Park Point Traffic Safety: Pat Sterner has been working with the DPD and looking at the data related to Park Point. See the data and notes below. Thank you to James Gittemeier & Adam Fornear from the City and Officer Josh Kneeland from the police department for participating in the meeting.
Skating at Lafayette- volunteers needed to make this a reality
Committee updates
Minnesota Point Preservation Society continues its work at the blow through on the Art Fair site. Al Robins and Gary Glass repaired the snow fencing on Oct. 23.
Site of the Art Fair; site of blow through and erosion. Club volunteers adopted this area years ago and continue the work!
By Dawn Buck on Sep 11, 2022 | In Uncategorized | Comments Off on PPCC meets on Tues.,September 20, 6:30pm social and see the trophy & club opportunities; meeting at 7pm at the Duluth Rowing Club
Thank you to the DRC for hosting the meeting. A 1917 Duluth Central Women’s Rowing trophy will be presented to the Club along with the 1917 yearbook that describes the race.
Duluth Boat Club Girls Rowing Association Annual Regatta , Bagley Eight Oared Girls Championship Trophy Won By Duluth Central High School 1917
Other happenings in the near future:
Thursday, Sep. 22, 2022, 4:30 – 5:30 PM CDT, Park Point Beach House, 4750 Minnesota Ave., Duluth, MN. The City of Duluth invites the public to an outreach meeting regarding FEMA Advanced Assistance Coastal Resilience and Mitigation. The meeting will include project details from consultants including: options for shoreline stabilization of the North Shore and bayside of the Park Point recreation area.
Now Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CDT, (date change from 9/22) UMD Life Science 185, University of Minnesota Duluth Earth and Environmental Studies Department Seminar: Dr. John Swenson, Associate Professor EES, Sediment Sources and Sites in Far Western Arm of Lake Superior. About half of this presentation will deal directly with sediment issues pertaining to the Section 111 Study of erosion to Minnesota-Wisconsin Point. The LSci building is on the southwestern end of the UMD building complex. Metered parking is available on Kirby Drive (in front of LSci building) and in the adjacent Lot A (by the MWAH Planetarium). Below is a link to a campus map: https://www.d.umn.edu/maps/LSci/. Please note: This seminar was previously scheduled for Sep. 22, 2022. A recording of this seminar, once available, will be shared with those unable to attend.
Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022, 1:00 – 2:30 PM CDT, CHAOS (Coastal Hazards of Superior) Zoom Meeting, Speakers: Sara Hudson, City of Ashland, will discuss efforts made by the City of Ashland to address coastal hazards of the waterfront, and Mike LeBeau, City of Duluth Construction Project Supervisor, will share efforts to rebuild the Duluth Lakewalk. Contact Sarah Brown, CHAOS Coordinator to join CHAOS (sarah.brown@wisconsin.gov)
I am the regional naturalist for the Scientific and Natural Areas Program with the DNR. I am hosting, along with Jeffrey Flory of the 1854 Treaty Authority, a invasive species pull at Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA on Sunday July 31st From 1-4 pm. Attached is a photo from last year’s event and below is a description of this years event as well as how to register. Info can also be found on our online calendar here. Hopefully there is room to include this in your July newsletter, thank you!”
Come help out at Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA, a host to a magnificent old growth pine forest near the eastern tip of Minnesota Point, the 7-mile long sandbar that shelters the Duluth Harbor and Superior Bay from the open waters of Lake Superior. Join SNA staff in searching for and removing spotted knapweed (Centauria stoebe spp. micranthos L.) and other invasive species.
Advanced registration is required and the event will be capped at 25 attendees. To register, please email arika.preas@state.mn.us (link sends email). Masks are encouraged for unvaccinated volunteers.
Instructions and good camaraderie will be provided. Make sure to bring water and dress for working in the weather. If you have your own gloves you’d like to use, please bring those as well. Footwear appropriate for outdoor work/hiking is recommended. There are no recreational facilities on this site.
The PPCC sponsors this epic sale in support of the Park Point Art Fair. The large sale on this weekend early in June keeps the Art Fair weekend, June 25 & 26, focused on the Club’s major annual Art Fair. This year is the 50th Park Point Art Fair with special events planned to celebrate this milestone!
Membership as of May 1, 2022; You can join anytime during year!
