The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently received the “Large Access Outstanding Project Award” for the McQuade Public Access and Small Craft Harbor on Lake Superior. The award was presented at the annual States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The McQuade Public Access and Small Craft Harbor is nine miles north of the Duluth Harbor entry at scenic Highway 61 and McQuade Road. The site has many features for recreation and was designed to have a park-like setting including walkways and benches along the harbor and breakwater. It was completed in 2008, and was developed by the DNR, the US Army Corps of Engineers, local agencies and the McQuade Public Access Committee, a volunteer group.

The SOBA award committee judged the facility on specific criteria including sound engineering principles, innovative design, safety, and accessibility. Several challenges unique to the location had to be overcome during the construction process. For example, scenic Highway 61 was realigned in order to install a bridge and pedestrian tunnel under the highway to allow safe access from the parking area to the launch ramps and harbor area.