Riverwalk Master Plan

Vandewalle & Associates has been assisting the City of Watertown with downtown planning since 2003. One recommended feature is about to be constructed, a riverwalk along the downtown reach of the Rock River.

Vandewalle & Associates led a creative process of identification of outstanding environmental and cultural assets that can tell the story of Watertown’s history and the importance that the Rock River can play in a renewed downtown. Extensive interviews with stakeholder groups, business owners and the public were conducted to learn what themes can be developed to ‘brand’ the waterfront. Architectural schemes for selected redevelopment sites were created, and integrated into the fabric of the riverwalk experience.

Specific enhancements include renovated seawalls, elevated boardwalks where existing buildings block the desired riverwalk route, boiengineered shoreline treatments, infiltration basins to intercept street-grid stormwater, interpretive plazas, performance and storytelling spaces, public art, park spaces, a variety of walkway pavement types, custom gateway and wayfinding icons, decorative lighting, furnishings, and planting treatments.

Detailed riverwalk plans were created, and coordination of regulatory issues that might impact features in the riparian zone was conducted with DNR and City engineering staff. Itemized construction budgets and a phasing strategy were created, and funding sources identified for implementation.