DNR proposes closing of Chester Lake Forest campsite (2005-06-27)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on a proposal to close the campsite at Chester Lake in Grand Portage State Forest because of ongoing maintenance costs as well as the cost of installing a new vault toilet.

Chester Lake Forest campsite is located next to a DNR public access in Grand Portage State Forest. It has one non-fee, drive-in campsite and is maintained by staff from Judge C.R. Magney State Park, which is 20 miles away. The campsite has a gravel parking spur, picnic table, fire ring and pit toilet.

The existing pit toilet at the campsite is full. In order to meet existing codes, a new vault toilet would need to be installed at an estimated total cost of $8,000. "At this time, we cannot justify that expense for one non-fee campsite, especially when there are two campgrounds nearby - Devilfish Lake Forest Campground (0.8 mile) and Esther Lake Forest Campground (1.4 miles)," said Mark Kovacovich, DNR regional parks operations supervisor.

The DNR proposal includes removing the toilet, picnic table and fire ring, and installing a new sign that identifies Chester Lake but removes the reference to camping.

There will be a public meeting on July 19, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. at the park office of Judge C.R. Magney State Park to gather public input on the proposal to close the campsite. Written comments can be mailed by July 19, 2005, to Mark Kovacovich, Regional Park Operations Supervisor, DNR Division of Parks & Recreation, 1568 Highway 2, Two Harbors, MN 55616 or emailed to: Mark.Kovacovich@dnr.state.mn.us

For information contact: Tom Ludwig, Judge Magney State Park manager, 218-387-3039

or Jim Willford, Regional Parks Manager, 218-327-4412
 

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