River's Edge Action Plan (REAP)

Description

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Montpelier River's Edge Action Plan Overview The City of Montpelier is seeking proposals from qualified planning, landscape architecture, engineering, or urban design professionals to develop a comprehensive Plan—the River’s Edge Action Plan (REAP)—for the revitalization and enhancement of its river’s edge. This initiative aims to create a vibrant and accessible riverfront that benefits the community, improves flood resilience, and enhances the city's connection to its natural resources. Background and Context Sitting at the confluence of multiple branches of the Winooski, rivers are a core part of Montpelier’s identity. Given the location and the surrounding watershed, fl ooding has been a consistent part of the city’s story. This history came to the fore in July of 2023, when a devastating flood damaged 100 buildings in the designated downtown, severely impacting many local businesses, public buildings, homes, and the community as a whole. Not since the tragic flood of 1927 had Montpelier experienced this level of inundation. The 2023 flood is the latest in a trend of increased high precipitation events that pose a long-term threat to the vitality of Montpelier’s downtown. Following the floods and in the midst of efforts to clean and rebuild, a series of community conversations were convened to plan for recovery and to chart a path towards greater resilience as a community. The Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience was an outgrowth of these forums, an independent 15-member Commission made up of a team of issue-area experts who met to distill community priorities into concrete projects for a more resilient future for Montpelier. A director was hired to implement the projects that separated into 3 distinct areas of focus: Engaging the full watershed towards greater flood resilience A more adaptive downtown that is better able to withstand flooding events Better emergency preparedness for individuals, businesses, and the community as a whole Within the theme of “an adaptive downtown,” developing a community-wide vision for the river’s edge in Montpelier was prioritized as a key action. The community reckoning after the 2023 flood would serve as a starting point to bring people together to re-envision Montpelier’s relationship with its rivers and to chart a path towards the goals of greater flood resilience, public access, recreational opportunities, and aesthetic beauty.