Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The former swimming beach area in Ironwood's Norrie Park is where the city wants to install a canoe and kayak landing with a handicap accessible dock.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood - The Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee on Monday approved a letter in support of a mountain bike trail development application by Sisu Dirt Crew.
The committee 6-0 approved a letter to support Sisu Dirt Crews' effort to build a mountain bike trail between snowmobile Trail No. 2 and the Iron Belle Trail. Committee member Linda Jindrich was not present.
The approval followed a project update from Tom Bergman, director of community development for the city of Ironwood. He said the Sisu Dirt Crew has taken the lead in submitting a DNR application.
"It ended up that Sisu was interested in undertaking and constructing the trail and they are now filling out the application," Bergman said. "Sisu will be requesting a letter from us in support of the application."
Parks and Recreation Chair Sam Davey's had initial communication about the possibility with the DNR a year ago. Sisu Dirt Crew has since taken interest in the project.
"I think it's going to be really nice, especially as we keep going farther and farther with it," Davey said. "But it's a good start now."
There was also an update on another mountain trail project proposed for Mt. Zion.
The Sisu Dirt Crew approached the Parks and Recreation Committee around five years ago about building a small mountain bike trail at Mt. Zion. It was constructed and the organization is now seeking a $30,000 trail accelerator grant from the International Mountain Bicycling Association to expand the trail system.
Gogebic Range Health Foundation, the fiscal agent, is designating the $8,000 it normally grants SISU for its annual Copper Peak race that is in doubt this year due to COVID-19 as matching funds along with another $3,000 from Sisu.
"The grant would be just for the planning of the trail system," Bergman said.
The Gogebic Range Health Foundation is also working with Gogebic Community College in exploring the opportunity to establish a mountain bike trail development curriculum, as either a community program or as part of an adventure-based education program for students.
"This would be a great kick-off project to create the momentum to start doing some more trail development in the area," Bergman said. "The concept is that our region is blessed with incredible topography and public land when it comes to trail development."
What is lacking is funding and a skilled core group to lead the many motivated volunteers in taking on large trail development projects in terms of mountain biking, he said. This project would help to build a network of people who are skilled at designing mountain bike trails in the area.
"Part of the (Mt. Zion) land is city owned," Bergman said. "Before the trail work could start, they would come back to this committee and the city commission for approval."
In other updates, the Downtown City Square Project has received contractor bids and a recommendation for a below-budget bid will be on the city commission agenda Monday, Bergman said. The city will officially acquire the property today (Wednesday).
"So, everything is moving forward," Bergman said. "That project should be getting going here in the next few weeks, I suspect, so that is exciting."
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application for the Norrie Park Renovation and Water Trail project is now considered complete by the DNR, he said. An extension on supplemental information to support the grant will allow required public hearings and a city commission resolution of support to be held after the budget sessions in July.
"The supplemental will be in September for an opportunity to increase the score and then we find out if we get the grant in December, when we find out if it was recommended for funding," Bergman said.
The city is waiting for final documents from the DNR regarding the mountain bike trail development grant for Miners Memorial Heritage Park, Bergman said. The application was approved to include the boundary lines and $106,000 in matching fund support was provided by the Ironwood Tourism Council and Sisu Dirt Crew.
The project was to be built over two phases but delays in state appropriation may now mean combining the development into one phase starting in the fall and concluding next summer, he said. The Friends of Miners Memorial Park and Sisu volunteers have already cleared much of the trail areas to use over summer.
Some of the snowshoe trails are to be converted for full mountain bike use, Bergman said. Some will be compatible for use by both silent sports but some areas should be preserved, Bergman said. This is a conversation that must include all parties involved.
Discussion on identifying a location for a playground north of U.S. 2 led to questions about how to determine the need based on anticipated families with children. The legacy gift to the city asked the park be built on donated land on the northwest side of Zion Lutheran Church on Midland and Lowell streets but granted 10 years to identify a suitable location.
The north end is also divided by Lake Street which creates a concern if the park is intended for kids to walk or ride bikes to access, Bergman said. There may need to be north end parks on both sides of Lake Street, he said.
The city's comprehensive five year plan bases the need for parks on housing density, he said. The north end lacks density in general when it comes to this type of planning.
