The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), requests proposals to plan, design, fabricate and install new, accessible (universal design), interpretive theme-based exhibits for the visitor center at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The popular destination park welcomes approximately 750,000 visitors annually. Gooseberry Falls State Park is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. The park is located approximately 40 miles north of Duluth and 195 miles north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The park’s main indoor exhibit space is in the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center building. The 1,066 square foot exhibit area includes displays from a partial upgrade in 2018 as well as other exhibits from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The DNR has reached out to and coordinated with a group of external tribal contacts. These partners from the Dakota and Ojibwe communities will be a part of theme development (pre-contract), included in the kickoff meeting with the awarded Responder, and have opportunities to contribute and provide feedback throughout all the project design stages. The new exhibits must include the following accessibility features: Audio description of the exhibit area Audio description devices A braille book translation of all exhibit text A tactile map of the exhibit space The exhibits must also include a variety of multi-sensory features that can withstand high use, for example: 1 large sculptural or dimensional feature, 5 bronze bas-relief tactiles with raised lettering (at least 8x5”), 3 mechanical interactives, 3 two-dimensional raised tactile graphics, and 1 push-button audio feature.
