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Summer is a busy season for our community, and this year was no exception. From the opening of the new aquatic center to construction projects and community events, there has been a lot happening in the city.
One of the biggest highlights this summer was the opening of our new aquatic center, The Splash. After years of planning, construction, decision-making and anticipation, it was exciting to finally see the facility filled with families and swimmers. In the first 20 days of operation, The Splash! had nearly 12,000 patrons.
A project of this size takes a tremendous amount of work, and seeing people use and enjoy the facility is a great reminder of why communities make investments in recreational amenities.
Our trail system is another important part of that investment. Trails provide opportunities for residents to walk, run, bike and enjoy the outdoors while connecting neighborhoods, parks and other destinations throughout the community. They are used by people of all ages and are an important part of Marshall's quality of life.
Trail construction has been completed from C Street and Progress Drive SE to Southview Drive, including the connection to Southview Elementary School. In addition, the trail from along Southview Trail to Main Street has been completed. The trails consist of new 8'-10' wide concrete trail with some minimal site grading and site restoration. This project is mainly funded through Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Active Transportation (AT) grants.
This past summer also included several street reconstruction projects.
A project that was completed is the 5th Street to Saratoga St to Main Project, which included work on sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer on 5th Street and the intersection of 5th Street and Saratoga Street.
Nearing completion very soon is the High Street from North 4th Street to Oak Street, and the Alley from North 5th Street to North 6th Street Project.
The project included replacement of sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain within the project area. Other items of work include replacing curb and gutter, driveways, and sidewalk; river stabilization; bituminous surfacing and other minor work.
A two-year Minnesota Department of Transportation project to reconstruct Highway 19/College Drive in Marshall began in 2025 and will soon be completed by mid-October of this year. The project consists of reconstructing 1.8 miles of Highway 19/College Drive from Marlene Street through the intersection of Bruce Street.
The project this year focused on work from Main Street to Bruce Street and includes replacing pavement, sanitary sewer and watermain; updating sidewalks and pedestrian ramps to improve accessibility; and making traffic control changes throughout the route to enhance safety for everyone.
We recognize that construction is more than an inconvenience for our business owners. A special thank you goes to the businesses along with the construction project who endured months of construction, changing traffic patterns, noise, and the many challenges that come with a major street project.
Street overlays, chip sealing and sewer lining projects this past summer also ensured long-term stability in our infrastructure to help ease the heavy cost of reconstruction that the city faces when balancing infrastructure needs and the impact on the budget and levy.
The city continues to invest in stormwater management. The Legion Field Stormwater Pond Project includes grading the ditch surrounding the BNSF railroad and placement of a storm sewer line to a new pond, in the area North of the Nexus Apartments.
In addition to the many projects mentioned above, we also had time to celebrate as a community. Visit Marshall sponsored downtown music performances with its Eats & Beats events which brought live music, food trucks, and a lively downtown atmosphere to Marshall throughout the summer.
The Lyon County Museum, in honor of America's 250-year celebration, sponsored several programs in reflection on our Nation's history.
The Sounds of Summer Festival sponsored the Battle of the Badges Softball Game, the annual Lyon County Relay for Life event, the Family Fun Night and the final day, featured the Grand Parade and live music by Viva Knievel.
As summer comes to a close, we are grateful for all that has happened in Marshall during these past few short months. Thank you to the volunteers who organized events, the businesses and organizations that provided sponsorships and support, the employees who worked long hours, and the residents who showed up and participated. Just as important, we are thankful for the patience of our businesses and residents during our construction projects.
As we head into fall, we look forward to continuing the work of making our community a strong and vibrant community.
-- Sharon Hanson is city administrator for the city of Marshall