Management of Bayfront Festival Park to Change

DULUTH, Minn. — At the end of December, the contract for the DECC to manage the Bayfront Festival Park had expired. For new mayor Roger Reinert this meant he had to immediately focus on that issue to ensure there would be entertainment this summer.

Reinert decided there was not time for the normal Request for Proposal process. He had the DECC and a new private company present their ideas to a group of regular park users, city staff, and himself. The mayor chose Winterfell Management.

Jeff Stark, the president of Winterfell Management said, “Our company saw that as an opportunity to help our community, do the things that we’re good at. Basically, leverage our relationships and our experience and try to make a seamless transition and utilize this asset on behalf of the citizens in Duluth to grow and expand the entertainment lineup and community events that happen here.”

Stark had been a long-time employee with the DECC until his position was eliminated. The other principal is Dan Russell, a former executive director at the DECC.

Meanwhile, the DECC was ready to turn over the reins. On the DECC Facebook page, Dan Hartman wrote “I want you to know that we’re okay with it. About a dozen years ago, the DECC took it on at the request of the City. And we’re proud of our efforts in Bayfront.”

Stark says people coming to Bayfront this summer will see no major changes. He said, “From 2012 to 2022, managing Bayfront Festival Park on behalf of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. It was a great 10 years really enjoyed it, we took this space that was underutilized from 12 event days that were booked in 2012 and through 2019, we had 40 Plus event days, took attendance from 30,000 to about 150,000. And really grew the diversity of events that were here.”

In the Facebook post, Dan Hartman says the change will be good for the DECC.  “So, if the Council votes to move park management out of our duties, we will use that time to focus on our core business.”

Reinert says Winterfell will have just a one-year contract. He plans to issue the standard Request For Proposal late this summer.

On Monday, January 22, at the regular City Council meeting, council members will need to make the change it official and vote on hiring Winterfell to manage Bayfield Festival Park.