After reviewing the latest Minnesota DNR guidelines concerning opening campgrounds around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grand Marais park board decided to open June 4 for self-contained guests on independent sites and open select bathhouses on June 15 for dependent sites.
The motions passed at the board’s June 2 meeting.
Grand Marais Parks and Recreation Director Dave Tersteeg said he feels comfortable meeting the guidelines set forth by the DNR, and he recommended keeping bathhouse #2 closed for the season.
A motion by Craig Schulte to sunset the request for seasonal guests to isolate for 14 days after arrival but asking guests to continue to follow the guidelines set forth by the state to allow for safer operations, was also passed with all ayes.
With the park getting set to open, Tersteeg advised the board that opening back up should be tempered with an “expectation that we may need to scale back or possibly close in the vent of changing conditions.”
On June 3, Tersteeg said he was getting a lot of calls from people interested in coming to the campground when it opened on the 15th. Gunflint Hill golf course report
Gunflint Hill’s Golf Course Superintendent Paul Jones reported that course conditions, “were looking good,” and will only get better as summer settles in. Daily rounds are up 56 percent over last year at this time, and membership sales are strong, especially with students and millennials, said Jones.
One enticement for getting people out on the course has been the pre- June 15 special discounts for city residents, noted Jones.
Paulik requests permission to play in the harbor park
Fans of Joe Paulik will be happy that the singer songwriter submitted a special event application for Harbor Park throughout the summer to play music.
Paulik’s application runs weekends from June 20 to October 3. He plans to play from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekends, weather providing. Schulte asked about other performers who might want to play on those dates and Joe said he was open to having other performers joining him.
There was a motion by Rita Hinchman, second by Steve Aldrich and passed unanimously. Joe’s application now goes before the Grand Maris City council, where he must secure a peddler’s permit.
Parkside public water access project
Tersteeg briefed the board about the latest concept design plans from the DNR for the upgraded public water access located near the dog pound in the southwest corner of the park. While no work will occur this year, the DNR is in the permitting process with an anticipated construction schedule of 2021. Natural and cultural resource assessments are now underway, and a crew to take soil samples (boring team) will begin work.
Started in 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trails and Waterway Division and the City of Grand Marais joined together to consider a way to consolidate the two public boating access in Grand Marais and create one, premier location on the harbor.
The $2.3 million Parkside project will redevelop the existing boat ramp, which is crumbling and inadequate, and needs replacing. Plus, the existing breakwater doesn’t adequately protect boaters seeking refuge off the lake during lousy weather.
Also, the existing gravel parking lot is inadequate and poses environmental problems for the lake.
Tersteeg said large rock for the inner rubble rock breakwall might be brought in next winter. Plans are to extend the current breakwall and make an L shape. The new breakwall will be surfaced so it can be easily walked on.
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