A letter to Walgreens
I was recently in your Walgreens store in Northfield and noticed the lovely display you had for “Walk with Walgreens.” This campaign seems to encourage healthy walking as a part of daily life. Among other things, your brochure suggests “walk[ing] when you run an errand.”
I think it is great that Walgreens is encouraging walking. However, I think you have an obligation to put your money where your mouth is. Despite its young age and excellent downtown location, the Northfield Walgreens does not have access from the main pedestrian routes along W 5th St and Highway 3 S. This is very apparent during the winter, as the logical route (which is grass underneath) is clearly trodden. Even during the summer, you can see the dead grass in the path of the pedestrian “desire line” — from the intersection of W 5th St and Highway 3.
This image depicts the situation:
On the upper half of the image, you can see the path of the many pedestrians who trudge through the snow and dirt across your lawn to access the store. On the lower image, you can see the green line (which is where the grass/snow is walked on) and the red line — the official, designated, paved pedestrian route.
I am glad that you are dedicated to healthy people and enabling walking. So I ask that you provide direct, paved access from the Highway 3/5th St intersection to the front door this year. Both streets are owned by the Minn. Dept of Transportation; I imagine they will be quite willing to permit you to build this, as it has no impact on automotive traffic. Providing dignified, reasonable access to pedestrians is critical if you want them to walk as a part of daily life. A convenience store/pharmacy like yours is an ideal walking destination, since people mainly make small, easy-to-carry purchases.
Thank you, and I appreciate your evaluating this suggestion.
