Under the direction of international walkability and townmaking expert Dan Burden, Albert Leans put their minds together Friday to come up with ways to make the city more bikeable, walkable and livable.

In what was the second day of the AARP/Blue Zones City Health Makeover, Burden, the founder of Walkable Communities, instructed those in attendance to divide into groups to come up with solutions to seven questions. He advised attendees to try to be in groups with people they wouldn’t usually be around, to dream big and to not have money as an issue in their ideas.

Burden, who is a principal with the urban-design firm Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc., said he would write a report based on what information was learned during the Friday workshops, combined with his expertise as an authority on smart growth, sustainability, livable communities and active living. The report will give community leaders tools and ideas on projects they can work on to make Albert Lea more bikeable, walkable and livable.

If driving for more than 20 miles a day isn’t sustainable, how can we get Albert Lea levels back to the 1985 levels?

Roger Truax, the spokesman for one group, said his group talked about restoring the downtown area in Albert Lea to be a full access location, including a grocery store and entertainment. This would take some revitalizing of the north end of Broadway Avenue, he said.

Another group said they agreed with this ideas and also added that they think it’s important amenities are within walking and biking distance of people. It is also important to add bike racks at destination points.

Grace Haukoos, with a different group, said it’s important to make sure bike lanes are painted on the roads and to have better pathways.

Dennis Dieser, spokesman for another group, talked about connecting the downtown to the Blazing Star Landing.

Another group, spoken for by Peggy Havener, said they thought it was important to have a destination to walk to.

Other ideas included restoring the downtown and second floor living space and connecting Albert Lea Lake with Fountain Lake.

How do we measure and increase life satisfaction?

Truax said the answer to this question for the first group lies in the saying “variety is the spice of life.” Albert Lea needs to increase opportunities for all sorts of different amenities, including shopping and eating.

The second group said they thought if people are satisfied with their lives, Albert Lea will see an increase in church attendance and an increase in community events. They talked of making sure people know about events taking place in the city.

To increase life satisfaction, Haukoos said, there are many things that could be done, including making wider sidewalks and greeting people all the time.

Dieser said his group talked about if people are satisfied with their lives, the community will see growth in the hours of volunteering.

Albert Lea Police Lt. J.D. Carlson, spokesman for another group, said his group thought a way to measure life satisfaction is to find out how many youth are staying local after they graduate from high school and college.

Havener said for her group it was important to have a positive attitude and to have a welcoming mechanism for those who are new to the community.

Another group talked about making sure people have somewhere to go spiritually and said community leaders should consistently look at the population and discuss why people are leaving or why they are staying.

If a proposed development would decrease connectability, how do we put an end to this?

The solution to this problem is the responsibility of planning and zoning, Truax said.

Haukoos added that is important to present better options to the developer.

And the city must be willing to say no and not allow exceptions, Dieser said.

Everyone must be educated and kept on the same page, another group added.

What 12 discovery places should we build for our children?

Several groups talked of relocating the Albert Lea Family Y back to a place downtown or building an all-inclusive community center. Others talked of building an environmental learning center, adding safe bike paths and adding more natural areas.

It is also important to educate parents about where the discovery places are, one group commented.

Several other groups talked about using the old Wal-Mart building or parking lot at the Skyline Plaza and turning it into a space for children.

Dieser’s group talked of adding more experiential education opportunities throughout the city and developing more healthy eating places for children.

Another group talked of making a boardwalk near the beach area, putting slides and children’s areas at the beach and adding other fishing areas for them too.

The last group talked of having a splash park, something educational for children with the East Main Flood Plain project, a marina, a discovery unit at Albert Lea Medical Center, more through the Freeborn County Historical Society and murals for all age groups to get involved with on the backs of downtown buildings. That group also talked of integrational gardens, workshops, ice sculptures and places to rent canoes, kayaks and bikes.

What 12 changes should we make to support aging-in-place?

Truax’s group talked of making sure there is dependable public transportation and making sure the downtown is a walkable and livable place.

Haukoos’s group talked of having a shady pavilion at the City Beach, among other ideas.

It’s also important to improve access for senior areas and to ask seniors to be involved in community events, Dieser said. Someone could also help create regular senior walking groups.

Carlson also talked of more interaction between seniors and children and sustainable living options.

Havener talked of benches downtown for seniors, day and night transportation for them and a gathering place or coffee shop.

Another group talked of offering senior college classes for seniors’ minds too.

The last group talked of having a common place for “down through the years” items that would focus on the city’s legacy and making the community more user friendly for that age group.

What 12 changes are needed to improve access to healthy, locally grown food?

Truax talked of expanding the community gardens and farmers market programs.

Carlson echoed that thought and talked about more local grocers selling local products if possible.

Havener asked the question of having a green grocer.

Another group talked of organic stores as well, and said the school district could offer more healthy choices.

What location and building will most fortify and energize the downtown?

For this question, most groups answered with the Freeborn National Bank Building and the Blazing Star Landing.

“It certainly is in the center of our community,” Truax said of the Blazing Star Landing.

Havener said her group thought making the Brick Furniture building into livable apartments would add a lot to the downtown.

Another group talked about having a roundabout at the intersection of William Street and Broadway Avenue, wider sidewalks, maybe even a brick sidewalk and more trees.

What is the one project you could get involved with now quickly and have success in?

Truax said the community could work to finish the bike trails that are already in place and add bike lanes in certain areas of the city.

Another group talked about putting up a building near the former water treatment plant near the Pelican Breeze dock. In the building, vendors could rent space for things such as having a bait shop, an ice cream shop or even a place to rent canoes and paddleboats.

Haukoos said her group wanted to adopt a park program where people would come together and take care of the parks and raise money for them.

Dieser’s group said their project would be adding bike lanes and bike racks.

Carlson said his group wanted to reduce traffic speeds and reduce widths of roads to create bike paths and lanes.

Despite the controversy of it right now, Havener said her group wanted to put an island down the middle of Bridge Avenue. On one side of the road there would be an area for walkers and on the other side there would be a bike path.

She said her group also wanted to get rid of the planters downtown and put some more real trees there.

The last group talked of having a poster contest for the entire community and of selling prints of the winning poster as a fundraiser for a project.

How can you get everyone on board?

The answer to this question is mainly education of the community, Truax said. The people will probably ask how they will benefit from some of these projects, and the cost savings and benefits can be explained to them.

The key to getting everyone on board, Dieser said, is communication.

“There’s people that are going to be opposed to change … but we just have to keep moving forward,” he said.

Burden said the ideas discussion was exactly what he was hoping to hear.

“You’re embarking on a course correction,” he said. “Whenever you do that you’re on uncharted seas.”

He noted that times to make major change are times that are exciting but also scary.

He said he felt invigorated by the group in attendance and by the strength of the leadership in this community.

“I’ve worked in many towns this size,” he said. “This is the best turnout we’ve had for this size community.”

Joel Spoonheim, health initiatives director for Blue Zones, said there will be a town hall meeting sometime in mid-Feburary to explain more of the makeover to the community.