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With summer coming fast, the Grand Marais Park board met to discuss the upcoming work on the boat launch area, demolition of the dog pound and old maintenance building, and the Community Connection landing that may have to wait until next spring to be completed.
Also discussed was the park’s master plan, which hasn’t been upgraded in quite a few years.
Concerning the community connection that leads people from town into the park, Dave said the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will complete the sidewalk, but there is a water line and electrical lines that have to be dealt with near the entrance and those impediments will slow the project down which may lead into a 2022 completion.
The Master Plan is a driver for projects in the rec park. After twelve years, it is time to revisit, revise, and beef up the plan, Tersteeg said. While there was much discussion between council members, talks will be ongoing for at least the next six months before the public is involved in community meetings and any big decisions are made. Two projects long discussed but not decided on that will be included in those talks are what to do with the ballfield and the park marina.
The big project this summer is the improvements to the Lake Superior public water access in the Southwest corner of the harbor within the recreation area.
Plans are to make the basin within the protected area large enough to allow for staging, hauling out and launching average size (up to 35 feet) Lake Superior cruising boats and design the launch to hydraulic trailer standards for sloop (sail boats) at a 12 percent width and depth of 6 to 8 feet.
A new breakwall will extend 100 feet farther at the same height as the current rubble rock breakwall and it will have a flat ADA surface for walkers and wheelchair users to venture out on.
A new larger paved parking lot will replace the current dirt lot, but that work also may have to wait until next spring.
Next month, Corrie Steckelberg will find homes for three metal frame caribou sculptures that will be filled with soil and seeds. Just where these giant “Chia Pets” will be placed is up for review, but Tersteeg said the project looks great and should be something for the public to enjoy.
“Corrie originally received a grant in 2019 for this project and was going to do this in 2020 but then we all know what happened with the pandemic, so she is going ahead with it now.”
The greens at the Gunflint Hills Golf Course came through the winter in great shape, reported Golf Course Superintendent Paul Jones.
As to whether a Disc Golf Course can be made adjacent to Gunflint Hills, Jones said he fears there are too many wetlands and the buffer between the regular golf course and disc golf course isn’t substantial enough. He also said there is no access or parking for people who would want to play disc golf at Gunflint Hills.
Tersteeg reviewed some of the expenditures and more notable capital improvements made to the park for the new board members.
Included in his history of improvements were the following: Starting in the year 2011, 20 sites were upgraded for sewer service and 14 of those also received electrical service.
In 2012, Bathhouse Two received a $50,000 makeover and in 2013, the Community Connection path was built for $40,000. The park office was remodeled (new windows, siding, shingles etc.) for $110,000 in 2016 and 46 high value sites were improved at a cost of $83,000. That year also saw $18,000 spent for new roofs on four park buildings and 20 new picnic tables and fire rings were installed for $6,000.
In 2018, power upgrades were made to seven high value sites and two timber frame picnic shelters replaced old ones on Sweethearts Bluff at a cost of $10,000. North House Folk School donated much of the labor to build and install those picnic shelters which kept the cost down.
Interior improvements were made to Bathhouse Two for $6,000 in 2019 and the next year $12,500 was spent on the Bathhouse One for interior improvements. Tersteeg noted that $60,000 was spent on blacktop overlays for park roads during the years 2011, 2014, and 2017.
“Because of the work to the community entry way and at the boat launch area, we won’t be making any big improvements this summer, said Tersteeg.
Tersteeg said he has sent out 17 letters to last year’s seasonal staff and 12 replied that they were coming back. That leaves five openings to fill, including a fulltime attendant for the golf course. Details about those openings can be found on city’s website.
With warmer than normal weather, Tersteeg said the park had guests every weekend last month. May 1 is the big opening date, with water turned on, bathhouses open and seven day a week service. The staff has been reviewing COVID-19 preparedness plans. Dave said staff is supposed to stay home if they are sick, wear face coverings indoors, practice social distancing and wash hands regularly to sanitize them throughout the season. The park office will remain closed for inside service in early May. Staff will review this decision as the season progresses and regional COVID-19 trends are more apparent, Tersteeg said.
Jim and Michelle Miller requested and received a “busking” permit to play music in Harbor Park.
A special event application submitted by the Violence Prevention Center to hold a vigil for sexual assault victims was granted. The vigil will have up to 30 people and will take place on Tuesday, April 20, from 6-7 p.m. in the Rec Park.
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