Walker in 1968

The following are posted from a collection of 45 slides and a narrative done by Aguar Jyring Whiteman Mose, Inc, of Duluth, Minnesota.  There are a few posts that are not in numerical order, a flaw in the program or on the part of the Poster.  Blogger experts are welcome to contact me.  Click on the images to zoom in.  Enjoy the trip back in time!

1968 Comprehensive Plan #1

Situated on the shores of Leech Lake, one of the largest bodies of water in Minnesota, is the main tourist service center of much of northern Cass County and adjacent Hubbard County.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #2

Walker, with a year-round population of over 1,200 persons, has truly a beautiful physical setting.  With the recent high rise of tourism, Walker's economy has developed on the basis of this industry.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #4

A similar sign is located on the east entry of Highway 371.  This sign, too, lacks adequate maintenance as compared to....

1968 Comprehensive Plan #3a

The first glimpse that the traveler sees of this community is its entrances.  This welcome sign south of Walker is of eye catching design, but obviously is poorly maintained.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #5

...a similar sign at Park Rapids.  Note how both signs included various civic club signs, eliminating the hodge-podge of scattered small signs.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #6

Driving into Walker on Route 34 from the south, a person has a sense of the outdoor environment with majestic pines and birch trees giving Walker a flavor of true northern Minnesota beauty.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #7

But as the traveler motors further into the community, he begins to see man-made ugliness developed through the years.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #9

- a junkyard and lumberyard grace the landscape.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #8

On the western approach of Highway 371 - an attractive church competes for attention - 

1968 Comprehensive Plan #10

On the eastern approach to the community, on the shoreline of Leech Lake, the visitor can view the village park, but- -

1968 Comprehensive Plan #11

-- this, too, is marred by the placement and color of the sewage treatment plant and directly adjacent to that --

1968 Comprehensive Plan #12

is a mobile trailer park owned and operated by the village.  This land is of much greater value to the community.  This trailer park is recommended to be moved to a more desirable location.  By providing a place for mobile homes, it eliminates the problem of scattered trailers in residential neighborhoods.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #13

Also adjacent to the village park are large oil tanks and warehouse facilities.  All of these uses have a useful purpose but they should be placed in inconspicuous areas and painted in dull, neutral colors to blend with their surroundings.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #14

But, let's not get the idea that all is bad.  Walker has several attractive churches and...

1968 Comprehensive Plan #15

...a beautiful school site nestled in between residential neighborhoods of good housing.  The development of Walker has been strongly influenced by its natural setting with its high bluffs and hills and this is particularly true of the school site.  Walker's modern hospital can be seen in the background.  In the consultant's survey of 1967, 81.5% of all structures in Walker were rated good with 7.1% or 32 structures considered as dilapidated or beyond repair.  Many of these, of course, are eyesores and in 1968 several of the listed abandoned houses were condemned by the village and were demolished.  These sites are now available for new housing and other developments thereby eliminating some eyesores that were unsafe or unsightly.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #16

The Walker Housing Authority bought this attractive site and built...

1968 Comprehensive Plan #17

...a 32 unit housing project for the elderly.  A constructive approach to the complex problem of providing decent housing for our elderly citizens.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #18

Existing land uses were mapped after it was determined by the planning commission that the community recognized the problems facing the village as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.  The village contracted with professional planners to develop a long range planning program with the assistance of a federal planning grant.  One of the initial tasks of land use planning was to trace the development of the village as it has grown to the present.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #19

In the early days Leech Lake was the main transportation source with the city dock serving as the major entry.  Later, railroad access was provided only a block south of the city dock.  Walker has thus grown in a compact form with the cast majority of development occurring in the northern half of the village along the shores of Leech Lake near the highways and railroad.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #20

  The Guide Plan provides for expansion of residential neighborhoods, the improvement of the central business district area, growth of industry and recreation uses. The Plan calls for improved transportation routes, new community facilities and additions.  The main element in the transportation plan is the rerouting of U.S. 371 south of the village as a four lane expressway.  The exact location of this beltline route will be determined after detailed engineering studies by the Minnesota Highway Department.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #21

The need to remove grain trucks and other commercial traffic from Walker's streets is obvious.  The present routes of U.S. 371 and Minnesota 34 are classed as major thoroughfares and will continue to carry large traffic volumes primarily acting as feeder roads for the expressway.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #23

The village park with its beautiful swimming beach will be upgraded and improved through matching funds from LAWCON. (State and Federal grants that match local money).

