Patio + Furniture Complete ✅

The first phase of the concept plan was to complete a 1,500 SF patio in the southwest corner of the park. Permeable pavers allow storm water to infiltrate the pavement and drain into the ground rather than run off into storm drains.  A large chess/checkerboard pattern is inset into the patio to provide an engaging outdoor activity space. The new patio will allow the City, Chamber, and residents/visitors to host events in a public space downtown, and it will give community members a space to sit and enjoy nature close to downtown restaurants and businesses.

✔️ Fundraising is complete, and the patio construction was completed in July 2024. Commercial-grade string lighting was added to allow for evening use and enhance the look of downtown in the evening hours. Patio furniture was added in 2025 thanks to a past grant from Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation.

**Current Fundraising Focus**

Mural Boards + Landscaping

The next phase is to honor the “Mural Park” name and install five freestanding murals along the east wall and rear of the park, along with additional landscaping. The project includes the construction of two 12′ x 6′ freestanding murals with raised landscape block garden beds beneath each at the back edge of the park, three smaller 4′ x 6′ freestanding mural boards along the park’s east edge, and additional landscaping around the park’s rear and east edges. This new public art will define the park’s character and “Mural Park” name, create a division from the rear parking lot, and create a distinct and memorable place to stop and spend time in Emmetsburg’s downtown.

Large Permanent Murals:

One of the larger 12′ x 6′ freestanding murals will be designed and painted by mural artist and Emmetsburg-native Shelby Mitchell (Shell Rae Designs). While the actual design is yet to be finalized, the artwork will be representative of the community.

The community will be called to actively participate in both the design and painting of the second 12′ x 6′ mural. Community members and students will be invited to draw the people, places, and things they love about their town. The drawings will be sorted through for highlights and themes, then selected images will be combined to create an Emmetsburg-themed collage. The collage will be designed as a paint- by-number, and outlines will be transferred to the mural board. The community will take part in a special painting day, creating lasting memories and community pride.

Small Rotating Murals:

In addition to beautifying the area with static artwork, the three smaller 4′ x 6′ boards will introduce a rotating series of smaller murals that will be updated annually. This ensures that the park remains a living, breathing space that evolves alongside the community, keeping it fresh and continually drawing people back to explore what’s new. These smaller murals will provide a place for more trendy or interactive murals (i.e. wings) that will bring fresh appeal to the park each year. The committee will partner with our local schools and arts council to choose new artists/designs each year.

Landscape Enhancements

Landscaping will enhance the artistic and sensory experience in Mural Park by creating an immersive environment where visitors connect more deeply with the space and its creative expressions. Lush greenery (arborvitae) and flowering perennials (i.e. phlox, coneflowers, black eyed Susans, and Russian sage) will serve as a natural frame, drawing attention into the park and to the new artwork. Integrating color, texture, and form through changing foliage and blooming flowers provides an ever-changing artistic experience.

Future Plans

Future Mural Park plans include adding a canopy/pergola structure to create the illusion of a stage area or “outdoor classroom” and a large commissioned mural on the wall of the west building (The Archery Shop & Range).

Concept Overview: At the city scale, adding dedicated pedestrian and bicycle facilities to connect a majority of Emmetsburg’s community spaces and civic building sites. This concept also considers mobility enhancements at intersections and overall pedestrian and cyclist safety throughout the city.

At the city scale, Emmetsburg has a number of gaps within its pedestrian and bicycle mobility network. The majority of community spaces and civic buildings are not connected with dedicated ped/bike facilities. Thus, residents and visits moving throughout the city often lack safe and comfortable circulation routes to use.

With the Community Connections concept, mobility enhancements are proposed for the primary corridors. The enhancements include ped/bike facilities as well as special street crossing features, such as RRFB (rectangular rapid flashing beacons) signal crossings at busy intersections.

Concept Overview: Transforming the three-block section of Broadway Street between Main Street (Highway 18) and the Five Island Lake waterfront into a grand civic boulevard. The new section would include streetscape amenities, stormwater features, and pedestrian-use areas that will invite activity along the community corridor.

The segment of Broadway Street north of Main Street/Highway 18 that connects downtown Emmetsburg to the Five Island Lake waterfront in an important civic corridor for the city. Currently, Broadway Street has a very wide curb-to-curb cross section and little in the way of streetscape aesthetics.

In the Boulevard concept, a depressed landscape median is proposed, with water-tolerant landscaping and subsurface soil media that can store and treat runoff while lessening demand on sewers. The width of the median varies across the three blocks due to differences in the existing curblines, which should be maintained to avoid complete infrastructure reconstruction. On-street parking stalls are preserved for adjacent business, homeowners, and park users.

Proposed streetscape elements include ornamental light poles/fixtures, specialty pacing areas, site furnishing (benches, bike racks, etc.), and street lights.

Concept Overview: Reimagining the under-utilized public park within a prominent natural playscape, multi-purpose lawn space, native rain garden plantings, boardwalk, new monument signage, and a nature walk.

Harlan Park currently is an under-utilized public open space. The existing play equipment is in poor condition and the park has occasional standing water in its low areas. Thus, the park concept imagines a transformed public green space with prominent natural playscape and climbing features located in its northwest, most visible corner. A canopy shelter provides shaded seating for park users, while a set of five game tables are proposed adjacent to the play area. A pedestrian pathway meanders through the park’s existing trees, encircling an open lawn area that is flexible to handle a number of different activities. In the northeast corner, a boardwalk feature runs over a large rain garden. The gardens and bioswale that parallel 5th Street will help alleviate flooding issues while creating an attractive amenity for interpretive or educational opportunities.