ART FAIR this Weekend! June 29, 30

Park Point Art Fair Website

6/18 PPCC Meeting; 6:45pm social, 7:00pm meeting~ upcoming invasive workshop on 6/25, details hereHope to see you Tuesday evening! June 2024 Breeze is here.

Agenda Notes & Updates and read important details here:

Debrief Rummage Sale

Check in on Camp Lafayette, PPCC’s summer kids program

6/25: Baby’s Breath workshop: Meet near the airport parking area on Tuesday June 25 at 9:00am (with a backup plan of June 26th at 1:00pm if weather is bad on Tuesday), here is a planting guide for MN Point, here is a guide to invasive Baby’s Breath, another study on Baby’s Breath in the Michigan Dunes is here.  Please bring copies of the handout on invasive Baby’s Breath (if you have one, they will also be available at the workshop) and digging tools, gloves, clippers etc. And of course, be prepared to work around poison ivy. Questions? Rebecca Holmstrom,Plant Ecologist/ Botanist | Minnesota Biological Survey, Ecological and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,Phone: 218-302-3247, Email: rebecca.holmstrom@state.mn.usmndnr.gov

Art Fair Needs, call Diane Gould to volunteer for June 29, 30

Sky Harbor Terminal Ribbon Cutting, Wed. July 10th, 1pm

Traffic Safety Efforts Update

MPPS Update

Grandma’s Marathon & Park Point 5-Miler – Thursday July 18, 2024; Thank you to Greg Haapala, Race Director for sending these details!

Volunteer Opportunities and Details are here, see below:

Grandma’s Marathon Weekend – June 20-22, 2024

We are still in need of volunteers in many areas and over a variety of days, Thurs-Sun! If anyone has interest, please let me know or feel free to browse volunteer opportunities here: https://grandmasmarathon.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=80875

  • The Park Point 5-Miler is scheduled for July 18, and we hope to have another great year! It will start at 6:30pm as always, and we will again have a small post-race shindig near the Beach House with a beer & cider garden, food trucks, and music. All are welcome!  Course is same as always.
  • Traffic Advisory & schedule details will be same as 2023:
    • 5:30 PM – Free Kids Races (14 & under) at the Point, near the Beach House
    • 6:00 PM – Minnesota Ave south of 22nd St closes to traffic
    • 6:30 PM – 5 Mile run start
    • 6:40 PM – 2 Mile walk start
    • 7:05 PM – Estimated final participant reaches turnaround (2328 Minnesota Ave). DPD begins to gradually allow local traffic (moving slowly) as the race sweep vehicle (behind final participant) moves back toward the park.
    • 7:45 PM – Minnesota Ave fully open to traffic
  • We will also place advance traffic signage again on Sunday/Monday of the event week again at the S-Curve and just inside the Park area
  • Tables and water access from the Lafayette Community Center for our water station needed, volunteers will be needed to facilitate.
  • Event on the S-curve to remind residents and visitors

Questions about the beavers on Hearding Island? Contact:

Chris Balzer, DNR Area Wildlife Manager, Phone: 218-878-5665, Email: christian.balzer@state.mn.us From Chris re. beavers on private land: “If damage is occurring on private land, the land owners would have fairly broad leeway to remove the beavers causing damage. A nuisance trapper could be brought in to help in this situation, but they are private contractors and charge a fee for their efforts. If you need some info regarding nuisance trappers feel free to give me a call at the below number. Another way to protect trees on private land is to loosely wrap the base of the tree with 3 ft. high chicken wire or hardware cloth. This wire is enough to discourage the beaver from cutting those trees. This it typically only practical if a smaller number of trees are at risk. Feel free to reach out if you have additional questions. Thanks!”

On public land: ” If the tree cutting is only occurring on the Wildlife Management Area, we would not consider this a concern. Beaver are part of the natural ecosystem and cutting trees is part of what they do. Since it is a Wildlife Management Area, we like to let the wildlife do their thing. It is a little strange that they are cutting conifer trees as they would typically target aspen, birch, and willow. However, we still do not have any concerns with this activity on the WMA.”

