Chester Park Archives - Perfect Duluth Day

Duluth’s Lost Township on Chester Creek

Sep 09, 2023 17 Comments

Co-written with Allen Richardson

The Duluth Inside Duluth

In 1963, on 14th Avenue East overlooking Chester Creek, seven houses installed their own sewer rather than hook up to the city system. To do so, they took advantage of the experimentation sweeping the nation regarding public services. New forms of neighborhood government had emerged as housing associations. These seven houses applied for a federal grant as an independent municipal corporation. Technically they seceded from Duluth and became an autonomous township inside the city limits.

A democratic sub-society, the citizen-residents named the township “Duluth” by unanimous vote. After all, they felt they should not have to change the name of where they lived; in fact they were the real Duluth. Their right to name themselves was blessed by an appellate court ruling in 1968, hence “the Duluth inside Duluth.”

Chester Park has a new kind of tree: A poetree

Jun 26, 2023 No Comments

“This book is offered in the form of a poetry chrysalis to encourage us to think about how we are a part of nature and how our actions cause change,” Wildwood wrote on the note. (Photo by Rob Wildwood via Facebook)

Picking a new summer book just got easier. Duluth writer Robert Wildwood has taken the free library idea to new heights, offering up copies of his latest book of poetry to the public in a novel way. This month, chrysalides of poetry appeared in Chester Park trees, and they are a gift for you.

Art, Events Books, Chester Park, Poetry

Postcard from the Ski Scaffold in Duluth

Mar 08, 2022 3 Comments

The ski scaffold in this postcard should not be confused with “Big Chester,” the jump that stood in Chester Park from 1924 to 2014. The postmark on this card is March 8, 1912.

Philip Jones Keeping the Stairway into Chester Park Clear

Feb 02, 2022 1 Comment

As I struggled to get down into and then out of the Chester Park ravine during a walk, I recalled this short video interview I made with Philip Jones in 2017. Enjoy Philip’s thoughts on stairways, community, and the fact that the Hillside was built for trolleys, not for thousands of cars!

Quiz regarding the location of the Northeast Passage to follow!

Videos Chester Park, Shoveling

Duluth You & Me: Chester Bowl Ski Jump

Nov 23, 2020 No Comments

Sadly, the ski jumps at Chester Bowl were demolished in 2014, but the memories live on in this coloring exercise.

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your coloring and drawing pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Chester Bowl Ski Jump

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

Art Chester Park, Duluth You & Me, Skiing and Snowboarding

Chester Park Walk: 360 Reframe

Apr 23, 2020 No Comments

Shot in Chester Park with a GoPro Max 360 using the Reframe effect.

Outdoors, Videos Chester Park

Duluth Parades, Ski Jumping and Coal Shipping Circa 1941

Feb 01, 2020 No Comments

On Feb. 1, 2000, Duluth businessman Monnie Goldfine recorded a voiceover track for his family films, most of which he shot himself between 1939 and 1946. Perfect Duluth Day has divided the footage into three segments:

Part one: “The Goldfines Go East” depicts a family trip to the World’s Fair
Part two: “Duluth Parades, Ski Jumping and Coal Shipping Circa 1941” is a collection of Duluth footage
Part three: “Goldfines in the 1940s: Picnics and Fishin’ Trips” features scenes of family and friends in Duluth or on picnics and cabin retreats in the region.

Wild, a spoken-word musical tribute to weasels, inspired by an encounter in Chester Park

Nov 03, 2019 No Comments

A celebration of the weasel family (mustelids) inspired by an encounter I had with a least weasel in the deep woods portions of Chester Park Ravine, which led to a re-reading of Annie Dillard’s essay, “Living Like Weasels.”

An 8K 360 Video Tour Through Chester Park

Aug 30, 2018 No Comments

Videos 360-degree Videos, Chester Creek, Chester Park

“The Glen” at Garfield Park in Duluth

Aug 22, 2018 No Comments

This 1897 issue of Duluth’s Labor World shows the waterfall and cauldron of “the Glen” in Chester Park. From 1894 to 1902 the area was named Garfield Park.

Lower Chester Park Mini-Master Plan draft released

Jan 25, 2018 No Comments

Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division is requesting public comment on the Lower Chester Park Mini-Master Plan draft until Jan. 31. There is also a supplementary survey for the plan that members of the public are encouraged to complete.

Following the public comment period, a final draft of the plan will be reviewed and voted on by the Duluth Parks Commission on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. in Duluth City Hall, Council Chambers. For more information about the plans, visit the Parks Planning webpage at duluthmn.gov.

One of Duluth’s first four parks, Chester Park spans approximately 131 acres between 13th and 15th avenues east and stretches from Kenwood Avenue to Fourth Street, where Chester Creek runs under the street and, a few blocks later, disappears underground before emerging near Leif Erikson Park, where it empties into Lake Superior. Lower Chester Park, specifically, is located at 15th Avenue East and East Fifth Street and is about two acres in size.

News and Current Affairs Chester Park

PDD at Fall Fest

Sep 16, 2017 No Comments

Despite a little drizzle, Fall Fest is happening today as scheduled, Saturday, Sept. 16, at Chester Bowl Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us in the PDD tent, located between the playground and the stage. You can hang with us in our photo booth and listen to Woodblind, Ingeborg von Agassiz and Mama’s Stolen Horses perform throughout the day. Keep up with happenings via #pddfallfest.

Facebook | Instagram

Events, Recommendations Chester Park

“Restoring” Chester Creek?

Sep 08, 2017 1 Comment

This afternoon I went running in Chester Park for the first time in a while. I parked at the Chalet and immediately noticed this posting on a light pole:

Apparently the city and the Soil and Water Conservation District will be removing the old dams at the foot of the ski hill, revegetating the stream banks, and building a pedestrian footbridge. My first reaction to this was, “Cool! It’ll be great to have a restored stream habitat.” But as I thought about it a little more, I started wondering what it was exactly that needs restoring here.

Random Chester Park

Breanne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners – “Carousel”

Sep 06, 2017 No Comments

New video for “Carousel” by Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners. Shot at Chester Bowl by Michelle Truax of Duluth.com. From their upcoming album Wildflowers & Tumbleweeds, recorded at Sparta Sound with Rich Mattson.

The record release party is Saturday, Sept. 16 at Beaner’s Central.

Portion of Chester Park Trail washed out

Aug 30, 2017 No Comments

A segment of the hiking trail in Chester Park on the east side of the creek, between Skyline Parkway and the Eighth Street bridge, washed out during recent heavy rainfall. Trail closure signs are in place leading up to and around the area, along with orange fencing.

Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division requests hikers avoid the washed-out area and instead use the trail on the west side of Chester Creek. The pedestrian bridge near Eighth Street is open for trail users to safely cross the creek to the west side.

News and Current Affairs Chester Park, Hiking

Chester Park Posts