Oak Grove Lutheran Middle
School District
Oak Grove Lutheran
Grades
6 through 8
Average Enrollment:
140 students
Arrival is 8:25 AM
Dismissal is 3:30 PM
Existing Conditions
Oak Grove Lutheran Schools is a private Lutheran school district with two locations. The Middle School (northern) campus serves grades 6 through 12 and is located approximately one-mile northeast of downtown Fargo in the city’s Horace Mann Neighborhood.
The north campus was established in 1906 and is bound by South Terrace N to the south, Short Street to the west, and Oak Grove Park to the north and east. Oak Grove Park provides a shared-use path that connects to Moorhead via a pedestrian bridge. The roads surrounding the campus are primarily local roadways with localized traffic.
Observed Circulation & Challenges
The Oak Grove Lutheran Middle campus has great connections to the area’s multiuse trail system, but there are still many opportunities to improve conditions for people walking and biking to campus.
Sidewalks are present on both sides of most streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Gaps in the sidewalk network include the west side of Short Street and along the north side of South Terrace N along the school property.
The Fargo Mickelson/Tricorn Bike Path and pedestrian lift bridge are great community assets that provide connections to many Fargo neighborhoods and Moorhead; however, both were flooded and not accessible during field observations due to heavy rain events.
Student and adult drivers were observed to be speeding along South Terrace N, which is signed as a school speed zone.
Opportunities for Improvement
Traffic calming elements such as curb extensions, chicanes, speed bumps, and other treatments are recommended along South Terrace N to discourage motorists from exceeding the posted speed limit.
Sidewalk infill projects are recommended along Short Street and on South Terrace N adjacent to Oak Grove Lutheran Middle. A new trail at a higher elevation is recommended through the Mickelson Field area. The existing trail is a wonderful asset but is not usable for much of the fair-weather school year due to flooding. A new trail could include connections to 11th Avenue N and the baseball diamonds on the west side of the park.
High visibility crosswalks and adjustments to school crossing signage are recommended at the intersection of South Terrace N and Short Street.
Bicycle parking should also be upgraded and relocated to a more prominent and visible location.
Suggested Safe Route To School
This map was designed to illustrate suggested routes to school for students based on existing infrastructure. Metro COG is not liable for anyone that uses this map.
Last Updated: February 2020
124 North Terrace Fargo, ND 58102
For more detailed information regarding Oak Grove Lutheran Middle School Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement see the full Oak Grove Lutheran Middle School Chapter below:
How to Get Involved at Oak Grove Middle?
I'm a parent...
Parents can use this plan to understand the conditions at their children’s school and to become familiar with the ways a SRTS program can work to make walking and bicycling safer. Concerned parents or city residents have a very important role in the Safe Routes to School process. Parent groups, both formal and informal, have the ability and the responsibility to help implement many of the educational and encouragement programs suggested in this plan. Parent groups can also be key to ongoing success by helping with fundraising for smaller projects and programs.
I'm a student...
Students are perhaps the most influential when it comes to advocating for change at their schools and in their neighborhoods. Student leaders have the capacity to organize programs in their schools to continue momentum of this planning effort.
I am a School Administrator...
School administrators have an important role in implementing the recommendations contained within this SRTS plan. For a plan to succeed, the impetus for change and improvement must be supported by the leadership of the school.
School administrators can help with making policy and procedural changes to projects that are within school grounds and by distributing informational materials to parents within school publications.
I am a teacher or school staff member...
Other than parents, teachers might interact with students the most. Teachers can include bicycle and pedestrian safety in lesson plans. Sharing books in the classroom that promote walking and biking is a good way to get kids interested at an early age. Teachers can also arrange for field trips within walking distance of school and incorporate informal lessons about safety along the way. In general, being positive and encouraging about walking and biking is a great way to start.
2020 City of Fargo Safe Routes to School Plan Documents
Return to the 2020 City of Fargo SRTS Plan project page for more information regarding the plan process and further documentation.