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(Communications manager, Patrick Gavin is providing the current edition of civic campus updates.)

From the very beginning, Chanhassen’s Civic Campus project has been shaped not just by architects and city staff but by the voices of its residents.

As the city worked to envision a new City Hall and public gathering space, it made deliberate efforts to engage the community and incorporate their ideas, feedback and hopes into the final design.

Beginning in 2022, Chanhassen hosted a series of open houses, joint workshops and listening sessions. Residents were invited to weigh in on early design concepts, offer input on potential amenities and express what mattered most to them in a shared civic space. That feedback didn’t sit in a binder; it played an active role in shaping decisions at every stage.

For example, surveys conducted through the city’s FlashVote platform in early 2024 revealed overwhelming support for such public-facing features as outdoor concerts, a farmers market, a splash pad and accessible walking paths.

At open houses, attendees also voiced their opinions and preferences. Would the project increase traffic downtown? Was there enough parking? Would the new buildings be environmentally sustainable?

In response, the city conducted traffic and parking studies to assess impacts and explore solutions. Design teams integrated solar panels, native landscaping, water reuse and accessible routes to make the space both environmentally and physically inclusive.

Public feedback also informed the final layout. A Veterans Memorial plaza, skate park and event lawn – already beloved by many – were preserved and enhanced. A new central plaza and heated sidewalks between the library and Senior Center were added based on ideas from the community.

This was not just a design process; it was a conversation. The result is a Civic Campus that reflects the values and priorities of Chanhassen residents: welcoming, multipurpose, sustainable and accessible to all. The Civic Campus is more than a new building. It’s a space made better because the public helped shape it.