Duluth Moves Forward with Redevelopment Plan for Idle Golf Course, Sparking Debate and Housing Prospects
DULUTH — After six years of silence and heated discussion about what to do with the former Lester Park Golf Course, a concrete path toward redevelopment is taking shape. In a close 8-1 decision, the Duluth City Council agreed to move toward transferring up to 230 acres of the abandoned site to the Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA). The vote narrowly cleared a zoning hurdle: the property is public open space/parkland, and any sale of city-owned land with that designation requires at least eight of the nine councilors to approve.
Only1st District Councilor Wendy Durrwachter dissented, representing Duluth’s eastern neighborhoods, including Lester Park.
Before reaching a conclusion, the council heard roughly two hours of public input from more than 30 residents about the future of the golf course, which has been closed since 2020. The majority favored delaying any transfer to DEDA until the community has a clear opportunity to weigh in on what should occupy the site—likely a blend of housing, some commercial development, and recreational green space.
A photo from Duluth Media Group shows the currently unused property.
Although the council approved a prospective development agreement with DEDA, any final ownership transfer will be guided by a land-use plan developed with input from concerned community members. Durrwachter suggested that the land-use study should come before removing park protections, rather than after. She voiced support for housing on part of the site but raised concerns about potentially prohibitive costs to extend essential public infrastructure for future development, including snow removal, pothole repair, and water pipeline maintenance.
Dave Pagel of the Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance avoided taking a firm stance for or against the DEDA agreement, which also included a pledge to rezone at least 1,500 acres of city land acquired through the Strategic Public Lands Realignment Project. As part of the Lester Park deal, the city promised to rezone certain tax-forfeited lands with a Parkland P-1 designation to shield them from development. These properties include popular trail networks for cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and snowmobiling at Lester Park, Piedmont, Hartley, and Mission Creek.
Pagel framed the rezoning as a separate, long-standing obligation and warned that tying land preservation to selling other conserved land could force a choice between two positive aims. If the ordinance passes tonight, he suggested, it could yield a lose-win scenario for some and a win-lose outcome for others depending on later decisions.
Conversely, 3rd District Councilor Roz Randorf defended linking the potential golf course development with ongoing land preservation, arguing that the measure balances conservation with the city’s housing needs. She emphasized that the pairing isn’t about trading one issue for another but about presenting a complete picture: what is permanently protected, and what remains under study without a predetermined outcome. This balanced approach, she said, is essential for building a broad coalition.
At-large Councilor Arik Forsman echoed this sentiment, indicating that protecting the 1,500 acres is a separate goal from Lester Park, with the land-use study determining how the pieces fit together best. He noted the ordinance requires placing the 1,500 acres in conservation by January 2027, even if limited development occurs on the golf course site.
Durrwachter, however, warned that supporting the transfer now could create a future approval process that only requires a simple majority to finalize a sale, possibly undermining park protections before the land-use study’s outcomes are known.
Mayor Roger Reinert acknowledged there would still be ample community input opportunities during the land-use study but highlighted Duluth’s growing housing needs. A recent Maxfield Research analysis projects more than 8,000 additional housing units will be required within the next decade. With Duluth bordered by Proctor, Hermantown, and Rice Lake, as well as the St. Louis River and Lake Superior to the east, the city must look within its borders for growth opportunities. The Lester Park site, along with the former Duluth Central High School campus and underutilized sections of downtown, stands as the city’s primary options.
Reinert urged council members to take the next step to shape both Lester Park’s future and the broader community: without action, the property could continue to deteriorate, and the city could miss a pivotal chance to advance the housing plan the community is asking for. He described this as a critical step—not the final one—toward addressing a housing shortage while preserving valuable green spaces and trails.
About the Duluth City Council
Regular meetings: the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. A agenda meeting occurs each Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall, Room 330, unless otherwise scheduled. Meetings are streamed and recorded at duluthmn.gov.
District representatives and contact information are listed in the city’s public directory, including District 1 (Wendy Durrwachter), District 2 (Deborah DeLuca), District 3 (Roz Randorf), District 4 (Tara Swenson), District 5 (Janet Kennedy), and at-large members Azrin Awal, Arik Forsman, Lynn Marie Nephew (vice president), and Terese Tomanek (president).
Contributed by Deborah DeLuca
