Letter: High standards, but we can also improve

I would like to echo Susan Reese’s comments last week about the wealth of volunteers we have in the city, and how instrumental they were in helping us win first place in the America in Bloom contest.

Though many volunteers were responsible, the people of River Falls should know that the major credit for that great accomplishment goes to Susan Reese.

And I want to stress the high quality of “River Falls in Bloom,” which the judges said “…set a new standard for this kind of book.”

City Administrator Scot Simpson plans to use it when talking to prospective business owners who are interested in locating in River Falls.

It’s a very good advertisement for the city and its people, and is available for only $20 at Freeman Drug and other venues.

One of the best values of the competition is that the judges recommended several things as possible improvements for the city. One, in urban forestry, the category we scored lowest: “Plant deciduous shade trees on the south sides of buildings, particularly in the industrial park area to provide energy saving aspects of summer shade and winter sun.”

Another suggestion: “Businesses with parking lots should consider adding trees to provide shade to patrons as well as act as a draw or advertising ploy. Shoppers travel farther, stay longer and spend more in green retail areas.”

These suggestions, along with many others, will be considered as we make River Falls an even better community.

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion