Parks & Recreation

Project Status: Planning

Project Overview:

The City of Duluth has coordinated a stakeholder-driven Heritage Trail Interpretive Plan that defines important themes of interpretation along Waabizheshikana ("The Marten Trail"), previously known as the Western Waterfront Trail (WWFT). Waabizheshikana consists of an existing 3.3-mile segment that traverses the western shoreline of the St. Louis River. The trail will eventually be extended to a roughly 10-mile continuous recreational trail. The purpose of this planning effort is to produce a Heritage Trail Interpretive Plan that will focus on the themes, mediums and stories of the people and its region. The plan focuses on the historical, cultural, spiritual, and ecological lessons the river has to teach.

Waabizheshikana (waa-bah-zhay-shay-kuh-nuh)
Link to audio pronunciation: https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/waabizheshi-na

Project Update:

The City began the planning process in spring 2020. A Heritage Trail Interpretive Plan was completed in 2021. 

Funding Source:

This Interpretive Plan was prepared by the City of Duluth using Federal funds under award NAS19NOS4190063  from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce provided to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) for Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the MNDNR.

Timeline:

The Plan was approved unanimously by the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 10, 2021. Recommendation to the City Council will take place on March 22, 2021.

In Fall of 2019, the City Council approved the Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail Mini-Master Plan which recommended the completion of a separate interpretive planning process that explores the themes, mediums and stories of the river, land and its people.

Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail, is made up of the existing 3.3-mile trail alignment, the 7-mile trail extension (proposed) and the adjacent green space managed and maintained by the City of Duluth for recreational and conservation purposes.

Important Documents:

Draft Plan Public Meeting Recording for December 16, 2020. (password below):

Recording Password: Parks 123!

Draft Plan Public Meeting Recording for December 15, 2020 (password below):

Recording password: Parks12!

FINAL Waabizheshikana Interp Plan March 2021

Interpretive Panels March 5, 2021