Partnership, collaboration and community support are keys to the Friends of Way Park’s development of Way Park. 

Northfielders organized as the nonprofit Friends of Way Park (FWP) in 2004 in order to help restore the Park to its full potential after the Hospital vacated the south half of the Park.  Since then FWP has worked to raise both consciousness and money, and to collaborate with others in improving the Park. 

For example, thanks to the generosity of donors, FWP was able to contribute $30,000 needed for design, engineering and physical work so that the City could grade and fill the demolition site of the old Hospital.  

On that restored parkland FWP has continued to collaborate with a variety of organizations and entities to sponsor community-building events and to make physical improvements in the Park.  Here’s a partial list of accomplishments and partners:

--Eighteen oaks and maples planted and watered: Knecht Landscaping, Park Board, City of Northfield.

--Two rain gardens planted and tended: Cannon River Watershed Partnership, the City of Northfield, Northfield Area Foundation.

--Adopt-A-Park program: City of Northfield.

--Midsommar Celebration: Northfield Swedish Club, Sons of Norway.

--Pumpkin Fest: Arcadia Charter School, St. Olaf International Student Association.

Such partnerships leverage donations to FWP into larger projects than either volunteer efforts or donations alone can accomplish.  Your donations will allow us to continue to collaborate as we organize events to take advantage of the new amphitheater, explore possibilities for expanded play equipment, develop plans for a Hospital Memorial garden, and add benches, picnic tables and information kiosks.  

An all-volunteer organization, Friends of Way Park welcomes your donations in any amount at any time, but especially on Give to the Max Day, November 15.   Way Park is A Park for All Seasons.  We intend to grow as a park for the whole community.