On December 8, 2023, the Duluth City Council will deliberate on an ordinance that impacts two critical areas in the community: the former Lester Park Golf Course and significant portions of Duluth’s recreational lands. This decision follows a controversial shift from a previous resolution aimed at preserving the golf course as parkland to transferring it to the Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA) for potential development, pending a land-use plan.
The golf course has drawn public attention since the council’s vote to reverse a 2021 commitment to safeguard it. Simultaneously, a lesser-known but equally important initiative has been underway for decades, focused on protecting recreational areas used for skiing, hiking, and biking. These lands were historically county-controlled tax-forfeited properties, which are now at risk of development.
Concerns Over Linking Land Protection to Development
Recent actions by the mayor and City Council have raised concerns among community members. They are linking the protection of these tax-forfeited lands to the residential development of the golf course. This connection is troubling for many, as the effort to protect these lands is a separate issue that had been resolved years ago.
For the past twenty years, there has been a concerted effort involving city and county staff, nonprofit organizations like the Minnesota Land Trust, and various government agencies. Their collaboration has focused on identifying and prioritizing the protection of vital lands, including the Lester and Piedmont ski trails, Brewer Park, and crucial ecosystems such as high-quality trout streams and old-growth forests.
In 2021, the City Council unanimously approved the transfer of these vulnerable tax-forfeited lands from St. Louis County to the city, contingent upon a zoning change to designate them as parkland. This designation is intended to protect them from development without an eight-ninths vote of city councilors. While the land transfer has been completed, the necessary zoning change to secure protected status remains pending.
Community Advocacy for Recreational Land Protection
The McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America has endorsed the protection of these areas, emphasizing their significant recreational, environmental, and economic value to the community. Julie O’Leary, chair of the board, stated that the collaborative project to identify 1,500 acres for protection serves as a model for community engagement in conservation efforts.
Unfortunately, the ordinance currently before the City Council ties the zoning change for these 1,500 acres to the transfer of 230 acres of land from the golf course to DEDA. Many residents view this linkage as inappropriate, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that undermines public processes.
Critics argue that the rushed approach to transferring the golf course property lacks adequate public and Parks Commission input. Many questions and concerns remain unresolved, and the City Council’s decision could impact the future of these recreational areas significantly.
As the City Council prepares for its meeting, community members urge the council to decouple these two issues. They advocate for a reevaluation of the approach to the former Lester Park Golf Course, reaffirming the commitment to protect the tax-forfeited lands that have been the focus of decades of cooperative efforts.
