Construction Updates and Timelines

There are three projects planned for 2023 – 2025 that tie together:
- Lakewalk project: Endion Station to Fitger’s and 21st Ave to 26th Ave
- Kitchi Gammi Park (Brighton Beach) project
- Harbor Plaza/Baywalk/Seawall project

Material and labor costs have greatly increased. These three projects were planned to start in 2022 but will be delayed into 2023 and 2024. Completion may continue into 2025. State bonding money, cruise ship port access support, FEMA funds, and city finances will be used. Donations, grants, and funding opportunities continue to be sought by the city and Friends of the Lakewalk for capital improvements.

Friends of the Lakewalk Board of Directors and our members, along with the public and other stakeholders, have provided input to analyze existing conditions, identified problem areas, and contributed ideas of needed park elements.

Please select from each topic area button for the latest project updates and timelines.

Most of this upcoming Lakewalk project will be from the corner of the lake (Endion Station area) to 21st Ave E. During autumn 2021 – winter 2022 a plan was created for improvements to the Lakewalk, starting at Endion Station and through Brighton Beach, that will ensure the Lakewalk’s long-term sustainability and resiliency. Fortunately, most recent shoreline work was completed from the water using barges in 2021 and 2022. FEMA and 2020 State bonding funds are in use.

As the projects advance, sections of the Lakewalk will need to close. Plans include providing these park elements as well as upgrading others:
- Lakewalk trail surface widened (factoring in space limitations due to shoreline and railroad track)
- Blacktop replaced
- Trails to access lake better designated
- Potential Lakewalk trail relocation
- Pinch points addressed
- New plantings for shoreline restoration, rewilding, and coastal resiliency
- Replace non-native plant species
- Lighting standardized
- Fencing made consistent
- Interpretive signage updated

Timeline: Construction is anticipated to start Spring 2023 and realistically continue into 2024. At a future time, Leif Erikson Park is to have a separate long range planning process.

Additionally, Friends of the Lakewalk, The Ledges residents, and the public have partnered with the City of Duluth on planning for several Lakewalk realignments. These plans address safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues. Below are three proposed realignment details.

ADA Reroute 1: The realignment of the Lakewalk near the intersection of E Water Street and S 23rd Ave E reduces the grade of the trail and increases the turn radius to provide a safe path of travel that is ADA compliant. The current trail section will be removed and relandscaped.

ADA Reroute 2: The realignment of the Lakewalk near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 61, and where the Lakewalk splits to cross the railroad tracks, reduces the grade of the trail and increases the turn radius to provide a safe path of travel that is ADA compliant. New directional signage will compliment this intersection.

ADA Reroute 3: The realignment of the Lakewalk near the Lakewalk Parking Lot at Holiday Station reduces the grade of the trail and increases the turn radius to provide a safe path of travel that is ADA compliant. The existing trail, identified in drawing as slightly greenish/gray and says “current alignment” would be removed. This realignment provides an opportunity for the existing pollinator garden to be expanded. (Additional study to improve grade and bring the trail up to ADA compliance at the railroad crossing is in progress.)

Important planning site:

Lakewalk – Brighton Resiliency Site Preliminary Draft PDF from October 7 Public Meeting

The City contracted with LHB as a Landscape Architecture Firm and AMI Consulting Engineers as the Coastal Engineer. Concepts for public review and input, were presented at a virtual public meeting on October 7, 2021. The link below is to a recording of the meeting with password Pp27U75F

Kitchi Gammi Park (Brighton Beach) is now open with LIMITED ACCESS to pedestrians, sportspersons, paddlers, and cyclists only. Motor vehicle access to the park including parking will not be restored until the road reconstruction project has been completed in the Spring of 2024. Until then, the only access to the park will be via the Lakewalk trail extension and Lake Superior. Patrons are asked to park vehicles at Lester Park or the public lot near the sky-blue tourist information hut. Parking is not permitted in front of the trail gates or along London Road.

Plans include providing these park elements as well as upgrading others:

• Vault toilets.

• Natural play area for kids.

• Space for event tents.

• WPA era fireplace building will remain and be restored.

• Restore and re-wild the shoreline to its original condition as a North Shore Coastal Forest.

• Daylighting the natural drainageways to be key site features.

• Kayak launch staging area, with kayak racks.

• Lighting is currently not installed. In keeping with the Dark Skies/Starry Nights experience, lighting is not planned.

Kitchi Gammi Park & Brighton Beach main gathering node: This is the main gathering node of the park, with the most upland space for flexible programming options. This area will provide ADA access to the beach and maintain many of the existing park features including picnic shelter and a variety of place to view the beach from above.

Timeline: Shoreline work started in Fall 2022. Work will continue into 2023 to relocate the road away from the shoreline and to restore the shoreline to better endure Lake Superior storms. A new road and parallel parking along the new access roadway will be constructed in 2023 and possibly into early 2024. Until that time, the Park is only accessible using the Lakewalk.

Important planning site: Duluth Parks Department Brighton Beach Resiliency and Restoration Project

Duluth Parks Department Brighton Beach Resiliency and Restoration Project

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Harbor Plaza/Baywalk/Seawall project

The City of Duluth, with the help of qualified consultant team, are in the planning stage for improvements to the seawall and adjacent public areas starting at Minnesota slip (Blue pedestrian bridge) to Pier B. This project has incorporated significant stakeholder and public engagement including Friends of the Lakewalk.

This is a complex project. In addition to the seawall and cruise ship infrastructure, the plan will create a waterfront redesign, including alternatives to Harbor Drive functionality, access to the DECC and public spaces, programmable areas to be utilized by the public, stakeholders and the DECC, Baywalk design and amenities, and other identified stakeholder and community needs (e.g., directional and interpretive signage).

Timeline: Currently in the final design stage. Construction is anticipated to begin Spring 2023 and be completed by Summer of 2024. Due to the complexity, it may take until 2025 to be fully completed.

Important planning site:Harbor Plaza/Baywalk/Seawall Project

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