Community input issues discussed at first public meeting leading to Active Living Plan for City of Mountain Lake
The City of Mountain Lake, in coordination with Drew Hage, a development planner at the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) in Slayton, has been working to develop an Active Living Plan in order to help make the city more pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly by providing new strategic walking and bicycling improvements.
To complete this task, a Mountain Lake Active Living Planning Team has been formed that includes Dana Kass of the Mountain Lake City Council as well as a city resident, Mountain Lake City Administrator Wendy Meyer representing the City of Mountain Lake, local residents John Oeltjenbruns and Dolores Peters and SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Program) Coordinator in Cottonwood, Jackson and Nobles Counties for Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS), Diana Madsen.
The first public meeting providing input towards developing an Active Living Plan for the City of Mountain Lake was held Monday, March 16, in the City Council Chambers at Mountain Lake City Hall. This initial meeting was held to review and summarize community comments on issues creating what is wanted – a “city safely on the move.” In addition to the public dialogue at the meeting, information also included feedback comments posted on the link –http://wikimapping.com/wikimap/Mountain-Lake-Active-Living-Plan.html.
Discussion was held on concerns regarding walking and bicycling around the city – focusing on destinations, existing routes, barriers, gaps and safety issues – setting up potential goals and identifying potential projects to improve pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure within the city.
The Mountain Lake City Council and the Mountain Lake Active Living Planning Team will then take the information supplied from the public meetings, and on the online link, to create a priority needs list that will be tackled with assistance from a possible SHIP grant, UCare grant, MnDOT grant, Blue Cross/Blue Shield grant or from other funding sources. Hage and Madsen are coordinating with Meyer in searching out those sources.
But, as Hage emphasizes, “The first step is to identify the issues.”
At the public meeting, with online comments added, issues and concerns raised included – in no particular order of importance:
* A sidewalk or dedicated lane connecting the Mountain Lake Trail at Casey’s to 7th Avenue along Golf Course Road – and/or signage noting the trail connection points.
* Road art across the parking lot at the Mountain Lake boat access to indicate the path of the trail. Additional road art painting and/or stenciling projects could include crosswalks or other areas that would show direction (or for city beautification and/or distinction).
* Improved sidewalks and/or bench between the Laker Apartments and Senior Dining at the Mountain Lake Community Center.
* Sidewalk placement east from Golf Course Road (north of Casey’s) to 7th Street.
* Sidewalk placement along Mountain Lake Road to connect to Heritage Village.
* Addition of a stop sign on 3rd Avenue at the intersection with 10th Street. The average daily traffic volume on 3rd Avenue is calculated to be 3,150 vehicles; and on 10th Street, 810 vehicles.
* Addition of a stop sign at the intersection of 10th Street and Prince Street.
* In conjunction with Safe Routes to School Connections, a dedicated drop-off and pick-up area in front of Mountain Lake Public Elementary School, including improved traffic flow. As well, sidewalk placement along 4th Avenue from east of the public elementary school to 15th Street.
* Sidewalk placement on 5th Avenue west of the public school (most notably for after home athletic or extra-curricular events when cars are parked on both sides of the road).
* Improving downtown business sidewalks along 3rd Avenue.
* Sidewalk placement along 6th Avenue from where sidewalks end – to Munson Field.
* Addressing difficult 3rd Avenue crossings at 10th Street, 11th Street and 12th Street through the use of bump-outs or concrete planters (also for beautification).
* Adequate bicycle parking in racks. The city does have bike racks at Island View Campground, Mountain Lake City Park, Heritage Village and Mountain Lake Public Library (there are also bicycle racks at both the public and private schools). Additional location could include the boat landing at Mountain Lake.
* Sidewalk or dedicated walking area in the Mountain Lake Mall parking lot along the Maynard’s building.
The second public meeting to further target the list of potential goals and projects will be held at 5 p.m. on either Monday, April 13 or Tuesday, April 14, again in the City Council Chambers of Mountain Lake City Hall. Also on the docket will be the sidewalk connections to destinations within the city – such as to the public school, Lawcon Park, Senior Dining at the Mountain Lake Community Center, Mountain Lake City Hall, Mountain Lake City Park, to the businesses at the Mountain Lake Mall, to Casey’s at the west city limits and out to the various athletic fields located at Munson Field.
What is Active Living?
Active Living is described as a way of life that integrates physical activity into one’s daily routine. Active Living is about fostering an environment that makes it safe and convenient for children and adults to walk, bike and be physically active on a daily basis. This can start with just making small trip. An example of such is walking between stores – instead of driving from one end of Third Avenue or 10th Street – to the other.
Creating a healthy community depends on the physical design of the community – making it more walkable and bikeable through specific improvements – along with a number of other variables.
* If you have additional questions, contact Drew Hage, Southwest Regional Development Commission at his office at 507-836-1633 or e-mail at drewh@swrdc.org. Or, contact Mountain Lake City Clerk/Administrator Wendy Meyer at her office at 507-437-2999, Extension #1 or e-mail at city@mountainlake.govoffice.com