Art Opening & Display At Sky Harbor Airport 6/15:Sky Harbor Airport is celebrating the opening of its new terminal with an art exhibit featuring fiber artist and Park Point resident, Natalija Walbridge. She creates fabric collages using layering techniques to mimic the interplay of light and color in nature, often depicting wildlife in their habitats with vibrant colors. The public is invited to the opening event on Saturday, June 15th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with refreshments, including gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, provided. The exhibit will be on display until July 15th, with the terminal open weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and during the Park Point Art Fair weekend, June 29, 30.

Natalija Walbridge, Artist & Graphic Designer, 218-213-3958
Website: 

https://www.dock-5.com

Update on Wind Blown Sand

Here is the latest update from the City of Duluth on how to manage the fine grain sand that is blowing off of the beach from the bridge to the S -Curve, link here.

Please attend this important public meeting! Monday, June 3, City Hall in person; remote link available here

Minnesota Point Section 111 Study Update Meeting Monday, 6/3, 1-3pm, City Hall, Room 430 followed by debrief and sharing of information at Lafayette at 6pm. Refreshments provided by PPCC.

The City of Duluth is hosting the Minnesota Point Section 111 Study public update meeting Monday, June 3, from 1-3 PM CST in Duluth City Hall, Lakeside Room (430).  A primary focus will be information about the modeling study that has recently started with Barr/Bergmann Engineering. Consider attending in person if possible, use the online meet option or attend the 6pm session at Lafayette. Thank you for engaging on this very important issue. Questions collected so far are here. Scroll down for Teams Link.

Residents will be participating in the evaluation and selection of actions based on the results of this study. 

June 3 2024 Public Meeting Agenda is here

Two background documents are attached, a recent presentation by Dr. John Swenson on sediment transport on the north end of Minnesota Point, and a recent presentation (4/10) by Captain Sam Briscoe on the status and updated timeline of the Section 111 Study.  Contact Paul Treuer if you have questions about the Study or would like to pose a question to the USACE or City ahead of the meeting so they can prepare comments that address your concerns.  paultreuer@gmail.com Everyone is welcome to join the Debrief at Lafayette at 6pm on Monday 6/3.

Dr. John Swenson on sediment transport on the north end of Minnesota Point; slides here.

Captain Sam Briscoe on the status and updated timeline of the Section 111 Study; slides here.

In person attendance is requested; however, a virtual connection through Teams will be available.  This meeting is being hosted and recorded by the City of Duluth. Link is here:

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Join the meeting now

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Passcode: qB9nsU


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The follow up and debrief meeting is set for 6pm at Lafayette on the evening of June 3rd 

Purpose: Sharing of the information from the 1-3 meeting and informal discussion. Refreshments, facilitation by the PPCC. 

Tentative Baby’s Breath Invasive Plant Removal Workshop, link to DNR information: Watch for confirmation of times on June 25, 26: Morning of the 25th with the afternoon of 26th as a backup time in case of rain. Pdf is here.

Link to Sand Blowing meeting, thank you to neighbor Larry M for capturing this video

Tuesday, May 21 PPCC Meeting, visit with neighbors starting at 645, meeting starts at 7pm. Club Elections will be held, two year terms for the Officers and the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees. Agenda notes here.

The Breeze, May 2024 edition is here.

Presentation from the St. Louis County Assessor’s Office, April 24, 2024. Valuations, Taxes, Consolidation of Parcels. Anne Sims, Mary Garness, Ryan Sauve, Cory Leinwander, County Commissioner Annie Harala.

Note from the assessor: An additional note for resident’s consideration before consolidation, while consolidation can assist the assessor’s office with the process of valuation and can make it easier to understand EMV notices, residents should also consider their long-term land/property use plans before making this change. 

Councilors and Concerned Residents,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your concerns about the City’s response to the problem of windblown sand accumulation on the north end, lake side, of Minnesota Point, from the Lift Bridge to the 12th Street beach access.

