Greening the Corridor

On Monday, August 22, at 7 p.m. at the
Northfield Community Resource Center, the Northfield Roundtable in conjunction
with Northfield in Bloom will host a discussion about Greening the Commons.
The "commons," formed by Hwy 3, the railroad, and the river as it passes through
the center of our city, has been identified as an important visual representation
of the City of Northfield that can set the tone for visitors and passers-by.
This is an area that could be transformed by an integrated and thoughtful
beautification strategy. The goal of the evening is to begin planning and to create
implementation strategies to make Greening the Commons a reality.

According to the Knight Foundation, studies show that community aesthetics
(physical beauty of the community, including the availability of parks, playgrounds,
trails, and other green spaces) rank high in making a local community desirable.
Per Project Evergreen roadside businesses are easier to locate when framed
by trees and vegetation. [Greening] increases community pride and positive
perception of an area, drawing customers to businesses. Studies also show
that consumers would be willing to pay, on average, a 12% premium for goods
purchased in retail establishments that are accompanied by quality landscaping.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the Northfield Community Resource Center
dining room and will end by 9:00. Several citizens from specific expertise have
been invited to bring a variety of community involvement, including City Council/
Staff, EDA, Planning Commission, Parks/Rec Board, Streetscape Task Force, NDDC,
Garden Club, St. Olaf/Carleton, and Cannon River Watershed, as well as local
landscape architects and nursery owners. The public is invited as well.

RSVPs are not required but are invited. Please respond to Dave Van Wylen
(vanwylen@stolaf.edu) or Pat Allen (patanddavidallen@gmail.com).