Improvements in safety and finding ways to make a bigger and better access to the current public boat ramp and possible wetland restoration in the campground area were the main topics of discussion at the Grand Marais Park Board March 4, 2014 meeting.
Joe Russell, Minnesota Department of Parks and Trails supervisor for the North Shore and Larry Killien, DNR Harbor Program Coordinator who manages and oversees the state’s Small Craft Harbor and Protected Access Programs on Lake Superior, came before the board.
“For several years now, we have been working with the DNR on improvements within the campground to enhance the public access to Lake Superior,” said Park Manager Dave Tersteeg, who noted that the project started in 2006 when the city had to replace some old docks and then began looking at other areas that needed upgrading.
A DNR-funded wave study of the inner “rubble-mound” break wall indicated that it is not big enough to protect the public.
“The DNR has a half-foot or less wave height design standard for public access projects,” said Killien, adding, “Waves at launch shouldn’t be more than a half-foot. Otherwise it makes it hard to launch your boat or put it on a trailer when you are getting it out of the water.”
The engineering firm who conducted the study, Johnson Johnson & Roy (JJR) presented five scenarios to the DNR.
Killien said JJR looked at weather patterns, wind patterns, historical and current water levels, major storm events from one year to 50 years—along with possible costs for the fixes—and ran this data through their computers and ended up recommending extending the current inner breakwall 105 feet in the north/northeast direction.
“Once they plugged everything into their computers and ran the different scenarios some of the plans they thought would work best caused bigger waves, not smaller waves,” Killien said.
New adjustable or floating docks would be installed, replacing the current dock, said Tersteeg, noting the city would still own the land and be responsible for maintenance of the docks. Part of the project could include improving the pavilion picnic area and creating a safe spot for kayakers and canoeists to land, said Tersteeg.
Killien, who is also an American with Disabilities (ADA) inspector, said it was important to think of people with disabilities who would be using these areas and plan for their safety, too.
Financing will be sought from state and federal sources, said Russell.
Park Board Members Walt Mianowski, Sally Berg, Reid Dusheck, Robin Duchien, and Bill Lenz voiced support for the project but first wanted to hear from the public and get their input.
The draft plan can be found on the www.GrandMaraisRecreationArea.com and Facebook websites, as well as on the Grand Marais websites, which also include a place for written comments. The park board will also host a public presentation and public comment meeting in the near future. Once it has gathered suggestions it will review the information and then make its recommendation to the Grand Marais City Council.
. Tersteeg reported, “Reservations appear to be strong through February; monthly revenue was down slightly ($507) from 2013 but our year-to-date revenue is up 18 percent, but most of that is because of the folks who have paid their entire balance for the season. Another positive trend is that deposits have outpaced last year by 6 percent.”
. Tersteeg said he was one of 26 people (13 men and 13 women) from the county who attended a week long Community Leadership Training Program in Grand Rapids hosted by the Blandin Foundation.
“The purpose of the retreat was to empower community leaders as we build and sustain a healthy community. It was an immersion style retreat, with intensive study of leadership techniques, including framing, building social capital and mobilization. We didn’t try to solve problems, but identified them. We have more work on local projects to be done in June and August,” he added.
. Bids for the demolition of the swimming pool building will be sought in March, with the goal to have the site cleaned before the busy season starts in June, said Tersteeg.
. “The Harbor Park donation program has been so successful that we are down to just three concrete benches available for plaque mounting,” Tersteeg said.
So far 34 concrete benches in Harbor Park have commemorative plaques that cost $750 each.
“We still have four-six teak benches available, but these cost a lot more, $5,000, although four families have generously given at this level. Now we need to think of a new way to get donations for the park without devaluing the exclusivity of the Harbor Park program,” Tersteeg said.
The money generated from the Harbor Park donations is used for ongoing maintenance of the park, he added.
Walt Mianowski, a park board member and Lions Club member, said the Lions would like to see some sort of structure in Harbor Park so that shelter could be provided during Harbor Park events and performances.
“You have the anchor bolts in place and plans for a flying wing structure. Why wasn’t it put up? Mianowki asked.
“I believe it was going to cost $50,000 and the money wasn’t there,” Tersteeg said.
DNR’s Joe Russell said there was a flying wing structure built for the public at the McQuade marina. “It’s not very big. It doesn’t fit a lot of people. They engineered it to withstand 100 mile an hour winds and strong waves and you wouldn’t need to build anything like that, but you might want to look at it when you go down to Duluth to give you some ideas,” he said to the park board.
Leave a Reply