Not much was new news at the March 2, 2010 Grand Marais Park Board meeting, but projects and plans continue to develop as the park prepares for the summer season.
Grants acquired through the Cook County Local Energy Project have brought in $12,500 of the $13,000-15,000 needed for a solar water heating system for bathhouse #4. Thesystem is likely to create enough electricity to heat 70-75% of the hot water used in the bathhouse, saving $800-1,000 a year in electricity costs.
Park Manager Dave Tersteeg has proposed applying for a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to make up the difference needed to fund the bathhouse.
Tersteeg has recommended using the money saved by the system to fund similar systems on the other bathhouses the next time they are renovated. Monitoring equipment would be installed on bathhouse #4 to determine the actual savings the system would bring.
Park Board member Todd Miller called the project a “gift to the community.”
. Green marina
Another “green” innovation is the possibility of the Grand Marais harbor becoming a pilot Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Clean Marina Project. Tersteeg said he is working with the DNR on things like how to deal with waste products in the water.
Minnesota is not as progressive in this area as some other states, Tersteeg said. Places like Florida and California have been utilizing “green” marina techniques for years.
Tersteeg is looking for funding and hoping for contributions to the project.
On a related topic, Todd Miller said he would like the park to provide a way for big boats to get in and out of the water so owners would not have to cross to Bayfield to winter their boats. Lack of this amenity, he said, keeps business out of the community. He wondered if other communities along the North Shore would consider sharing equipment necessary to get large boats out of the water.
. Capital improvements
Now that the park board has adopted its new Master Plan, Dave Tersteeg recommended establishing maintenance and improvement priorities for the next five years or so.
The road by the ball field is in bad shape, Tersteeg said, but future power needs would need to be mapped out before redoing it. “Everything is related,” he said.
North House Folk School Executive Director Greg Wright updated the board on plans to construct a blacksmith shop on the west edge of the campus this coming construction season in the second of a three-phase capital improvement campaign.
The shop will border the east edge of the rec park near a walking entrance from Highway 61 into the park. The park board has discussed creating a welcoming entrance at that spot, and Todd Miller suggested that with the blacksmith shop going up, now would be a good time to make a plan for that area. “I think it should be a gorgeous entry,” he said. Park board member Carol Backlund agreed.
Thepark also needs beautification at its 8th Avenue entry, Robin DuChien said.
Money for these projects is not necessarily available right now, Tersteeg said. Miller said that making plans would be valuable even if they have no money to implement them right now.
. Community garden
The City of Grand Marais and the Northwoods Food Project, a local food-growing initiative, have submitted a grant for a community garden in the park. Thegarden would have space for 8-10 plots that could be split between seasonal rec park guests and fulltime Grand Marais residents.
Thetotal cost is estimated at $7,686. The grant application requests $5,000 from the State Health Improvement Project (SHIP). The Northwoods Food Project would donate $1,040 in consultation time, leaving the park with a cost of $1,646 in supplies.
Todd Miller raised some concerns about the project. He said he wants to make sure they continue to offer the park to everyone and not cater to one group over another. Whatever they allow in the park should agree with the Master Plan. Vegetable gardens would not help them with their goal of beautifying the park. Miller was concerned about entering a partnership with the Northwoods Food Project. “We have to know what we want out of it,” Miller said.
Carol Backlund said she remembers when city residents became upset over campground guests planning flowers on their sites. Both Backlund and Miller wondered how they would decide who got to have a plot from one year to the next.
A project like this would increase the community’s involvement in the park, Bill Lenz said.
This is not a simple thing, Miller countered.
Things like this never are in this community, Walt Mianowski said.
Several park board members expressed interest in finding out the community’s interest in the project.
Kristen Wharton, coordinator of another SHIP grant in the community, said learning that vegetables can be successfully grown here would be “empowering” for people.
As an aside, park board members asked Kristin if she would be interested in joining the park board since they are one member short and have had a hard time filling that spot. “I don’t live in Grand Marais,” she answered.
“Could you move?” Carol Backlund asked.
The board will discuss the garden further in a work session just before its April 6 regular meeting.
. Spring cleaning for pool
Even before the five-day pool closing for annual maintenance and cleaning, Charles
Christianson had been hearing a lot of compliments on the condition and cleanliness of the pool.
It would be back up and running on March 5 with a new pirate theme on the floor of the kiddie pool. This year, no major renovations were needed. Other than the new paint job in the kiddie pool, Christianson anticipated the week would involve “a lot of scrubbing!”
“Charles and the staff have been doing excellent work,” Tersteeg said.
February brought about 200 more county residents to the pool than the same month last year, and cash sales were up about $1,000.
Park staff is holding a promotion through the end of May designed to bring in new members. Individuals and families who have not held memberships in the last two years are eligible for half off a six-month membership. Members who bring in new members by referral can also receive a discount.
. RV show
Tersteeg reported that he had attended an RV show. Attending such events is a very effective way to advertise the park, he said. It also helps staff find out what other campgrounds are offering.
Grand Marais’ rates are significantly lower than some other campgrounds in Minnesota, Tersteeg said. Our park has a lot more attractions because it is on Lake Superior and so close to amenities and events in town.
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