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Great Lakes
Article:
Hiking
trail extension gets boost
By Craig Lincoln
Duluth News Tribune
12/10/03
The Duluth Planning Commission gave its blessing to a
cross-city hiking trail Tuesday.
The commission, in an informal vote, asked the City Council
to approve a permit for the trail with the Superior Hiking
Trail Association. The association, which will build and
maintain the trail, also has to get approval from St.
Louis County and some private landowners.
"Duluth is known as one of the most forested cities
in the United States," said Richard Gitar, a hiker
and an association volunteer. "This would enhance
that reputation."
The trail would be about 40 miles long, almost all of
that on public land. It would wind from Fond du Lac to
Hawk Ridge through woods, along streets and to and from
scenic outlooks along Duluth's craggy ridgeline.
Several access points will be used, such as the Lake
Superior Zoo parking lot and the Hartley Nature Center.
The trail will be a simple, 18-inch wide footpath with
no camp sites.
The association has said it would like to get approval
soon enough to start building the trail next year. Although
it has been mapping the trail and talking to neighbors
for several years, a few problems remain.
Association executive director Gayle Coyer said the association
still is rerouting some sections, such as around the antenna
farm and near a historic cemetery in Fond du Lac.
All 10 city Planning Districts passed resolutions of
support. Still, a few neighbors asked at the Planning
Commission's Tuesday night meeting that the trail be rerouted,
especially near the antenna farm.
"I'm in favor of the trail, but I think we need
a little more time to fine-tune the route," Tom McDonald
said.
In other business, an agenda item that drew neighborhood
attention on Park Point was withdrawn. Commission President
Roger Wedin said the Sand Point Boat Club had withdrawn
a petition to vacate some public open space to build a
boat-lift facility. He said the club decided to proceed
with a different type of request.
Some naturalists and Park Point residents opposed the
petition because the land is a prime site to watch birds
on Hearding Island.
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