DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – In 2023, Duluth City Council voted to leave Lester Park Golf Course closed indefinitely. They wanted to focus on making major upgrades to its Enger Park Golf Course, which are ongoing.

Following the closure, Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert is launching the Lester Park Recreation Working Group. It’s a group created earlier this year with the purpose of reopening the Lester Park Golf Course, along with using the property for other, year-round recreational activities.

“I’m a Lakeside resident, I played here for 10 or 15 years,” said Tim Meyer, Co-chair of the Lester Park Working Group.

Meyer said he cherished every moment he played golf at Lester. Memories that are increasingly tough to recall when looking at the overgrown mess it’s become.

“A lot of people were upset that the course had closed and wanted to see it reopen,” said Meyer.

Meyer said he’d love to see the course return and that’s why he helped create The Lester Park Recreation Working Group. He said he worked closely with Mayor Reinert to make the idea become reality.

“Bring a group together that represents multiple activities, year-round activities, and including but not limited to golf,” said Mayor Reinert.

Activities like skiing, biking, hiking, and possibly an ice sheet have all been proposed. There are even talks of a housing development. But according to Mayor Reinert, at the end of the day, the group has no official decision-making authority or power.

“Just under my authority as Mayor, I’m asking them to take the next six months, now until April 1, to see what if anything is possible,” said Mayor Reinert.

Reinert also asked the group to evaluate nonprofit and alternative third-party management, where the property is owned by the City of Duluth, but the recreational asset is operated and managed by an external partner. Some local examples include Chester Bowl, Hartley Nature Center and the Lake Superior Zoo.

Mayor Reinert said there’s a lot that would need to be done, but for community members like Meyer, the work would be well worth it.

“Their fairways were always so beautiful, nice and green and the course was in good shape always,” said Meyer. “It’s a beautiful course.”

Although it’s unclear what will happen with Lester, Meyer said he’s already hearing from people who want to know how to help fund the project.

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