Enger Park calendar supports restoration

Enger Park has been an exciting place to visit over the past year. Several local donations allowed the tower to be refurbished, and King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway came to Duluth for a rededication of the tower.

Yet restoration projects for the rest of the park are still in progress, and funds are needed to keep the process moving. And with so much excitement happening at Enger Park, shouldn’t the city have some form of literature to record these events in history?

This is exactly what was going through the minds of Crystal Taylor, hired by the city of Duluth as a development consultant last February, and local photographer John Heino when they decided to raise money for the Enger Restoration Project by creating and selling “Celebration of Enger Tower” 2012 calendars.

“We decided we really just wanted to document the history that was being made this year and engage community members,” Taylor said. “We wanted to have something at the end of this project to commemorate everything and raise more money for the project.”

Heino, a long-time photographer in the area, came up with the idea to create a calendar early this summer because he wanted to show photos from the king and queen’s visit to people who couldn’t make it.

“There is satisfaction in knowing the value of capturing something that is both nice to look at and that someone didn’t see because they were not there at the time,” Heino said.

Heino also wished to include scenic photos of Enger Park at different times of the day to rally support for the Enger Restoration Project from the community.

“A long, long time ago, Bert Enger gave this great gift to the city,” Heino said. “I feel like we have a responsibility to take care of that gift and keep it vibrant and valuable for future generations. It’s a legacy.”

So Heino and Taylor teamed up to begin work on a calendar, starting with photo shoots at the park during the summer. Some of the photos include Mayor Don Ness having lunch with his family in the park, area artist Ed Newman completing a painting of the tower, and local dancers posing near the gardens.

The photo on the cover is from the king of Norway’s dedication of the tower, which took place Oct. 17. Heino also includes many scenic photos of Enger Tower lit up at night and the view of the harbor from the park.

“The photos have the possibility of not just reminding people that the park is being renovated, but it actually shows that this is something worth preserving,” Heino said. “It’s like a mini tour of the park with prominent Duluthians doing something.”

All funds raised from the calendar sales will go directly to the Enger Restoration Project fund. Proceeds will go toward a new gazebo project that is set to begin in next spring as well as future restoration projects including the creation of accessible pathways and expansion of the pavilion.

A donation from the Julia Newell Marshall Fund will also go toward construction of the new gazebo, which will accommodate more people for events such as weddings and parties. Yet, more funds are still needed.

“This is something that is going to expose us to other populations and increase tourism,” said Taylor, whose role in the project has been to raise money for Enger Park restoration. “Over 90 percent of the people I talked to said they visit Enger Park on a regular basis, so this is a project that everyone should be a part of because everyone is using it.”

Once the photo shoots were complete, Heino and Taylor sent the photos to Service Printers in Duluth who completed the graphic work and printed the calendars. With 1,000 printed, the calendars will be available at local businesses until early January for $25 each.

A party to celebrate the calendars will take place Thursday, Jan. 12 at Tycoon’s Alehouse and Eatery, located at 132 E. Superior St., from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Calendars can be purchased and secured online donations made at www. engerrowerduluth.com.

“This calendar is like a collector’s item,” Taylor said. “The project is really going to help the health of the city to grow even more by providing a place for people to bring their family and friends and enjoy the beautiful views.”

QUICK FACTS:

What: “Celebration of Enger Tower” 2012 calendars for sale for $25

Where: Can be purchased at the following local business – Duluth Grill, Happy Space in Fitger’s, Lake Superior Magazine gift shop, Evolve Duluth, Bergquist Imports, Jitters Coffee and Tea House, Larsmont Cottages, Thirsty Pagan Brewing, Duluth Playhouse, Takk for Maten Café, Gannucci’s Italian Market & Restaurant, Utopia Salon & Spa, Douglas County Historical Society, and Glenwood Signs & Awards.

When: Calendars can be purchased until early January

Why: Funds raised will support Enger Tower and Park restoration.

For more information, visit www.engertowerduluth.com.

Tags: budge community, enger tower, enger park, celebration of enger tower, budgeteer