
Following the devastating flood of 1997, the City of Grand Forks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers committed to a major rebuilding effort that would restore the community’s infrastructure and reliably protect the city against future floods of greater magnitude. Sasaki Associates prepared a master plan for an expanded riparian greenway that maintained public access to park resources on the “wet side” of the protective barriers. A combination of earthen levees and flood walls of embossed precast concrete and Postmodern detailing will be a lasting feature on the landscape. Removable sections and floodgates allow the community to access the riverfront and park features, while affording reliable protection. Much of the Lincoln Park neighborhood was demolished and the city now grows toward the west. Infill buildings and relocated houses help maintain the scale and density of rehabilitated neighborhoods.