Petition for Duluth's Western Waterfront Trail to be built as Rail AND Trail - Riverside to Gary New Duluth’s Boy Scout Landing

I support Rail and Trail along the St Louis River. I support extending the Western Waterfront Trail from Riverside to Fond du Lac and retaining the existing tracks that run from Norton Park to Gary/New Duluth. This will require the replacement of tracks removed for the clean-up of the Morgan Park Steel Plant site at no direct cost to the City.

I support the renewal of the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad’s lease from the City of Duluth to use all existing tracks for excursions. The railroad has served the community and tourists for 38 years. Renewing the lease allows the railroad to continue this service.

I support efforts by the Minnesota DNR and PCA to develop plans to clean-up Mud Lake that may include modifications to, rather than the removal of, the Mud Lake causeway, which is crucial for experiencing the river from the train and trails.

I ask the City to slow down their efforts to remove the causeway until the DNR and PCA complete the needed economic and environmental studies of alternative clean-up options for Mud Lake. Until the State agencies are ready to clean-up Mud Lake, the City is needlessly jeopardizing the future of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad.

I urge the City to focus on the many park and trails improvements and construction it has proposed for the river corridor that could be done regardless of what happens to the railroad.

Thank you from Friends of Western Duluth Parks & Trails