By Sara Strong
Luverne Economic Development Authority members Tuesday heard a presentation from Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Director Dave Smith, who also serves as director of the City Visitors Bureau.
Smith updated the board on activities within the chamber and CVB, adding that many of the items are just ideas at this time.
oThe CVB is working on resurrecting the float that it's stopped using in recent years. Smith said the theme would likely have something to do with the theme "Where the buffalo still roam."
oSmith is also working with Pipestone to get a scenic byway designation for that stretch of Highway 75. The state has designated all it says it will as scenic byways, but Smith said he’s hopeful that one or two will lose their designation and open up the opportunity to get a southwest Minnesota highway in the group.
"We are unique here in typography and history, so there are some opportunities here," Smith said.
Once a state designates a highway as a scenic byway, getting on the national register is much simpler.
The Chamber or CVB may be interested in purchasing buffalo statues to place throughout Luverne. Smith said he would compare it to what the city of St. Paul has done with Snoopy, and community groups may paint or incorporate a unique look to the statues every year.
He said he looks for input from community members on ideas like this.
Smith said he'd like to see more biking and walking trails built in conjunction with the one the county is constructing this summer to the state park.
Smith said the bike trails in southeast Minnesota have become major tourist attractions, and some towns more than doubled their numbers of businesses with the trail's start in their area. Marketing the trails in Rock County could draw people who are biking on the Sioux Falls and soon-to-be-built Brandon paths.
Smith said trails to Pipestone and connecting to state parks along the way would also be a marketable tool for the area.
After the county's path is constructed, people can give feedback on other areas the path could take. This would allow for bikers or walkers to loop down to the Rock River or along the new Touch the Sky prairie area for different scenic options.
A long-term goal for Smith's office is to set up a site closer to the interstate that could inform travelers what they can do in the area.
Smith said the Beaver Creek information center at the rest area is valuable in guiding people to stop at attractions in the area. But many people just pull over and aren’t drawn downtown to the current office space the Chamber and CVB share.
"We're thinking ahead and trying to draw people into the community," Smith said.