Granite Falls 2024 – 2026
Municipal Campus Property Evaluation
City Project Leads: Brent Kirk
Faculty: Keith Harris (Wi) and Katie Cote (Sp)
UW Department: Urban Design and Planning
Quarter: Winter and Spring 2025
The Granite Falls City Council has directed staff to seek a functional design for lots adjacent to the “Granite Falls Municipal Campus”, which could include an open space plaza area for civic events and a future community center building. The City of Granite Falls wishes to receive sound assistance to evaluate all options surrounding land use, site plan layout, feasibility, and access. After preliminary discussion, the prevailing preferred options to consider include a new multipurpose community center, young children’s play area/play equipment, Veterans Memorial, small adjacent ground-based water feature for children’s access and enjoyment, and associated on-street and off-street public/municipal parking. Students will evaluate the feasibility of development, and provide conceptual site planning solutions for the properties to include layouts and other facility details presented in a clear, efficient, cost-effective, and harmonious way.
Jim Holm Park Evaluation
City Project Leads: Brent Kirk
Faculty: Richard Conlin
UW Department: Urban Design and Planning
Quarter: Spring 2025
Over time, the renovation of Jim Holm Park has risen in priority with the City of Granite Falls. The park renovation has the potential to help address the many needs of various age and recreational interest groups. The City wishes to be quite intentional in how it determines these needs on this signature park property. Students will help evaluate recreational uses, facilities, green space, security and visibility, pedestrian and other non-motorized access and circulation, and multi-age recreational and social benefits.
Hazard Mitigation Plan
City Project Leads: Brent Kirk and Amy Hess
Faculty: Saida Sobhani (Wi and Sp) and Bob Freitag (Sp)
UW Department: Urban Design and Planning
Quarter: Winter and Spring 2026
This project aims to produce a draft hazard mitigation plan that includes risk mapping, prioritized mitigation actions, and recommendations for policy, planning, and community initiatives. As part of this project, graduate students will first conduct the analysis of the city’s existing infrastructure, land use patterns, environmental conditions, and socio-economic factors to identify areas at greatest risk. The students will then use this information in spring to develop mitigation strategies that include recommended short-term and long-term specific mitigation actions (structural and non-structural). The students will also suggest updates to zoning, building codes, or land-use policies. Finally as part of this project, students will include recommendations for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery coordination along with developing hazard maps and overlay analyses.
