harbor park project (306a-04-07)

8/9/2019 Harbor Park Project (306a-04-07)

1/27

Minnesotas Lake Superior Coastal Program

Harbor Park Project

Mike RothGrand Marais City Administrator

December 2006

Project No. 306A-04-07

Contract No. A79125

This project was funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAAsOffice of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with MinnesotasLake Superior Coastal Program.


2/27

IntroductionThe primary feature of Grand Marais has always been its harbor. Still a working harborfor commercial fishermen, it has become a scenic haven for visitors and residents alike.The City of Grand Marais took the opportunity to purchase the old Standard Stationproperty in 1999 with a combination of community raised funds and a grant from theMinnesota DNR. The $600,000 purchase was made with the intent of cleaning-up theheavily contaminated site and creating "Harbor Park".

A substantial amount of contaminated soil was removed from the site by the MinnesotaPollution Control Agency this past year, and clean-up will continue for some time. Weworked cooperatively with them to get approval to begin construction on the site. Thereclamation of this site and its restoration to public property is part of a larger effort toprotect the environs of the harbor for future generations. This larger effort includesmaintaining harbor adjacent property in trust, acquiring easements from privatelandowners, and removal of the old power plant.

Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program helped fund Harbor Park Phase I. Thisallowed us to hire an architect and initiate a public design process. Hammel, Green, andAbrahamson, Inc. was selected to work with the community in designing a park that willserve citizens and visitors alike. The final design was arrived at after an extensive seriesof public meetings. The design acknowledges the proximity of the site to the downtownwhile creating a passive garden park that complements the harbor and its naturalsurroundings. The park design incorporated the use of quality, durable materials that

reflect the local environment and ample public spaces for community events, includinggreen spaces. The natural beach area is enlarged and enhanced by removing old concretestructures and rotted wood barriers. Most importantly, the design preserves the


3/27

reduction in the plumbing costs. The City would use its own utilities, parks and golfcourse crews to install the water, sewer, and irrigation.

In May we evaluated two proposals for construction administration services and decidedto use HGA, the park designer, for assistance with some of the more complexinstallations, but do the majority if the administration in-house with City and Park staff.

June, July and August was an excitingquarter for progress on the park. Edwin E.Thoreson Inc began construction in May.

The site was cleared, and it becameapparent that we were working with a verylarge area. There is ample space for all ofthe uses we plan for the park.

We completed most of the concrete work,including all of the seat walls and the plazaarea near the intersection of WisconsinStreet and 1st Avenue West. The different

Park site cleared in June surface treatments on the concrete add a lotof interest to the project. A coloring agent

was added to the concrete to slightly darken it, giving it an aged appearance. The crushedrock pathways were also installed, and they work as we intended, providing a flat, stablesurface for travel, but also with a softer feel than asphalt or concrete.

All of the electrical conduit was placed foroutlets and lighting. The outlets wereinstalled and put to use in July for the Art


4/27

enormous amount of volunteer effort, we are getting it done. Hedstroms Lumber hasdonated all of the bark mulch we will be using. The planting effort really demonstrates

the way the community has come together to make this park a reality. Your generousgrant has leveraged a lot of donations of time and materials.

Our architect visited the site three times, first to help us select the appropriate rock forlandscaping, then later in June to help build a large rock landscaping area, and finally inAugust to complete the rock landscaping including the boulder retaining wall along thebeach. People really enjoyed the rock landscaped area.


5/27

Conclusions

Our final construction costs were higher than originally budgeted, but working with a

local contractor who was interested in the civic good involved with the project we madesubstantial reductions in the costs after bid opening. The construction administration wasmainly done in-house, saving some money on that line item. Fund raising slowed untilconstruction began, and then picked up again. Our many festivals provided good fundraising opportunities.

This project was completed with the assistance of countless volunteer hours from thecommunity. Both during the project and after its completion, people couldnt help

comment on how terrific the site looks. Please come up and enjoy this new public spaceon the Grand Marais harbor, and remember all of the support and effort that made ithappen.