Agenda Notes for 5/17- meeting held outside w little bonfire due to Covid concerns
Cheryl P. from the YMCA with lifeguard updates
National Night Out: St. Andrew’s will be hosting NNO this summer, on August 2. The time will be from 5 to 7 pm. The PPCC last hosted this in 2021; St. Andrews has been hosting the annual gathering in alternate years to the Club’s hosting at Lafayette. Summer is coming soon!
Updates on “Camp Lafayette”, Tree Planting, PP Rummage Sale, 50th PP Art Fair & more.
Concerns for discussion/ideas for programs: Camping on PP, Traffic and Safety Observations, Tax Appraisals & Property Tax Increases, Emergency Services when it’s crowded on PP and the Bridge is up
By Dawn Buck on Mar 16, 2022 | In Uncategorized | Comments Off on Summer Youth Program Open House 4/26, 6-8pm
An open house is being planned for Tuesday,April 26 from 6-8 PM at the Lafayette building, lower level as the upstairs is a “progress zone” with bathrooms remodeled and lighting replaced.
Check out the fun from the 2019 Camp on this video!
2022 PP Summer Youth Program: “Camp Lafayette”
Yes! there will be a summer program with Kevin Chederquist leading the camp at Lafayette!
The Park Point Summer Youth Program (affectionately known as “Camp Lafayette”) is returning in full-strength! This experiential education summer program is designed to give youth from 5-12 years of age exposure to new friendships, learning, and leadership. Housed in the historic Lafayette building on Park Point, the program has differentiated learning and teaming activities for three grade levels. Three counselors engage the campers as they grow gardens, play on the beach, travel and tour museums in Duluth, read at the library, ride bikes, sail, participate in Park Point Art Fair, 3D print at the MakerSpace, hike on the Superior Hiking Trail, stand-up paddle board, build lego structures, do weekly community service projects, play board games, play court games, visit a farm, write and perform a play, play kickball, and eat grilled food. The camp runs Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 (pickup until 4:30) for nine weeks starting June 13 to August 11 (excluding July 4th).
Updates on long-range resiliency planning for Minnesota Point.
MP50 Informational Meeting, Feb. 7, 2022 . Speakers were Diane Desotelle (City) and Nick Zager (USACE) talking about the City’s (Duluth’s) long term resiliency planning process for Minnesota Point and USACE Section 111 Study of Minnesota Point. Key takeaways:
Diane Desotelle, Natural Resources Coordinator, Duluth, responded to questions about the City’s 50 – year Minnesota Point Planning Process which outlines how, and when, long-term planning activities with the City and stakeholder groups are taking place.
Diane Desotelle referred to the timeline in the Planning Process and said the City is not requesting USACE beach nourishment this year.
USACE Section 111 Charrette is scheduled for March 10/11 Duluth, MN. 9 – 4, facilitated by USACE. 20 – 25 individuals have been invited to attend by the City of Duluth and USACE. Paul Treuer, representing Park Point Community Club, will report to PPCC and MP50. Mike Allis, USACE Project Lead on the Section 111 Study, outlined the Charette goals and objectives:
Goals:
1. Initiate the first iteration of the planning process for the study.
2. Begin building a coherent and effective project delivery team, including critical roles for both sponsors, stakeholders, and USACE colleagues.
3. Set expectations and establish a fresh, constructive approach to this study.
4. Provide a solid foundation for subsequent iterations of the planning process, scheduling of study milestones, and robust stakeholder engagement and public communication.
Planning Objectives:
1. Establish a planning process.
2. Define existing conditions, problems, opportunities, objectives, and constraints.
3. Generate possible management measures.
4. Develop an initial array of potential alternatives.
5. Introduce risk register.
Duluth Coastal Resilience Project
This Project is part of a $258,000 FEMA grant to the City of Duluth and St. Louis County to find solutions to shoreline collapse. The study will include evaluation of the bayside of the Park Point Recreation Area and determine mitigation options for storm surge-related flooding and erosion. Funding will pay for the areas of interest to be studied while determining solutions with the help of consultants. It will set the City and its partners up to apply for funding that would assist in implementing the study’s outcomes.
The first Public Meeting of the Duluth Coastal Resilience Project was on Feb. 16, 7:00 PM. A recording of this meeting is posted on the Duluth Coastal Resilience Project Webpage under Meetings: (https://duluthcoastalinfrastructureresilience.com/)
The State Chapter of the Izaak Walton League approved 7 resolutions about the disposal of dredge material for beach nourishment on Minnesota Point and its impact on Lake Superior.
