Submitted by Beth Sluys

This Saturday, February 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, there will be luminaries lighting up a path through Lerdahl Park. Lerdahl Park is a neighborhood park located at 3514 Little Fleur Lane and there is parking on the street. The path will start at the Little Fleur entrance to the park near the playground area. The luminaries will be a battery-operated light in a white bag with sand, and placed throughout the park for a lighted winter walk. According to Amy Marsman, LPNA Board member, “The Lerdahl Park Neighborhood Association Board members organized this event as a way to bring our neighborhood together, originally intended for Valentine’s Day, in a safe way while we’re all cooped up – and as an act of service to the broader Northside community. The money raised will be donated to the River Food Pantry – so far we have over $450.”

Neighbors were invited to personalize a message of love or thanks on their purchased luminaries. Some of the uplifting messages include: 

• To the kind, giving, inclusive and activist spirit of Lerdahl Park neighborhood
• Hi Mendota Scholars! Keep it Up!
• Thanks, friend for everything you do for our neighborhood! 

The Lerdahl Park Neighborhood Association (LPNA) hopes to grow this event next year. LPNA joins the many small towns and neighborhoods across the country that are doing this as a winter fundraiser, and they hope this is the start of a new neighborhood association tradition, much like the picnic in the park event each September.

The next neighborhood event will be the LPNA garage and plant sale on May 14-15, 2021. If any other NAs would like to plan their sales for the same weekend, contact the neighborhood association and they will be happy to coordinate and publicize together. For more information on the LPNA or their events, please contact the Board at lerdahlpark@gmail.com.