With summer officially underway, International Falls’ City Beach is expected to see lots of use by residents and visitors alike.
Some will come for a day at the beach, while others will take advantage of the opportunity for an overnight camping experience on Rainy Lake.
Pat and Pete Masley, of Sebeka, will serve as camp hosts for June. Then in July, Mike and Anita Rozier, of Port Aransas, Texas, will take over as camp hosts.
Camping costs $10 per night per campsite and can be reserved by contacting the Falls Municipal Building at 283-8494. Unreserved campsites may be used as day-use sites.
“A family can go out for the day and experience the beach,” said Falls Mayor Shawn Mason, a member of the City Beach Task Force. “There are picnic tables, campfire rings, state-approved wood for sale, and a grill — just bring the charcoal.”
Mason said the task force has been making improvements at City Beach and attempting to make residents, as well as visitors to the area, more aware of its opportunities.
“A majority of families in this area just need to be provided better access to the waterways,” Mason said. “Some people don’t have boats and this is a great way to experience Rainy Lake without a boat, kayak or canoe.”
She notes that lifeguards are on duty at the beach from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
“I cannot advocate enough for families to take advantage of City Beach and camping,” said Mason. “You are transported to another world, away, on vacation with a beach, slide, toys, a raft way out in the water — a staycation,” she said.
City Beach saw more use last year with the city’s subsidizing of bus rides through Arrowhead Transit she said. The bus rides are free, with scheduled pick-ups and returns. She reminded parents that a rule for riding the bus to the beach is that small children must be accompanied by an adult or sibling at least age 12. “We need to be responsible as a city and set some guidelines,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the city will Monday undergo a review for a $35,000 grant from the Bremer Foundation to remodel the existing bathhouse structure, she said.
A proposal last year to build a new bathhouse with a price tag of $272,000 could not be accomplished with grants, said Mason. After several unsuccessful attempts at securing grants, the plan was revised to remodel it instead.
In addition, she said the city is seeking a $12,000 grant to allow artist Bruce Trask to paint a mural of the beach on the bathhouse.
The remodel project would involve making improvements to shower areas, dressing rooms, and toilet areas with the idea of providing better privacy for beach users and meet the needs of campers.
Now, the beach is combed every morning with the help of a loan of an all-terrain vehicle by former Ranier Mayor Dave Trompeter. City summer employees collect garbage and pick up litter at the beach and campsites each morning.
“Our goal is to make it a beautiful place,” she said, giving credit to members of the task force, which is made up of city residents and beach neighbors.
She noted that task force member Duane Johnson suggested researching what kinds of perennials and climbing vines could be planted along the chain-link metal fence around the beach.
“We want to make the exterior of City Beach very beautiful for the residents of the area and people going into the beach,” Mason said. “Picture, instead of fencing, pretty climbing vines.”
Mason said the activities at the beach are intended to balance improving the area for users while being compatible with the neighborhood.
