Emerging communities are always challenged to preserve their "essence of place" in the face of urban growth. Watertown, Minnesota,
at the western edge of the Twin Cities region, is committed to finding a way to do that very thing. They commissioned HKGi to
create a growth area master plan for 1,000 acres of rolling countryside, in which they expect to grow over the next 10 years.
HKGi met the challenge by conceiving a plan that establishes a network of greenway preserves within which new neighborhoods
and active parks can be developed.
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The greenways are identified for protection of the most sensitive landscapes and meet a range of community values including trails,
stormwater infiltration and strategic viewsheds and even preservation of the agricultural heritage. The transportation system then
interfaces with the greenway networks at key locations to not only meet transportation needs but also help celebrate the landscape.
This innovative approach first identifies the essence of the landscape, preserves it and then uses it as the backbone for new neighborhoods
within the framework of urban services availability.
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