Title
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE DULUTH-BASED PORTIONS OF THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL MASTER PLAN AND APPLICATION FOR REGIONAL PARK OR TRAIL DESIGNATION THROUGH THE GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS COMMISSION
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, 48 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail (the “Trail”) are located within the City of Duluth, most of it on City property; and
WHEREAS, the construction of the Trail first began in the 1980s, with the Duluth portions of the trail completed in 2013; and
WHEREAS, the Superior Hiking Trail Association (the “Association”) has undertaken a master planning process for the entirety of the Trail, which includes more than 300 miles of trail traversing a large number of public and private landowners; and
WHEREAS, the Association presented its Superior Hiking Trail Master Plan, attached as Exhibit A, to the Parks and Recreation Commission, which passed a motion of support endorsing the Duluth-based portions of the Plan on August 14, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the City of Duluth wishes to help strengthen the capacity of the Association to improve and maintain the Trail within the City; and
WHEREAS, the Association’s financial capacity to improve and maintain the Trail would be enhanced if the Trail were to receive a Regional Park or Trail Designation by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (the “Commission”); and
WHEREAS, only local government units may apply for Regional Park or Trail Designation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth endorses the Association’s Master Plan as it pertains to the Duluth-based portions of the Trail.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth has the authority to act as legal joint applicant for the Association’s pursuit of a trail designation through a Request for Designation through the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission as a Regional Park or Trail in Greater Minnesota.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth, as joint applicant, supports the Master Plan attached to the application and accepts associated responsibilities, including long-term commitments to the Trail corridor as they relate specifically to the City of Duluth portions of the Trail, related Master Plan, and supporting information as submitted.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that should the Trail receive formal designation as a Regional Trail in Greater Minnesota by the Commission, as a joint applicant, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to enter into formal designation agreements as necessary with the Commission for the referenced trail when such agreements relate specifically to the City of Duluth portions of the Trail.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that should the Trail receive formal designation as a Regional Trail in Greater Minnesota by the Commission, associated grant funds require application by a government agency, thus as a joint applicant, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to enter into funding agreements as necessary with the Commission on behalf of the Association, if so doing furthers the implementation of the Master Plan within the City of Duluth.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth certifies they will comply with all applicable laws and regulations associated with regional designation and any approved future grant funding for their respective portions of any project.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution endorses the Duluth-specific portions of the Superior Hiking Trail Master Plan and supports an application to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission to designate the Superior Hiking Trail as a regional trail. If so designated, the City could coordinate grant applications and serve as a fiscal agent for funds from the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Parks and Trail Fund to support the Superior Hiking Trail within the City of Duluth. Legacy funds may only be distributed to government agencies.