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Parks report: camping and boating revenue down; SHPO review moves forward
Summary
Dave told the board camping and boating revenue is down about 3.5% year-to-date (about $25,000), citing weather, fuel costs and reduced Canadian traffic. He also said the State Historic Preservation Office review is underway, shovel-test permits were filed, and hiring filled seasonal maintenance gaps.
Dave (speaker 1) told the board that year-to-date camping and boating revenue through the end of June is down about 3.5%, to roughly $25,000, attributing the decline to weather, higher fuel prices and a shortfall in Canadian visitors.
“We're down 3 and a half percent to about $25,000,” Dave said, noting May and June were below last year’s comparable months and that July and August are typically near capacity. He said staff will monitor trends and review budget implications during the upcoming budget season.
Dave gave a status update on the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review tied to planned site work. He said the city hired Duluth Archaeology and submitted a Phase 1 literature review and that the artist/staff filed for a state permit to do shovel tests on sites they expect to disturb. “We've already got that permit filed. It takes maybe up to 60 days to get that,” he said, and added those clearances are among the final items before executing a contract with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
On staffing, Dave reported the parks team hired three maintenance workers — one full-time and two part-time for weekends and nights — which he said fills a recent gap in coverage. The board also discussed a proposed new bathhouse site on the north corner of the campground and timing for construction. Dave said the contract and funding must be secured, but he offered a loose construction timeline that envisions foundation work in fall 2027 and finishing in spring or early summer 2028, depending on bids and contingencies.
The board heard a brief report on upcoming events (an art festival and a picnic) and discussed vacancies on the park and library boards and outreach to recruit residents for those seats. No final decisions on the bathhouse design or DNR contract were taken at this meeting; the board flagged them for future budget and procurement steps.
