Summer isn’t even officially here yet, but it’s definitely feeling like it is, especially with all the things going on in Minot these days.
Over the past couple of weekends, area high schools and universities have held their annual graduation ceremonies, events filled with celebrations, speeches full of life advice, time with family, and students saying good-bye to classmates and teachers. It’s a yearly reminder of the critical role young people play in the future success of our communities. Many of this year’s graduates will soon go off to college, while others have already begun work in their chosen career. But they’re all valuable pieces of our evolving community, and we see their contributions to our cities on a regular basis, and in many different ways.
We saw the contributions of many of our young people just last weekend, when volunteers banded together to complete a public art project at the four corners of the intersection of East Central Avenue and 1st Street SE. Folks of all ages joined in the project, as volunteers helped clean the street before stenciling was done and paint was started. The rain on Sunday pushed completion of the project to the next day, but the results are fabulous. Aside from looking amazing, the painted bump-outs serve a greater purpose at that intersection – safety. Smaller spaces inspire slower speeds and help alert drivers to the adjoining crosswalks. A big thank you to the folks at Prairie Sky Breads, Aksal Group, the Downtown Business & Professional Association, and all the volunteers who, in the true sense of community spirit, pushed this project to completion.
We also see the value of our residents working together for another community project. The Union Silos Public Art Project will be the largest such project in North Dakota when completed. Artist Guido van Helten has been in Minot numerous times to photograph elements of our community as he works to plan the gigantic murals on the silos at 318 1st Ave NE that will become a huge part of the Minot downtown skyline when completed. Van Helten will work with community partners and local cultural influences to design the murals. Painting is expected to begin soon. You can find out more about this project at ndunionsilos.com.
These events, and other major ones like the North Dakota State Fair, highlight what we already know about summers in North Dakota – there is no shortage of things to do and there are a lot of things happening, whether you’re an adult or you’re a parent looking for ways to keep your children busy. There is an endless list of ways to participate in events or simply be a spectator, and many of these opportunities are created and nurtured by Minot’s business community and a list of dedicated volunteers that is ready and willing to help at a moment’s notice.
Those efforts make a visible and real difference in our community by creating opportunities for all of us, including:
Looking for physical activities for the kids this summer? Check out the Minot Recreation Department, Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, Jack Hoeven Wee Links, and many other organizations that offer unique and varied opportunities for children of all ages.
If art is your thing, you’re in luck. You can find information about what’s available at a host of local organizations, including the Taube Museum of Art, Margie’s Art Glass Studio, and the Minot Area Council of the Arts.
If you want to watch sports, there are endless opportunities this summer. The Minot Hot Tots begin their season soon, and the Minot Honeybees are bringing a women’s fastpitch softball summer league to Minot for the first time. There is seemingly always a Legion baseball game being played in Minot or nearby. The excitement at Nodak Speedway is already under way, and action begins soon at the Magic City International Dragway.
There are so many creative and unique events and opportunities happening in our community, and there are activities designed for all ages. You can find a lot of them on the calendar at visitminot.org. You can also keep track of the youth and adult events at the Minot Public Library this summer at minotlibrary.org.
The list truly is endless, and so is the impact on our community by the small business owners and volunteers who help make many of these events possible and successful. Thank you to everyone for creating these opportunities, and providing so many ways to help our population expand their personal horizons while contributing to the overall enrichment of our community.
Enjoy your summer.
You can find more about what’s happening at the City of Minot at minotnd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d also encourage you to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter on our website.
