Soldiers Field Park Master Plan Update Draft
Soldiers Field Park Master Plan Update Draft
Summary
DRAFT
5
30
Executive Summary
Surrounding Context
Soldiers Field Park is situated directly south of downtown and is a shared amenity for the public, the
University of Minnesota Rochester and the renowned Mayo Clinic. Downtown Rochester is a vibrant
and growing city that features historic architecture and established walkable neighborhoods
situated around the Zumbro River. The future economic health of the city looks bright; a diversified
economy is bolstered by similarly diverse residents. The University of Minnesota Rochester and the
Mayo Clinic have plans to grow, and the urban areas adjacent to Soldiers Field are slated for future
development.
The park is bounded generally by 12th Street / Highway 14 on the south, Broadway on the east, 7th
Street on the north and a residential neighborhood on the west. The formal entrance to the park is
at 3rd Avenue at the north by the war memorials, a secondary entrance is at 1st Avenue and access
to parking is off Soldiers Field Drive and George Gibbs Drive.
The South Fork of the Zumbro River was diverted to its present position in 1933. The engineering,
which includes the three dams, was done by the State Highway Department. The river is prone to
seasonal flooding in the spring which must be mitigated and considered in any design.
The park has been a core part of Rochester's history for nearly a century. One of the most
historically significant events held at Soldiers Field was in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
conferred American Legion citations to Drs. C.H. and W.J. Mayo.
Development of the drives on the north end were completed in 1936, and the Legion Memorial was
installed in 1951 with an appropriate dedication ceremony. The memorial and symmetry of the
drives are key to the park's historic character.
The swimming pool, built in 1936 as a W.P.A. project, has been a popular destination for generations
of Rochester residents, and has been rebuilt over time.
6th St SW
1st Ave SW
Key Park Future Bridge
Signage
3rd Ave SW
4th Ave SW
Passive
Flexible
“rooms”
7th St SW Campus
Key Park Key Park Pedestrian-
Signage Signage oriented
Veterans Playcourts Street
Memorial volleyball
Playground Gardensbasketball
bocce
Road Road
Removal / Removal /
traffic Great Lawn / traffic Small Future
calming, Track / claming, Gathering Complete
Ballfield
bump outs Winter bumpouts Area Street &
Picnic Transit
Ice Rink
Service
to
Picnic Park
Tennis
Road
Removed Parking
Dog
Parking Park
Picnic New Pavillion Playground New Road
Access
New splash pad / Key Park
Open Field
Pool facility Signage
6th Ave SW
Maint.
Open Field R Bldg
R IVE
RO
MB
ZU
Natural Water
Feature
BROADWAY
trails on both
sides of river
9-hole
Golf Course
Natural Water
Feature
New Clubhouse
Key Park
Pitch and Putt Natural Water Signage
Parking Parking Feature
Key Park
Signage HWY 14 / 12TH ST
Executive Summary 7
32
Existing Conditions and Recent Projects
LEGEND
Existing Park Feature
Updates Completed
since 2014 Master Plan
Guiding Principles
A set of guidelines were developed to help shape the discussion and design ideas proposed for
Soldiers Field. These guiding principles were initially developed during the 2014 Master Planning
process and were evaluated and updated according to stakeholders and community input for
this Master Plan Update.
1. Preserve the park and the park boundary from future encroachment
2. Provide a welcoming and inclusive park for a growing and diverse community
3. Provide a variety of outdoor park spaces and programs, including
opportunities for non-programed recreation
4. Preserve the intent of the memorial areas
5. Address community needs for park evolution while incorporating historic
design elements
6. Strengthen park access and connections to downtown and other
surrounding neighborhoods
7. Provide trails and gathering spaces that engage park users with the river
8. Enhance the signage and way-finding system to orient and direct park users
9. Provide opportunities for winter use
10. Incorporate sustainable design practices
11. Consider life-cycle costs as well as capital costs for park improvements
Executive Summary 9
34
Community Engagement
To understand current needs and desires of the community and
surrounding neighborhoods, engagement opportunities were used
to involve residents, visitors, and stakeholders in providing feedback
about the development of the master plan update. The public was
asked to review initial ideas about park programming and provide
input on three design concepts.
