It’s a go.
The park board approved without dissent an agreement with the Northwoods Food Project that will allow the establishment of community gardens in the Rec Park beginning this summer.
“We look forward to this endeavor. It is certainly a precedent to have a municipal park interested in promoting community gardens for both locals and summer residents,” wrote Melinda Spinler in a letter to the park board. Spinler, who as chair of the Food Project’s efforts is spearheading the community gardens concept, continued, “As with all projects I am sure it will develop in an ‘organic’ manner and have lots of new ideas grow out of it, so communication and exchange of ideas is vital. Thank you for this opportunity to work together.”
The park board’s vote preceded their April 6 meeting and includes approval of a one-page form of rules, bylaws and sign-up forms. The agreement also spells out the responsibilities of both the Food Project and the Grand Marais Rec Park.
The city has committed to providing space for the gardens, labor for development, annual upkeep of the site such as fence repair, and water (rain barrels or water line). The garden group will assist in design and grant funding, development of the rules and regulations, con- struction of gardens, and mentoring of participants. In addition, meetings will continue between the two parties to head off any potential problems and help the program flourish.
In other Rec Park news:
»» It was announced that the Gunflint Hills Golf Course will open April 16 — the earliest ever. Board Chair Walt Mianowski said the earliest date the course has previously opened was April 23.
Pool Manager Charles Christiansen said things are going well at the facility. Revenue is up about $500 from the prior year, but
attendance for March was “really low,” down about 300. Christiansen said the candy sales have been going well: $213 in the first four weeks, half of which is profit. Also, the six-month membership sale has had good results, with 12 sold so far. The deal runs until June 1.
»» Park Manager Dave Tersteeg said new thermal blankets have been purchased for the pool at a cost of $3,600. “It’s not an option to not cover the pool,” Tersteeg said, adding the energy savings will pay for the blankets in about a year. The old blankets were five years old, the expected useful life, according to Tersteeg.
»» Tersteeg and Christiansen both said they don’t anticipate doing any hiring for the summer, as all of last year’s help is returning. Christiansen said he expects to lose four lifeguards in August when school starts, and will be hiring then.
»» Tersteeg reported that he received a letter from “an upset individual” about the excess fire and smoke he encountered at the Rec Park last summer. Tersteeg said he intends to ramp up efforts to make people more aware of camping etiquette and safety rules regarding fires, as staff has been finding more and more smoldering fires left by campers when they check out. Mianowski said some people simply
go too far with their complaints. “That’s why people camp — to sit around campfire and roast marshmallows and enjoy the ambiance,” he said. “They can go to the beach if they don’t want a fire near their trailer,” he said.
»» Tersteeg said the new deicers in the marina proved very successful this winter, although they didn’t have a “real” test because of the mild weather. They have been uninstalled and placed in storage for the summer.
»» Finally, Tersteeg said reservation numbers for this summer are strong. Some of the 100+ seasonals are not returning, he said, but they have all been replaced by new occupants.
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