As I approached the two blocks between Riverside Park and the neighborhood beyond 8th Street West, I was immediately struck by how distinct they seemed compared to their surroundings. Acting as almost a transitory space between the busy community energy of downtown and the infinite residential area beyond, the highly manicured lawns and parking lots of these blocks provide a sort of pause for the passerby.

The main route of this walk is fairly straightforward, with most of the spurs consisting of paved parking spaces. I started walking south on Water Street South, first encountering the rather imposing Wells Fargo Bank building.

While not always on the corner of 7th and Water Street, Wells Fargo has a long history in the city of Northfield. The Northfield Historical Society has several photographs of its early days, dated to the early 1900s. More recently, the bank appears as a sponsor for many community events throughout Northfield.

Continuing on, I walked along the second half of the block which consists of a large parking lot. For all the space there was, I only saw one lonely white car parked in the lot. A Wells Fargo ATM stands in the center of the pavement like a small island.

I cut back through the alley behind Wells Fargo, which is technically a one-way. Fluffy trees leaned in over the small road, creating a nice bit of shade. On the other side, the drive-through portion of the bank cut into the alley. I used to be fascinated by these as a kid.

Crossing back south on Spring Street, I started to see the big residential homes that make up the rest of this section. I noticed a little sunflower plant on a balcony of the Spring Street-side of Village on the Cannon and this beautiful ornamental grass in front of the Three Links building.

The Three Links Millstream Commons facility is an independent and assisted senior living facility. It’s quite a nice looking building, and boasts access to the lovely downtown Northfield, heath and wellness services, and community programming. Three Links, which now has several locations in the Northfield area, was originally the Odd Fellows Home. Established in Northfield in 1899, this was a home for both the elderly and children on the grounds of the old Nutting Farm. Three Links carries on this legacy of care in places like Millstream Commons today. There’s a cute little free library in front of the building, brimming with novels. Its plaque reads, “In honor of Kathy Olson, first executive director of Millstream Commons and lifelong learner.”

Next, I walked past Village on the Cannon, a massive condominium community for those over 55 years of age. On their website, they firmly distinguish themselves from their senior-care neighbor, emphasizing their “active, independent homeowners.” The truly expansive lawn greatly contributed to my experience of this neighborhood as flat and open. The lawn is neatly trimmed, but turning brown as autumn continues — although a vibrant green area persists around the building itself.

To cross back to the other side of the rectangle, I took a small path on the west side of Village on the Cannon, which was quite sweet in the warm October light. Walking towards Riverside Park, I approached some pickleball courts, which I imagine are happily used by nearby residents. On my walk up 7th Street West, I found a stray poster advertising pickleball lessons with Northfield Public Schools.

From there, I continued east up 7th Street West, which is a dead end where it meets the walking path. There’s a little construction there, near the curb, marked by a line of orange cones. I noticed a striking red wall in front of Village on the Cannon, whose color matched the berries of a lovely tree up the block. I’m not sure what kind it is.

Even though it initially seemed to me like an aggressively modern and manicured block, this area actually carries a lot of elements of historical Northfield. There’s a lot of community here, connecting further neighborhoods with the downtown area. The end of my walk was signaled by one of Northfield’s charming poems stamped into the concrete of the sidewalk, ever inspiring.