The remnants of the former Highway 61 bridge can still be found along the Mississippi River Greenway in Jaycee Park. Since the new bridge was constructed in 2012, the span of blue bridge has lain in the field, set aside for a future project that then-city councilors hoped would take advantage of this piece of living history.
That time is now.
Last Monday, in a joint workshop between city councilors and commissioners from the Arts and Culture Commission heard from Michael Honer, p,roject manager for the upcoming Mississippi River Greenway project set for later this year.
The $4.5 million project seeks to “complete the Mississippi River Greenway” said Honer, with 11 additional rest stops, five informational exhibits across the 28-mile span of greenway that connects downtown Hastings through Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul to the Twin Cities.
Part of that project would be the construction of a new plaza within Jaycee Park that would incorporate the old bridge into a frame that when looked through would show the current terracotta bridge.
“We saw that big blue remnant of the big blue bridge and thought, what would be a better way to frame the existing bridge than to use the previous bridge and repurpose it and have it not lie next to the trail,” said Honer.
The plaza would be offset from the greenway bike path and feature a circular walking path around the bridge as well as a path under the bridge structure which faces and frames the existing Highway 61 bridge. The plaza will feature flood-resistant greenery, seating, and bike racks.

Timing and funding
Construction on the plaza is expected to begin in the spring and summer of this year, with bidding going out in both quarters one and three based on timing restrictions around grants.
The plaza itself is only estimated to cost between $250,000-350,000 of the nearly-$5 million project overall.
The entire project, including the plaza, is expected to be fully funded through Dakota County and the various state, federal and grant dollars coming into the greenway.
“Dakota County would not be asking Hastings for any funds,” said Honer.
City councilors were open that this project is only possible because of Dakota County footing the bill.
“I don’t see us being able to say yes, the city will give you money for something like this when we’re dealing with the water issue,” said City Councilor Lisa Liefeld.
One such grant that would fund the project is the 3M PFAS Settlement Priority 2 Grant for recreation.
The 2018 3M settlement fund has a number of different categories from restoration to recreation to improving drinking water.
The city of Hastings has several ongoing environmental studies seeking to uncover the origin of the PFAS pollution within its well water and possibly tie that pollution to 3M dumping sites in Washington County, thereby accessing funding for future water treatment plants.
The priority 2 funding set aside $20 million for “projects that restore and enhance aquatic resources, wildlife, habitat, fishing, and outdoor recreational opportunities in the project area,” according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
According to Honer, this project was able to tap into 3M settlement funds because it was tied to another Mississippi River project in Kaposia Landing in South St. Paul that will add stairs to the riverfront to increase access for fisherman and pedestrians.
“The Hastings Big Blue Bridge plaza space proposed for Jaycee Park and the Mississippi River water access proposed for Kaposia landing would be the two book-ends for the whole project with numerous improvements connecting people to the river coming in between them on the 28-mile Regional Trail,” said Honer in an email.

Discussion
Honer and county officials spoke before the joint workshop to solicit input on the current design of the plaza, which is about 60% complete.
Commissioners and city councilors spoke to safety concerns of the bridge from lead paint to children climbing on top of the bridge structure.
Commissioner Ryan McCoy spoke to adding additional seating and tables in order to make the space a “destination not a pass through.”
One concern was the location of the plaza, especially during Rivertown Days, which would displace the craft fair that has taken place along the river in recent years.
“I put up booths there,” said Commissioner Steven Reed.
Other concerns on placement were that it would be too far from downtown and thus limit foot traffic.
For more information on the project, visit the Dakota County projects website at www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/PlannedConstruction/MRG/