Q: Say, I want to know where the names are for the people who contributed thousands of dollars to that hospital. There was a wall with all the names. Where did it go? I would like to know, and many more people would like to know, because there’s many people who donated and they want to know where that wall went.
A: The missing tribute to donors to Mankato’s hospital, referenced by the reader, dates back to the facility’s days as Immanuel-St. Joseph’s Hospital and it was an eye-catching fixture of the main entrance and lobby on the hospital’s east side. Using a “tree of life” theme, the large display relied on wood carvings attached to the wall that included tree trunks, acorns, clouds and soaring birds. Gleaming metal plaques — mostly shaped as the dozens of leaves on the trees — were engraved with the names of people being honored for their contributions.
Mayo Clinic Health System didn’t say specifically what happened to the tribute trees and other elements of that wall, but its exit came with the latest major expansion and renovation project at the regional health care facility.
“Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato’s hospital expansion project has presented the opportunity to refresh the way we honor and thank benefactors in physical spaces,” said Elly Sterling, senior director of recognition in the Department of Development, in a written response to the reader’s question.
The disappearance of the artistic homage to past contributors doesn’t mean that donors are no longer being recognized.
“Most recently, we installed a new digital display in a specialty care waiting area inside the hospital’s main entrance to recognize benefactors who contributed to a past fundraising campaign supporting cardiology and cancer care,” Sterling said.
The digital display is a video screen that cycles between donors to those two projects. Additional variations could be forthcoming as well.
“We are exploring ways to reimagine other recognition installations in the future,” she said. “It is a privilege to continue honoring the generosity of our benefactors who advance our patient-centered mission.”
Q: Why is Stadium Lane not paved like nearly every other street and alley in Mankato?
A: Stadium Lane, for the majority of folks who have probably never heard of it, is located along South Victory Drive on the southeastern edge of Mankato. Only about 500 yards long, the western half of Stadium Lane leads to the big residential townhouse development known as Stadium Courtyard. And it’s paved.
On the other side of Victory Drive, Stadium Lane doesn’t really lead anywhere other than to Mankato Mini Storage and to Foley Road.
But the real reason that the eastern segment of Stadium Lane is different than “nearly every other street and alley in Mankato” is that it isn’t in Mankato.
“This road segment is currently a township road and not in city limits,” said Assistant City Engineer Michael McCarty. “Mankato Township is currently responsible for the road. Once the road is annexed it would be improved to city of Mankato standards.”
Waiting makes financial sense for everyone involved. The cost of adding storm sewers, maybe other utilities, curb and gutter, and pavement would be sort of an unnecessary expense for the township, considering that only the storage place and an electrical substation rely on the gravel road for access. The properties on the north side of that segment of Stadium Lane, including a big lumber yard, use other roads for access to their site.
If any of the adjoining properties are ever sold for redevelopment, especially if they join the booming residential construction trend in that part of Mankato, they would need to be hooked up to municipal water and sewer and be annexed into the city. And Mankato could then assess most of the cost of the utility and street improvements to the developers.
Contact Ask Us at The Free Press, 418 S. Second St., Mankato, MN 56001. Call Mark Fischenich at 344-6321 or email your question to mfischenich@mankatofreepress.com; put Ask Us in the subject line.