Parks & Rec Hear Updated Plan for Miners' Heritage Park & Trails

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - The Ironwood Parks & Recreation Committee (IP&RC) held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 7, 2010 in the Women's Club Room on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building.

1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by IP&RC Committee Chairman Sam Davey at 6:00 PM.

2. Recording of the Roll. Committee Secretary Jane Bowman recorded the roll. Committee members present at the meeting included: Sam Davey; John Wyssling; Marion True; Laura Thomas; and Annette Burchell. The Womens' Club Room was nearly filled to capacity. Four of the five City Commissioners were also in attendance: Mayor Bob Burchell; Mayor Pro-Tem Rick Semo; Gemma Lamb; and Kim Corcoran -- as was Ironwood's City Manager, Scott Erickson. The only media present for the meeting was the Superior Chronicle.

3. Approval of the May 12, 2010 Re-Scheduled Meeting Minutes. After briefly examining the minutes from the May 12th meeting, the Committee unanimously voted to approve them.

4. Approval of the Docket. Chairman Davey informed the Committee that Kyle Ramme asked to address the IP&RC regarding the possibility of dedicating a portion of the Norrie Park walking trail to honor his sister. Item 7(a) was added to allow Mr. Ramme a chance to address the Committee. The Committee unanimously approved the Docket as amended.

5. Citizens wishing to address the Committee on Items on the Agenda (Three-minute limit). When Chairman Davey asked if any members of the sizable crowd wished to speak on Agenda items, the group sat silent.

6. Update on Miner’s Memorial Heritage Park. Friends of the Miners' Memorial Heritage Park member Lily Palmer gave a brief presentation to bring the IP&RC up-to-date on the group's progress regarding the Miners' Memorial Heritage Park. She started her presentation with a brief history of the organization.

She explained that the Parks and Recreation Committee held a meeting back on December 1, 2008, which examined citizen surveys to determine what kinds of recreational activities were in desired by the public. Hiking and biking trails were heavily requested items according to the survey. As a result, the IP&RC formed a subcommittee, composed of both Committee members and members of the general public, designed to work on establishing a trail system within the City.

In February of 2009, the subcommittee presented their findings to the IP&RC, the Ironwood Planning Commission (IPC) and the Ironwood City Commission (ICC).

According to Palmer, the subcommittee determined that the "Caves" area was natural location for a trail system, especially considering its historical significance and heritage value to the City of Ironwood. Palmer explained that there would be no Ironwood if the mines in the "Caves" never existed.

"Ironwood's iron helped to build America. It got us through two World Wars. And a lot of people who live in Ironwood are descendants of the miners who worked in the mines." Palmer told the Committee. She said the subcommittee wanted to honor the history and the heritage of the "Caves" area, and she said the area was also ideal for trails. As a result of the subcommittees research into the "Caves," the Miners' Memorial Heritage Park concept was created.

Palmer said the Parks & Recreation Committee, the Planning Commission and the City Commission all agreed the concept was a good one, and all three boards encouraged further action. The City Commission, at the time, approved the concept but insisted that the creation of the park and the associated costs don't fall upon the City. They also insisted that a group be formed that would oversee the development of the park. As a result, the Friends of the MMHP was created. Palmer explained that all labor would be volunteer and that grants could be obtained to finance the project.  She also pointed out that several area businesses and individuals have already pledged their support.

According to Palmer, the FMMHP has been meeting monthly since it was created back in February of 2009. She said they are working with attorneys to establish their non-profit status. She also pointed out that several public outreach efforts have been made in the past year including -- weekly summer guided hikes through the area; snowshoeing hikes throughout the winter; involvement in the Gogebic County Fair; participating in the Legion Parade using a head-frame the group reconstructed; involvement in the 4th of July Parade; presentations of the park concept at Theatre North; held a vigil for the Pabst Mine disaster; and participated in the Jack Frost Parade.

Palmer said all of the FMMHP's outreach efforts have created public awareness of their park efforts. She said the subcommittee has been working since February of this year to update the Park plan that she was presenting.

Palmer then turned the presentation over to local historian, Ivan Hellen.

Hellen circulated maps that designated areas of historical significance to the Committee members. He explained that the red dots on the maps showed the various mine shafts that were constructed in the area. Hellen said that the area was ideal for hiking trails and that much can be learned from exploring the area. He explained that tens of thousands of miners worked in the mines and that many people don't realize the sacrifices and hardships many of them suffered. He told the Committee that many of the miners moved here from other countries in search of a better life.

"This is a good opportunity for community involvement," Hellen explained, "Maybe for the first time, many people will be able to volunteer some of their time and efforts into a really worthwhile project." He went on to say that this entire region was dependent on the mines and that the mines created nearly all of the area communities. He said that the history of the area needs to be celebrated, studied and understood. He said he often wondered how many people passed by the caves never realizing what the area once was.

