Walking tour, dog park awarded $10K each
Published 10:09 am Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Celebration planned in June to see success of projects
Two Albert Lea projects were each awarded $10,000 Tuesday night from a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation grant.
The first idea — termed Cellfie Tours — calls for a self-guided historic walking tour using QR codes. The second idea was for a dog park.
Details of both ideas were presented in front of a team of community business, public safety, education, sports and faith leaders.
Cellfie Tours organizer Paul Shea said the group is excited to receive $10,000 in grant money. He said his group has raised $1,200 so far and needs to raise another $1,300 to be able to collect on the grant. He expects the group to be able to so with the possible grant money lined up.
“I think it shows our hard work and creativity paid off,” Shea said.
Rotary Club President Sheila Schulz expressed appreciation of being awarded the fund.
“The dog park committee is so happy and so thankful for being awarded half of the SMIF grant,” Schulz said. “What a wonderful opportunity for Albert Lea to be a part of this grant.”
Approximately three dozen people attended, including the teams, committees and members of the public.
A celebration of the ideas and awarding of the grant is planned for June.
Schulz and other organizers discussed the project’s objective and its ideal proportions.
She said the ideal dog park would be one or more acres and have an accessible location, adequate drainage, a double-gated entry, separate areas for small and large dogs, proper signage with park hours and rules and cleanup supplies for dog waste. It would also be surrounded by 4- to 6-foot high fencing.
The Rotary Club is aiming for the dog park to allow dogs to exercise off leash, safely and legally. According to Schulz, the dog park will promote responsible dog ownership and reduce the likelihood that dogs will be let loose in neighborhoods, on streets or in park and trail areas where they interfere with other uses such as walkers, bicyclists and joggers.
Socialization and stimulation sparked by the dog park would make for happier and better behaved pets, according to the group.
Schulz described community assets and local grants awarded by Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services.
She said the group has raised $15,300 from fundraising efforts — slightly more than project’s initial $15,000 budget. This budget included mainly the fencing, but no other amenities.
The city of Albert Lea has committed to donating land, labor, signage and maintenance in association with the project.
Schulz said additional funds were needed for larger acreage, high fencing, a small and large dog division, service access gates, landscaping and amenities, such as benches, shelters and agility equipment.
Albert Lea resident Gary Hagen said he liked the idea of the dog park but wondered how they could police proper use of the park.
Schulz said most people who use dog parks are responsible dog owners; she expected people to speak up if other users weren’t using the site appropriately.
The dog park is planned to remain open in the winter.
Shea, along with fellow group members Lucas Schuster and Mark Russell, presented their idea for Cellfie Tours. The tours would include bringing facts and data about Albert Lea to people’s cellphones via an interactive walking tour using QR codes and selfie spots to increase attraction to downtown and lakes using social media.
He presented the impact the project would have on businesses and buildings along Broadway, including the Freeborn County Courthouse, Freeborn Bank National Bank building, Fountain Lake Park, Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, the St. Paul Clothiers building and other businesses.
Shea expected the project to create one to three jobs, including a social media manager, web developer and product manager.
He hopes to have a full-scale tour ready in June.
Shea said the project is expected to cost $7,000 a year to sustain.
He said Cellfie Tours has forged collaborations with organizations across the city and has more pending. He said he would like to work with Albert Lea High School students to assist with the project’s operations.
The group intends for Albert Lea to be the pilot project and to replicate it in other mid-sized communities.
Shea presented assets of the community and collaborations the group has made with the community. He also presented how the project will be sustainable in the future, including possible new locations.
Schuster presented project budget information, and the group presented a live QR code that attendees could scan with their phones and see information about the Freeborn County Courthouse.