6/27


7/27

PARK/from AtThe o r l ~ plans [0' t h ~ 44,OOO-s.juare fo t ' t e c a l l ~ d for In'p,o\,e,n.nts t < > l a h l l ~ about $500.000.Features Ihat to be Inthe l ' b J ~ but an;m1 any looger.Include /I. centeTJHeee in (heIme"",ctioo that '10.... becornesa lnrje pa"ed paHo a r e a ~ (O"Plam, and a ,ocky garde ll

n t t m;uorit)' of the v l a n t m ~ w ~ 1 be shrubs (no annU.>! gar

deNt). he .aid,I'rnbalJ.ly Ute nlOSt \-;s,blechange is that a ,etal/lIng"o1Inle""t to sepllnte the de;e1oped palk fro,,, tho beach will"I""" fo'med," and he emnprb


8/27

News BriefsHarbor Parkconstruction tobegin May I

On ApornonInc Cot1$lf1,lctioo will tx:I'nMay \.The Harbor Park proJr.ctbelIan wlll\ ' h ~ ""quis111on ofthe E ~ k s o n Standard SUllO"properw In 1999 (lI,oul" oombvWlon n ""rl Ahrammoo" (IIIlh.prujtd archi'l- Their designprocEV Included s i g I ' l r ' t ~ n l

~ ; " n ~ h i $ 3 ( ) O O O . E7ho.c$O", Inc IIaa wo rkedwilh the City 10 nrHl signolicanlc ..., ....,..lng measurrs Theplanhngs wlU P I V I ' ~ alcost by Buck Ber\SOfl andInslaUe"'''"w, " " " , ~ ber "B"", I)f... ""ntlllg" 01 frO!!! heav-Ing OIl the ,oath, nlakir'8 trave lIt normal highway spttdsImpossible."Cook Counl)' I n l \ ' ~ l e " , ,....,llOt alone in t/,ur ""rift)' with,, ,ugh [{lads !hi. Winter: Molnau wrote to l'etz, ' Indeed,Too.UWllyS all o ~ r NOllheastem~ h n n e ! l O l art roua,her than,WnnaJ this year, due primarily'OJ r h ~ 1"'


9/27

Construction begins on Harbor Park

"""'''' ....-n D elling Iitno in Gr8IId ..... . . _ tUlly !'laS _,ed


10/27

PIICIIO 1O\'.IomT h ~ week. Hafbof Palk came alive w ~ h shr.os and Irees, day Woes and other flow

.. Cokc-.. _, ... aIoj, Gr . . . . . . 010, _ . . . . . . . . >IlOl


11/27

PARKIr,omAlV o l u ~ ' " , , ' " flOl'll A"" .. h....tEI.dnc. city 8""""""''''. 11>0local T h t " ~ n ~ CoololO by Joan FarMmRk:hard Olson, rntOdle, presen ts a mock bronze plaq lJ8 to MayorMa rk Sandbo du ring ded ica tion ceremon ies of Harbor Park on Sunday. The rea l plaque wll be arriving soon. PIC -tured .....ilh them are commun ity memoorswho helped make the park a rea lity and include,from left, Jim Sh inners,Mike Ca rlson, Betle McDonnel , Mike Roth, Carol Forstad and FMtzSobanja.


14/27

PARK/from AIn,1o)' not be t i l" par k eliot1""o. J w. " ted 0' ""v'sioaednn . Is what ~ P p " n s l"\< 'nkxaI """"""",ot 0Ild rid,...... .-c Co worklnl " t r 10 . . .""'ItQIIi.h . . . Mth, . .Thll p;lrk II a ro. ,plOmlRnobody go! euctJy . .hal M .he "'""'ed . ~ v r " n n @ .., " "U t . ally . . Ulnl 10 8 " ' ~ IoOrnetllln, '" '" "oode, r,,111u,,& II tIIa! 1M . . . . k worksfor IIlOIol of ' ' ' ' i I I ~ n d n l fun


15/27

Master Gardene rs win awards for Harbo r Park

Pho1IoCOl.Olny 01 Nlrcy can..,.,


16/27


17/27


18/27


19/27


20/27


21/27


22/27


23/27


24/27


25/27


26/27


27/27

harbor park project (306a-04-07)

Documents