Sept. 1, 2021
A new professionally built 18-hole miniature golf course with ADA accessibility will soon open in the city of Virginia. Greens on Foreteenth, located on 14th Avenue West near Mesabi Range College, was constructed on a six-acre lot that has been vacant since the 1960s. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $175,000 Development Infrastructure grant which helped pay for site preparation related to water, sewer, storm sewer and electrical.
The course is owned by Steve and Tanya Carlson making it a local, family-owned business that will operate May through October. The course features green landscaping, a rock waterfall, a stream flowing into a pond with a fountain and views of adjacent wetlands and tree-scapes. The Carlsons hired Harris Mini Golf of New Jersey to design and construct the course. Harris builds courses around the world and specializes in landscaping, water features, slopes, undulations of greens and contours of playing surfaces. The Carlsons secured large indigenous jasper slab boulders from Biwabik Mary Ellen Stone that are placed throughout the course and waterfall.
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“We knew we wanted something different than windmills, pirates or clown heads for the course,” said Steve. “We wanted to offer the region a challenging and enjoyable outdoor experience where people and families can connect in a northern Minnesota setting.”
The Carlsons are long-time residents of Virginia and have three children. Cooper (age 20) resides and works in Duluth in the sports broadcasting industry. Sam (age 17) and Kirby (age 9) are students in the Rock Ridge school district and will help their parents operate the course.
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“Like most people, our lives changed in 2020, and we had a chance to think outside the box for the first time in decades. Steve and I were tossing around the idea of starting our own business, but we weren’t quite sure what it would be,” said Tanya. “While hiking at Big Aspen Trail in late August last year, I nervously told Steve about the possibility of a mini golf course. We pondered and discussed for about an hour and then made the firm decision to build a miniature golf course in Virginia, Minnesota.”
Recreation spending increased by over 20% in 2019 in the United States. Many recreation activities only appeal to a certain age or demographic, however miniature golf appeals to all ages - from families to first dates, grandparents and grandchildren, large and small groups, teens and tots. More than 130 million people of all ages play miniature golf each year with industry revenues in excess of $1 billion annually. (Source: Harris Golf)
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The course has a small clubhouse that is under construction and when completed later this fall will feature admission sales and packaged snack foods. Greens on Foreteenth is tentatively scheduled to open this weekend. The fee for an 18-hole round of golf is $9 for adults, $8 for kids and free for children ages three and under.
“Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation believes firmly that outdoor recreation facilities in our rural communities are very important to the region’s quality of life,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips. “The Carlsons seized the opportunity to develop their own business which can increase the city’s tax base, beautified a vacant commercial lot, and will provide a healthy and social activity for people of all ages."
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Other funding partners included Virginia Economic Development Authority and the owners’ private investment and financing through NorthRidge Community Credit Union. The Carlsons also utilized Betsy Olivanti of Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to assist with business plan development, financial analysis and projections, and financing scenarios. Olivanti is the SBDC regional consultant and provides technical support to local businesses (existing and startups). Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Development Partnership grant to Northland Foundation to support an SBDC representative located on the Iron Range whose technical services are free of charge to area businesses.
Visit Greens on Foreteenth on Facebook for opening dates and times.
For Development Infrastructure grant information email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.
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 A ceremony was held on Aug. 19 to dedicate the Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge. The 204-foot Highway 53 bridge spans across the Iron Range’s deepest open mine pit, the Rouchleau, and is named after the region’s late state representative.
The ceremony took place at the Bridgeview Pocket Park which is located within the city of the Virginia and along the Mesabi Trail. The park is one of the few places that the bridge can be viewed in its entirety. A small group of family, friends and public officials attended the ceremony.
 Pictured by the memorial bridge sign are Sen. David Tomassoni, Ida Rukavina, Jean Cole and Rep. Dave Lislegard. Pictured above right are Rep. Lislegard, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Commissioner Mark Phillips and Rep. Melissa Hortman.
