August was again a strong month for the Grand Marais Recreation Park with revenues of $246,566, up $10,000 over 2016.
Although revenues grew, camper occupancy was actually down one percent from August 2016, reported park manager Dave Tersteeg at the park board’s September meeting. The park had 87 percent occupancy this year versus 88 percent last year.
“The only category of camp site that declined for August was ‘lakeside tent,’ which fell from 93 percent to 88 percent this year,” said Tersteeg. “This was enough to affect the composite percentage, but not the bottom revenue line. Our year-to-date revenue continues to outpace 2016 by nearly seven percent, up $60,000 at $953,955.”
Parkside Public Water Access Project
It’s been six years since planning began to improve the boat ramp, inner rubble rock break wall, parking lot and picnic area near the dog pound in the park, but Tersteeg said funding for the project has been elusive.
“For many years we have been working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on plans to re-develop the public access area down by the PUC shops and dog pound area. The concept plans have included improvements for motorized and non-motorized boats, adequate truck/trailer parking, as well as pedestrian access throughout the point onto the bay,” he said.
During early talks with the DNR Tersteeg said they indicated that funding could be received through the state’s public access dollars from the Trails and Waterways division. However, once the cost estimates came in at over $2 million, the DNR has been unable to secure those funds through its channels.
The latest strategy to secure funding has been for the City of Grand Marais to request general obligation bonds for the 2018 budget cycle.
An application for $2.37 million in 2018 municipal bonds has been submitted to the Minnesota Management and Budget Office to complete the final design and construction of the Parkside Public Water Access project. Now it’s up to the Legislature to give a thumbs up or thumb down on granting those funds.
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