Civil Municipal - May 2024

City Planner Matt Lassonde further details these development efforts, noting their scope and community focus. “We’ve conducted several small area plans to guide development in the community. The downtown, which spans about three and a half blocks, has been the focus of a corridor study and a downtown master plan created in 2016,” he explains. These plans aim at infill development and flourishing hub in the region. City Administrator Kevin McCann elaborates on life in this bustling community: “North Mankato is a great place with a variety of opportunities for young families, housing, recreational amenities, and business opportunities. We have lots of business opportunities with available space and land.” McCann continues, detailing the recreational jewels that enhance the quality of life for residents. “We have Spring Lake Park in the lower part of town, which is part of the older section of North Mankato. It features walking trails, a fishing pier, an ice rink, and a sledding hill in the winter. During the summer, residents enjoy a pool, playgrounds, baseball fields, volleyball courts, and picnic shelters.” Situated along the gentle waters of Spring Lake, this park serves as a central gathering place for community events and everyday leisure.“Spring Lake itself is a small pond with a stream running out of it,” McCann explains. The city also boasts additional parks, such as Benson Park and Bluff Park in Upper North, which offer more naturalistic settings with extensive trails and scenic features. REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN NORTH MANKATO In North Mankato, the push to revitalize the downtown area is more than just a vision; it’s a carefully orchestrated plan to transform the central business district into a vibrant hub for both locals and visitors. Community Development Director Mike Fischer outlines the strategic direction being pursued. Fischer notes that, while the major economic development driver for the city is the Northport Industrial Park, the downtown also fits into the broader economic development strategy for the city with emphasis on a structured planning process for improving and expanding the downtown area as a destination. “We start our planning processes with both small and long-range plans. Specifically, we’ve implemented two key plans in the downtown area: the Belgrade Avenue Redevelopment Plan and the Belgrade Avenue Corridor Plan, which addresses transportation issues.” 61 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 NORTH MANKATO, MN