Duluth council directs study of downtown skywalk system; work to include public outreach and accessibility review

The Duluth City Council voted unanimously to instruct the city administration to evaluate the long‑term future of the downtown public skywalk system, directing staff to pursue a study that will incorporate public comment, accessibility stakeholders and downtown property owners.

Councilor Forsman, the lead author of the resolution, told the council the measure grows out of a 2022 downtown task force report that recommended assessing the skywalk system. “Our downtown is essentially two walking systems, the one outside and the one inside,” Forsman said during debate, urging the city to “explore what can be done differently.” The council approved the resolution on a 9‑0 vote.

The resolution calls for administration to work with council members and community partners on a scope of work and to return findings and recommendations. Forsman said the study’s timeline—laid out in the resolution as six months—was intended to…