Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO AND, IF OFFERED, ACCEPTANCE OF A MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LOCAL TRAIL CONNECTION PROGRAM GRANT OF UP TO $111,188 TO DESIGN AND BUILD TRAIL CONNECTIONS AROUND QUARRY PARK.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, Quarry Park is an important outdoor recreational facility directly above the neighborhoods of Denfeld and Spirit Valley, and provides a unique experience of an old industrial quarry, and
WHEREAS, the Duluth Traverse and Superior Hiking Trail both pass in close proximity to Quarry Park, and
WHEREAS, the council approved St. Louis River Corridor Trails Plan, attached hereto as exhibit A, calls for both multipurpose trail and hiking trail connecting Quarry Park to the Duluth Traverse and Superior Hiking Trail, and
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth recognizes the minimum twenty-five percent match requirement for the DNR Local Trail Connection Program, and has secured $22,022 from Tourism & Recreation Projects 452, Finance 030, Half and Half Tourism Tax Projects 5530, HANDHTAX-1508 Quarry Park, and an in-kind match from partner organization Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS).
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for a Local Trail Connections grant of up to $111,188 to design and build approximately 1.5 miles of trail connecting Quarry Park with the Superior Hiking Trail and the Duluth Traverse.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the city of Duluth is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the city of Duluth agrees to accept the grant award, and may enter into an agreement, substantially similar to that attached hereto as exhibit B, with the state of Minnesota for the above referenced project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that city council of the city of Duluth names the fiscal agent for the city of Duluth for this project as:
Wayne Parson
Chief Financial Officer
411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth hereby assures the critical infrastructure improvements on the quarry connectors will be maintained for a period of no less than 20 years as required by the Federal Recreational Trail Grant Program.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution approves application for a Minnesota DNR Local Trail Connection grant for up to $111,188 to pay for seventy-five percent of a $148,250 project to connect Quarry Park and its adjacent neighborhoods with the Duluth Traverse and Superior Hiking Trail. These parks and trail improvements are consistent with the council approved Quarry Park Mini-Master Plan, attached hereto as exhibit C.
The project will design and build about 0.35 miles of bike-optimized multipurpose trail along the west side of Quarry Park and 0.55 miles of hiking trail along the east side of Quarry Park. Both trails will meet above Quarry Park and run together for 0.30 miles across Skyline Drive, and then connect with the Duluth Traverse and Superior Hiking Trail. An ADA-accessible 0.35-mile loop will be built at the base of the quarry, as well as other miscellaneous park improvements. Matching funds of $22,022 will come from Tourism & Recreation Projects 452, Finance 030, Half and Half Tourism Tax Projects 5530, HANDHTAX-1508 Quarry Park, and an in-kind donation of $15,000 from Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS).