Grand Marais Rec Park numbers down from last year

Revenue dipped 1.5 percent from last year’s record June receipts at the Grand Marais campground, reported Grand Marais Park Director Dave Tersteeg to the park board at the board’s July 5 meeting.

However, noted Tersteeg, year-to-date revenue through June is about even with last year and up about $1,000, more than $640,000 taken in by June’s 2021 end.

So, even though occupancy was down in June 2022, revenues are up because the board passed a three percent rate increase that has kept the proceeds up.

The next three months are the park’s busiest month, and reservations for those months look very strong.

Why are the numbers lower this year? Lousy weather, inflation, and high gas prices are three suspected reasons not as many people have come to the rec park this year.

Still, there are robust numbers in the park. Enough to keep the work crew extremely busy as they mow and clean the grounds and assist campers if they need help. The ground staff also is grooming and chalking the ball field for the summer softball league.

When it comes to mowing, Tersteeg noted in the past; the city park crews mowed the boulevard between the highway and the Gitchi-Gami bike trail on the west and east side of town. However, last fall, the highway 61 project installed new sod on both sides of the highway through city limits, and the city doesn’t have enough workers in the maintenance crew to complete all of the work.

“Our crew doesn’t have the capacity to keep all of the new turf mowed regularly,” noted Tersteeg. And according to the city ordinance, the land owner adjacent to the right-of-way is responsible for regularly mowing the turf and removing the snow.

Parkside Public Water Access

Work on the Parkside Public Water Access project is going well, with most of the new ramp done, especially the underwater section. Tersteeg said the final grading on the parking lot was in progress, and most of the stormwater management infrastructure is now being installed. Most of the project should be complete by the end of August.

Before the regularly scheduled meeting, members of the park board took a walking tour of the park and marina. The tour allowed board members to learn more about the park and marina and the general operating features needed to keep the operation running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. It also allowed the board to see what needs improving and plan for future upgrades.