The Grand Marais Park Board turned down an offer of thousands of dollars’ worth of educational materials offered to the park on June 7 by Harbor Friends, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to “preseve the harbor and surrounding area as a multi-use recreational, cultural, economic and environmental jewel.” Spokesperson Molly Hoffman told the park board the organization is “ramping down” and will no longer be active.
Hoffman said Harbor Friends received a grant that, with matching funds, enabled them to develop an educational program with an estimated dollar value of over $150,000. Some materials were given to Cook County schools, but a series of nine booklets on numerous topics related to the harbor—geology, the lake, birds, history of the harbor, etc.—is still available and must be distributed at no cost according to conditions stipulated by the grant.
Harbor Friends had developed five separate tours of the harbor, four located within the Grand Marais Recreation Area. Two volunteer tour guides (one of them being Hoffman) are still available to give tours.
New park board member Rod Dockan said the educational program was very well done. “It’s really nice,” he said. “It’s put together really well. It fits here.”
Evelyn Larsen of Harbor Friends called it a “valuable resource” and said more than $6,000 in cash was still left to mplement the educational program. “I think it’s a great gift,” she said.
Park board member Robin DuChien expressed concern over the solicitation for funds that Harbor Friends included in the booklets. Hoffman explained that the organization has been returning donations made by people who did not realize it is no longer active.
Why doesn’t North House Folk School take the materials? board member Walt Mianowski asked. Hoffman answered that she was told the program didn’t fit their mission. “It doesn’t fit our mission, either,” said Mianowski.
Why not? Larsen wondered. Hoffman said the grant was intended to enhance recreation along the harbor front.
“I think we’d be foolish not to take the program,” said Bill Lenz.
Park Manager Dave Tersteeg said space in the park office for the booklets was limited, and the brochure spaces were already filled There was also a “cute bicycle kiosk” that would need indoor storage. “Operationally, we’d have to make room,” he said.
“I think it’s worth making room for,” said Lenz.
“I think this is right for our area,” said Dockan.
Lenz made a motion, seconded by Dockan, to accept the materials. The motion failed by a vote of 4-2, with board member Tracy Benson absent and Lenz and Dockan offering the only aye votes.
Sugarloaf Cove, operated by the North Shore Stewardship Association, has agreed to take the materials if the Grand Marais Park Board refused them.
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