Jay Cooke State Park kick starts summer centennial celebrations

BY BEATRICE DUPUY Beatrice.Dupuy@startribune.com

Duluth's floods three years ago have turned into a boon for Jay Cooke State Park.

The park's attendance numbers have spiked since floodwater overwhelmed the St. Louis River in 2012, shutting down the park for four months and causing $2 million in damages.

Kristine Hiller, park naturalist, said Jay Cooke received a lot of public attention after the flood, which in turn sparked interest in the park.

"People have stopped in for the first time to see what this park is all about," Hiller said.

The park typically receives 325,000 visitors a year, but last year it saw its highest attendance record with 372,831, she said. The 8,818-acre park is ranked as the fifth most-visited state park.

Attendance this year should stay strong as the park celebrates its 100th birthday, with events planned all year long, including one held Saturday as part of National Get Outdoors Day, when organizers expectedsome 1,500 people. Events included a welcome by Erika Rivers, director of the Department of Natural Resources' parks and trails division, followed by a cake cutting.

"Jay Cooke is considered to be a destination park," said Lisa Angelos, park manager. "It has a high level of amenities within the state park system and can offer experiences to a wide range of people."

Other summer programs honoring the anniversary include a "once in a blue moon" event July 31. During the day, visitors can learn about rare species and endangered trees. The park is home to 46 animal species and about 181 bird species.

"We will focus on things that don't happen very often," Hiller said.

Visitors can also get involved in the state park's "I Can" program, in which participants learn to paddle, rock climb, fish and mountain bike. The park will continue with special events all throughout the summer until its official 100th birthday on Oct. 18.

While celebrations are in order, there is still work to be done three years after historic floods washed through northeast Minnesota.

Some trails and Hwy. 210, which provides access to the park, are still being rebuilt. The highway, Hiller, said is the largest piece of the puzzle left to be completed. The flooding created mudslides and tore apart the road, obstructing the highway and causing $40 million in damages. About 5 miles of trail are still off-limits to hikers including Ogantz and Lower Lake.

The east entrance of the park from the highway remains closed.

Parts of the park, which is known for its rugged rock formations, hardwood forests, camping and its landmark swinging bridge, were severely damaged as well. The campgrounds and park buildings saw minimal damage, while the 50 miles of trails and the 200-foot-long swinging bridge were beaten up by the flood.

After being washed out by the rushing floodwater, the bridge received extensive repairs totaling $1.1 million and reopened in 2013. It's not the first time the bridge, built in 1924, has been flooded.

In 1950, floods destroyed the bridge, which provide an entryway to the park's trails on the south side of the river.

Jay Cooke State Park got its name from a Philadelphia banker who bought the land as a railroad investment. The land was later donated to the state in 1915. The park is fifth oldest state park in Minnesota. Itasca State Park, established in 1891, is the oldest.

" People are enthusiastic about visiting the park," said Angelos, the park's manager. "We're looking forward to the next 100 years."

Beatrice Dupuy •612-673-1707