[Speed Gibson,
Sunday October 9, 2005 at 11:03pm]
Maple Grove is Finished
I couldn't resist the misleading title. More precisely, I have finished walking every street in Maple Grove, a journey of 447 miles.
This was my ninth such city, and completes my goal of walking every city in the Comcast franchise here in the northwest suburbs which are Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Osseo, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Maple Grove. Some statistics:
My method is to pick a number of "park and walk" sites per city based on area and population (i.e., density of development). I used a total of 30 such sites - typically city parks or large shopping area parking lots. I do not bring maps with me. I study them at home and walk from memory, though I often drive the route first to check for map errors or new construction.
I obtain these maps from City Hall. Most were free, some a few dollars. Golden Valley's map proved to be the most inaccurate, but the biggest problem everywhere was the lack of "Dead End" signs on dead end streets. I'm not talking about the short 300-600 foot cul-de-sacs, but streets whose end is not visible from the entrance due to hills or turns. I would bet there were at least 100 of these across the nine cities. I even saw a couple of posted Dead Ends that were not.
A problem many have asked me about is dogs. I had very little actual trouble, though I have to give the the dubious title of "city of unleashed dogs" to Plymouth. There, I was "greeted" by more dogs coming out to meet me in the street than in the other eight cities combined. I do not exagerate.
I will soon begin "Phase II" starting with St. Louis Park, where I grew up.
This was my ninth such city, and completes my goal of walking every city in the Comcast franchise here in the northwest suburbs which are Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Osseo, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Maple Grove. Some statistics:
- Total trips: 332
- Total miles: 2,258
- Average miles/trip: 6.8
- Total days: 1,325 (just over 3.6 years)
- Average miles/week: 11.9
- Total area: 131 square miles
- Pairs of walking shoes worn out: 2
My method is to pick a number of "park and walk" sites per city based on area and population (i.e., density of development). I used a total of 30 such sites - typically city parks or large shopping area parking lots. I do not bring maps with me. I study them at home and walk from memory, though I often drive the route first to check for map errors or new construction.
I obtain these maps from City Hall. Most were free, some a few dollars. Golden Valley's map proved to be the most inaccurate, but the biggest problem everywhere was the lack of "Dead End" signs on dead end streets. I'm not talking about the short 300-600 foot cul-de-sacs, but streets whose end is not visible from the entrance due to hills or turns. I would bet there were at least 100 of these across the nine cities. I even saw a couple of posted Dead Ends that were not.
A problem many have asked me about is dogs. I had very little actual trouble, though I have to give the the dubious title of "city of unleashed dogs" to Plymouth. There, I was "greeted" by more dogs coming out to meet me in the street than in the other eight cities combined. I do not exagerate.
I will soon begin "Phase II" starting with St. Louis Park, where I grew up.