About

The RiverFirst Initiative is an interagency partnership of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Parks Foundation – together with community and agency participants and the public – to realize the RiverFirst Vision and support the implementation of RiverFirst Projects.

 

RIVERFIRST OBJECTIVES

  1. Realize the seven R1 priority Projects by 2016.
  2. Successfully lay the foundation for R1 visionary Projects.
  3. Ensure interagency coordination.

 

R1 INITIATIVE BENEFITS

  • Maintains momentum and enthusiasm generated by Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition and Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative.
  • Shares resources – expertise, community engagement, external communications – across agencies.
  • Upholds a comprehensive, integrated approach to city building (see below), with multifunctional parks and public space at the forefront.
  • Increases likelihood of success through interagency coordination.
  • Unites disparate elements over time.

 

PROCESS/APPROACH

RiverFirst Initiative uses a comprehensive, integrated approach to city building, including six simultaneous functions:

  • Organizational Development. Ongoing process of creating/re-creating an effective management structure to achieve RiverFirst Vision.
  • Resource Identification and Acquisition. Process through which the RiverFirst funding strategy will be defined and carried through.
  • Leadership Cultivation. Ongoing, evolving process through which leadership constituencies are cultivated and leveraged.
  • Integration. Ongoing process through which RiverFirst Initiative coordinates efforts with additional partners and participants.
  • Projects. Planning, design and construction of RiverFirst Projects.
  • Stakeholder Relations. Strategic communications across all channels with and among all stakeholders.