Visitors and locals alike recognize that the Lakewalk in Duluth is a destination not to be missed. It is a crown jewel to be explored and enjoyed. 

Duluth’s Lakewalk now consists of more than eight miles of paved pedestrian and bicycle trail stretching from Bayfront Park through Brighton Beach/Kitchi Gammi Park, much of it along the Lake Superior shore. 

Originally built in 1986 as a half-mile path, the Lakewalk was extended through the years with the help of a local group called Friends of the Lakewalk.

Friends of the Lakewalk (FotL) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer organization with more than 195 individuals, family and business members. FotL formed in 2009 at the urging of then-Mayor Don Ness and strong community support. 

The organization’s vision states: “The Duluth Lakewalk will continue to be preserved, protected, improved and interpreted to provide a world class experience on the shore of Lake Superior.”
Its board of directors and members meet quarterly about a variety of topics. These include their dedication of preserving, protecting and improving the Duluth Lakewalk; supporting the Duluth Lakewalk through advocacy, trail cleanup and maintenance; improvement of the Lakewalk’s condition and safety; and developing amenities along this popular trail. 

They support the completion of the Lakewalk from the Lift Bridge through Brighton Beach, as well as expanding westward to Pier B along the new trail extension named “Baywalk.”

The FotL organization actively partners with the City of Duluth and its Parks and Recreation department (duluthmn.gov/parks) on designated projects for the benefit of the Lakewalk. Its members, community partners, City of Duluth Parks & Recreation staff and the public have strong partnerships. They involve clean-up events, “re-wilding,” pollinator gardens planted and maintained by volunteers, providing input on Lakewalk renewal designs, including resiliency against future storms and other environmentally related topics.

Before the very first half-mile of Lake-walk was paved in 1986, the shore was a dumping ground. Building waste, concrete, old railroad ties, scrap metal, whole cars and other toxic accumulations were clogging up the shoreline. 

Cleanup activities
In 2024, FotL coordinated and held four Lakewalk cleanups along the entire 8 miles of Lakewalk. One-hundred-fifty FotL members, community volunteers from University of Minnesota Duluth Office of Enrollment Management, Duluth East High School Student Key Club, Canal Park Business Association and the public participated. Garbage, recyclables, plastics, cigarette butts, Styrofoam, cardboard, food and medical waste, plus other materials were removed.

Volunteer help from within our community is greatly appreciated. Announcements of future activities are posted here friendsofthelakewalk.org/activities. 

Signage
FotL Partnership and Project Committee members are teaming with Duluth Parks staff to plan for, fund and install wayfinding and interpretive signage along the Lakewalk in 2025. Wayfinding/directional signs increase ties to adjacent neighborhoods. Interpretive signs address Duluth’s history, culture and heritage. 

View the interpretive plan here: duluthmn.gov/media/15573/6-14-23-lakewalk-interpretive-plan-final-combined-compressed.pdf. 

Shoreline resiliency
In the past decade, record high water and storms with hurricane-force winds have occurred with greater frequency, fueled by climate change. Storms in 2017 and 2018 created giant waves that battered the shoreline and Lakewalk. The boardwalk and pavement along the Canal Park portion were swept away. These storms caused tens of millions of dollars of damage to the Lakewalk and shoreline. This resulted in state and federal emergency declarations leading to a massive project along the city’s Canal Park tourism district and other areas, including Brighton Beach.

During resiliency planning, FotL members were directly involved and remain actively involved in making recommendations to city planners and engineers. Focus continues implementing sustainability goals by “retreating away” from the lake and “re-wilding the landscape” to its natural North Shore Coastal Forest ecology.

Design solutions address shoreline protection, accessibility improvements and create spaces for reflection and gathering. To minimize impact, equipment access has been from land and water.
The Brighton Beach portion was completed in 2024. Work will continue into 2025, with the final phase from the “Corner of the Lake” to 26th Avenue East. This includes Lakewalk replacement and widening to between 12-15 feet where space is available, correcting ADA issues, continue shoreline stabilization, reduce mud paths & social trails, formalize key trails, add natural play-space, vault toilets and picnic pavilion, plus more!

A project to improve the lakeshore near the ship canal and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center is planned to begin in November 2024. Completion is projected into 2025. The project will construct a shoreline protection system to decrease the adverse effects of weather and wave damage. The improvements will provide needed upgrades to the 200 feet of pedestrian walkway and ultimately connect the City of Duluth’s Lakewalk structure to the Duluth Ship Canal North Pier. 

Access Lakewalk Resiliency Improvement plan at duluthmn.gov/media/12488/210260-20211007-lw-bb-report.pdf and https://duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-planning/progress-in-the-parks/lakewalk-transportation-resiliency-improvements/.

“Re-wilding” native plant gardens
Pollinator gardens are being planted along the Lakewalk to help revive monarch populations and other pollinators. Through partnerships, seven pollinator gardens are planned, planted and maintained by the FotL and nonprofit Monarch Buddies. 

To prepare for the rerouted Brighton Beach Road, members of FotL and city park staff identified and relocated more than 100 yellow Lady Slippers that would have been directly impacted. Shoreline has been and continues to be re-wilded with plants and trees that are native to these sensitive areas and will lessen impact of climate change. This includes re-wilding more than a half-mile of Canal Park shoreline with pollinator plants.

Learn more about Duluth’s pollinator gardens at friendsofthelakewalk.org/duluth-lakewalk-pollinator-gardens.

ADA standards and safety 
improvements
FotL has been strong advocates that the Lakewalk needs to be brought up to ADA standards and have safety elements addressed. 

There are three primary areas that currently do not meet ADA: hills at Leif Erikson Park, intersection and “S” curve grade at 23rd Ave E, and juncture at 26th Ave E. 

We are happy to announce that these will finally be corrected in 2025 to meet ADA standards and provide a safer environment for walkers, bikers and motorists.

All parties in partnership on this are really excited about improving accessibility, knowing that it helps people with disabilities to enjoy the Lakewalk and adjacent parks. But it also makes the Lakewalk accessible for those many people who may not have a disability per se but are growing older and may be experiencing physical limitations.

FotL member partnership with our local citizens, visitors, and city staff directly aligns with Duluth’s Citywide Trail & Bikeway Plan and August 2022 Essential Spaces Master Plan available at duluthmn.gov/media/14188/10-10-22-essential-spaces-plan-for-council.pdf. 

The Lakewalk is a regionally important trail, bringing economic and tourism opportunities to town. The Lakewalk is a fundamental element of Duluth’s quality of life and will continue to support a healthy and vibrant community, enhance inclusion and equity, and advance environmental protection within our communities.

Join & get involved
Help is always needed. By joining Friends of the Lakewalk, members receive emails, updates and iinformation on how to get involved with projects such as these.

FotL invites readers to get involved and become a “life member.” Membership levels are: Individual: $10, Family: $20, Business: $50. There are no annual renewal fees. Details are explained here: friendsofthelakewalk.org/become-a-member-or-donate.

Learn more about Friends of the Lakewalk at friendsofthelakewalk.org.

Jim Topie is a founding member of Friends of the Lakewalk, serving as its President since 2018. Jim served on Duluth’s Park and Recreation Commission from 2006-2010, including position of President. In 2024, Jim was the recipient of Minnesota’s Environmental Health Professional of the Year award. He recently retired following 40 years with Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture, as environmental health planner and consultant.