FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miners Park adding new maintenance facility

Ironwood business leaders donate garage, labor to boost project

Improvements continue at the Miners Memorial Heritage Park in downtown Ironwood, Mich. as supporters move toward a heated building for storing trail maintenance equipment. Key to the project is the generous donation of a 900-square foot garage from the owners of the Davey’s Motel, Sam and Anne Davey. The motel is being razed for redevelopment but the garage will be saved and moved to a location within the Miners Memorial Heritage Park (MMHP).

“We’re excited to have this opportunity to contribute to the Miners Memorial Heritage Park,” says Sam Davey, who also serves as chair of the Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee. “This park has evolved into one of the most popular spots in town both for locals and visitors.”

Also donating to the project is Angelo Luppino Inc. of Iron Belt, Wis., along with the owners of ABR Trails Eric Anderson and Angela Santini. Others are donating as well including the SISU Ski Fest.

Volunteers from the Friends of Miners Memorial Heritage Park have been seeking a heated facility to store grooming equipment and mowers for the 14 kilometers of multi- use trails within the 165-acre park. It’s the next step in development of the park, which is maintained entirely by volunteers with donated funds.

“This has all come together pretty quickly for us and now the challenge is raising money so we can prepare the site and get the garage moved over the next few weeks,” says Rick Semo, president of the Friends of the MMHP.

The Friends group has launched an online fundraising campaign with a goal of securing $20,000 to cover its share of the project. 
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A new maintenance facility for MMHP is also key to long-range plans for a public access trail running north from ABR through the Miners Park eventually connecting to the Iron Belle Trail which continues east toward Bessemer, Mich.

“Considering how much snow we get here in Ironwood, it’s important to have a centrally located facility to store the grooming equipment,” says Eric Anderson of ABR Trails. “We’re happy to invest in the community and help where we can.”

Established in 2010 in a former iron ore mining site, the Miners Memorial Heritage Park features 5 kilometers of regularly groomed cross country ski trails along with snowshoe and hiking trails. Mountain bikes trails are also being established. The park is part of the city of Ironwood parks system.

The SISU Ski Fest race course also uses a portion of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park trail system on its route to the “Finnish Line” at the new City Square in downtown Ironwood.

For more information:
Mike Ivey, publicity chair
[email protected]
608-334-9455