RIVER FALLS – In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service, the City of River Falls will host an open house on Wednesday, June 4 to provide progress updates on the implementation of the Kinni Corridor Plan.

The open house will be held in the lower level of City Hall at 222 Lewis St. from 6:30-8 p.m. The public is invited to attend to hear presentation updates from City, USACE, and NPS staff. An open house style format will follow the presentation and will provide time to speak with agency representatives and staff.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on the Continuing Authorities Program Section 206 project draft Feasibility Study to analyze the practicality and potential success of the project. The study will be released to the public in May for a 30-day public comment period. The USACE will issue a press release with further details on the comment period and how to find the draft Study. Check the city website for updates on this as well.

“The USACE is looking forward to talking with the community and providing updates on the project progress,” said Kevin Bigalke, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Senior Project Manager. “This is an exciting project for the community and all partners involved.”

The city received an award of technical assistance in 2024 from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. The program provides NPS staff time and resources to assist communities in developing and restoring parks, conservation areas, rivers, and wildlife habitats, as well as creating outdoor recreation opportunities and programs that engage future generations in the outdoors. It is through the NPS work that the city is forwarding the visions set in the Kinni Corridor Plan and taking them one step further in detail toward reality.

“We need to understand how the corridor recreation pieces are going to interplay with the USACE project, so NPS has been key in providing more detailed planning and design for specific recreation elements within the corridor,” said Community Development Director Amy Peterson.

“The National Park Service recognizes the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the City of River Falls has to create amazing outdoor recreation amenities along the Kinnickinnic River,” said Barett Steenrod, Community Planner with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program of the National Park Service. “Our team has been working hard to offer our best recreation planning thinking to the city as part of its efforts to bring the Kinni Corridor Plan to life. We are excited to share the results of this collaboration with the public.”

Submitted by City of River Falls