Duluth Planning Commission to discuss transfer of Lester Park Golf Course

DULUTH, Minn. — The closed Lester Park golf course will be brought up at Wednesday’s Duluth planning commission meeting, with a recommendation to transfer the property to the Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA).

A 268-acre property that used to be a fully operational golf course until 2020, when it shut down due to COVID and financial struggles.

Although some temporary openings were offered after this, it officially closed in 2023.

The city transferred ownership of 37.5 acres to DEDA in 2021 for development purposes and intends to move the remaining acres to DEDA.

“I think the big thing on Lester is that we are taking action and that action is going to reflect exactly what the working group recommended to us last year, and that is an opportunity for green space, for connecting trails, for food and beverage and event space, for golf and for housing, all at a substantial space within a community where we really don’t have tons of surplus property right now,” said  Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert.

Once the recommendation is approved, a series of public processes will follow