The agency has merged the former Development Infrastructure and Community Infrastructure grant programs into the new Public Works grant program.
A new professionally built 18-hole miniature golf course with ADA accessibility opened in the city of Virginia. Greens on Foreteenth, located on 14th Avenue West near Mesabi Range College, was constructed on a six-acre lot that has been vacant since the 1960s. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a Development Infrastructure grant which helped pay for the substructures related to water, sewer, storm sewer and electrical. The course is owned by Steve and Tanya Carlson making it a local, family-owned business that operates May through October. The course features green landscaping, a rock waterfall, a stream flowing into a pond with a fountain, and views of adjacent wetlands and tree-scapes. The Carlson’s hired Harris Mini Golf of New Jersey to design and construct the course. Harris builds courses around the world and specializes in landscaping, water features, slopes, undulations of greens and contours of playing surfaces. The Carlsons secured large indigenous jasper slab boulders from Biwabik Mary Ellen Stone that are placed throughout the course and waterfall. Recreation spending increased by over 20% in 2019 in the United States. Many recreation activities only appeal to a certain age or demographic, however miniature golf appeals to all ages - from families to first dates, grandparents and grandchildren, large and small groups, teens and tots. More than 130 million people of all ages play miniature golf each year with industry revenues in excess of $1 billion annually. 000 per year in local property taxes. The total project investment was $1.65 million, and the Development Infrastructure grant was $57,800.