Beach restoration projects on the north end of Minnesota Point completed in 2021 at the behest of beachfront residents have inadvertently contributed to the accumulation of windblown sand on adjoining public and private properties.

Beachfront property owners between the Life Bridge and 12th have asked the City to give them a place to dump the sand that has accumulated thus far and help them to prevent further accumulation in the future. In lieu of City action to date, some adjoining property owners have placed sand fencing on the City-owned beach, and/or moved significant volumes of sand onto the City-owned beach, without required permits.

Staff met with impacted property owners on April 22 to present our plan and solicit feedback. Revised on the basis of public input, the current plan has several elements:

  1. City to provide beachfront residents with a place on the City owned beach to dump sand. The City is working with DNR to secure permission for beachfront property owners to place sand on that portion of the City beach within 10-to-15-feet of the recently surveyed and staked public/private property boundary. Beachfront property owners will receive a letter within the next two weeks notifying them of when and where they may place sand under this initial authorization. Later in the summer, the City hopes to acquire another DNR permit that would allow beachfront property owners to place sand on the beach closer to the lake (further from the public/private property boundary). The City will send beachfront property owners a separate letter when this opportunity is available. DNR regulations prohibit removal, damage, or alteration of beach or dune grasses in the course of moving sand.
  2. City to obtain after-the-fact authorization for recent sand movement projects undertaken by private property owners without permits between the Lift Bridge and the 12th St beach access between March 1st 2023 and March 1st 2024. Fines for this activity have been waived by the DNR. The City will secure a single after-the-fact permit and pay the associated fee. Property owners who moved sand onto that portion of the beach closer to the lake for which DNR has regulatory responsibility will be expected to provide information about the unpermitted work they performed. With this cooperation, beachfront property owners who performed unpermitted work on City property will not incur DNR permit fees. Impacted beachfront property owners will be notified via letter in about a month when the after-the-fact permit has been secured.
  3. City installation of sand fence on the beach from the Lift Bridge to the 12th Street beach access.  After the City secures the necessary DNR permit, the City will work with the Park Point Community Club, beachfront property owners, and DNR to plan and implement a system of sand fencing designed to reduce the transport of windblown sand onto adjoining private properties and the sidewalk and street beyond and to contribute to the restoration of protective beach dunes. The City will hold a meeting with impacted property owners before commencing installation. The meeting is expected to take place within the next one-to-two months.
  4. City restoration of the 8th and 12th Street beach accesses. The City has completed restoration of the 12th Street access where windblown sand had rendered that designated wheelchair-accessible access effectively inaccessible to many. The City is permitted to cause incidental damage to the dunes and dune grass in the course of maintaining the 12th Street access. Some residents have raised important concerns about the magnitude of the damage to the dunes and dune grass. The City’s task at 12th Street is to balance the tension between our legal responsibility to maintain wheelchair access to the beach and our legal responsibility to minimize harm to dunes and dune grass. Different arms of DNR are charged with overseeing our compliance with each mandate. City staff have initiated consultation with DNR to solicit their input on how they would like us to strike that balance at beach accesses in the future. Restoration of the more primitive – not wheelchair-accessible – 8th Street beach access is expected to be undertaken within the next one to two months, after the City obtains the necessary permits.
  5. Spring 2025: Planting of new beach grasses. One year after sand fencing installation, new dunes will have been created by windblown sand and we will plant new beach grass plugs to solidify dunes and help to limit windblown sand onto public and private property.

Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns that I can help to address.

Sincerely Yours,

Jim Filby Williams

Property, Parks, and Libraries Department Director

City of Duluth

Millie is home, 547am Saturday June 1!

Blowing Sand Mitigation Meeting: April 22

Link to Sand Blowing meeting, thank you to neighbor Larry M for capturing this video

Drifting Sand on Park Point: City Proposal

The City of Duluth is hosting a public meeting to present plans for dealing with blowing and drifting sand on Park Point between the Lift Bridge and 12th Street.  City Staff will provide information on a mitigation strategy and on permitting.  Feedback from residents is being sought before these plans are put in place.

