Connectivity has been a buzzword of sorts in recent years, particularly in the context of linking the area with high-speed internet.
But mayor Heidi Omerza equated connectivity with something else Wednesday night - the opening of the Ely Regional Trailhead Facility.
Speaking at a grand opening that attracted more than 200 people, Omerza hailed the new facility as a vehicle for connection.
“I think when it comes to this trail project, I think of connectivity,” said Omerza. “It connects us. It connects us in different ways. It connects us to the great outdoors, which I think is so important in this day and age.”
Wednesday’s festivities mark the unofficial end of a $4.5 million project, which had many ups and downs over the course of nearly two decades.
City clerk-treasurer Harold Langowski said the vision dates back to 2006, when the city acquired the land at the west entrance of town as part of a swap with St. Louis County.
“Back then we came up with a conceptual drawing of what we wanted the west end to look like,” said Langowski.
What emerged were plans for a trailhead and visitor center, which came together with the persistence of Ely city officials, who made the project a top economic development priority.
“This was a long time a brewing before we got here today,” said former mayor Chuck Novak, who was a persistent advocate for the project. “I’m glad I was a participant to try and make this happen.”
Novak saluted an array of officials, including several who have passed away, among them former State Rep. David Dill, former State Senators Doug Johnson and David Tomassoni, as well as former Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board Commissioner Mark Phillips, among others.
State Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely), himself a former mayor and city council member, however credited Novak both for his vision and persistence.
“This was his idea,”said Skraba. “This right here is his idea.”
When Skraba pushed for the facility to be located at the Pioneer Mine site, Novak countered that it was best to be located on the west end.
“Chuck said ‘no it’s got to be here, when they see it coming into town,’” said Skraba.
Including both a brandnew building with changing space and offices along with a spacious parking lot, the trailhead serves as a jumping off point to numerous trails.
Langowski noted that “right here from Ely you’ve got access to 350 miles of ATV trails.” While Skraba noted that it connects Ely to Grand Rapids.
Multi-use and multipurpose were also part of the vision, with the trails accessible for not only ATVs but snowmobiles, mountain bikes and hiking.
Numerous trail groups were represented at the event, including Prospector ATV Club, Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club, North Country Trail, Mesabi Trail and Ride the Range.
“We can showcase this building when a biker or a hiker or an ATVer or a snowmobiler come up here,” said Skraba. “This is about sharing trails, folks.”
Several years ago, the city first acquired $1.3 million in state bonding funds for the project, and a second infusion from the state provided another $1.5 million.
The project was stymied, however by cost overruns attributed in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the city later acquired a federal grant of $1.5 million to fill the gap, as well as better than $250,000 from the IRRRB.
“It took two different bonding bills and a lot of planning,” said Langowski.
Site work, utilities, a parking lot and construction of the building itself came in phases and now it’s ready for occupancy.
“We have waited for this day for a very, very, very long time,” said Omerza. “It took a lot of people to get it across the finish line.”
City officials have long identified the new building as a potential visitor center, but questions remained over how it would be staffed and by whom.
That may have been solved by recent discussions between the city and the Ely Chamber of Commerce.
Those parties have made progress in talks that will lead to the Chamber making the facility its new headquarters.
“We’re very happy to be moving down there to be the first thing people see when coming to town,” said Tanner Spicer, president of the Ely Chamber. “The Chamber is here to make sure not only member businesses are promoted but to support us all and make it a place to come to.”
IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina hailed city leaders for pressing forward with the project.
“Ely deserves this,” said Rukavina. “Ely is formerly a mining town and now a trails town and a destination.”