Hellen told the Committee that the trail system and the Park would be something very unique to Ironwood. He said that no other community in the Western Upper Peninsula or Northeastern Wisconsin has ever undertaken such a project. He said he recently traveled with a local history group through Ironwood, Bessemer, and Wakefield and that none of the communities have made an effort to let tourists to the area know about the rich mining history that is part of the fabric of the area. He said there were virtually no clues that mining ever even existed in the area.

"I think this trail system really has a chance to bring in a lot of people to the area  as far as 'heritage tourism,'" Hellen explained, "Probably the fastest growing thing that most people are seeking when then go into a city."

Hellen went on to point out several of the sites in the area that have historical significance. "As you travel on these trails I think you're going to be able to go back in time," Hellen said, "A lot of people wish they had the opportunity to go back maybe one day or whatever and see, but through the proper signage which we will get into... there were at least 18 head-frames in the area." 

Hellen indicated that Bob Jacquart previously pledged to provide signage throughout the trail system. Hellen said he recently spoke with Jacquart about the signs and he said Jacquart was still very committed to the project.

Lily Palmer ended the presentation with a detailed description of the proposed trail and park system. The Chronicle will publish more information on proposed facility in the very near future. We have also made arrangements to get a digital version of the detailed map of the proposed trail and park plan. This too will be published as soon as it becomes available.

Following Palmer's presentation, she asked the Committee if they had any questions.

IP&RC member John Wyssling had a few comments and a question. "Is there a way to integrate, at some of the different sites, the natural ancestry of the people that were here -- that participated -- that would help with the heritage for people to find where relatives and others participated?" Wyssling continued by saying that many people would like to see names of their ancestors displayed -- showing that they once worked the mine.

Palmer said Wyssling's idea was a very good one, and it was something that hadn't occurred to her. She said the FMMHP group could work with local historians to put the idea into action. She mentioned that a few people visiting the area from out of town attended the Pabst Mine disaster vigil because members of their family died in the disaster. They said they never realized where the Pabst Mine was and they never knew where their family member perished.

Wyssling then addressed the issue of funding. Palmer pointed out that many grant opportunities exist - many from the private sector - and some through organizations such as the MDNR Trust Fund Grant. She said that matches for the grants can either be monetary or pledges of free labor or specific donated materials and efforts.

Davey pointed out that no money would be asked of the City.

Marion True asked how the Compost Area  would be handled. Palmer said the FMMHP decided that the Compost Area would not be included in the plan, neither would the snow dump area. She said the map shows a roughed out area dedicated to the Compost. True then pointed out that it will still be there, and he asked how the trail system would be affected by the presence of the Compost Area. He asked if it would be fenced off or not.

Palmer told True that the FMMHP intends to do nothing with the Compost other than avoid it. She said the City would need to address any and all Compost problems in the future like they have in the past.

Laura Thomas asked if any grants the FMMHP were to apply for would affect other grants the City was applying for.

Palmer explained that MDNR Trust Fund Grants go into a big pool and each grant is evaluated based on its own merits.  She pointed out that all grants submitted by any entity to the MDNR Trust Fund compete with all other grants submitted. Tom Bergman pointed out that the City would need to be the Agent for any grants the FMMHP applied for because the City owns the property.

In the end, the IP&RC unanimously voted to send the Park Plan onto the City Commission with the Parks & Recreation Committee's recommendation to approve the plan.

7. Update on Welcome Center Snowshoe and Mountain Bike Trail. Chairman Davey told the Committee that he recently emailed the State in an effort to get written approval for the trail expansion, but he has yet to receive a response. He indicated that the State has already given verbal approval, but that there is little that can be done until the Committee has the deal in writing.

7(a). Memorial Plaque for Kyle Ramme's Sister.  Mr. Ramme addressed the Committee explaining that his sister, Cheryl "Cherie" Lynn Massoglia, passed away at the age of 54, on April 15th of this year. He explained that his sister loved to walk along the paved trail in Norrie Park and he asked the Committee if he could have a portion of the trail designated as "Cherie's Way." He said he would like to see a small "street sign" and a small bronze plaque erected that honored his sister. He said he would pay for the signage, and he pledged that he would do regular maintenance on the trail, the sign and the plaque as well. He said his sister would routinely walk the trail with her three dogs and that she would often pick up trash, litter, and debris along the trail to help keep it clean.

He said he would like the plaque to read, "Dedicated to the memory of Cherie Massoglia. Every path she walked, like every life she touched, was left better than it was found. That was 'Cherie's Way.'"

The Committee unanimously agreed to allow section of the trail to be so designated.

8. Discussion on Survey Questions. A. Discussion on Five Year Recreation Plan. Chairman Davey suggested that a subcommittee be formed to work on the Survey Questions. The Committee agreed.

9. Citizens wishing to address the Committee on items not on the Agenda (Three-minute limit).  There were no citizens wishing to address the Committee.

10. Other Business. No other business was discussed.

11. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned after the Committee voted unanimously to do so.