When swimmers and visitors return to City Beach next spring and summer, it won’t look the way they left it this season.
As the summer season wraps up, preparations to begin the remodeling project at the beach are underway, according to Shawn Mason, director of economic and community development for International Falls.
“We are continuing to find ways to improve City Beach to make it public-friendly,” Mason said. “We know that this beach is such a tremendous asset to the city of International Falls.”
The remodeling project includes electrical updating, paint, installing a shower stall in both the men’s and women’s dressing rooms, and other general repairs with the idea of providing better privacy for beach users and meet the needs of campers.
She added that the improvements are intended to enhance the quality of life to the beach for those who live in and visit the area.
An Otto Bremer Foundation grant of $34,710 was received in August and will be used toward the bathhouse repairs, which has an overall price tag of about $56,000, Mason said.
“We are truly grateful for the grant which not only benefits the residents of International Falls, but also those of the surrounding area,” Mason said in a statement on the grant.
Mason told The Journal Wednesday that part of the improvements to the bathhouse will hopefully include a mural that will cover each side and the back of the structure. The City Beach Citizens Task Force Tuesday approved the concept and color scheme sketch of the potential mural by local artist Bruce Trask, who has painted other murals throughout the city.
“We have to file for a grant for this mural from the Northland Arts Foundation,” Mason said. “They have funded, in part, all of our murals in the community to date, so this would be adding to our mural campaign.”
Mason said a lot of positive feedback has been given on the current murals in the city and she looks forward to hopefully adding another to City Beach. Mason said the murals would cost about $10,000 after paint and labor costs are considered.
Trask has a vision of an early-evening setting for the City Beach mural that will include children playing in the sand, families, and gulls, Mason said.
She noted the city has also asked Trask to design three entrance signs to the beach that would follow the theme of the mural.
Should funding be secured, Trask would begin working on the mural in the spring.
In addition to the bathhouse improvements, Mason said the task force Tuesday also looked at playground structures that will be installed at the beach.
“McDonalds did a fundraiser for us that raised $1,300, that will be used to help purchase playground equipment,” Mason said. “We will be making a decision this winter on which structure to purchase.”
Mason was enthusiastic about the upcoming improvements and hopes more people continue to use a beach that she stressed is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Attendance to the beach keeps climbing,” Mason said. “Some people don’t have boats and this is a great way to experience Rainy Lake without a boat, kayak or canoe. We want to create an atmosphere that the beach is a great place to go, sit, and enjoy the view of Rainy Lake.”