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denis ut alitat hillis sundicil idenimi, vendunt earum excea volorporatur
44%
54%
52% PICKLEBALL
PROMENADE
35%
KINETIC PLAY/
29%
38% BASKETBALL COURTS
24%
SCULPTURE/FORMAL VOLLEYBALL
GARDENS COURTS
27%
GOLF PUTTING
COURSE
20%
INDOOR 17%
CURLING
BOCCE COURTS
19%
e w
14%
OUTDOOR BASEBALL
10%
CURLING
STADIUM
GOLF SIMULATOR
Executive Summary 11
36
Master Plan
After gathering a significant amount of public feedback on the preferred uses and design concept
options during both phases of community engagement, a preferred master plan for Soldier’s Memorial
Field Park was created. Priorities for the preferred plan were also developed from a review of the 2014
Master Plan (a process that also included extensive community input).
The goal was to identify a master plan that was both feasible and desirable to the community.
Grounded in the 2014 Master Plan document and adjusted based on knowledge of the 2016 Parks and
Recreation System Plan, the updated preferred plan for Soldiers Field Memorial Park incorporates the
desires heard through the most recent community engagement efforts, while minding the vision for
the park system as a whole. The preferred plan is divided into a Short-term (0-3 years) phase that
will capitalize on grant and other immediate funding opportunities, and a Long-term phase (10+ years)
intended to guide future investments.
Key Recommendations:
• Aquatics
• Expand aquatics facility with renovated lap pool and bathhouse, additional features, and
lounge space
10
18
4
1
11
2
10
18-Holes of golf
remain, adjusted
for expanded
park amenities
9
Add southwest
trail connection
Bridge 17
18
installation for 5
southwest trail 18-Hole
Golf Course
12
6
16
5
8
15
13
14
Executive Summary 13
38
Short-term Preferred Plan Precedent Imagery
River overlook example Future SW trail connection location Deepwater play pool water walk
Deepwater play pool climbing wall Shallow play pool Splash pad improvements
Improved
Splash Pad
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id quaspic aborupt atius.
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voluptassi aut di dent.
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denis ut alitat hillis sundicil idenimi, vendunt earum excea volorporatur
Key Recommendations:
Add hammock
New warming
grove
house
sensory garden
9 1
Woodland
Gardens
Sensory
Garden 9
1
e
Native 2
lé
Demonstration
Al
to great lawn
e
ria
Sh
pa
ru
Pollinator
Ri
bs
Meadow
Riverfront plaza w/
picnic shelter
Allée
7
Convert west half 3
of golf course
8
to arboretum w/
trails, organized by 9-Hole
plant community Maple Golf Course
Collection
Birches 6
Wetland
Savanna
Oak
Collection
Executive Summary 17
42
IMG DATE: MAY 2021
0’ 25’ 50’ 100’ 200’
Implementation
The anticipated cost of the Short-term
Preferred Plan is $18.5 million dollars. Funding
sources for these initial projects include a
federal grant, state grant, funds from the
Destination Medical Center (DMC), park
dedication funds, and park referendum
funds. Short-term projects will commence
upon approval of this plan, and occur over
the course of the next three years.
the plan over the next 10-15 years is roughly Central Track
$34.4 million. (Food truck promenade, fitness circuit)
$288,000
East Activity Node
Short-term Preferred Plan Cost Estimate (Parking, maintenance building, golf course)
$1,542,500
West Picnic & Play Area West Picnic & Play Area
$408,000 $135,000
(Nature play, shelter, restrooms, trail) (Sensory gardens at nature play area)
Soft Costs (20% of construction cost) $2,490,000 Soft Costs (20% of construction cost) $2,357,700
Contingencies (15% of construction cost) $1,868,000 Contingencies (15% of construction cost) $1,768,300
10
18
4
1
11
2
10
18-Holes of golf
remain, adjusted
for expanded
park amenities
9
Add southwest
trail connection
Bridge 17
18
installation for 5
southwest trail 18-Hole
Golf Course
12
6
16
5
8
15
13
14
44
Long-term Preferred Plan
Replace west New utility access on Indoor curling
playground w/ east side of track facility with outdoor
adventure play curling rinks (funded
Downtown by Curling Club)
Expanded fitness River Trail
Veteran’s Memorial
circuit Connection Expand east
parking lot
Paved food truck
promenade (with Replace/reorient
utility access) maintenance bldg.
Add hammock
New warming
grove
house
sensory garden
9 1
Woodland
Gardens
Sensory
Garden 9
1
e
Native 2
lé
Demonstration
Al
to great lawn
e
ria
Sh
pa
ru
Pollinator
Ri
bs
Meadow
Riverfront plaza w/
picnic shelter
Allée
7
Convert west half 3
of golf course
8
to arboretum w/
trails, organized by 9-Hole
plant community Maple Golf Course
Collection
Birches 6
Wetland
Savanna
Oak
Collection