On August 9, a grand opening event celebrated the completion of the parks at Highland Bridge in Saint Paul, Minnesota. When planning redevelopment of the former Ford Motor Company plant, Capitol Region Watershed District and the City of Saint Paul hired Barr to develop master plan concepts for managing stormwater and facilitating the use of public space at the site.
Barr also worked with Ryan Companies, the master developer for the site, to develop a final design and assist with construction administration. By applying a district-wide stormwater management approach, the project consolidates stormwater treatment for the entire 122-acre development, allowing for greater flexibility and yielding more space for habitat and public use.
The final design involved daylighting Hidden Falls Creek, which was buried in a pipe for almost 100 years, restoring natural stream flows throughout the parks, incorporating other sustainability components, and reducing total suspended solids by more than 90 percent and phosphorus by over 70 percent.