A river-focused visitors’ center for Hastings?

An early March meeting brought together numerous stakeholders to begin to grapple with the kinds of uses a Hastings visitor center might accommodate — from tourism information, to natural and cultural interpretation, bicycle rental and recreational facilities, and even something as simple as restrooms. Any center would complement existing resources available in Hastings.

The concept had its genesis in plans from many years ago to build a visitors center as part of the River Flats Park, just west of downtown. Plans fizzled for a building on that site given its location in the floodplain. But a coalition of stakeholders ranging from the National Park Service to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce has given the idea renewed energy.

The center would likely be located somewhere around Hastings historic downtown and riverfront area. The area is slated to become a transportation hub over the coming years, hosting new walking and bicycling trails northward to South Saint Paul, across the river to Prescott, Wisconsin, south to Red Wing, and northward along the Saint Croix. In coming years, Hastings will also be the terminus of the Red Rock commuter rail line from Saint Paul.

The input gathered at the March meeting will provide impetus to begin moving toward a concept to serve the many needs and interests in creating another river-related hub in a historic corridor city.