In 2014, for a mere $430, the city of Grand Marais got itself another park, and an organization to maintain it! Frankie Jarchow, president of the Grand Marais Garden Club was on a committee for the Great Place Project and recognized a need. Frankie approached Mike Roth, City Clerk, about the possibility of making the weed tangled strip alongside 1st street into a small park.
The Great Place Project grant was applied for and granted. Members of the Garden Club have worked to maintain the project with assistance from the city; it has been a workable collaboration.
Truly a community project, many others have also helped. Heidi Doo-Kirk and her husband brought large boulders to help protect and stabilize the fragile site. Gan Messenbring and others recommended what to plant – day lilies, autumn joy sedum, and shrubs etc. many of which were donated by the Abrahamsons. Hedstrom Lumber Co donated mulch. That first year was one of clearing out years of neglect and to build better soil as well as planting.
But, there’s a mystery! Besides the weeds there were beautiful rose bushes, lilacs, etc. This was not an uncared for piece of land! Who was it that once cared for the place we now call the 1st Street Park? We don’t know but hope that someone will have and share that information.
The Garden Club meets the second Monday of every month from April until December 10 a.m. at the Senior Center in Grand Marais. The Sept. 10 meeting’s program will be a “Hands on” container gardening. Visitors are most welcome.
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