Sara Aeikens, Creative Connections

That other Albert Lea island close to the shore of Fountain Lake — the one with no mermaid — became the center of attention when a need arose for a new bridge, which ended up being privately funded. Around replacement time, Tribune staff writer Ed Shannon’s newspaper column noted various names over the years given to the island along Lakeview Boulevard.

My favorite name, Monkey Island, appears in print on the backside of what might be one of the first 21st century postcards of the bridge taken by an Albert Lea photographer. A few years ago, Maryellen Johnson helped finance and market my Monkey/Hanson/Dress Island photo postcard, which became a historical item the moment the new bridge took the place of the old one.

A recent walk to view the new bridge gave motivation to inquire about plans for connecting sidewalks on both sides of the new structure. While staring at the forms and dirt in place for pouring concrete slabs, I wondered if plans included any eye-catching designs. A workman gave me a contact phone number for questions, which turned into a half-a-dozen phone calls to city-related employees.

Far beyond just listening, all became part of the process of taking a simple idea and adapting it into a reality for the bridge access sidewalks. Conversations evolved with a city planner office person, the Ward 2 councilman, the park and recreation director and the supervisor of the bridge project.

Councilor Larry Baker, suggested checking out a stamped brick design in neighboring Oakwood Circle, which we both concluded later would work better than actual bricks for adaptation and cost.

The biggest surprise came when the last city staff person contacted suggested a meeting with him to check other concrete samples for sidewalk designs at a business.

Joe Grossman, supervisor of the sidewalk project, gave both options of stamped bricks and facts about concrete winter cracks and snowplow scrapings. Thus his suggestion of using only stamped brick edging seemed wise, plus his color choice blended in with the island trees.

After Councilor Baker called about the city staff approving the discussed plan, he then proceeded to obtain an increased cost estimate. I committed to help find money for the difference and agreed to find as many people as possible to contribute as little as possible, to reflect a community-backed project. In revisiting the island just a few days later, the completed stamped brick trim enhanced the two sidewalks. I began my project of coin collecting $350, a small amount compared to those who donated for the bridge replacement.

However, I encountered difficulty pick-pocketing mostly friends for loose change, as many of the 100-plus people who donated insisted on getting rid of paper bills. The first donor, an engineer at one of our neighborhood block gatherings, gave $20 to start the fun, after I gave him a rummage-sale old-fashioned glass blender that he said he could use.

While doing errands, I talked to an insurance receptionist, historical museum staff, a golf course owner, a construction worker, a caregiver, two pharmacists, a teacher, a meat cutter, a banker, a baker, a bar owner, a bowler, an antique dealer, a grocery clerk and an organist. All heard the story of how the fake bricks came to the bridge. When I realized a hair cutter would clip and donate her work, my long locks left. Dozens of people put 97 cents or less into the brick fund bag. One store manager hauled 7 cents from his pocket, was challenged by another manager, who pulled out 56 cents, so the first fellow pulled out all his flat money of $2.

A corner neighbor sent her child to fetch her mayonnaise coin jar and gave the entire amount of $9.63. One friend insisted on lightening her load, until her 35 coins were emptied from her half-a-dozen purse pockets. Our new, dapper-looking city manager managed to find a collection of coins in his suspendered pants. After voting in our primary election, a caregiver and her 90-plus-year-old mother sitting on their patio not only gave two coins and a cup of coffee but shared it was the mother’s first time to be able to vote for a woman governor.

After amassing a significant pile of coins, I returned to the re-opened bridge pathway and sat on the island on a Sunday afternoon. As families crossed the new bridge, I asked some of them if they noticed and liked the 240 new stamped bricks, which they had. Of course, in sharing how they got there, the coin collection increased quickly. Three of the four families came to Monkey/Hansen/Dress Island from Rochester, Waseca, and Owatonna and the fourth family lived in our community.

Most donors, when asked what they liked to call the island, responded by mentioning Monkey Island. Al Batt, humorist and naturalist, said, “It’s always been Monkey Island to me.”

The kids especially thought the name fun and added that they enjoy fishing, playing and just talking or relaxing on the grass. Each donor contributed with a chuckle to the conversation, liked the concepts of believing “change” is possible with patience and just asking for a little bit to make a happening, such as to “dress up” Monkey/Hanson/Dress Island.

My son said if the goal fell short, he’d add $50, which I told him would upset the balance of all the small coins collected. Three people said no, and those three people didn’t smile. The entire process unfolded into an inspiring experience for many involved. After you visit the new bridge, find a member of the Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club to thank for their donation, as well as Knights of Columbus members who were a part of the history of the island bridge. Also take a look at the stamped bricks to remind you your voice and action can make a difference.

Sara Aeikens resides in Albert Lea.