1968 Comprehensive Plan #22

Walker has a need for a number of major improvements in community facilities and services.  A new village maintenance garage located near the county highway garage is recommended.  The present village garage is poorly located and marked.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #24

  

 
The present park, fronting Leech Lake, has about 10 acres of land with 1,600 feet of lakeshore frontage located only a few blocks from the central business district.  One of the first items discussed in the planning program was the improvement of this park.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #25

The plan of redevelopment of the park includes a new softball diamond, horseshoe and basketball courts, a multi-use area, change house and comfort station, formal garden, pathways, and a general landscape treatment totaling over $19,000.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #26

The sewage treatment plant located near the park might propose a serious problem someday for the village.  Already quite old, the plant requires continuous repairs and maintenance.  Consideration has been given to engineering studies to determine the feasibility of relocating the treatment plant to a different location where a lagoon system could possibly be employed.  For the time being, painting the facility a natural color and landscaping for screening is part of the park plan.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #27

A tourist orientation center is recommended at the Conservation Building to replace the present billboard map.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #28

This is an example of an information center at Hayward, Wisconsin.  It is recommended that an addition to the west wing of the Conservation Building have exhibits added to serve the tourists during the time when the information office is closed.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #29

The Beautification Plan is a result of a visual impressions survey made by the consultants.  Such items as improper screening of open storage areas, rundown marinas, poor housing areas, a poorly located dump and other liabilities were identified.  There are assets as well, such as the attractive golf course, nice neighborhood locations, a beautiful cemetery and many other assets that should be dramatized.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #30

The Beautification Plan calls for a unique element of open space, interconnecting parks between Leech and May Lakes, the school and golf course.  These "green-way" parks would be used as hiking, bicycle and riding trails in the summer and as ski and snowmobile trails during the winter months.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #31

Sign control is needed in Walker, particularly in the central business district area.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #32

The heart of the community is its central business district.  It is this location in a community where people gather to shop, transact business, browse and otherwise enjoy the diversity and excitement of a community.  The waterfront setting of the Walker business district is a real asset that needs greater attention.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #33

When the downtown area is well designed and maintained, it can become a more pleasant place to visit.  Having an attractive and functional business area is especially important because of the thousands of tourists and other visitors.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #34

The business area must be inviting and pleasant. Residents of the Walker Trade Area will also be more likely to shop here if off street parking is available, if stores are well maintained, street trees added and other features to follow up on the face-lifting of a few years ago.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #35

Realizing that much is needed to be done to improve the image of Walker to prospective shoppers, the central business district plan has been prepared as part of the overall planning program.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #36

Structural conditions were analyzed after surveying buildings both from the front and the rear.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #37

Although many of these commercial structures are old, most are in good condition as a result of the major store front improvement program of the 1950's.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #38

The structural condition survey indicated that only two buildings fronting Minnesota Avenue were in need of major repairs while three others warranted removal since they have deteriorated to a point where renovation does not appear to be economically feasible.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #39

The central business district plan suggests a landscaped pedestrian "mall" on Fifth Street from Minnesota Avenue to the enlarged city dock.  A "semi-mall" along Minnesota Avenue would have street trees, attractive benches, lighting, and other design features.  The Fifth Street Mall is especially important as it would provide a pedestrian link between downtown and the Leech Lake waterfront, and make it possible for a unique gift shop and related business area for visitors arriving by boat, bus, or auto.  A suggested store front design calls for all signs, colors, and improvement projects in the district to coordinate efforts in a manner to develop an overall design theme.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #40

The central business district plan recommends an enlarged and improved dock and landscaped link with May Lake Creek.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #41

Clearing of underbrush has improved this area considerably since this picture was taken.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #42

A boat basin and snowmobile "terminal" is recommended to be located in the area directly behind the village hall.  This would serve as a large docking and parking facility for the many boats and snowmobiles on Leech Lake within a block of the downtown area.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #43

The existing city dock facility would be much improved and could be compared someday to....

1968 Comprehensive Plan #44

...a similar project such as the Columbia New Town waterfront in Maryland.

1968 Comprehensive Plan #45

All of these ideas can become a reality if the citizens of Walker want them.  Walker's plan, which some consider a dream, could become visually clear as the village implements the plan through enforcement of the zoning ordinance and the citizens cooperate with village officials to develop residentially, commercially, and industrially within the framework of the overall plan.