Oct 9, 2014 | By: Lakeland PBS
Planning to Develop the Mississippi Riverfront
Developing along the Mississippi River to drive more economic development in Brainerd. The League of Women Voters hosted Brainerd city planner, Mark Ostgarden, to talking with them about how developing a two-mile stretch along the Mississippi River can improve the community’s future.
This project started in 2009 to develop the entire eight-miles of Brainerd’s Mississippi Riverfront. But Ostgarden says to get the project moving they should start with the riverfront closest to downtown.
Brainerd has eight-miles of Mississippi Riverfront, most of which is underdeveloped, and the League of Women Voters would like to see the city use it to bring more people to the Mississippi River and Downtown Brainerd.
Ostgarden hopes to present the final design for the riverfront project to the city council in a few weeks. The biggest obstacle is not having enough excitement from the community. And supporters say the best way to help is for Brainerd community member to talk to their city councilmember about supporting the project.