Hennepin Paper Mill Site Given Local Approval to Become Park

Park Concept Plan for Hennepin Paper Mill Site, drafted on Dec. 17 by landscape architects Emmons and Olivier Resources of Oakdale. Draft courtesy of Kevin Biehn. Click Image to Enlarge

LITTLE FALLS, Minn.?EUR??,,????'??+A park concept plan for the Hennepin Paper Mill site was approved by the Little Falls City Council, the Morrison County Historical Society and the city?EUR??,,????'???s Heritage Preservation Commission. The paper mill started operation in the late 1880s and was closed in 1998 due to bankruptcy and change in the market. Outdated structures and facilities couldn?EUR??,,????'???t keep up with the times, although the mill changed owner?EUR??,,????'???s hands about two dozen times, finally ending in the hands of Minnesota Power.

The approvals followed a presentation of the plan given by Kevin Biehn, landscape architect from Emmons and Olivier Resources of Oakdale.

According to the plan, the site is two parcels of land divided by the railroad easement. The southern part includes a rain garden, a 24-stall parking lot, a picnic/restroom/maintenance shelter, a canoe launch/fishing pier, a pedestrian path and a water quality pond.

Still in the design process, Biehn would like to plan on having some kiosks give interpretations of the mill?EUR??,,????'???s operations, of the river and of the railroad. Other components of the park?EUR??,,????'???s center could be an overlook of the Mississippi River, a memorial to those who died at the mill, a fish ladder in the channel to enable fish to swim upstream, a stage and a grassy amphitheater. Plans for the northeast side of the park include a fishing pier, woodchip trails, a boardwalk and an interpretation kiosk on Native Americans.

The plan must now be approved by the Minnesota Historical Society and other state agencies before demolition of the mill gets underway. However, the Society is contemplating an archaeological survey of the site. The city agreed to hire archeologist Doug Birk, at a cost of $60 an hour, plus mileage, to determine if such a survey is necessary.

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s going to require some federal funds,?EUR??,,????'?? Biehn told LASN. ?EUR??,,????'??There are numerous hoops we have to jump through and mitigate some historical issues. Earth has to be moved to various parts of the park, so disturbing the site has to be a consideration.?EUR??,,????'??

Currently the grant money has been used to clean up the site, supervised by the EPA. Work has also been done on cleaning up the wastewater treatment plant from the 1970s. Biehn said a master plan will be developed when the city secures more funds for the project. But for the moment, the interim plans call for stabilization and erosion control. A railroad runs through the park, dividing it into two easements.