ABOUT ME

Hi, I'm Dawn

Personal Experience and Leadership

I grew up in Fargo’s north side.My father, E. Vernon Hendrickson,

was a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. My mother was an elementary school teacher at Jefferson School. I graduated from Fargo Central High School and NDSU with a degree in English. I went to Graduate School at MSUM focusing on special education.

I have a wide range of leadership experience having served on many community boards and committees. Currently, I serve on the City of Fargo Planning Commission, the City of Fargo Master Plan Steering Committee for neighborhood planning, the City of Fargo Street Tree Master Plan Committee and am board president for the Jefferson Area Neighborhood Association.

I am also President of the Board of the Hjemkomst Scandinavian Festival and Treasurer for the Fargo Moorhead Heritage Society, an historic preservation organization.

My Vision for the future of Fargo, Goals and Objectives

I grew up in Fargo’s north side.My father, E. Vernon Hendrickson,

I have a wide range of leadership experience having served on many community boards and committees.Currently, I serve on the City of Fargo Planning Commission, the City of Fargo Master Plan Steering Committee for neighborhood planning, the City of Fargo Street Tree Master Plan Committee and am board president for the Jefferson Area Neighborhood Association.

I am also President of the Board of the Hjemkomst Scandinavian Festival and Treasurer for the Fargo Moorhead Heritage Society, an historic preservation organization.

The Red River: How to increase access, connectivity and use of the river

This would be a good time to strengthen a working relationship with other non-profits interested in the Red River. Riverkeepers would like to strengthen their connection to the Parks Department and is planning for an Interpretive Center. Another potential partner could be the Native American Coalition which is also planning an Interpretive Center at Prairie St Johns near the Red River in Downtown Fargo. Folkways is another organization interested in developing River activities.

Most of the paths in Fargo and Moorhead ultimately lead to the river. Those paths could be enhanced with signage such as maps, “you are here” notations and identifying sites such as the Midtown Dam and the kayak rental location in Moorhead. Also, there are many sites along the river which have historic ties to the past. Interpretive historic panels could be added to create enhanced interest in the river’s past including the monumental moving of the river and the part that Island Park played in the move . A walking historic river walk could be developed as an illustrated map and placed in the interpretive centers.

MISSION STATEMENT

My Vision for the future of Fargo, Goals and Objectives

I envision Fargo as a beautiful gem on the Prairie with a healthy environment, stable households, good jobs and safe neighborhoods.Connecting the neighborhoods with paths and pocket parks is one of my dreams.I would like to see gathering places for residents and public art enriching the environment.I would like to see more developed parks throughout the City, parks like Island Park, for walking, picnicking, gazebos for special events, encouragement of small festivals, vendor exhibits areas and food opportunities. Activities for all seasons would be offered to the public.

Proposal to Coordination of City, Parks, and Schools: How would I work to increase coordination of these entities

Three years ago, I founded the Fargo Neighborhood Coalition which holds public meetings and is comprised of anyone interested in neighborhoods issues. The mission of the organization is to work with the City, Parks and Schools to strengthen ties between them and to create a vision for coordinated planning. I currently serve on a Steering Committee working with consultants who are developing a core neighborhood plan for the City of Fargo. They will produce a master plan to guide the future of the neighborhoods including the parks and the schools.

I would like to see greater investment and development of the Neighborhood Parks. An example is Island Park, a model by which to enhance additional parks. I have been working with the Parks Department on Jefferson Park. We started many years ago with the establishment of perennial plantings along Fifth Avenue South and the addition of wooden signage identifying the park. We worked with the Parks forestry department to plant additional trees to create an inner open space with plantings to screen surrounding residences. At the recommendation of the Jefferson Area Neighborhood Association, a shelter is currently being built. By strengthening the Neighborhood Associations, groups of volunteers could “Adopt a Park,” as my neighborhood has done.