Sibley Park
Mankato, MN | Sports + Recreation
Overview
ISG worked with the City of Mankato to design a new zoo for a park area that had endured flooding issues over the years.
Opportunity
Having had to scale back its full zoo to a small petting zoo after flooding issues, the City of Mankato wanted to redesign Sibley Park so it could accommodate a new full-size zoo.
Solution
Located at the convergence of the Blue Earth and Minnesota Rivers, the City of Mankato’s 120-year old Sibley Park once was the home of a well-known zoo. Due to flooding, it was scaled back to a small petting zoo in the 1970s. The City never lost sight of a reimagined zoo that would focus on the region’s rich agrarian history. ISG assisted the City in master planning the renovated zoo area and adjacent playground. New structures were planned to house horses, lambs, goats and alpacas. During the renovation of the City’s adjacent water treatment plant, a steel bridge was salvaged and repurposed as a bridge that spans a koi pond and waterfall. Walking trails were designed to lead visitors through the zoo and interconnect with trails that lead to other portions of the park. Next to the zoo area, there is a playground with equipment that complements the agricultural theme of the zoo.