From the moment staff at Toole Design heard about the City of Saint Paul’s plan for reconstructing Jackson Street, we knew that it would be a special project. Today, we are pleased to announce that the multimodal streetscape in the heart of Minnesota’s capital has been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as a model for how streets can be designed to serve all users and have a positive impact on climate change.
First, the Potomac Chapter of the ASLA recognized the Jackson Street Reconstruction with an Honor Award for Design. The jury panel remarked that Jackson Street “…succeeds in addressing the design aspect of introducing bikeways into a community. [The team] clearly thought beyond the function to design touches that make this design compelling. This should serve as a model for how bikeways are made not only to be a functioning part of our infrastructure but a celebrated part of the urban environment.”
“Jackson Street is a fantastic example of what happens when we work at the intersection of landscape architecture, engineering, and planning to create a design that is both functional and beautiful,” said Jennifer Toole, AICP, ASLA, President. “I could not be prouder of our team in the Twin Cities and from around the country who helped bring this corridor to life.”
Jackson Street was selected for the ASLA’s exhibition because it demonstrates how street design can help to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging more walking, bicycling and transit trips. It also highlights the stormwater management elements of the project, including porous asphalt, bioretention trenches, and other innovative drainage solutions that help mitigate issues related to climate.
For more information about the Jackson Street Reconstruction project, the ASLA exhibition, and the Capital City Bikeway, please use the links below:
- Jackson Street Reconstruction, Toole Design
- Smart Policies for a Changing Climate, ASLA
- Capital City Bikeway, City of Saint Paul, MN