First resolution: Oppose the disposal of dredge material from the Duluth-Superior Harbor for beach nourishment on Minnesota Point because it contains fines contaminated with legacy pollutants whose impact on Lake Superior are unknown, and because fine-grained river sediments erode off the beach too quickly.
Second resolution: Support beach nourishment to protect the residents of Minnesota Point if it is done with clean material such as sediment from Lake Superior or washed sediment from the Erie Pier Contained Disposal Facility (CDF); and if it is coarse enough to emulate natural longshore drift sediments that will stabilize and remain longer on the beach.
Fox News reported on Feb. 8, 2022 that $19 Million in Federal Infrastructure Funding was awarded to the Port Authority of Duluth-Superior. $13M going to USACE vessel yard on the Duluth Harbor Basin-Superior Bay side of Park Point. $6 M goes to increasing capacity at the Erie Pier confined disposal facility (owned by Seaway Port Authority of Duluth & City of Duluth and operated by Detroit District USACE) to handle and transport dredging material.
Research on Geomorphology of St. Louis Harbor Project, Feb. 26, 2022
Dr. Andrew Breckenridge (UWSuperior), Dr. Harry Jol (UW Eau Claire) and five UWS students conducted measurements along Park Point on Saturday, Feb. 26th to understand Geomorphology of the St. Louis Harbor. They are testing the hypothesis that there is a ridge and swale strandplain complex buried under the sediments in the St. Louis Harbor. This research builds on ground penetrating radar (GPR) studies done previously by Dr. Jol. Both studies contribute to a more precise understanding of how and when Minnesota and Wisconsin Points were formed. Dr. Breckenridge shared Geologic History of the Duluth Harbor (2016) providing excellent background information to this study.
Scientists and students study Superior Bay on 2/26 and warm up at Lafayette. PPCC volunteers hosted the group at Lafayette on a windy Saturday!
Blatnik Bridge Context Study
Park Point Resident Charlene Roise wrote a comprehensive history of the Port for the Blatnik Bridge Project. The Blatnik Bridge Context Study is thoroughly researched; it provides context not only for the bridge project but also detailed information about the history of the area. MP50, a subcommittee of the Park Point Community Club, is a learning community open and free to anyone interested in the resiliency of Minnesota Point. Diverse points of view are welcome. Contact Paul Treuer, MP50 coordinator, (paul.treuer@gmail.com) to share your ideas, materials, and/or questions, or to join the MP50 Working Group.
Meeting ID: 840 5515 2958 Passcode: 991820 One tap mobile +19294362866,,84055152958#,,,,*991820# US (New York) +13017158592,,84055152958#,,,,*991820# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 840 5515 2958 Passcode: 991820
On the agenda:
May 8 2022: Smelt Parade- back after two year hiatus, support requested, sponsorships requested.
PP Youth Program 2022 -Exec. bod approved working budget to get program started and staffed, will look at enrollment next month and adjust and appropriate funds as needed. As in years past, the use of upper Lafayette will be important to the 2022 program’s quality and success
PP Art Fair- the 50th this year! Find out how you might be involved. More new artists and sponsorships this year! Thank you! A grant from Essentia is also in the works.
Updates from MP50, Paul Treuer on the Section 111 Study Charrette held last week- Next steps?
Tree planting initiative
Traffic Safety Update
Cruise Ship Impacts- Pros and Cons and what do we know?
Items referenced in The Breeze will be posted here, thank you to Jim Gruba and Tony Dierckins for the Park Point history pieces and the supporting documentation.
By Dawn Buck on Dec 13, 2021 | In Uncategorized | Comments Off on PPCC Meeting on 2/15 via Zoom
2/15 7pm Traffic Safety: One Year Debrief with Chief Tusken via Zoom & then PPCC meeting
The PPCC will host a Zoom meeting on February 15 at 7 pm to review the Traffic Safety efforts of the past year. Joining the Zoom meeting will be Chief Mike Tusken, Deputy Chief Steven Stracek, and Lt. Chad Nagorski. A short PPCC meeting will be held after the traffic safety presentation.
Traffic safety efforts of the past year: Successes and Challenges
o DPD Comments
o PP Residents Comments
General Discussion:
o What else can PP residents do to help with traffic safety?
o How can we encourage residents to volunteer for the Neighborhood Watch?
o What information from the DPD would help document community impact to encourage continued efforts?
o Additional ideas for long-term traffic safety control.
