A new ATV trail connector opened last week that connects the cities of Virginia, Eveleth and Gilbert accessing the Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge on Highway 53. The connector is 550 feet of trail and provides a crucial link to the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area in Gilbert.

“With this key trail connection and the completion of other area trail systems in the region, we hope to see a measurable increase in ATVs at area hotels, resorts and campgrounds,” said Beth Pierce, Iron Range Tourism director.

In anticipation of opening a new expansion in 2020 that will double the existing OHV park's size, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) completed substantial work in the park this year. In 2018 more than 5,000 machines visited the park between May and October. Pierce believes this number could dramatically increase with the new trail connector along the bridge.

According to Pierce, trail development around the state has shown that the ATV market is recognized as enthusiastic trail explorers who are able and willing to spend money in communities. They are likely to be repeat visitors in areas where they enjoy established trail systems. Pierce said that the region’s campgrounds and lodging properties can attest to increased ATV traffic in recent years with the statewide growth of the sport. There are an estimated 268,000 registered ATVs in Minnesota.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Regional Trails grant which helped pay for construction, signage and a culvert for the new connector. Other project partners included Minnesota DNR, the city of Virginia, Iron Range Tourism Bureau and Quad Cities ATV Club.

“Trails can have important economic impacts to a rural region,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “They attract tourism spending and auxiliary startup businesses such as rental and repair shops. Trails can also be a business recruiting tool for health care and other large industries.”

Photos of the Aug. 28 ribbon cutting are pictured above, courtesy of Iron Range Tourism Bureau. 

The new Ely Wheel Park recently opened and is open daily to riders with skateboards, scooters, inline skates and BMX bikes. The park combines traditional skating features such as concrete ramps, stairs and a grind box with wooden half pipe and quarter pipe elements. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Culture & Tourism grant to match funding from the city of Ely and dollars raised by Ely youth.

The park is located near the Trezona Trail and adjacent to Ely Recreation Center complex which has a hockey rink and a basketball court that is used as a figure skating rink in the winter. It is anticipated that the inclined areas of the new wheel park may be utilized during the winter months for activities such as snowboarding tricks.

“The wheel park has been a youth magnet since its opening in June,” said Julie Hignell executive director of Ely Community Resource. “Many community volunteers and Ely school students have been fundraising and planning for the wheel park for ten years. The Culture & Tourism grant was the boost we needed to complete it. We would still be dreaming about it without this grant.”

Locally owned and operated Rock Country Masonry constructed the park, and the owners are former skateboarders. View construction video here. Other partners in development of the Ely Recreation Center and Ely Wheel Park include Iron Range Youth in Action, Ely High School Industrial Arts program, the city of Ely, Vermilion Community College, Ely Parks and Recreation Department, Ely Community Resource, Focus Program, Ely area businesses, Ely Rotary, community members and parents. Essentia Health and Ely Bloomenson Hospital are helping to make safety equipment available.

Photo courtesy of The Ely Echo.

The city of Chisholm enhanced its downtown cityscape with an art mural depicting wildlife and outdoor activities that are enjoyed in northeastern Minnesota. The mural is part of a grassroots community revitalization movement that began over two years ago and has resulted in a new pocket park, a historical walking tour, improvements at Kiwanis Park, shovel bucket bicycle racks, storefront clean-up, and the placement of historical photos in downtown storefronts.

Local artist Adam Swanson was commissioned to create the mural that can now be seen along Chisholm’s Lake Street. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Culture & Tourism grant to support the project. Other project partners included Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Chisholm KIDS PLUS, and Chisholm Community Foundation.