The Grand Marias Park Board, still short a member, voted in Walt Mianowski as its new chair and Todd Miller, its vice-chair, on February 2, 2010.
In response to a Cook County Community Center survey of community groups, the board discussed its thoughts on the possibility of a new county-run pool at the site of the current Community Center. Dave Tersteeg pointed out that the county has no parks and recreation department, and Community Center Diane Booth has no staff.
The Grand Marais Recreation Area master plan does not include a pool since some of the proceeds of the new 1% countywide sales and use tax have been earmarked for a new community pool on county land. “As far as I’m concerned,” Bill Lenz said, “except for the cost, this [the current pool] is a county pool now. I think the community center as it stands right now meets our needs.”
Lenz said he does not think the county can afford a big, fancy water park, but he supported transferring the climbing wall to the new facility and said “a slide would be nice.” He thought whoever is in charge of planning the new pool should talk to the hospital about installing a therapy pool.
Today’s pool users expect more than just a plain pool, Board member Robin DuChein said.
The board discussed the effect that a community center would have on local businesses if it included amenities now offered privately, such as a fitness center.
Todd Miller hopes affordable programs will be available for older people and families with kids. “It will be out of our hands when it’s out of our hands,” he said.
Thecity’s park and pool staff have a lot of knowledge, Tersteeg said. He believes a new pool would benefit from continued involvement by the current pool staff.
Marketing the park
Office Manager Samantha Williams reported on the Explore Minnesota tourism conference she had attended. People talked about “the new normal” after the latest economic downturn. 2009 was a bad year for many municipal parks, she said. 2010 will be better but not good, and 2011 is expected to be better. More people are vacationing in campgrounds during the recession, Tersteeg said.
Guests are increasingly interested in value and look for campgrounds that are “going green,” which the Grand Marais Rec Park is doing already, she said. “Value” amentities, Tersteeg said, include things like nicer shower curtains with rounded shower rods, updated bathroom fixtures, new paint, better quality soaps, and great signs.
A lot of campgrounds are marketing to younger people through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and I-phones, Williams said. The board encouraged the staff to get the park onto some of these sites. The group also talked about how to get the campground to pop up on Google searches. Thisis the type of marketing that will reach younger generations, Tersteeg said.
Minnesota needs an icon, Tersteeg said, like Hawaii has with its Hawaiian shirts. This summer, the park will be selling golf bags, frisbees, and novelty items with “Grand Marais” on them.
Todd Miller recommended that they attract attention to the park by beautifying its entrances at 8th Avenue West and by the walking trail from Highway 61 between North House Folk School and the campground.
Tersteeg said he would be attending an RV camping and vacation show in the Cities February 11-14. At these shows, he said, everyone who walks by their display stops to say they love Grand Marais and its tourist park.
Annual pool maintenance
Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen reported that the pool will close for annual maintenance March 1-5. Mostly cleaning and touch-ups—no big projects—will be needed this year, he said. Assistant Director Amber Clay said the staff continues to get “huge compliments” on the new benches in the sauna.
New buoys for harbor
The board passed a motion to purchase two buoys with a scope of 2½-to-1 in 18 feet of water at a cost of $6,250 delivered. They will each earn $500-800 a season at a rate of $26 per foot. A five-year recoup time is expected, Tersteeg said. The first two people on the harbor mooring waiting list took the offer of mooring space. Theywill be placed where two private moorings were vacated.
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