It's an idea that has been in the works for decades-and today the McQuade Public Access and Small Craft Harbor came to fruition.
But it didn't come without controversy.
During the Grand Opening, several officials that spoke today acknowledged ecological concerns North Shore residents had about the harbor.
Now that the area is open to the public, the Minnesota D-N-R says they've taken the necessary precautions to avoid adverse effects on Lake Superior.
"We've landscaped it, we've sodded it, we're putting in native plants," said Larry Killien, DNR harbors program coordinator.
It's designed as a safe haven for small watercraft that encounter harsh conditions on Lake Superior.
"My wife's cousin actually lives up in Silver Bay," said Sen. David Dill, DFL-6A. "And we went out on a 16-foot boat with a 25-horse motor on it fishing. And a southwest wind came up on our fishing trip and I was looking for a safe harbor on that day."
The more-than-three-acre harbor features 11-foot break walls and three ramps for boat launching and retrieval.
The idea for the project was tossed around in the 1970s, but the McQuade site wasn't selected until the early 90s.
In 1994, the McQuade Public Access Committee (MPAC) was formed and today, members saw their vision come to life.
"Over 30 years ago, some of us folks dreamed of this day," said Bill Beaudry, MPAC chair. "We just didn't think it would take so long for our dreams to come true."
Congressman Jim Oberstar, D--Minnesota, said the project would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of so many Northlanders.
"It's a nearly 30-year project. 30 years of citizen endeavors, 17 years of very focused concentrated effort-a testimonial to consensus," Oberstar said.
MPAC committee members say more than 44-hundred volunteer hours were spent on making this project a reality.
Tthe total cost is about 11 million dollars
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