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DNR, Fairfax have Ft. Ridgely short-term maintenance agreement

Preparing golf course for summer use

Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Fort Ridgely State Park golf course remains closed but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and City of Fairfax have entered into a short-term maintenance agreement designed to allow the golf course for summer use.

FORT RIDGELY STATE PARK — The Fort Ridgely State Park golf course remains closed but preparations are being made for the golf course to be used this summer.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently entered into a short-term maintenance agreement with the City of Fairfax. The DNR and Fairfax continue to negotiate on a management agreement that would allow the state park golf course to be operated independently from the state park.

“The Friends of Fort Ridgely and Fort Ridgely Golf Course Committee members started mowing greens last week. They may start mowing fairways next week,” said Fairfax City Administrator Marcia Seibert-Volz.

Former Fort Ridgely State Park Ranger and Friends of Fort Ridgely member Mark Tjosaas said volunteers used their personal mowers at the golf course this week.

“At this time, we are just trying to get organized. We plan to have leased equipment on hand next week and may start to mow more seriously by the middle of next week,” Tjosaas said.

Seibert-Volz said the City of Fairfax is at the point of collecting pledges in its effort raise $100,000 to operate the golf course this year. The effort is closing in on $70,000. People who offered fund-raising pledges were emailed collection requests by the City of Fairfax this week.

“This will enable us to purchase and/or lease the necessary golf-related equipment and supplies for preparation and operation of the course and chalet this summer,” Seibert-Volz said.

“We’re still looking for contributions. We need $100,000 by May 9,” she said.

Donors can make tax-deductible contributions to credit card or check at the Fairfax City Office. Funds can be mailed to City of Fairfax, Box K, Fairfax, Mn 55332.

Twice this legislative session, Friends of Fort Ridgely and Fort Ridgely Golf Course Committee members and legislators who authored or supported legislation for the golf course to continue to operate privately this year, testified before legislative committees in St. Paul.

Senate File 723 would allow golf carts to be operated and state park permits would not be required for motor vehicles on the golf course, if it is operated by a non-state entity. In addition, the bill would allow liquor to be sold and consumed by the drink at the golf course.

The legislation came in response to the DNR’s announcement early last year that it planned to close the golf course last summer. The decision was based on several factors including high operational costs and what it considered low golf course use levels.

Officials from the DNR in St. Paul stated that continued golf course operation required significant use of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, large energy use and carbon emissions; and large amounts of water that was inconsistent with the DNR’s management of natural resources.

Responding to public pressure that included a number Friends of Fort Ridgely members who refuted the DNR’s low use claim because the DNR didn’t staff the golf course on weekends, the DNR pushed the golf course closure date back to the day after Labor Day Weekend.

Senate File 245, authored by Sen. Andrew Lang, R-Olivia, and supported by a number of other legislators, received two Senate hearings and was held open for omnibus bill inclusion.

Siebert Volz testified she was “very upset the DNR proposed to plow up the state park golf course after spending $2 million to improve it ten years ago.”

The Friends of Fort Ridgely Committee and Mayflower Country Club discussed how they could cooperate, share costs and increase revenue for both golf courses at a March 13 meeting. Discussion included sharing fund-raising ideas like joint tournaments and events, equipment, personnel, and golf carts.

“The Friends do not want to be in competition with the Mayflower Golf Club, rather find ways for both to prosper,” said golf course supporter and Fairfax native Jim Weinzetl who now lives in the Twin Cities.

“I believe both golf courses can prosper by working together. Much of our marketing would be via social media with a goal of attracting people outside the area,” Weinzetl said.

Besides golf tournaments, fund-raising ideas included a picnic and games such as sack races, winter sledding, camp and golf along with other golf and recreational events.

A number of weekend campers were at the Fort Ridgely campground Friday afternoon.

Lynda and Greg Gentz of Chaska said they’ve camped at Fort Ridgely many times for decades and have camped at many other Minnesota state and county parks.

“They’re all different but Fort Ridgely has been listed as a hidden gem on a list I found,” Greg Gentz said. “We really enjoy camping right by Fort Ridgely Creek and walking the trails here. We can hear the creek running now. I saw other campers fishing for trout in it earlier today.”

“We love this park. I remember coming here years ago during the Rendezvous (summer event with a large number of Civil War-era re-enactors,” said Lynda Gentz.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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