When:  7:30 – 8:30 Monday, April 22, 2024

Where:  Lafayette Community Center

Who:  The public is welcome; the meeting is primarily intended for residents in the affected area.  Park Point residents living between the Lift Bridge and 12th Street are encouraged to attend because this is your opportunity to provide input on the City Plans before work begins.

For information contact Duluth Natural Resources Coordinator, 218.580.9150; fliers on this meeting were delivered to residents from the bridge to the S curve.

Here are a few photos and a movie clip, link here.

Update from Parks and Recreation, 5/13/2024

Councilors and Concerned Residents,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your concerns about the City’s response to the problem of windblown sand accumulation on the north end, lake side, of Minnesota Point, from the Lift Bridge to the 12th Street beach access.

Beach restoration projects on the north end of Minnesota Point completed in 2021 at the behest of beachfront residents have inadvertently contributed to the accumulation of windblown sand on adjoining public and private properties.

Beachfront property owners between the Life Bridge and 12th have asked the City to give them a place to dump the sand that has accumulated thus far and help them to prevent further accumulation in the future. In lieu of City action to date, some adjoining property owners have placed sand fencing on the City-owned beach, and/or moved significant volumes of sand onto the City-owned beach, without required permits.

Staff met with impacted property owners on April 22 to present our plan and solicit feedback. Revised on the basis of public input, the current plan has several elements:

  1. City to provide beachfront residents with a place on the City owned beach to dump sand. The City is working with DNR to secure permission for beachfront property owners to place sand on that portion of the City beach within 10-to-15-feet of the recently surveyed and staked public/private property boundary. Beachfront property owners will receive a letter within the next two weeks notifying them of when and where they may place sand under this initial authorization. Later in the summer, the City hopes to acquire another DNR permit that would allow beachfront property owners to place sand on the beach closer to the lake (further from the public/private property boundary). The City will send beachfront property owners a separate letter when this opportunity is available. DNR regulations prohibit removal, damage, or alteration of beach or dune grasses in the course of moving sand.
  2. City to obtain after-the-fact authorization for recent sand movement projects undertaken by private property owners without permits between the Lift Bridge and the 12th St beach access between March 1st 2023 and March 1st 2024. Fines for this activity have been waived by the DNR. The City will secure a single after-the-fact permit and pay the associated fee. Property owners who moved sand onto that portion of the beach closer to the lake for which DNR has regulatory responsibility will be expected to provide information about the unpermitted work they performed. With this cooperation, beachfront property owners who performed unpermitted work on City property will not incur DNR permit fees. Impacted beachfront property owners will be notified via letter in about a month when the after-the-fact permit has been secured.
  3. City installation of sand fence on the beach from the Lift Bridge to the 12th Street beach access.  After the City secures the necessary DNR permit, the City will work with the Park Point Community Club, beachfront property owners, and DNR to plan and implement a system of sand fencing designed to reduce the transport of windblown sand onto adjoining private properties and the sidewalk and street beyond and to contribute to the restoration of protective beach dunes. The City will hold a meeting with impacted property owners before commencing installation. The meeting is expected to take place within the next one-to-two months.
  4. City restoration of the 8th and 12th Street beach accesses. The City has completed restoration of the 12th Street access where windblown sand had rendered that designated wheelchair-accessible access effectively inaccessible to many. The City is permitted to cause incidental damage to the dunes and dune grass in the course of maintaining the 12th Street access. Some residents have raised important concerns about the magnitude of the damage to the dunes and dune grass. The City’s task at 12th Street is to balance the tension between our legal responsibility to maintain wheelchair access to the beach and our legal responsibility to minimize harm to dunes and dune grass. Different arms of DNR are charged with overseeing our compliance with each mandate. City staff have initiated consultation with DNR to solicit their input on how they would like us to strike that balance at beach accesses in the future. Restoration of the more primitive – not wheelchair-accessible – 8th Street beach access is expected to be undertaken within the next one to two months, after the City obtains the necessary permits.
  5. Spring 2025: Planting of new beach grasses. One year after sand fencing installation, new dunes will have been created by windblown sand and we will plant new beach grass plugs to solidify dunes and help to limit windblown sand onto public and private property.

Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns that I can help to address.

Sincerely Yours,

Jim Filby Williams

Property, Parks, and Libraries Department Director

City of Duluth

Upcoming meetings in the next two weeks

PPCC meeting 4/16/2024, 645pm catch up with neighbors, 7pm meeting starts, link to agenda notes.

City of Duluth Project to mitigate blowing sand on the north end of Park Point: Presentation on Monday, April 22nd at 730pm, Lafayette upstairs.

City staff members Jim Shoberg and Cliff Knettle will provide information on the mitigation strategy (fence) and on permitting. DNR Hydrologist is also invited. See you there and please share this with neighbors on the north end of Park Point.

Property Tax Presentation at Lafayette, Wednesday, 4/24, 6 pm

April 24th, 6pm, Lafayette, Meet with the St. Louis County Assessor, send questions in advance to parkpointcc@gmail.com. Here are the slides.

PPCC Elections in May. If you are interested in a position, speak with any Exec. Bod member and get your name on the slate of candidates for the May election! Per the bylaws, the slate of candidates will be shared at the April meeting; nominations may be taken from the floor for any seat on the Board at the May election.

April 2024 Breeze

Smelt Parade Workshops in lower Lafayette

Saturdays : May 11, 18 & 25  3-6pm

Wednesdays : May 15 & 22  6-8pm

Fridays : May 17 & 24  6 – 8pm

Jim Ouray  #218-370-8980 Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe

PPCC Meeting Tuesday March 19 & Camp Lafayette Summer Program Link to Register

See you at Lafayette; meeting starts at 7pm but come a bit earlier to check in with your neighbors and meet our new neighbors! Better yet, maybe invite your new neighbor to join you?

The March Breeze is here.

Link to agenda and notes

From the PPCC Youth Program Committee:

Hello Families,

Registration is live! Click here to begin. Please reach out if you have any questions or notice any issues with registration. 

We have a new liaison-in-training and Caleb will be immersing himself in all things PPSYP registration over the next few days. Please give 2-4 days for the expected confirmation email before you send payment. 

Looking forward to a wonderful 2024 season!

The Camp Lafayette Team

Here are dates:

Welcome to the Park Point Summer Youth Program (affectionately known as “Camp Lafayette”). 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, sail, hike on the Superior Hiking Trail, stand-up paddle board, build lego structures, do weekly community service projects, play board games, play court games, play kickball, experience varied field trips, and plan for an end of camp celebration. The camp runs Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00pm for nine weeks starting June 10 to August 8 (excluding July 4th).

PPCC Meeting on Tuesday 2/20, 645 social & 7pm meeting

Link to agenda.

Link to speeding car video from 2/2/2024. Please call 911 and note description of vehicle and license plate if you can do this safely.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Rinkfest on 2/4! A few Photos are here.

RinkFEST 2024 was held on Sunday, Feb. 4 from noon to 3pm in lower Lafayette. We grilled and ate 100 hotdogs complete with Coney sauce and chopped onions! The fire was lovely!

  • Skating or water skiing, bonfires, hot dogs, hot beverages and delicious delights from the Lafayette Community Edible gardeners! Everyone is welcome! Come to socialize even if skating isn’t happening due to the warm temperatures!

We are grateful for the efforts of Rinkleader Mark Elden & team in making skating a possibility this winter!
Nancy Olson cleaned up lower Lafayette and got everything ready for the gathering. The treats were fabulous! Thank you to everyone who contributed to a memorable gathering this weird & remarkable winter!

Photos and videos from Lafayette skating fun!

The February Breeze is here!

Best sunset skating!
Flooding by Tom Reistad on 1/20/2024- Thank you!

Membership Pizza Party! January 16, 2024 at Lafayette

6:30pm set up, 6:45pm PIZZA and 7pm First Meeting of 2024! The January Breeze is here.

