Rochester City Council Approves Plan for Peace Plaza Paver Fix

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council has approved a plan that’s meant to fix issues with Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester. 

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The six-figure proposal for the fix was on the council’s agenda Wednesday night. 

City officials have fielded numerous complaints about the raised letter pavers that are predominant throughout the pedestrian plaza since their installation. 

Many of the criticisms concern the impact the raised letters have on people with mobility and vision limitations and issues involving the uneven settling of the pavers. 

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The fix plan was the subject of a Rochester City Council study session earlier this month. The Destination Medical Center Board also took action to address issues with the Peace Plaza in early February. 

City Council Approves $175K Plan to Increase Smoother Surfaces on Peace Plaza in Downtown Rochester, MN

The City Council approved a plan to immediately expand areas of smooth paver pathways on the Peace Plaza. Right now the northern, southern and eastern edges of the plaza have 10-12 feet of smooth surface area. 

The approved plan calls for widening the smooth service by about two feet and adding approximately two feet of smooth pavers on the east and west sides of 1st Ave. Southwest. 

 Destination Medical Center funds will cover the project’s cost. The corporation's board approved allocating $175,000 for the fix during their meeting on Feb. 6. 

Work would start as soon as the weather warms and frost dissipates, Deputy City Administrator Cindy Steinhauser told council members.

Steinhauser says the plans are to swap out the problematic pavers in increments and to get feedback on the newly-replaced pavers. 

The plan also calls for additional engineering, surveying and cost estimation to evaluate if additional work is needed. 

The fix plan passed on a 5-2 vote. Councilmembers Shaun Palmer and Norman Wahl were the no votes. 

They both expressed skepticism that the measure would solve issues the plan is aimed at addressing.