Baxterization

Yesterday, the City Pages had a good article about what is happening to Minnesota's northern regions. The writer uses the term "Baxterization" to describe the invasion of former small towns and resort areas with strip malls and big box retail.

The first part of the story, about the damage that ATVs are doing on public land, paints a disgusting picture. Last year, the legislature passed an ATV bill that would have closed state forests to ATVs unless specifically posted. However, this year, the legislature threw a huge loophole in there, exempting state forests north of U.S. Highway 2. So ATV riders can trash our forests all they want, and they are doing so.

ATV riders should be able to enjoy their sport, yes, but only on designated trails. State forests are our forests. I was brought up to respect public property; apparently, these people weren't. I really have to wonder what they are thinking.

The, there's the issue of what is happening in Baxter. I haven't been up there in many years; certainly not since MnDOT widened the highway. Now, I'm not sure I want to go there. They took away Paul Bunyan even. Why bother going there at all anymore?