Battle Lake, Minn.─ November 17, 2025 ─Please join us on Wednesday, December 10, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Battle Lake Public Schools New Commons Space (402 Summit Street West) for the Battle Lake Innovate: Community Design Event to build a shared future for the place we love.

The event will include a presentation on the Community Design project, opportunities to share your input and ideas, free art projects for children of all ages, and a free meal.

The Battle Lake Innovate Community Design project will include a community design workshop this winter to envision housing and other community design ideas through a deep engagement process, working in partnership with the University of Minnesota (UMN) Empowering Small Minnesota Communities program. This is a collaborative input experience, working with city leaders and all interested Battle Lake area community members to collect ideas, explore opportunities, discuss priorities and visualize possible design solutions for Battle Lake.

A group of area community members has been gathering this summer and fall to help define the project goals and to plan the workshop. Additionally, this group of stakeholders designed focus group research objectives and questions. The first set of focus groups will be held this month, with potential for additional focus groups and interview research in the coming months.

Following the community design workshop and input sessions, the UMN team will analyze and compile the findings into a report and an exhibit to share with the community. These materials can be used as tools to advance collaboration, communicate the community goals, and facilitate conversations and next steps with potential partners, developers and funders.

The Community Design Workshop is intended for all Battle Lake-area community members, including interested residents, future residents, business owners, elected officials, and stakeholders who would like to explore and co-design housing and planning solutions for the City of Battle Lake. All are invited to join us on December 10, 2025, to learn more about this exciting project and the opportunity to build a shared future for the place we love.

With questions, please contact Val Martin, Clerk/Treasurer/EDA Director, City of Battle Lake, at 612-508-0459 or cityclerk@BattleLakeMN.org.