Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WORK BEGAN Monday on the Curry Park enhancement trail which opened a wide path through the woods and is already being used by wildlife.
By BRYAN HELLIOS
Ironwood - The Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee announced at its meeting Monday meeting that construction has started on the Curry Park Trail enhancement project.
Funded with a grant from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation, the 10-foot wide trail utilizes an old railroad grade which will connect the trail to Miners Memorial Heritage Park.
Committee member Tom Kangas said he would like to see the old mine footings along the trail preserved.
"Could those pyramid concrete obelisks possibly be placed along the sides of the trail," he said. "Those are historic."
Community Development Director Tom Bergman said he asked construction crews to not touch them because of their historical significance.
"I don't think we want them going into the woods with any equipment to get things and pull them in." he said.
Bergman said the trail should be completed in a week or two.
Sam Davey, chair of the committee, said $25,000 has been raised for the restoration of the Hiawatha statue.
"The cost of repairing Hiawatha is now covered," he said. "What we still have to raise money for is the equipment rental."
The company doing the work needs two lifts, he said and "We haven't got a cost on that yet."
In other business, the committee:
-Discussed a possible mountain bike spur along the Iron Belle Trail from downtown to Country Club Road.
-Was presented with a mock-up of etiquette signage for Norrie Park disc golf course.
-Continued discussions for the search for a sledding hill.
-Heard money may be available to begin work on a playground north of U.S. 2.
-Is searching for two Ironwood residents who wish to serve on the Parks and Recreation committee.
