WAABIZHESHIKANA

Fond du Lac Band and City of Duluth

Gitchigami-ziibi (St. Louis River), Duluth, MN

Planning Complete in 2019, Phase 1 Implementation Ongoing

The St. Louis River is a culturally and spiritually significant place for Indigenous people, as well as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and historians. However, due to former industrial uses, the river estuary is a US EPA Area of Concern. After years of community advocacy, research, and environmental remediation, the river is now returning to a cherished and vibrant landscape. Emerging from these efforts, the River Heritage Trail Master Plan establishes an interpretive strategy for the 10-mile-long Waabizheshikana trail that will connect Duluth neighborhoods with Jay Cooke State Park. The overarching purpose of the plan is to create an arts and heritage trail experience for a range of audience interests and backgrounds. Working in collaboration with city staff and tribal representatives, the trail will integrate artwork, historical accounts, and highlights from the natural world to create new ways of seeing the landscape from diverse and unexpected perspectives. A key design strategy is a series of new “River Places” along the trail, which are comprised of trailheads, overlooks, and pause points that can host art, gatherings, or nature play. Custom interpretive elements—story poles, cairns, and freestanding signs—utilizing local materials will also complement the trail experience. By telling the stories of the estuary with materials that are of the location, the interpretive elements will be both durable and site-specific. This is a unique and innovative approach to trail design and interpretation. It celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Duluth estuary while also providing spaces for people to connect with each other and the land.