The Glory Returns: The Duluth Boat Club An Example of Smart Development for Duluth By Russ Stewart Imagine this several-million-dollar project along one of our beloved shorelines: A long breakwater juts out to create a large area protected from waves. Along its surface runs a walkway where people stroll, fish, and observe the surrounding beauty. Shore-side, there is a paved boat launch and a large facility for aquatic sports enthusiasts. Is this the dreaded McQuade road harbor that many of us have opposed for years? No. It is the new Duluth Boat Club facility, and it is a project that I believe we should wholeheartedly support. The Duluth Boat Club will be constructed between the Coast Guard Station and the Army Reserve Center on the bay side of Minnesota Point, near 14th Street. As proposed, it will consist of a three-story, 19,000-square-foot building, a boat landing, and a large breakwater-protected basin. These amenities will be home to sailing, rowing, canoeing, and kayaking enthusiasts and will also be useful for those who enjoy fishing and power-boating. Those familiar with the location will know that this project will indeed improve the area. Currently this stretch of shoreline is littered with large chunks of concrete, broken glass, trash, and the remnants of illegal fire pits. As part of the development of the site, the concrete and other rip-rap will be removed from the shoreline area, leaving a nice sandy beach for public use. The Boat Club building will be modeled after a historic structure that burned down several decades ago. It will include three levels of decks overlooking the Superior Bay, storage for boats and gear, a kitchen, lounge, and banquet facility. The building will house a wide variety of educational programs focused on youth, including all aspects of water recreation and safety. Classes for adults will also be available, as well as equipment rentals. To add to the fun, the facility will be available for weddings, dances, and other events on the waterfront. Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources. The city of Duluth has brought the land under single ownership and will lease it to the Boat Club for a nominal fee, the Minnesota DNR will provide funding for construction of the boat launch, and the building itself will be largely funded through private sources. After a thorough review of this project, I have concluded that it will be a wonderful asset to our community. It will provide much needed recreational opportunities for our youth, it will clean up a run-down area, and it will give all of us more options for those lazy summer days when we want nothing more than to be near, or on, the water. In the early 20th century, the Boat Club was a cultural and social center for the city of Duluth. In the early 21st century, it will return to its former glory. Russ Stewart is Third District Duluth City Councilor These articles are retained on the web for historical interest and do not necessarily reflect the views or goals of DPPA today.

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