Going public: Altoona's big plans for River Prairie's northwest quadrant coming to fruition

Sunday, April 2, 2017
Eric Lindquist | Leader-Telegram

Riverside trail, man-made stream, kids' natural playground, three pavilions, community garden, gas fires, two performance venues that will hold thousands are all part of the city's ambitious plan for a go-to gathering spot for the region

ALTOONA - After years of gradual business growth, this is the year Altoona's River Prairie development finally goes public.

As in parks, trails, performance venues and other community spaces.

The northwest quadrant of River Prairie was a beehive of activity last week as construction crews worked to create the much-anticipated public spaces that will complement the development's commercial, retail and residential components surrounding the U.S. 53-River Prairie Drive interchange.

Highlights will include a paved riverside trail along the Eau Claire River, a man-made stream, a natural playground for kids, a splash pad, three pavilions, a community garden, raised gas fire features and two performance venues capable of hosting up to 2,000 and 4,000 people each.

The goal all along was to create public space unlike anything else available in the Chippewa Valley.

"We have one unique opportunity in the history of Altoona to do something that the community is going to enjoy for generations to come," city Administrator Mike Golat said. "We think this park will have all the elements necessary to make it the most unique and best park in the whole region."

The city of Altoona also is building an 8,500-square-foot community center capable of holding events ranging from weddings and business conferences to birthday parties and festivals. The Altoona Prairie Event Center, with a capacity of 250 people, is scheduled to open in June.

While the boat launch and trail along the river are already popular with walkers and anglers, the park areas likely will have only an unofficial soft opening this summer. Officials want to give the grass time to grow and be sure heavy use doesn't damage fragile plant communities before they are fully established, city planner Josh Clements said.

For instance, the man-made stream that winds around the unfinished public space won't start circulating water until the rest of the park is done, Clements said, adding that the bulk of the park isn't expected to be fully open until fall.

Price tag rising

That marks a delay from the original timetable calling for park space to open in fall 2016 and is a key factor behind the City Council on Thursday night approving about $1 million in additional spending for engineering and construction costs. The additional money also resulted from delays caused by working around other River Prairie construction and changes to the original plans for public Wi-Fi, electricity requirements and design of the amphitheater with a stage near the river, Golat said.

The work will be funded through the tax increment financing district created in 2001 for the development and could cause the district to remain open until 2023, or one more year than previously planned, Golat said.

"Last year we had to work around construction, and that was part of the problem. We didn't want to get everything in and have it torn up," he said. "It's come to the time where we have to get our space done and contractors in the future are going to have to work around us instead of the other way around."

At this point, the city's focus is on transitioning from a capital project to an operational park.

"We're working to really try and figure out how that will best work," Golat said, noting that many opportunities exist for public-private partnerships for everything from catering to kayak rental.

Business booming

Construction on commercial structures in the northwest quadrant also was buzzing last week, with several new businesses scheduled to open this spring and summer. A ribbon-cutting ceremony heralding the opening of a new Century 21 real estate office was held just last week.

Among the most anticipated new businesses under construction are Za51, a pizza restaurant to be operated by the family that owns Draganetti's Ristorante and Taverna Grill, and Cowboy Jack's, a Western-themed saloon and grill that will have outdoor patio space overlooking the Eau Claire River. Both restaurants are expected to open in early summer.

Three retail properties along River Prairie Drive are beginning to attract tenants. Great Clips, Midwest Dental and Pearle Vision already have set up shop there, and Edward Jones, Massage Envy and Little Minds Matter are soon to follow, said Monica Frederick, vice president of development for Royal Construction.

"There is huge interest to be in that area, especially now that people can start to see what it will look like when it's all done," Frederick said. "It's an up and coming area for sure."

Officials from Little Minds Matter, an early learning center with space for 75 children that is scheduled to open June 15, selected the River Prairie site because they were attracted to the easy transportation access along U.S. 53 and liked the idea of opening a site on the opposite end of Eau Claire from their existing location. Enrollment started in March, and slots are expected to fill fast, said Ashley Goodrich, assistant director of Little Minds Matter in Eau Claire.

"We have high hopes that the (River Prairie) location will be received well and developments will continue to grow and be successful," Goodrich said.

New place to live

River Prairie will reach another major milestone June 15 when the first tenants are expected to move into the Prairie Place apartment complex. The 51-unit luxury apartment building will have underground parking, a rooftop terrace and a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.

Katie Zimmerman, CEO of Regal Property Management, characterized interest in the apartments as strong and noted that top-floor riverside units in particular are filling up fast.

Potential tenants are attracted to the riverside location and the mix of amenities in the area, she said.

"There's going to be so much going on there," Zimmerman said. "It will be busy but not overwhelming."

Clements indicated Altoona officials have been pleased with the pace of development in River Prairie's northwest quadrant. 

"So far, so good in terms of what's there," Clements said. "We're eager to see what comes next."

'Blank canvas'

While the arrival of OakLeaf Surgical Hospital in 2014 and Woodman's Market in 2015 were major landmarks in the growth of the roughly 180-acre River Prairie site, Altoona officials understand the unveiling of the public spaces this year could be the development's crowning achievement.

They also recognize they had the rare opportunity to start from scratch with undeveloped land along a scenic stretch of river.

"It's unique in as much as it was a blank canvas designed from the very beginning with the idea of hosting large community events and providing a variety of activities and amenities to attract a broad demographic of people," Golat said. "It really is going to be a great place for people to bring their families and have a really enjoyable time."

In some ways, Altoona officials hope the public areas do for their city what Phoenix Park has done for downtown Eau Claire, serving as a popular gathering spot and go-to destination for outdoor summer entertainment.

Clements said he is hopeful the performance venues will attract a variety of acts, including some well-known groups that might stop en route between Chicago and the Twin Cities. City leaders have discussed launching a weekly music series in summer but don't have any plans etched in the stone that forms the bank of the river flowing past the amphitheater stage.

"We think it will complement other performance spaces in the region and be a nice addition to the emerging Chippewa Valley music scene," Clements said. "We hope to add and not take away from anything that's already here."

Both Golat and Clements pointed to River Prairie, Phoenix Park, the Chippewa Riverfront park being created along the Chippewa River in downtown Chippewa Falls and plans for riverside park areas in the new Cannery District planned in downtown Eau Claire as an affirmation that mixed-use public spaces have regained prominence for the central roles they play in cities.

"It may not be a sea change, but it's almost a movement back to the past, when public spaces really were the center of public life," Clements said. 

River Prairie's park space represents a very public new way of providing quality-of-life amenities with the potential to help the Chippewa Valley attract new residents and businesses, Golat said. 

"The city generally and me personally are anxious to have it be an activated community space and start enjoying it," Golat said. "It's been a long time coming."

Contact: 715-833-9209, eric.lindquist@ecpc.com, @ealscoop on Twitter

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