On Tuesday night, the City Council was presented with the results of a survey on the Northfield Parks System and the 
The Parks & Recreation Capital Improvement plan, which has been in the works for some time, is a comprehensive look at all the improvements possible and necessary to the Northfield Park System. The plan includes the Riverfront Enhancement Acton Plan, complete funding of park maintenance, completion of paved bicycle trails, including Northfield’s section of the Mill Town’s Trail, improved restroom facilities at many of the parks and finding more ways to offer indoor recreation, which would also include finding a solution to the issue of the Northfield Ice Arena.
The survey, which was put to the entire Northfield Community through informational sessions, social media, and QR codes placed in all parks, received more than 900 responses and 400 comments. Among the findings, it showed that 61% of respondents use the parks more than once a week, and 23% use them several times a week. Some 80% of the respondents support the full funding of park maintenance and new park improvements, however reservations began to show up when the survey asked about taxing the community to pay for the projects. It showed 65% would support, or support with some reservation, a 0.5% local sales tax to activate the Riverfront Enhancement Plan, while 62% would support, or support with some reservation, a bond referendum to fund an expanded indoor park facility, and 75% would support, or support with some reservation a property tax increase to fund half of the plan, or $20 million in park improvements.
Mayor Rhonda Pownell said the information in the survey tells her that there is enough community support to move forward with the plan.
“Obviously, our park system has been underfunded for over a decade now, and I think it’s just an opportune time to really look at how we can move forward, and bring a park system into the 21st century, so that it’s meeting the needs of the community.”
The plan will now go back to the Park Board for refinement, before being brought before the City Council for approval in the early part of 2023.
City Branding Commission will offer survey to the Northfield community
Last May, the Northfield City Council established a new Branding Commission to look at the way the city markets 
itself and find ways where the strategies can be improved. That commission has now been seated and gotten to work.
The membership roster of the commission reads like a who’s who of the Northfield business and marketing community, including, among others, Tami Enfield of Brand Yourself, Dave Neuger, graphic designer Doug Bratland of the Carleton College IT Department, St. Olaf College Chief Marketing Officer Katie Warren, City Communications Director Michelle Mahowald, and is chaired by marketing consultant Jennifer Sawyer.
The commission has been charged with finding a way to boil Northfield’s marketing down to a simple message that will effectively present the city. Warren said that can include a logo, a slogan and other touch points. She said it is important to identify what the city wants to express to people, and to identify the key points of that message.
“You have a few seconds to make a first impression. That’s with anything – a product, a company, a city. So, what are you going to try to leave somebody with? What’s the impression you want to make and what do you think is the most relevant and salient idea that you want to express? And I think that’s the goal of what we’re trying to do.”
Warren used examples of slogans like New York City’s “The City that Never Sleeps,” and Nashville’s “Music City” as good branding models that present a clear and concise message.
The commission has identified several city stakeholders who either have been or will be interviewed to find out what they feel makes Northfield unique, what the city’s strengths are and what the obstacles are that keep the city from meeting its full ptential.
Sawyer said she expects the project to last at least 18 months, and there is quite a bit of work ahead of the commission. A survey will be put to the full community, and those results will be used by the professional partner the commission selects for the design work, which Sawyer anticipates will take quite a bit of time. The final phase will include training programs on how to make best use of the new ideas and materials.
Both Warren and Sawyer said they hope the community will embrace the project and participate in the survey, which they expect to be ready in the very near future.
Rice County offering in-home safety visits promoting safe infant sleep
Rice County Public Health has issued a statement reminding the community that Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed this week, November 13-19, as Infant 
Safe Sleep Week in Minnesota.
The statement said unsafe sleep environments and practices can put infants at increased risk of accidental suffocation and strangulation, resulting in preventable deaths, and said it is important to make sure babies always sleep alone on their back in a safety approved crib or playpen without blankets or pillows.
“Crib mattresses should be firm, and sheets should fit tightly,” said Rice County Family Child Health Supervisor Fae Schumacher, “and there shouldn’t be anything else in the crib, including pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, stuffed animals and toys.”
Infants also should not be placed to sleep on a couch, in a car seat or in the caregiver’s bed.
Rice County Public Health staff are available to conduct a home safety visit for caregivers of young children. In partnership with “Cradle of Hope,” staff can also provide a portable crib if needed, to ensure that every baby has a safe place to sleep. More information on infant safe sleep can be found at the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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