Western Riverfront Development Group Forms

DULUTH - Enthusiastic citizens are getting in on the Mayor's plan for a better Duluth.

"I think it'll be great for Duluth, but it'll also be, I think, important for the neighborhoods to get involved and for the tourism to come in here and then also for it to spin off into the neighborhoods to really enjoy everything we have to offer out here," said Dean Vogtman, Vice President of River Corridor Coalition.

Mayor Don Ness has set the revitilization of West Duluth near the St. Louis River at the top of his priority list.

Now, a group has formed to implement any plans made to help the area.

The group is called River Corridor Coalition and it's full of a couple dozen residents who love West Duluth.

The goal of the group is to help the mayor in any way they can to show off the wonders of the area.

Vogtman says they want to be at the table when city officials are discussing plans of highlighting the area and then do what they can to implement those plans into the neighborhoods.

Vogtman tells us they also want to break the stigma many people have of West Duluth.

"When people get moving into town they don't take the time to look on this part of town and if they just took the time to look and see these neighborhoods, they're wonderful. They've got great access to biking, to hiking, to fishing, wonderful outdoor activities and it's really a good sense of community out here along the St. Louis River," said Vogtman.

The group wants to promote the town and help bring tourism into the area for all of the great trails and fishing spots, but they're trying to work on a way to get visitors into neighborhoods to spend money at local shops and restaurants.

One Duluth resident says she hopes people will soon see all the things the area has to offer.

"Even though we've had industry, we've really had the best part of Duluth because we have the hills and we have the river and we also have those small creeks that run through the neighborhoods down to the river," said Jeanne Koneczny, a lifetime resident of West Duluth.

Koneczny says since the area is known for always being industrial and she hopes to work on finding and making more river access points for tourists and residents.

Vogtman tells us the plans won't just benefit people on the west side of Duluth, but folks from other parts of town too, because they can enjoy the wildlife and trails around the area.

The group meets the third Wednesday of every month at the Spirit Mountain Chalet on Grand Avenue.

Anyone is welcome to join the coalition and share ideas.