Oak Grove Lutheran - Elementary
School District
Oak Grove Lutheran
Grades
Pre-Kindergarten through 5
Average Enrollment:
235 students
Arrival is 8:25 AM
Dismissal is 2:55 PM for Pre-K through 1
3:05 PM for 2 through 5
Existing Conditions
Oak Grove Lutheran Schools is a private Lutheran school district with two locations. The Elementary (southern) location serves Pre-K through 5th grade. It is located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of downtown Fargo in the city’s Stonebridge Neighborhood.
The Oak Grove Lutheran school system was established in 1906. The Elementary is bound by 32nd Avenue S to the north, 27th Street S to the east, residential to the south, and 28th Street S to the west. The school is located in a commercial corridor adjacent to Essentia Hospital.
32nd Avenue S is a high traffic volume roadway with observed high speed traffic. The other roads surrounding Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary are local roadways.
32nd Avenue S has a school speed zone for Ed Clapp Elementary, but the speed zone ends just east of the Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary campus building.
Observed Circulation & Challenges
The Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary campus is very small and lacks bike parking and multiple sidewalk connections. In particular, separated and raised spaces for pedestrians are missing in both the north and south parking lots. Staff provides traffic control in the south parking lot during drop-off and pick-up to allow students and families to cross the driving loop.
The intersection of 32nd Avenue S and 27th Street S is wide with high traffic volumes and drivers were observed speeding along the corridor. The median is not wide enough to act as a pedestrian safety island. Additionally, the crossing is not marked by signage, nor crosswalk markings.
Kirsten Lane, which leads to the school from the east lacks sidewalks on both sides of the roadway.
Opportunities for Improvement
Though few students were observed walking and biking to Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary, it is important to provide comfortable spaces for people to do so if they wish. Making connections across the two parking lots is a high impact opportunity, as well as creating shorter crossings and more visibility across 27th Street S.
Improving the crossing of 32nd Avenue S at 27th Street S should be explored as more students and families consider the possibility of walking and biking to Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary.
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
2720 32nd Avenue S Fargo, ND 58103
For more detailed information regarding Oak Grove Elementary School Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement see the full Oak Grove Elementary School Chapter below:
How to Get Involved at Oak Grove Elementary?
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.