The main Chester Bowl trail will henceforth be known as the Dan Proctor Trail, in honor of a volunteer who has dedicated himself to maintaining the park's trail system.
The Duluth City Council voted unanimously Monday night to bestow the honor.
A former employee of Duluth's Parks and Recreation Department, Proctor's position was cut in the 1980s, but he never quit working to clear, improve and maintain the trails through Chester Bowl and Lester Park. His unpaid work continues to this day.
"Dan is not a Magney, a Snively, a Congdon or a Hartley. He's just a hard-working hippie," said his friend and neighbor, Jess Koski.
"He's not a captain of industry, but he deserves this honor," Koski said, describing Proctor's selfless dedication.
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Councilor Sharla Gardner, who authored the resolution, thanked Proctor for his many contributions.
"He keeps his carbon footprint very faint and small, but the footprint of his work and his heart is very large," she said.
