Business has been brisk at the Grand Marais Recreation Park, said Parks and Rec Director Dave Tersteeg to the Grand Marais park board which met Tuesday, September 3.
August park and marina revenue totaled $274,830, up 7.2 percent over last August.
“It felt busier than last August,” noted Tersteeg.
The year-to-date revenue stands at $1,067,638, up 5.6 percent ($56,434) versus 2018.
Plans for the parkside public water access project are moving ahead, with the breakwater engineering well under way, said Tersteeg. He noted the DNR would extend the 100-foot-long rubble rock breakwall out another hundred feet and cap it with concrete, featuring a knee wall/bench top. “It will be very pedestrian friendly,” he said.
The final plans should be available for review and bidding late 2019, he said, with the DNR presenting the final plans to the community.
As it stands now, Dave said, the heavy rock for the breakwall will be brought to the site this winter, with the hope that work could begin this spring on the ramp and breakwall, with work on the parking area to follow.
Sally Berg asked when the city would move the public works garages. Tersteeg replied that the city knows it is responsible for demolishing them and removing them so the park access project can move forward.
“This western area of the project zone is likely the last to be programmed, and may in fact take on a phase 2 approach of adding more improved parking should the need be realized,” he said.
Total cost of the ramp and breakwall is expected to run around $1.5 million. Funds were first sought in 2015 and then $2 million was received from the legislature in 2017. The ramp and breakwall are just two of many plans the park has for the area, but as time has passed, the cost of the work has gone up. “Our fear is that we won’t have enough money to do all of the projects we hoped to do,” Tersteeg said.
Next summer boaters will have to use the Coast Guard public launching area as the new breakwall is put in. The kayak launch area is going to be moved from the beach to near the breakwall, noted Tersteeg.
Golf report
Gunflint Hills golf course revenue for August was $30,131.04, up 40.5 ($8,685) percent versus 2018. Year-to-date revenue stands at $1,067,638, up 5.6 percent ($56,434) versus 2018.
Paul Jones, Gunflint Hills superintendent, couldn’t attend the park board meeting but Tersteeg said Jones and his staff have identified two priority items needed for next season. “The fairway mower needs to be replaced and they need some (2-4) golf carts. The fairway mower is on its last legs. They have spent a lot of time on maintenance and purchasing replacement parts to keep it running. Paul is looking for a used one with low hours. Maybe one that’s been leased.”
On September 9 Gunflint Hills will be the site of the Plein Aire Grand Marais “Art of Golf.”
“We are underwriting a $300 prize sponsorship for the day and offering $5 off daily greens fees for participants and their families,” Dave said.
On Thursday, September 12 there will be Quick Paint at Artist Point with a Hootenanny at the Grand Marais campground pavilion.
The plein aire competition will be held September 6-13 with 100 painters registered to participate in the open class exhibit and activities.
The Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, and the Cook County Historical Society at Johnson Heritage Post host the competition.
Radio Waves
The three-day WTIP Radio Waves music festival takes place this weekend in the park (Sept. 6-9), and the Skinnie Winnies are coming back for their annual rally September 9-12. Tersteeg said the weekends towards the end of the month are filling with people who are coming to look at the fall colors.
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