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Although there is still plenty of snow on the ground plans to open the Grand Marais Rec Park for May are coming into focus.
Members of the Grand Marais Park and Recreation Boar met on Tuesday, April 5 to discuss those plans.
On Aril 1st reservations opened for October, the last month to make reservations for the Rec Park and the staff has been calling down the waiting list to fill vacant seasonal sites.
Parks and Rec. Director Davis Tersteeg told the board the Rec Park is “shaping up to be another busy summer.”
Water and bathhouse service will be available May 1 and the last weekend for full service will be October 23rd.
Letters have been sent to last year’s seasonal staff and Tersteeg said many of the workers are coming back, including the entire staff from the Gunflint Hills community golf course. That said, he added, “We could still use a couple more maintenance workers and perhaps more help in the clubhouse at the golf course.”
The Rec Park will see a number of construction projects this summer, said Tersteeg, and guests are being notified about the impending work.
Construction documents and the bid package for The Landing in the Community Connection are close to being done. “The project should be available for bidding within the week and prices should be known by the end of the month,” he said, adding he hoped to have a contract ready for the city council’s May 11 meeting.
The second phase of the Parkside public water (boat launch) access project will take place this summer. All of the landside improvements (parking area etc.) will be completed and the area under construction will be closed until late fall.
The Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District has a project to reconstruct the storm water collection basin, particularly the discharge opening, said Tersteeg. That area is on the right side of the road leading into the Rec. Park.
“There is a chance we will be repaving the main road (8th Ave. South) if we receive funding form the state and get bids and plans together in time,” Tersteeg said.
The CCHS girls’ softball team will once again play their home games at the Rec Park ballfield. The first game is scheduled for April 19th, but that is dependent largely on the weather.
Golf report
Gunflint Hill’s golf course superintendent Paul Jones appeared remotely. Jones told the council that a large pine tree located on the bottom of the hill on No. 9 “snapped off,” which will change the look of the hole for the golfers.
As far as the greens go, until the snow melts Paul said he didn’t know how they would be. He said he was worried about the impact three to four inches of rain that fell on December 17, 2021, (and quickly froze) would have on the greens. But again, he won’t know until the snow leaves the course.
Stephen Aldric, board chair, asked Jones if he was going to start selling early season passes, and Jone replied he typically sold passes when the clubhouse opened. Next Aldrich also asked if there was any encouragement to get a high school golf team going again, noting the former coach was still a teacher at the high school. Jones said that sounded like a good idea and he agreed with Aldrich it would be good to encourage the youth to learn about and play the game of golf. Another suggestion by Aldrich for Jones was to see if Superior National would go in with Gunflint Hills on a package deal to encourage golfers to play both courses.
New board member Mathew Brown asked about the number of employees who work at the golf course and wondered about the revenue. Jones said there were two outside workers and two inside the clubhouse workers, but because of limited time, the two inside workers would work less this year and two other part-time workers would be hired. A third person, a student, also works outside and he will take on more duties this summer, noted Jones.
“It’s always a problem getting enough help,” said Jones.
As to the question of revenue, Tersteeg answered, “Three years ago when Paul took over it was around $100,000. Last year it was about $170,000.”
Jones said the course could be in the black this year with the return of Canadian golfers.
New Business
Jim and Michele Miller’s special event application to play music in Harbor and Boulder Park this summer was approved. Two other musicians special event applications to play music in the park were approved at the board’s last meeting. They are Pete Kavanaugh and Tom Knutson. Musicians can play between the hours of 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. working with each other on times to play.
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