GRAND AVENUE NORDIC CENTER MINI-MASTER PLAN DULUTH, MINNESOTA JUNE 2015 Grand Avenue Nordic Center Grand Avenue Nordic Center Trail Phase II Trail Spirit Mountain Nordic Trail Spirit Mountain Alpine Area Mountain Bike Trail Superior Hiking Trail Spirit Mountain Nordic Center DWP Timber Twister West Skyline Parkway Grand Avenue Nordic Center – Mini-Master Plan page 2 Gary Larson Sports LLC Grand Avenue Nordic Center Overview The Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Chalet provides The Grand Avenue Nordic Center will be a There are other cross country ski trail options in the this missing amenity. There also is ample parking 3.3km cross country ski trail with state-of-the-art region but what makes this project important is the and easy access off Grand Avenue along with DTA snowmaking and lighting providing a dependable snowmaking. This will provide dependable snow for bus service. The western Duluth area currently season-long venue for recreational skiing, youth cross country skiing for the first time in the area. In has no cross country skiing option and this center activities and regional high school events. The addition, lighting the trails further allows recreation would fill that need. location is adjacent to the Spirit Mountain opportunities in the morning before sunrise and Recreation Area, in West Duluth and next to their also into the evening and night. The closest trail Vision, Trends, and Public Values Grand Avenue Chalet. The project will become a with snowmaking is Mt. Itasca in Coleraine which is regional center of activity for cross country skiing 80 miles distant. There are additionally several trails “Our goal is to become a regional center of activity by extending the season early and late and provide with snowmaking approximately 160 miles distant, for cross country skiers of all abilities by providing skiing when there is inadequate natural snow. in the Twin Cities area. Map on page 6 consistent season long skiing through snowmaking, The lighting will provide the opportunity for early lighting, and best practices grooming.“ morning and night skiing. Phase II of the project The City of Duluth currently maintains and grooms will provide for a total of 5km of trail and connect a total of 55km of cross country ski trails at six The region has a very strong outdoor winter sports the Grand Avenue Nordic Center to the Spirit locations throughout the City but none with heritage, including: cross country and alpine skiing, Mountain Nordic Center by way of a two-way trail snowmaking and only one with lighting, Lester- hockey, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing to the top of the mountain. Amity. Map on page 7 and winter mountain biking. Classification – Special Recreational Feature Site Information Cross country skiing is very popular and one of the Regional Park The trail crosses parcels administered by the City of healthiest winter activities for all ages and abilities. Duluth with a portion crossing land owned by Spirit Adequate snow for grooming cross country ski trails is not a certainty, even in Duluth. Over the Proposer/Implementing Agency(s) Valley Land Company, LLC, which has agreed to last several years we have seen winters with very The City of Duluth will be implementing this provide a trail easement to the City of Duluth. There few days of adequate snow for grooming. It is not project. Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority will be no land acquisition needed for this project. surprising to see why across the country and world, will operate, manage and maintain the facility Map on page 8 the increasing trend for cross country skiing centers and the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club (DXC) will is the addition of snowmaking. provide fundraising, volunteer assistance and The area along Grand Avenue is uniquely suited for coordinate the programming of the activities. a Nordic Center with snowmaking. Spirit Mountain is currently undertaking a project increasing their Tourism is one of the important economic engines water and pumping capacity for snowmaking by of the region. Duluth has poised itself to become a Regional Context drawing water directly from the St. Louis River “trails destination” and the addition of this Nordic The site is located within St. Louis County and in replacing the current use of City treated water. This Center will be an important winter component of the western end of the City of Duluth just off Grand increased capacity will easily accommodate the that vision. Avenue at the base of the Spirit Mountain alpine water needs for making snow for the Grand Avenue ski area. The existing Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Nordic Center trail. Skiers desire a trailhead building Public Input Chalet, with ample parking and accessible facilities, with accessible facilities that can be used for The development of this Mini-Master Plan aligns will be the trailhead location and programming warming, meeting and staging activities and events. with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and headquarters for activities. Grand Avenue Nordic Center – Mini-Master Plan page 3 Gary Larson Sports LLC Grand Avenue Nordic Center