Three officials, Kent Skaar, Larry Killien, and Joe Russell from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trails and Waterways Division met with the Grand Marais Park Board on Tuesday, September 2 to discuss proposed improvements to the Lake Superior public water access in the southwest corner of the harbor and city land within the recreation area.
Because upgrades suggested to date aren’t in the DNR budget and exceed current funds set aside for boater accessible improvements, Russell said any work proposed for the Grand Marais inner rubble mound break wall, parking area, and nearby beach is years away.
Harbors Program Coordinator and ADA Specialist Killien and Area Supervisor for Parks & Trails Supervisor Russell have met with the park board and public several times in the last year to discuss the project.
Killien said that as of now it would cost $500,000 to add 100 feet onto the current break wall, leaving it at the same height but also leaving it hard for people to walk out onto the large boulders. It would also cost another $400,000 to fix the parking lot and boat access so larger boats up to 35-feet long could be trailered into the water. Included in this cost would be a kayak/canoe launch, separate parking for smaller craft and a handicap accessible bathroom. All told, Killien said the budget would be $1.1 to $1.3 million for this job when all of the plans and fees were added up.
Jim Boyd, representing the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, told the park board not to settle for putting in a break wall that didn’t have a walkway until they had exhausted all of their options. Boyd asked the board to wait and request funds from the 2016 bonding cycle to see if money could be garnered there, he said, “to get what the public is hoping for.”
Boyd also asked Killien and Russell about the possibility of putting in floating, accessible wave attenuators. These attenuators would allow for a flat walking surface and also allow water to flow beneath the break wall to keep water from getting stagnant.
Both gentlemen said they had done some research on floating wave attenuators, but still needed to learn more, and each man wondered if these could hold up to the rigors of big storms or winter ice.
“Maybe they could stay where they are in the winter if you used deicers. We don’t know at this time. We have looked at them but we don’t have the answers yet,” said Killien, promising Boyd he would look into the matter further.
The board and DNR officials went over a list of seven attributes and amenities they asked the DNR to consider for a final build-out.
The first concerned providing security and access to the city’s municipal water treatment plant, which the park board was told was the city’s responsibility.
The second dealt with putting in a flat walkway on the break wall.
Number three asked that the basin within the protected area be built large enough to allow for staging, hauling-out and launching average sized (up to 35-feet) Lake Superior cruising boats, which looks doable in current plans.
The fourth idea dealt with making sure the launch was designed to hydraulic trailer standards for sloop (sail boats) at a 12 percent width and depth of 6 to 8 feet, which right now doesn’t look doable with the plans as they are now drawn.
The fifth request was to not have the new break wall be any taller than the current break wall, and the sixth talking point looked at putting in a non-motorized (kayak/canoe) watercraft access that is complementary to the current beach, which all three gentlemen said would be the case, and, as Skaar said, because kayaking is growing at such a rapid rate, these non-motorized accessible entry/exist points are now commonplace in DNR plans.
The seventh request asked that space for public art and fireworks display staging be included, and all DNR officials said only a special permit would be needed for the fireworks display and art work would be the purview of the park board.
“Remember, you own the land. It’s your harbor,” Russell said.
Park Board Chair Walt Mianowki said he was in favor of building a wooden platform so people cold take pictures of the moon over the harbor, as many people have said they do from the current break wall location. “That would be a whole lot cheaper than making a walkway on the break wall,” Mianowski said.
Russell asked if the DNR should carry on with the work based on the suggestions from the park board, and the board said yes. He promised to get back to the board within the next few months, noting he didn’t know if there was enough money in the budget to keep the architects who have made the plans for the project so far, on the payroll. “Their contract runs out in 60 days, if we have money, we will keep them on board, otherwise we won’t have new money until next July,” Russell said.
Boulder Park Pop-up
The Boulder Park Pop-up sidewalk project that ran from August 14-24 was moderately successful, said Tersteeg.
The temporary sidewalk of granite sand was installed between the Coast Guard parking lot and the start of the sidewalk in front of Cobblestone Cove. It was hoped that the park’s blue tent could be set up with picnic tables and benches put beneath it, but because of weather and a busy crew, that never happened. People also weren’t supposed to park in the dirt road along the park, but they ignored the signs and parked there anyway, said Tersteeg.
Still, Tersteeg noted that most people walking on the side of the road where the faux sidewalk was put in used it, and didn’t walk in the street like they usually do. He also said that if the tent and benches and picnic tables could have been put up, chances are it would have been much more successful.
“Maybe it’s something we could try again next June when it’s not so busy,” he added.
Tersteeg said the swimming pool bids for demolition have been sent out and the pool building should be removed in October or November.
Segway
Jim and Dianne Linden of Houlton, Wisconsin met with the Park Board and asked for permission to operate a Segway business in and around the recreation park and the city’s Harbor Park.
“For the past summer months we have operated a Segway tour business in Sheridan, Wyoming utilizing the city park and pathway system. We have had excellent feedback on our tours,” said Jim.
Sheridan’s park manager is Chuck Carbert, former manager of the Grand Marais Recreation Park.
“The initial plan is to locate a Segway operation site on the upper Highway 61 area of Grand Marais. We are proposing a tour route that would utilize the Gitchi Gami Trail along Highway 61 (Wisconsin Street) to 8th Street, continue along the campground and around the lower loop of Sweetheart’s Bluff. The tour would then continue along the campground bay area and back up to Gitchi Gami Trail. From there the tour would utilize the trail and bike path through town and out to the Coast Guard Station. The return trip would reverse this route, excluding a repeat trip in the campground and end back at the Segway operation site.”
Extensive training would be provided and tours typically would have fewer than six guests. We believe this tour route would enable many people to experience this beautiful area that possibly they would not be able to otherwise,” said Diane Linden.
The rides would be about 3½ miles long and last about one hour. The Lindens said they wouldn’t be offering rides on busy weekends like the Fisherman’s Picnic or the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival because the streets and sidewalks are too crowded. “Safety is our first and biggest concern,” Diane said.
All of the park board members expressed support for the proposal, but Tersteeg advised them to make a motion to have the city’s attorney look over the proposal, which they did. The Lindens said they would next present their business plan to the Grand Marais City Council and the Cook County Sheriff ’s department to see if it meets their approval.
Park update
Tersteeg said revenue for August was $13,000 down from last year but the year-to-date (YTD) revenue is up about $10,000. “So we’re still about 2 percent ahead of last year,” Tersteeg said, noting that August saw a big drop in daily visitors and was also down about $5,000 in gasoline sales at the fuel dock at the marina. “There hasn’t been as much sport fishing this month,” Tersteeg said.
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