Fresh Air Fridays

When Mendota Heights resident Kirsten Ramirez began work on the applied practice experience for her Public Health Master’s Degree program at the University of Minnesota, her first thought was of her hometown. 

Some impacts of concern that Kirsten Ramirez looked to address were the environmental impacts that she saw impacting Mendota Heights and her Mendota Heights Neighbors including: 

  • Impact of climate change in Mendota Heights:
  • Record heat
  • Canadian wildfire smoke and poor air quality
  • Drought and watering restrictions
  • Cancelation of winter recreational activities due to warmth (ice fishing, outdoor ice rinks, winter events)
  • Longer season for ticks and other vectors of disease

Taking aim at addressing climate change through community involvement, Kirsten approached the City’s Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources Commissions about changing community habits and reducing environmental impacts from everyday activities. 

With the endorsement of the City Council, Kirsten has now launched Fresh Air Fridays! This citizen-led initiative encourages residents to make intentional choices and efforts to reduce pollution, each Friday throughout the spring and summer months.

Whether it’s choosing to walk, bike or carpool; opting to repurpose instead of buying new; making energy efficient choices at home; or deciding to compost food waste; residents are encouraged to think outside the box and have a little fun while participating in Fresh Air Fridays.

Ready to join in? Take the pledge online and get started today!

Examples of Fresh Air Friday Activities

  • Choose to walk, bike, or carpool

  • Date night at a local restaurant

  • Compost your food waste

  • Buy something second-hand instead of new

  • Eat a meatless meal

  • Consider clean energy options for your home

  • Adjust your thermostat

  • Wash laundry with cold water

  • Plant a native species

  • Adopt a sewer drain

  • Talk to your neighbors and encourage them to join you

How to Participate

Fresh Air Fridays is grounded in the idea that collectively people can change the environment by individual small actions that reduce their environmental impact. Big problems such as climate change will not be changed by one action alone, but small steps can make a big difference. By challenging the convenient decisions we often make, Mendota Heights community members can come together collectively and with choices that will create cleaner air for all! Every Friday #challengeyourconveniece by participating in Fresh Air Fridays. 

STEP 1: SIGN THE PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE IN FRESH AIR FRIDAYS 

The Fresh Air Fridays Pledge: "The health of our planet is connected to the health of us all. By making intentional choices, we can have an impact on the effects of climate change. I pledge to work with my community members to make fresh air a priority. I will use Fridays as a day to make new choices that will reduce greenhouse gasses. Together we can make change." Sign the Fresh Air Fridays pledge.

Step 2: Think about how your actions impact the environment

Some things that we do have big impacts on the environment, some for the better and some for the worse. Take time to think about the ways in which your daily actions might contribute to pollution, climate change, or other environmental impacts. 

Step 3: Each Friday take a tangible step to reduce your enviornmental impact

This might include walking or riding your bike for transportation instead of driving in a car. Another way might be to sign up for the Mendakota Park Compost Drop Off Program and start a compost bin for food scraps. Maybe your family will make a point to go to dinner locally rather than driving to a restaurant farther away. Tell us your ideas about how you are going to participate in Fresh Air Fridays!

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Snap a photo of the ways in which you are making weekly changes to make a positive impact on the environment, and enter to receive a gift basket filled with items to help you embrace sustainability at home! To qualify, submit a photo of what you did in a direct message to the City on Facebook or Instagram, mail or drop off your photo at City Hall, or email your photo to Krista Spreiter. Be sure to submit your name, contact information, and a short description of what you are doing with your photo when submitting a photo by mail or in-person. Forms are available at City Hall.

Contest Rules

  • Photos and drawing entries will be accepted between June 1 – August 31, 2024.
  • Photos must be appropriate for posting in government publications.
  • If identifiable, people are in the photograph and it was taken in a non-public space, it is the photographer's responsibility to obtain permission to use it.
  • The City of Mendota Heights may reproduce photos for City publications, advertising, recreation programs, and/or marketing materials.
  • One entry/photo per person.
  • Entrants must be a resident of Mendota Heights.