A new fenced baseball/softball field and pavilion were recently constructed in Bigfork, making it the city’s first. The field was constructed on property acquired through a unique land swap between a private individual and the city of Bigfork.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $8,600 Culture & Tourism grant that helped pay for the infield dirt and dugouts. Total project investment was $25,931.

The project was led by Bigfork Valley Community Foundation and the city. Prior to the official project construction, the city contributed $30,000 in field fencing and site preparation services including an access road, parking lot and culverts. Bigfork’s Public Works Department staff and community volunteers installed the fencing. The Bigfork High School Shop instructor, students and volunteers constructed the dugouts.

“This project was truly a collaborative effort among the community of Bigfork,” said Joel Karels, Bigfork Valley Community Foundation board member. “The new field adds to our community’s recreation offerings for current and future residents and can contribute to tourism spending among local businesses.”

The field was utilized by a new youth baseball program, has the ability to host softball leagues and tournaments, and usage with neighboring communities is under discussion, both of which would draw guests to the Bigfork community.

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

The city of Crosby purchased a used Zamboni to replace an outdated ice resurfacer. The Zamboni will maintain the indoor and outdoor ice rinks at Hallett Community Center, a city-owned multi-purpose facility that is home to the 26,000-square-foot John Spalj Arena with spectator capacity of nearly 600.

The Hallett facility is heavily used in the Crosby area and functions primarily as a seasonal ice arena for youth and high school hockey, figure skating and open public skating October through March. During the summer and fall months the center offers pickleball, youth soccer and summer camps. An aquatic center, fitness area, personal training, indoor walking track, spin and yoga classes are available year-round.  

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $30,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Other funding partners included Northern Lakes Youth Hockey Association (NLYHA), Sourcewell and the city of Crosby. Total project investment was $99,500.

Pictured by the Zamboni are Matt Balmer, NLYHA board; Katheryn Carpenter, general manager at Hallett Community Center; Marissa Raushel, NLYHA board; Jen Rikala, NLYHA board; Joe Herda, arena manager; Mike Paulbeck, NLYHA board; Matthew Hill, city administrator, city of Crosby.

Following the purchase of the Zamboni, Crosby expanded its partnership with NLYHA. The nonprofit organization made $160,000 in improvements to the community center including new glass, nets, player benches, radius corners to protect the players and rubber matting between the rink and the locker rooms. NLYHA serves hundreds of youth from Aitkin, Backus, Breezy Point, Crosby, Crosslake, Deerwood, Ironton, Jenkins, Pequot Lakes and Pine River.

“Hallett Community Center draws families and spectators from across the region, and the impact is significant,” said Matthew Hill, Crosby city administrator. “The center offers Cuyuna Range residents access to healthy recreation which is important to the region’s quality of life.”

Hill explained that the vast majority of visitors travel from a distance of over 30 miles and have substantial impact to the local economy with spending on lodging, restaurants and amenities. Recreation specialists estimate that each family that attends hockey tournaments spend $94 per day in the communities they visit, not including lodging.

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022. 

Aitkin County Friends of the Arts (ACFOTA) purchased a modular portable audio and lighting system that may be used throughout the county for events and performances. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $20,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $45,456.

The system was designed modular so that it may be used in whole or part to suit performances of varying sizes and types at most any location. The system is frequently used at The Ripple Center (formerly The Butler Building), a historic 118-year-old venue, performing arts center and opera house located in downtown Aitkin. The Ripple Center was purchased by private owners in 2020 who have worked to upgrade the facility to be a multi-purpose arts, event, retail and meeting space.

The new professional grade sound and lighting system is also used at venues in the Aitkin area such as festivals and outdoor concerts that feature music, theatre, arts and dance.

“Our organization is striving to make Aitkin a performance arts destination,” said Christian McShane, ACFOTA president. “The new sound and light system has elevated the quality of events immensely. It has made performances more dynamic and encourages high-end productions to perform at venues in the Aitkin area. This in turn helps increase event attendance and can generate traffic and revenue for local businesses.”

ACFOTA is a non-profit organization with a 43-year history of providing and supporting performing and visual arts in Aitkin County and the surrounding area.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information.

Breitung Township is upgrading its recreation facilitates corridor. A kiddie ice rink, bike racks, benches and trash receptacles and painted crosswalks were added. The entrance areas are being beautified with new landscaping, and the historic town whistle was restored and will be installed soon to sound again each day at noon (lunch time) and 9 p.m. (kids’ curfew). Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $10,000 Downtown Streetscapes grant. Total project investment was $20,000.

The project aimed to improve the safety and enjoyment for local residents and tourists who access the recreation corridor via the Mesabi Trail and State Highway 169. Both are connecting routes from the corridor to the nearby Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, Tower Soudan State Park, Bearhead Lake State Park and the town of Ely.

In addition to the new amenities, the recreation area is home to soccer and baseball fields, a sand volleyball court, paved pedestrian trials, a picnic and canopy area and wayside rest. A community park is in close proximity. The area is utilized year-round by all ages.

“Recreation is an important part of Breitung and the surrounding communities of Soudan and Tower,” said Tim Tomsich, Breitung Township chairman. “The updated and safer recreational area has been very popular, and we anticipate that momentum to keep building and adding to the local economy and quality of life for our residents. In fact, presently the skating rink boards are being replaced, and the lighting is being upgraded with new poles and LED fixtures for the rink and the adjoining paved trails.”

Breitung Township is larger than many other townships. It is 38.9 square miles including 23.1 miles of land and 15.8 miles of water. It is home to Minnesota’s new Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Breitung encompasses the community of Soudan, surrounding rural areas and Lake Vermilion. The township has approximately 600 year-round residents with a rapidly growing number of seasonal residents and tourists due to the new state park. The first shipment of iron ore from Minnesota was extracted from Breitung Pit and shipped by rail in July 1884.

Beginning July 1, the Downtown Streetscapes grant merged with the Culture & Tourism grant and has a fiscal year budget of $600,000. Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information.

Range Recreation Civic Center (RRCC) in Eveleth launched a new website to better represent the facility and digitally engage with the public as a world class eight-sheet curling arena, event center and banquet facility. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $2,500 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $10,540.

The new website was designed to generate additional web traffic through highly searched keywords. The user experience was enhanced with mobile device responsiveness, an easy-to-navigate structure, better visuals, an updated registration process and an interactive event calendar.

“Our website needed a technical and visual update. It didn’t reflect the facility’s high caliber,” said Stephanie Dowell, Curl Mesabi board member. “With the new design we are seeing increased web traffic and more users engaging online. The new features allow current and potential members to easily get active on the ice, and facility renters and visitors to prospect the venue. Ultimately, the new site can help increase attendance, facility use and visitor spending.”

The club hosts state, national and international bonspiel events each winter that draw curlers, their families and support staff to the region for several days at a time. The events give an economic boost to area hotels, restaurants and retailers. The RRCC has been selected to host the 2022 Arena Curling National Championships Nov. 3-6. The event will draw media and 24 teams from across the country to the area.

Between curling leagues, bonspiels and community and celebratory events, over 30 jobs are directly supported by Curl Mesabi and the RRCC. The club has over 300 adult and 70 youth members that participate in curling leagues throughout the winter. During the summer months, the facility is leased for meetings, weddings and community events.

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.