follows recommendations outlined in the St. Louis City Council passed a resolution supporting the below the former Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific River Corridor Vision and the Duluth Cross Country planning and design of recreation and tourism Railway grade providing an aesthetic winter Ski Trail Master Plan. The City sponsored seven projects in the St. Louis River Corridor. On May 13, experience and magnificent views. meetings with stakeholder groups (Spirit Mountain this Mini-Master Plan was approved by the Duluth Recreation Area Authority and Duluth Cross Parks Commission* and by the Spirit Mountain The state-of-the-art snowmaking, grooming and Country Ski Club) on February 4 and 18, March Recreation Authority Board on May 21, 2015. The lighting will provide the very best outdoor cross 10, 25 and 28, and April 3 and 30 to develop the Duluth City Council* approved this Mini-Master Plan country experience available. For the portions of concepts fundamental to this Plan. These concepts on June 15, 2015. *Resolutions on page 13. the winter when there is inadequate natural snow, were then presented to the public for their input. the center will provide the only place with groomed Anticipated Issues skiing in the region. Input for this plan was collected from a public Homeowners adjacent to the trail may have meeting held April 17, 2015 at the Morgan Park issues, including: increased traffic to the area, Development Master Plan Community Recreation Center, 2.5 miles from the noise associated with snowmaking and increased A ski trail design consultant is being hired to work proposed site. The group who attended provided lighting early and late in the day through the winter with local experts to produce the final design. a good informational exchange regarding the St. months. These issues can be mitigated through Trail design best practices will be utilized with Louis River Corridor Project and how the Nordic scheduling and adjusting hours of operation. The consideration given to making portions of the Center fits into that plan. Good input was also proposed energy efficient lighting system would trail appropriate for use by sit-skiers, maximum received from local homeowners, including several be motion activated so lights would be off when 12% grade, and others with physical disabilities. from the adjacent Bessemer Street neighborhood. not being actively utilized. Increased traffic will A minimum 20 foot wide trail width will be be addressed with major work on Grand Avenue maintained to allow both skate skiing and classical scheduled for summer 2015-2016. track. The trail surface will be flat and well drained The following comments were collected: to allow for summer activities and maintenance. • Hours of operation could disturb adjacent Water lines will likely be above ground, being Existing mountain bike and hiking trails may be homeowners if too early and late, request lights more cost effective due to the rocky character of out same evening hours as alpine. impacted by ski trail construction. Throughout the soil. Electrical receptacles and water hydrants • Parking issues – don’t want parking to spill over the design process the mountain bike and hiking will be located at intervals to allow for snow to to neighborhood streets. More parking needed communities will be included in the planning. Any be made on all portions of the trail. High efficient conflict with existing trails will be minimized or at Grand Avenue Chalet. LED lighting will be designed to minimize light mitigated to the satisfaction of the group. • Noise concerns for snowmaking, grooming – spillage and special motion sensors will be used to reduce electrical usage. Construction is planned for could adjust hours when it occurs Classification Criteria • Light pollution – would be distracting in their summer 2016. Maps on page 8-11 and images on The Grand Avenue Nordic Center will have easy page 9. “backyards”, lighting system to be designed for access situated on Grand Avenue, (MN Hwy 23) just minimal “light pollution.” 2 miles south of Interstate 35. Over 100,000 people Ecological (natural/land resources) • Cost to ski-daily pass, season pass – possible live within a 13 mile radius of the Nordic Center local zip code discount? Don’t want it too high Stewardship Plan which will be located 7 miles from the downtown An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for local casual use. areas of both Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin. is currently in progress for the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area which includes the area that will be Support The trail will wind up and down through forested traversed by the Grand Avenue Nordic Center trail. At their March 23, 2015 meeting, the Duluth land along the St. Louis River valley, above and Grand Avenue Nordic Center – Mini-Master Plan page 4 Gary Larson Sports LLC Grand Avenue Nordic Center Research Plan higher difficulty loops so a variety of configurations Project Cost Keeping usage data and collecting user survey can be explored depending on distance and The total project cost is estimated to be nearly $1.5 information when possible will be important difficulty interests.