For years Carlson has been known for her intricate and detailed chalk art. A few years ago Carlson was asked by Heart of New Ulm (HONU) to assist with creating “Move This Way” activities at North Park. The project included the creation of eight activity stations painted on the sidewalk surrounding North Park.

“The whole thing is about mental health,” Carlson said.

Coming out of COVID, HONU noticed many children who were having issues with mental health. Several mental health professionals working with HONU recommended youth start interacting and talking with others. This could be friends or family, but there was also a need for them to get more active and exercise.

“Move This Way” was designed to get young people and their parents to be physically active and to start having important conversations about mental health.

Thursday morning Chalk Lady, Kara Carlson, teams up with Lailah Sanders to draw a dog on the “Move this Way” parth around North Park.

Carlson led a quick tour of the stations she painted around North Park and their purpose. The first station is near the North Park bean bag boards. Users are asked to throw throw bean bags and make a wish or goal.

The second station has participants stepping from spot to spot. The idea is to discuss the different steps, big and small, needed to reach a goal.

Station three is about following footprints using words of affirmation.

Station four asks users to jump along the path, but first assess the risk of reach path. The activity is designed to have families discuss risking behavior with kids.

Station five is about staying balanced. Participants are asked to walk a narrow line and talk about what helps them stay balanced.

10 year-old Malia Ellingsberg learns to draw mermaids from Kara Carlson, the chalk lady during special event at North Park.

Station six is a follow the leader style game. Two people try to match a pattern of step. Carlson said the idea it to teach youths when behavior should be copied and when it should not.

Station seven is the about coping methods. The station includes a visual representation of the box breathing method which can improve how a person feels.

Station eight is about answering tough questions. Participants are asked to discuss what they are concerned with or want to accomplish in life.

Jen Maurer with HONU said the Move this Way project was years in the making. It first came into fruition after COVID with Carlson painting the first station three years ago. New stations were added last summer and this summer.

She said the goal of Move This Way is to help families in general. The art is geared toward children, but the hope is their parents will walk the route with them and have conversations while moving.

Blakley Thorson, (left) Kara Carlson (center) and Lailah Sanders (right) add chalk art to the sidewalk around North Park during Heart of New Ulm (HONU) and Rec. on the Go event.

“It’s not just for kids, its for all ages,” Maurer said.

Since the stations were first painted around North Park, many families followed the path. Maurer said many day cares have walked it as well as other families. At least 80 separate families have filled out the survey attached to a QR code at the final station. HONU wants to get more families active and participating in Move this Way.

Thursday’s collaboration with Rec on the Go was designed to promote the Move This Way path but also to add additional chalk art. Carlson gave her expertise to help youth create chalk art on the sidewalk path. A dozen or more children added to the path creating a variety of images ranging from farm animals and sea creatures to colorful mermaids and dragons.

Maurer said the hope is to continue to add new stations to the walk. Carlson said she had other ideas for artwork, but also hoped children and family would continue adding their chalk drawings to the path.

The walk aims to educate the community about mental health topics such as trauma and anxiety and guide them to local tools and resources available on the Heart of New Ulm’s website.

Kara Carlson points to the instruction sign for station two fo the Move this Way. Calrson emphasized each station has a physical activity and a discussion prompt.

The Chalk Lady, Kara Carlson shows 10 year-old Malia Ellingsberg how to draw a mermaid during the Heart of New Ulm event at North Park. Sue Beran attended to show support for the chalk art.

The fifth station on the “Move This Way” path around North Park is all about balance. Kara Carlson said this station has users attempt to walk the tight rope painted over the city. The idea is to get families talking about how they stay balanced in life.

The Move This Way path loops around North Park. The end of the path is located near the start. For this reason artist Kara Carlson painted a message reading: Maybe the end is just the beginning.

Kara Carlson stands at the start of the Move This Way path around North Park. Carlson painted the different stations on the path as part of Heart of New Ulm’s efforts to increase activity and mental health in the community.