I had forgotten about that, but yeah, the last time I was there, several months ago, the boardwalk was sinking. So the city probably put the blockade up to discourage people from going down there, slipping, breaking a leg and drowning in a bog puddle.

The Duluth News Tribune story "Volunteers toil to restore accessible trail along St. Louis River" reports:

Grassy Point Trail has been closed for the past few years as a higher water level on the river has submerged some of the boardwalk and made the floating parts treacherous.

Dwight Morrison, from the Wheels on Trails Organization, said even when the trail was functioning, it wasn’t very wheelchair- or scooter-friendly. With the city’s push to improve the prospects for the St. Louis River Corridor, Morrison said the Grassy Point project was something he could get behind. It makes sense, he said, with the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The improvements include rails along the boardwalk to prevent wheelchairs from drifting off and going into the drink. Workers are also switching out some boards for more width. Thicker floating pontoons will be added to solve the flooding problem.

Turnaround areas are available so no one has to put a chair in reverse.

In the next few years, a loop along the river edge will lengthen the trail and allow people with any type of disability to enjoy nature and take in this unique spot, Morrison said.