PHASING IN A
NEW DOWNTOWN
The River Prairie site was developed in three
distinct phases:
Design development and Phase 1
construction focused on pedestrian-
oriented sustainable design. Phase 1
included gateway signage, public space
opportunities, and naturalized landscape
finishes. Intersection and signal design
were informed by the collection of turning
movement counts. Phase 1 was completed
in 2015.
Phase 2 involved 2016 construction of
all streets and roundabouts, except for
Front Porch Place, the main street through
the development, for which design was
brought to 75% in this phase. Lighting
and utilities also were installed, including
phone, electric, fiber optics, gas, and
Wi-Fi. Stormwater drainage facilities
and ponds were developed, along with
entrance features and irrigation. A boat
launch, access road, pavilion, parking lots,
landscaping, and temporary restrooms were
established along the Eau Claire River. Phase
2 was completed in 2016.
Phase 3 involved finishing the design for
Front Porch Place, four parking lots, and
six public spaces. The public areas include
an artificial stream; multiple performance
areas and wedding venues; a four seasons
plaza, which includes nature-based play
elements, casual fire features, and a
splashpad; complementary pavilions; and a
large multi-use Main Street plaza designed
for community events, farmers market, and
a breakout area for the new event center
constructed nearby. Badminton, ping-pong,
and kubb spaces are provided. Extensive
landscape beds are throughout the
development, especially in the public areas.
Phase 3 was substantially completed in
2017. Ayres completed the finishing touches
for the park in September 2018.
8│ TRENDS
Buildings are designed to face the central
park and encourage interaction with the park
elements. “We can selectively work with
businesses to ensure it is an active space,”
Clements said. “We want walkability and
transparency; we want flow between the inside
and the outside.”
Collaboration Guided
Development
Design plans evolved as the City came up with
more ideas for the development. Fleming
said the design team worked with the City to
consider the “unintended consequences” that
changes and additions could have on the park’s
infrastructure. Weekly progress meetings kept
the project on track. “The design team was
creative and responsive to our crazy ideas and
our wanting to go over things multiple times,”
Clements said. “The end product speaks for
itself.”
Another challenge was managing the overall
public site construction while surrounded by
other contractors working on private sites
within the development. Fleming credited the
cooperation among City staff, contractors, and
the design team for getting the job done. She
singled out general contractor Haas Sons of
Thorp, Wisconsin, for rising to the challenge of
the site’s many moving pieces.
Today, just six or seven lots remain in the River
Prairie development. More apartments are
being built, a wine bar is expected, and other
businesses plan to move in. Concerts, weddings,
graduation parties, and corporate events are
booked, and residents and visitors walking,
biking, and splashing through the site keep it
lively.
Successful? Yes. Game-changer? Most definitely.
“This project has helped better identify a sense
of place and identity for Altoona,” Golat said. “It
certainly has had an enormous impact in terms
of building the tax base. It’s led to a community
sense of pride. Ayres was very engaged and very
passionate from the very beginning to make this
a project we all could be proud of.”