University of Minnesota - Crookston

04/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2025 16:53

U of M Crookston classes partner with city to present trails usage and marketing plan

In the natural resources world, you have to work with a lot of different agencies so this project has been great practice for that.

Elijah Denisen, Land Use Planning class student

University of Minnesota Crookston students in both the Marketing Strategies class and Natural Resources Land Use Planning class are taking a hands-on learning approach in their partnership with the City of Crookston as they look to present findings and recommendations on the city's trails, its usage, and marketing of the trails to the region. Students have researched the community's trails and will present their plan to the City Council and Economic Development Authority on April 30 at 4 p.m. inside Valley Technology Park.

"This project is a great example of experiential learning in action," said Assistant Professor Al Fattal, Ph.D. "It gives students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges while developing valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and community engagement."

"Through this project students have an opportunity to work on a community driven project with peers from another discipline," Associate Professor Eric Castle, Ph.D. added. "This allows them to see the perspective and expertise of a different profession."

The University's marketing classes and the city's EDA have been working closely for the last five semesters on a variety of projects, and continue to bring the students' fresh perspectives to the needs of the community. U of M Crookston's Land Use Planning class jumped in this semester to help the city's parks and recreation department determine the accessibility of the community's trails and to document what should be part of the trails marketing strategies. This project, like many others, provides real world experience and helps get students career ready.

"This class has really given me an insight to the local planning process," said Land Use Planning class student Elijah Denisen. "It's been really neat to work on a project here in Crookston that focuses on managing the trails as well as discussing more options for the trails."

"Through this project we have had to work in different groups within our class while also working with a different class entirely," Denisen added. "In the natural resources world you have to work with a lot of different agencies so this project has been great practice for that."

Students and professors working on the trails project will be featured in Worcester Polytechnic Institute's AdvancePBL (Project Based Learning) quarterly newsletter, plus the project is set to be featured in the Minnesota Daily.

About U of M Crookston
The University of Minnesota Crookston is one of five campuses in the prestigious University of Minnesota System offering students an exceptional, hands-on learning experience in a safe, close-knit community. Known for its #1 ranked dorms, NCAA Division II athletics, affordable tuition, and a supportive environment, U of M Crookston provides personalized attention and mentorship to help you thrive academically and professionally. With over 75 programs to choose from, including both on-campus and online options, you'll find a path that fits your goals at U of M Crookston. Small campus. Big Degree. The best of both worlds. Learn more and apply at www.umcrookston.edu.

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