The bridge was completed in 2017 as part of the Highway 53 relocation to accommodate the expanding mining operations at United Taconite. A dedication ceremony was originally planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 25 years, Rukavina served on the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board. He cast his vote and offered his counsel in significant and meaningful ways for a host of projects, small and large. His work for the agency began as an employee at Giants Ridge. After his employment there and during his decades-long service as a state representative, he was a fervent advocate of the recreation area and its economic impact, of the taconite mining industry and of all workers in all industries.
Rukavina died of leukemia in January 2019 at age 68. He served the region in many ways, as an elected official, a worker, friend, volunteer and advocate of a variety of public issues. The Minnesota State Legislature approved naming the bridge in his memory in late 2019.
“The Highway 53 bridge is the perfect symbol of Tommy’s work and legacy on the Iron Range. It is traveled by people going to and from work, by school buses transporting our youth, by tourists entering and exiting our region, and by trucks importing and exporting goods,” said Commissioner Phillips. “The bridge is constructed over an open mine pit that serves as a water source for the people of Virginia. The bridge is connected to almost every facet of life on the Iron Range, as was Tommy.”
Watch a video from WDIO TV of the bridge dedication ceremony.
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 A 3,000-square-foot splash pad opened last month in Aurora’s Pine Grove Park. The water play area is free to use for people of all ages and is in close proximity to a picnic pavilion and playground. The splash pad offers local residents healthy recreation which is important to the region’s quality of life. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $20,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $234,800.
The splash pad has age-specific sections. A toddler bay section has small short features that deliver low pressure sprays and falling water. A teen bay section has higher pressure sprays and water dump features. There is also a moderate family bay section. In total there are 21 spray jets with different functions and approximately 13 vertical features. Parents, grandparents and guardians can enjoy a dry zone surrounding and adjacent to the splash pad.
The project was led by the grassroots nonprofit Caring for the Kids Community. Thirty-two area organizations and 79 individuals contributed to the project in the form of volunteer time, grants and the purchase of engraved bricks ranging in price of $5 to $1,000 each.
Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.
Note: With direction from Aurora Public Works Department, the splash pad closed to the public on Aug. 21 due to drought conditions in northeastern Minnesota. Current water shortages during the drought have recently prohibited non-critical water use. The splash pad is scheduled to reopen in spring of 2022.
GoNorthMN is a citizen-led volunteer group that represents five rural Minnesota lake communities surrounding the city of Emily which is about 20 miles north of Crosby. GoNorthMN developed a comprehensive plan to identify strategies and guide future decisions for projects that advance quality of life, area marketing and economic development.
On the heels of its original strategy planning, GoNorthMN recently completed the “Be Outside” project which included development of designated outdoor pedestrian areas throughout the communities. Each community customized their pedestrian area with elements ranging from informational kiosks, solar lights, benches, bike racks, planters and flag poles. The kiosks may be used as advertising space for local businesses and community events.
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“The new outdoor areas have enhanced our region, downtown corridors and business districts,” said Jan Mosman and Kathryn Hachey, co-chairs of GoNorthMN’s "Be Outside" project. “The areas are highly visible and inviting to locals, tourists and seasonal residents. The project created wonderful new quality of life assets in our communities, and it would not have been possible without the grants from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation.”
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the GoNorthMN initiatives with a Comprehensive Plan grant, and Culture & Tourism and Downtown Streetscapes grants that helped pay for outdoor pedestrian areas.
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Other project supporters included Initiative Foundation, Screen Porch Productions, Sourcewell and private donations of money and time.
For Downtown Streetscapes and Comprehensive Plan grant information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004. For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.
Pictured are outdoor areas in Emily, Fairfield and Little Pine.
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Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota. Culture & Tourism grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 30. The grant assists cities, townships, tribal units of government and nonprofits by supporting strong arts, culture, history and recreational activities that enhance the quality of life and economy.
Past project examples include:
- Splash pad in three community parks: Aurora, Deerwood, Hibbing.
- Veteran’s history project: Itasca County.
- Wheel park: Ely.
- Native American cultural programming at sled dog marathon: Grand Marais/North Shore.
- Capital improvements to Finnish homestead museum: Embarrass.
Full applications should be submitted with all required documentation no later than Sept. 30 in order to be considered for a grant. Learn more about the Culture & Tourism grant guidelines. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds its grant programs through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.
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