Judy Gibbs Posts

Duluth Arrow Chevrolet

The Arrow Chevrolet West was on the corner of Grand Avenue and 59th Avenue West — the modern-day location of City Center West. (Photo via University of Minnesota Duluth Archives and Special Collections)

I am looking for folks with information about either Duluth location of Arrow Chevrolet — West Duluth or Downtown.

Chevy dealers across the country were sponsors of the Soap Box Derby and I am hoping to get a few folks to respond with their memories of the Arrow Chevrolet clinics and parts distribution. Did you race the Soap Box Derby? What memories of the Chevy dealers do you have?

Soap Box Derby History

I am looking to talk to folks who might have a memory of being in Duluth’s Soap Box Derby — either on London Road but especially the last few years that it was in Hartley Park.

The elm tree in the center of the photo above stood in the stream bank where the old farm road/junction of Stornaway Street was until the blowdown of 2016. The photo is from Hartley Nature Center where the Dale Mell’s 1964 derby car is displayed.

West Duluth before the Interstate

1939 aerial photo from the UM

MnDOT’s John Bray wrote in The Will and the Way: “Approximately 700 homes were razed or moved in West Duluth” to make way for Interstate 35.

Enger Park Little League circa 1963-1975

The Ensign Community Club built and maintained the Enger Park Little League Field at the dead-end of West 13th Street, just below “The Boulevard.” Fans flocked to the games and parked along neighborhood streets and on Skyline Parkway to see games play out below. Along with the field was a basketball court that doubled as a tennis court. The neighborhood built the field and maintained it for about 15 years.

Parks and Rec flag football registration

Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports throughout the country and this season will mark the 11th year of Duluth’s league. Flag football is a non-contact sport, which teaches both boys and girls in grades 2 through 5 the fundamentals of football. But more importantly, it teaches kids sportsmanship and how to participate in sports while still having fun. Games will be played mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $60 per player which includes a team jersey. All games held at the Wheeler Athletic Complex at 35th Ave. W. and Grand Ave. Registration deadline is June 7; games beginning in September. Go to duluthmn.gov/parks for a registration form or for more info: Jeff Anderson 218-730-4302 or jcanderson @ duluthmn.gov.

National Trails Day

National Trails Day is this upcoming Saturday, June 2. Projects are happening all over town. Disc golfers (Zenith City Flyers) are planning work at Miller Creek Disc Golf Course. Mountain bikers (COGGS) are planning work in Hartley Park. Skiers (Duluth Cross Country Ski Club), are planning work at Spirit Mountain. The Wheels on Trails folks advocating for Universal Accessibility will be at Hartley Nature Center. The Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance will be at the top of Gogebic Street and the DWP, brushing trails. For more info, contact Judy at 218-269-4712 or jgibbs @ duluthmn.gov.

Help build new walkway at Enger Tower

The city of Duluth is crafting a new accessible walkway to the gazebo from the parking lot at Enger Park. The pathway will be completed prior to construction of the new gazebo. The public is invited to help out any day M-F from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. or at these other times:

Wed, Aug 17, 5-8 p.m.
Thurs, Aug 18, 9-2 p.m.
Sun, Aug 21, 2-5 p.m.

No experience is required, all ages welcome, equipment provided. Call 269-4712 for more info!

Tree Planting Party!

ReLeaf Duluth! Help restore our canopy one tree at a time!

Monday, August 15, 5:30-8:30. Join tree commissioner and retired forester Jim Lemmerman and help plant trees in the East Hillside neighborhood. No experience needed, all ages welcome. Two grants were received to purchase trees — one from the DNR and the other from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. Meeting spot: the corner of N. 12th Ave. E. and E. Eighth St., across from the old Munger School. For more info, call 269-4712 or email jgibbs @ duluthmn.gov. Photos at Friends of the Parks Facebook page.

Parks Commission Presentation About Magney Snively Park

The Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission’s next monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13. This public meeting will be held at the Parks and Recreation office located at 12 E. Fourth St., beginning at 4 p.m.. An informational presentation will be made by City of Duluth staff person Tim Howard regarding the transfer of the Levang property from the Nature Conservancy to the City for the purpose of expanding Magney Snively. A complete agenda for this meeting is available at the Parks and Recreation office. For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 730-4300.

Miller Creek Disc Golf Public Meeting

The public is invited to attend a public meeting at the Parks and Recreation office building/Central Hillside Community Center located at 12 E. Fourth St. (corner of Lake Avenue and Fourth Street) on Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the future of the Miller Creek Disc Golf Course. Among the issues to be discussed are: potentially moving/removing baskets, long term maintenance and trash collection and creating better playing conditions. For more information contact [email protected] or 218-269-4712.

Public input needed to prioritize parks and trail needs. Meetings scheduled.

The public is invited to attend public meetings which will solicit citizens’ opinions on city park and trail priorities.  The meetings will be held 6-7:30 PM on the following dates;

Wednesday, June 22 at the Central Hillside Community Center located at 12 E. 4Fourth St.

Thursday, June 23 at the Duluth Heights Community Center located at 33 W. Mulberry St.

Tuesday, June 28 at the Portman Community Center located at 4601 McCulloch St.

Wednesday, June 29 at the Morgan Park Community Center located at 1242 88th Ave. W.

“reLeaf Duluth” Tree Planting Party!

The city of Duluth seeks volunteer tree planters for its “reLeaf Duluth” program.  Sunday, June 26, 2-5 PM. Meet at Portland Square at the corner of 11th Ave. E. and E. Fourth St. No experience needed, all ages welcome! Training provided by city of Duluth staff and Louise Levy, certified arborist and tree care advisor. For more info contact jgibbs @ duluthmn.gov or 218-730-4308 or 218-269-4712.

Transplant endangered Duluth plants!

Can anyone help this Eagle Scout? He is attempting to move plants out of a gorgeous old growth forest that is to be bulldozed for a building on the corner of Rice Lake Road and Pecan this Sunday. He writes a good description below.

Hello Everyone,

I am in desperate need of volunteers for my Eagle Scout project this Sunday. My project involves taking native plants and trees out Webb Woods, and moving them to new locations so they will be saved from the bulldozer.

National Trails Day at Enger Tower

Celebrate National Trails on June 4 from 10-2pm and help reconstruct a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail and City of Duluth trails at Enger Tower and Park and Central Park below Skyline Parkway. No experience is needed, equipment provided. All ages welcome. For more info: jgibbs @ duluthmn.gov or 218-269-4712.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!