With narrow shoulders along Highway 61 through Tofte and a 40-mph speed limit, it can be hazardous for bikers to access the Gitchi Gami State Trail, especially going east of town from Bluefin Bay where a lot of the riders start.
“We have 80 bikes that our guests use,” said Bluefin Bay CEO and owner Dennis Rysdahl, “not to mention all of the people who bring bikes with them.”
Danger also arises when hikers/ bikers cross the busy highway during summer weekends when traffic is almost non-stop, said Tofte Supervisor Jeanne Larson.
Both Larson and Rysdahl made their comments at a Thursday, October 29 meeting held at Tofte Town Hall to look at and discuss final concept designs and ideas for the Gitchi Gami Trail and the Tofte Town Park. The two have been part of a planning team along with officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Cook County, the North Shore Scenic Drive Council (NSSD), Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), Moving Matters and Tofte residents.
Landscape Architect Carlos “C.J.” Fernandez prepared trail and park drawings based on feedback from the planning team gathered over several meetings that began February 5, 2015.
Leading the planning efforts is the North Shore Scenic Drive Council (NSSDC) which is seeking to create a Tofte Park wayside rest for visitors traveling the byway, addressing wayside amenities, recreation and accessibility. Wayside improvements made at this site are expected to enhance tourism on the byway.
When it is done, the 86-mile Gitchi Gami Trail will sweep through five state parks, several communities, four scientific and natural areas, as well as a bevy of historical sites as it connects Two Harbors and Grand Marais. So far, 28 miles of the trail have been completed.
Because of dangers of crossing Highway 61, MnDOT has looked at putting an underground passage on the north or south pass of the trail.
“It sounds like that is a desire, to provide a safe underpass, but based on the funding this would have to be a future phase of the project,” said Justin Otsea, a planner for ARDC.
To pay for the work, MnDOT will receive $600,000 in federal funding in 2018, with MnDNR putting another $150,000 into the pot to complete—or at least begin—the one-mile stretch of the Gitchi Gami Trail through Tofte.
Following the meeting, Ostea said, “The DNR will begin to engineer the project now, and see just how far the existing funding will go. Additional money could come from bonding/lobbying efforts or future Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) applications, but no current future funding has been identified for pursuit.”
The route preferred by the group is on the lakeside of Highway 61 past the Coho Café and Bluefin to the Tofte Town Road. The route will share the Town Road with motor vehicles to the trail’s terminus near the U.S. Forest Service Tofte District Station. For now the Town Road will be left as it is, but “share the road” signs and/or painted “sharrows” will be installed.
“It is possible,” said Otsea, “that repaving the current road to create a better surface may be sought, but it has not been (yet) determined.”
Andy Hubley, director of planning for the ARDC, also proposed making a trailside rest stop for bicyclists along the Gitchi Gami Trail about half a mile east of Bluefin. A walking trail already runs down the hill from this spot (a gravel pit is on the other side of Highway 61) and it is on state land. It leads, said Hubley, to a small, secluded beach featuring wave pools and 50- to 60-foot cliffs rising from the shore with peregrine falcon nests nearby.
“It’s fantastic. It’s a beautiful site,” said Hubley, adding that he thought bicyclists would find it an attractive picnic spot or place to sit and relax while taking a break from their biking activities.
“MnDOT owns the land. They are not a park administrator, but the town might be able to add this into the project,” Hubley said.
When asked about the dangers of people going too near the cliffs and falling if the land falls under the township’s rule, Hubley said the area could be signed, but added that there was no legislation stopping people from doing foolish or dangerous things, and the township would likely not be held liable in those instances where people got hurt if they fell from the cliffs.
Labor to build a better trail down to the lake could possibly come from Minnesota Conservation Corps, said Hubley. The group agreed that Hubley could put this into the township’s plan for possible future development. Town Park
Next Fernandez unveiled drawings of proposed improvements to the township’s park. The focal point of his drawings was a 24 x 48-foot red building with a Scandinavian design. It would have electricity but no running water or bathroom. This building would be placed near the parking area (which would also be improved) on the western side of the park and would hold four picnic tables inside and four picnic tables outside on a newly built cement patio. The structure would have large glass garage doors that could open if it was warm outside and a fireplace inside that could be used for heat or ambiance. A smaller blue colored Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant bathroom was also part of Fernandez’s design and was shown close to the picnic shelter. Original fishing buildings that once dotted the shore of Tofte influenced Fernandez’s designs, he said.
Bluefin Bay Resort Owner Dennis Rysdahl said he thought the large shelter building would be perfect to host weddings, and the township could get as much as $500 to $600 to rent it out for special events like weddings or family reunions.
Cost to build both buildings could range from $500,000 to $600,000, said Fernandez, adding that funds for park improvements could come from the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council.
When asked who would maintain the structures, Fernandez answered, “You would. The township would be responsible to maintain the buildings.”
By April 30 the final Master Plan will be complete and submitted to the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council. Last year the ARDC submitted a plan for the park and the plan was graded medium, said Hubley. This time around Hubley suspects it will receive a high priority which would make it eligible to receive state funds.
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