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Restoring Function and Aesthetics in Public Landscapes
How collaboration and craftsmanship helped the City of Eden Prairie create a durable, low-maintenance landscape around its new light rail hub.

When the City of Eden Prairie set out to enhance the public spaces surrounding its new Town Center Light Rail Station, the goal extended beyond planting greenery. The City wanted to create a landscape that would withstand heavy use, reduce maintenance needs, and complement the transit hub’s modern infrastructure.
 
To achieve that vision, the City partnered with Southview Design, a Minnesota-based landscape contractor with decades of municipal and commercial experience. The scope of work focused on revitalizing and stabilizing the site’s landscape beds while delivering a clean, cohesive appearance for this highly visible public space.

Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Southview’s team worked closely with the City’s project managers and design consultants to ensure every planting decision supported long-term maintenance goals. The installation featured nursery-grown plant material selected for durability, climate resilience, and visual consistency across the site.

Each plant was installed according to industry best practices to encourage healthy establishment. To suppress weeds and minimize maintenance needs, Southview installed weed-preventative fabric throughout the landscape beds, followed by a 3-inch layer of 1.5-inch washed river rock. This combination provides both functionality and aesthetics—offering a polished, finished look while supporting soil stability and drainage around the light rail station.

Integrating Systems for Long-Term Success
Because proper irrigation is key to plant health, coordination with the City’s existing drip-line irrigation system was critical. Southview verified all components were operational before and during planting to ensure consistent water coverage for the new landscape material.

The team also collaborated with City staff to confirm the beds were prepped and weed-free prior to installation, enabling an efficient workflow that minimized disruption to public access and transit operations.

A Sustainable Civic Space
The completed landscape reflects the City of Eden Prairie’s commitment to public spaces that balance form, function, and sustainability. The result is a durable, low-maintenance environment that integrates seamlessly with the transit station’s design—inviting residents and commuters alike to enjoy a greener, more welcoming civic space.

Southview Design’s partnership with the City exemplifies how thoughtful coordination between municipal teams and private contractors can deliver landscapes that are as enduring as they are beautiful.

Community Impact
By transforming a highly trafficked transit area into a vibrant, functional green space, this project reinforces the role of landscape design in shaping how people experience their city—building pride, connection, and a stronger sense of place within the community. Ultimately, projects like
this illustrate how investing in resilient, well-designed landscapes enhances not only city infrastructure but also the daily experiences of the people it serves.