Creating a promenade fit for a stroll

Bruce Bisping, ALL

The Promenade, as it is now, is a simple trail with views of the back of businesses, but the city hopes to make it “an experience,” said City Manager Gordon Hughes

Edina is making plans to spruce up its "Promenade," a 1.5-mile city-owned corridor from Centennial Lakes to the Galleria and Southdale.

By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune

Last update: April 2, 2008 - 12:50 AM

Walking along the path that leads north from Centennial Lakes in Edina toward the Galleria, the scenery shifts from water and gardens to a nondescript trail winding between the backs of big stores and other buildings.

The Promenade, as it is called, is nevertheless prime real estate in the heart of Edina. And it will get a facelift starting this summer.

The 1.5-mile stretch of land will get new paths that make it easier to bike or walk from Centennial Lakes to the Galleria and Southdale. The bike path will link up with a Three Rivers Park District bike trail in Richfield. Along the way, separate biking and walking paths will be punctuated by small plazas where riders and walkers can stop to rest on benches or enjoy sculptures and other public art.

"We have a great opportunity here to enhance walk-ability and bike-ability in a very dramatic fashion and in a very pleasant environment," said Gordon Hughes, Edina's city manager. "It's not just going to be a bike path from here to there. It will be an experience."

Developing walking and biking paths in Edina has been difficult because much of the city was built with car travel in mind. The Southdale area, just north of the Promenade, has been especially difficult to make pedestrian-friendly because of its expanse of parking lots and roads.

The $3.6-million Promenade will run in a rough "L" shape from W. 70th Street behind the new SuperTarget south to Centennial Lakes, where it will jog east and link with York Avenue South. The project will be funded with tax money generated by redevelopment in the area.

Edina has owned the narrow strip of land for decades, holding onto it as a possible route for a trolley or busway. But after Centennial Lakes was created and condominiums, townhouses and senior high-rises made the area more residential, residents told City Hall that they didn't want vehicles there. What the city needed, they said, were walking and biking paths.

The design challenge along the Promenade is converting the ho-hum nature of the space and opening up the sometimes alley-like feeling of the area behind buildings like SuperTarget and Byerly's.

"Instead of having buildings turn their back, we're giving a face to the Promenade," said Heather Worthington, assistant city manager. Landscaping and lighting should reduce the alley effect, she said.

Plazas will feature swinging benches, water fountains and pedestals for art. The Edina Public Art Committee is raising money for what's being called the "public gallery." While some art installations might be permanent, others would rotate in and out.

Lois Ring, an artist who is a member of the public art committee, said the presence of art will "make a statement."

"This is an opportunity for people to get away from business, walk around and appreciate art," she said. "It will give people focal points to come and enjoy the beauty."

If anticipated redevelopment occurs in the area around Byerly's, eventually a large pond would be created to hold storm water next to the Promenade trails. The area is naturally low-lying, and what now looks like a dry stream bed would connect the pond to Centennial Lakes, which also retains storm water.

Plans call for a low-ceilinged pedestrian tunnel under York Avenue to be replaced with a $1.3-million passage that's high enough for bicyclists to ride through. A pedestrian bridge estimated to cost about $2 million would be added over France Avenue. About half of the bridge cost would come from federal money funneled through the Metropolitan Council.

In May, the city will award bids for the first phase of construction on the trail leg that runs east-west from Centennial Lakes to York. That part of the project should be done in October.

Mary Jane Smetanka • 612-673-7380