City of Duluth Coastal Resilience Study; Public Meeting, Feb. 16, 7:00 PM, Zoom
This study is part of a $258,000 FEMA grant the City received to find solutions to shoreline collapse on the the North Shore from Brighton Beach to Knife River. The study will also evaluate the bayside of the Park Point Recreation Area and determine mitigation options for storm surge-related flooding and erosion. Funding will pay for the areas of interest to be studied while determining solutions with the help of consultants. It will set the City and its partners up to apply for funding that would assist in implementing the study’s outcomes.
Skating update: The building hours for warming are posted below via link, everyone is welcome!
Sunday Feb. 6th Noon to 3pm at the Lafayette Rink; come and skate or just hang out by the fire ring and enjoy the moment and cook a marshmallow or maybe a hot dog. Updates due to conditions will be posted on the Postcard sign and on the website. It’s been a joy to see skaters on the rink and sledders on the hills at the park.
If you can help with flooding, call Mark 218-340-6453
To sign up to host the lower level for skating warmup, email the Club’s president: parkpointcc@gmail.com.
MN Point Resiliency 2/7 via Zoom
Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, Public Zoom Meeting on Minnesota Point Resilience Planning with two speakers:
Diane Desotelle, Natural Resources Coordinator, City of Duluth, will answer questions about the City’s recently developed Minnesota Point 50-year Resiliency Planning Process. This document outlines the process by which the City of Duluth will lead Minnesota Point’s long term resiliency planning efforts. Please read and bring your questions and a copy of the planning document to the zoom meeting to discuss.
Nicholas Zager, Chief, Planning Office, USACE Detroit District
PPCC Agenda notes: Updates on Snow Emergency Parking, Lafayette skating rink, tree planting donations, 50th Art Fair in June, Traffic Safety, Section 111 Study & USACE Clean Up meeting on Thursday.
Thursday, 11/18, Virtual Presentations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers & City of Duluth regarding the upcoming public meeting related to the completion of the 2021 Minnesota Point Beach nourishment, maintenance dredging, beach cleanup, and the congressionally funded Section 111 program: the meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, November 18 at 5pm. To join the meeting, please visit our Live Meetings page at https://duluthmn.gov/live-meeting/, click on “Parks & Recreation Public Meetings” link, and click the “Join Now” button.
Katie Bennett, Project Technician, City of Duluth – Parks & Recreation
Take our community survey at polco.us/duluthparks2021 to help shape the future of Duluth parks and recreation opportunities!
The application submitted for the MN Point project seems to be incomplete. Note the omission of the sections on loadings; this is directly related to the PPCC’s recommendation that state water quality standards are met.
2.Analysis of alternatives to project design that avoid or minimize degradation (This does not include the Preferred Alternative discussed below)
Describe your analysis of at least two prudent and feasible alternative project designs that would avoid or minimize degradation and avoid or minimize net increases in loading of pollutants or other causes of degradation to surface water (such as wetlands, lakes, stream, etc.). The analysis of each alternative must include a description of how impacts to surface waters are avoided and/or minimized; information on any design considerations and constraints; expected performance, construction, operation, and maintenance costs; and reliability for each alternative. Minn. R. 7050.0280, subp. 2
Preferred alternative project design Describe the analysis of your preferred alternative project design that avoids or minimizes net increases in loading of pollutants or other causes of degradation. The analysis must include a description of how impacts to surface waters are avoided and/or minimized; information on any design considerations and constraints; expected performance, construction, operation, and maintenance costs; and reliability for each alternative. In addition, the analysis must verify that the preferred alternative is the least degrading prudent and feasible alternative for surface water. Minn. R. 7050.0280, subp.2
4.Water quality parameters of concern List the water quality parameters of concern for the project. Examples: Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Mercury (Hg), Temperature, PCBs, etc.
10. Loading and degradation to surface waters For all surface waters where physical alterations are proposed, describe all anticipated net increases in loading and other causes of degradation expected in each surface water when your preferred alternative project design is fully implemented. Example 1: Filling of a wetland that causes another wetland to backup and inundate, (the inundated wetland can be on or off the project site).Example 2: A discharge from the project site that increases flow to another surface water on or off the project site. Example 3: Impervious surface increases in a subwatershed to the extent water quality becomes degraded.
Updates on long-range resiliency planning for Minnesota Point.
