto and St. Clair station areas to observe development patterns, bicycle and pedestrian connections and potential opportunity sites for future development. The Task Force consists of community members who advise Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul on the creation of station area plans for future Riverview Corridor stations. These plans will address land use, building form, bicycle and pedestrian connections and public realm space within approximately a half mile of future Riverview Corridor stations in Saint Paul. Following an open application process, the Task Force began meeting monthly this spring. Be on the lookout for opportunities this fall to provide feedback.
 Nourishment for the soul
Gardening is an outlet that many people use to pass time. But for many families all along the Riverview Corridor, it means so much more. At the north end of the corridor, there are a half a dozen community gardens. Some families are creating neighborhood connections, intergenerational family memories, positive mental health stimulation and produce. Rivoli Bluffs Farm and Restoration Site is a three-acre community garden in Saint Paul that welcomes all who are interested in gardening. Established by Urban Roots, a food an environmental program, Rivoli Bluff is one of 80+ community gardens in Ramsey County. Urban Roots empowers people like Mary Moua in regrowing the family tradition of gardening. Read more about how Mary Moua reacquainted herself with her gardening passion.
Photo: Urban Roots Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/COYeFqhHZPs/
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 State Fair fun continues along the corridor
Now that the Minnesota State Fair is over and its 250+ food vendors have packed up, it’s time to treat yourself to one of the many culinary offerings along the Riverview Corridor. Continue with more fair food at Fair on 4 at the Mall of America—one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world—and with more than 50 restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Continue along the corridor toward Saint Paul where almost any type of food from Ethiopian at Agelgil Ethiopian Restaurant to Italian at Degidio’s to tasty treats at Mojo Monkey Donuts to the newly opened A-Side Public House which offers a chef-driven menu with approachable farm-to-table dishes and kid-friendly comfort fare located in a rehabbed fire station. It’s a food wonderland along the Riverview Corridor.
Photo: The Fair on 4, https://thefairon4.com/
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 Fall events around the corridor
Twin Cities Jazz Festival, https://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com/
It’s exciting to see venues along Riverview Corridor reopen and welcome visitors this fall. Throughout September, the Minnesota Transportation Museum will feature an exhibit on the history of regional railway and bus transportation. Music lovers can enjoy the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in Mears Park on September 17 and 18, featuring award-winning pianist Kenny Barron and his trio.
The Ordway for the Performing Arts will also reopen its doors and welcome comedian Maz Jobrani on September 19. Countless other performances, concerts and sporting events will take place in Saint Paul. A full calendar of events can be found at: visitsaintpaul.com/events-calendar
 A three-hour tour
Artist Team members Mica Lee Anders and G.E. Patterson brought their whiteboards, dry-erase markers and instant cameras to National Night Out 2021 at Lowertown’s Union Depot, the northern-most stop for the Riverview Corridor. The artists asked attendees about their usual stops and special-occasion destinations along the corridor. Approximately fifty people took up the artist team’s invitation to draw pictures or share the names of their favorite spots, from the Mall of America, Fort Snelling State Park, Mucci’s Italian and Skinner’s off of Randolph and the food hall at Keg & Case. The three-hour event featured food trucks, DJs, local businesses and government agencies. It drew a lively crowd of downtown workers and residents as well as visitors from other parts of the metro and even other states—many of whom said they were about to relocate to Saint Paul.
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What's your Riverview story?
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If you have an upcoming event, a great story idea or interesting news you’d like to see in “Riverview Streets,” email us at info@riverviewcorridor.com |
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