Guest Column by Randy Kehr

Randy Kehr is the executive direct of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

I have been thinking a great deal about the content of my column this month. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. Then, I was struck by the obvious. Albert Lea and Freeborn County are amazing places to live and work.

How so? I look around at all the remarkable things that have been accomplished by members of this community. Driven by a passion for a project, community members have created a number of new attractions for the area and in recent days those venues have been celebrated.

The Albert Lea Rotarians, led by Sheila Schulz, chose to dedicate their efforts to the creation of the first ever dog park in Albert Lea. Doing so involved garnering city and community support. They did so by pitching their project before a group of committee members who were part of the Asset Mapping process through the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Ultimately, they were awarded a $10,000 grant which, when coupled with their local fundraising efforts, gave them enough funds to partner with the city on the project. This amazing park is located at the Brookside Landing near the Community Boathouse and provides a convenient area for dogs to run free while their owners socialize.

This represents another way for us to come together as friends and neighbors.

Another project was the Cellfie Tours. This is the modern day version of a brochure highlighting our historic downtown. The brainchild of three young members of the community, this idea was also awarded a grant from SMIF and is now up and running. Buildings have QR codes placed on them. When scanned, the code takes you to the history of the building. For millennials, especially, this is a great way to learn about Albert Lea. Congratulations to Lucas Schuster, Mark Russell and Paul Shea for their innovative idea.

Lastly, there is the Shell Rock River State Water Trail. This grew out of a conversation held by the Shell Rock River Watershed advisory board. With an effort championed by Bill Howe and others (Laura Lunde Cunningham and Susie Petersen to name just two), the idea grew and became a priority. Statewide Health Improvement funds were granted for signage and a legislative effort was kicked off to acquire official designation through the state legislature. Representative Peggy Bennett and Senator Dan Sparks sponsored legislation and the governor signed the bill, making the Shell Rock River Water Trail the state’s 35 th state designated water trail.

These are just three examples of positive actions taking place due to the passion of individuals involved.

I didn’t even mention Wind Down Wednesday, the pickleball courts or the community boathouse and the individuals who saw those dreams come to fruition. These all show the power of the community to create an environment where individuals can say, “I love Albert Lea!”