Link to agenda and referenced documents

2024 PPCC Membership Form is Here

The December Breeze is here.

Best wishes for super start to 2024!

Lafayette Community Edible Garden Holiday Party Photos from 12/11 are here.

Fun party, a lot of laughing and great neighbors!

PPCC Meeting 11/21 7pm; check in with neighbors 645pm

Read the details here in The November Breeze

Meeting reminder: PPCC 11/21 7pm ; hoping to see you there!645 check in w neighbors.

This portion is canceled: Our guest:Sarah Johnson , Minnesota GreenCorps member serving at Western Lake Superior Sanitary District will join us!“For my work plan this year, I am working to reduce food waste and divert food scraps to be made into compost at WLSSD. Food scraps make up 15-20% of waste going to the landfill. When landfilled, these food scraps produce methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas. I would love to connect to your community club at this month’s November meeting. If there is sufficient interest, I’d like to schedule a future workshop where I can empower your community with the tools and knowledge needed to divert their own household scraps.”

Committee Reports, Art Fair updates, Youth Program 2023 Wrap Up & 2024 program proposals and timelines

You Are Invited to a Creative Hands Meeting     Our November meeting falls two days after Thanksgiving this year. If you are in town and don’t have a houseful of company or maybe you do and want a two hour break, please consider coming to the Saturday, November 25 Creative Hands meeting. We will meet at our usual time and place: St. Andrew’s, from 9:30-11:30. Coffee and tea will be available.     Please let me know if you plan to attend by Wednesday, November 22. I don’t want to be knitting all by myself for two hours.A blessed Thanksgiving to you.Sandy–
Sandy Carlson 
St. Andrew’s by the Lake Episcopal ChurchInstant Church Directory, Lector & Chalice Schedule, Creative Hands Organizersandy@standrewsbythelake.org

Next PPCC Meeting 10/17, 7pm, See you there!

Meeting agenda notes & communications

Agenda

Fray on the Bay photos from 9/9

The Breeze of October

Hope to see you at the meeting; stop by at 645pm to check in with your neighbors.

On the agenda:

Our guest will be Jim Filby Williams from the City of Duluth with updates on flooding and erosion issues and collaborations with PPCC MP50

County seeking to simplify property tax plat numbering system by consolidating parcels; stay tuned for details on upcoming presentation

Boardwalk and Internet upgrades at Lafayette- status report

Cutting trees on the Public Row-on the Watch Committee report

Skating at Lafayette this winter- for this to happen volunteers will be needed!

  1. BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS 10/1

St. Andrew’s by the Lake Episcopal Church

October 1, 2023, 9:45 AM

Please join us with your pet(s) as we gather in a big circle in the Mission Hall.

We worship this Sunday with all the creatures we love. We join the Psalmists and rejoice with all living things. We sing with all the birds and animals that make our lives richer because of their presence.

Treats for the pets and their human companions will be served after the service. 

Comfort Companions

2. Charlie Parr Concert Fundraiser for Wildwoods 10/6

Park Pointer Laura N. is on the Wildwoods Board. Wildwoods helps injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife in the community. You might remember the PP fox mange fundraiser a few years ago. Link to event here .

Join us on October 6 from 6:30pm-9:00pm for an intimate concert at The St. Louis County Depot in Duluth (506 W Michigan St.)

We are honored to share with you that Minnesota’s own Charlie Parrwill be performing a fundraising concert for Wildwoods supporters!

Charlie Parr is an incorruptible outsider who writes novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters thriving in the shadows all around us. He hasn’t moved to LA or Nashville; he’s stayed in the cold grey north of Minnesota, because that’s his home.

You may know Charlie as the socially conscious musician who freely shares his talents at public events, so it is a very big deal that he is helping to fundraise for Wildwoods. Tickets are $50, and the proceeds will go to support our work with orphaned and injured wildlife.

We have 265 tickets available. All tickets are general admission (seating is first come, first served).

Reserved seating is available for wheelchair, visual, auditory, and any accommodation. Please send accommodation requests to jessica@wildwoodsrehab.org.