City Commission Approves Amended Resolution to Proceed with Trail System

IRONWOOD, MI - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - The Ironwood City Commission held a special meeting at 5:30 yesterday evening to discuss and consider the concept of developing a “Miners Memorial Park System” (MMPS) in the "Caves" area of town. The "Caves" were once the location of several mine sites within the City. A subcommittee of the Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee (IP&RC) created a plan that would utilize the city-owned open land for a non-motorized trail system and a park that would honor the storied history of local miners and mining in the area.

Several public meetings have been held recently to discuss the concept. Citizen support has been overwhelming at each and every meeting. Last night was no exception. The capacity crowd attending last night's meeting voiced in with the vast majority supporting the plan. In fact, only three people responded to Mayor Noren's request to hear from citizens opposing the proposed park. In each case, citizens speaking in opposition to the plan prefaced their comments with general support for the proposal. Each of those speaking in opposition expressed concerns that would need to be addressed, but in general, they still supported the idea.

The IPC and the IP&RC both unanimously passed resolutions to move the project forward. Twenty-one letters of support were received by the City to date, and no letters of oppositions have been submitted. In spite of the massive support for the project and the nearly complete lack of opposition, the City Commission initially voted down a motion to support the plan.

Commissioners Laabs, Noren, and Toth each had concerns regarding the wording of the resolution put before them. After considerable discussion and compromise, an amended resolution was approved by the Commission that will allow the subcommittee to continue to work on a trail system in the area.

An expanded report on last night's meeting will be posted shortly.