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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

The Little Fork River

City of Cook should explore ways to improve a valuable city asset

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Cook bills itself as a full-service city and that moniker provides an apt description of the city. In addition to first-class medical services offered by a well-staffed hospital and clinic, the city features a top-flight library and a variety of literary-related programs.

But that’s not all. Cook’s Northwoods Friend of the Arts provides an outlet for area artists to exhibit and promote their works. The organization of volunteers also sponsors numerous arts event including, along with the Cook Lions, the annual Music in the Park concert series highlighting area bands and performers.

Summer also brings the Farmers Market, promoting locally grown produce and homemade goods, and the city’s annual Timber Days celebration.

The city has also taken steps to make Cook more friendly for walkers and bikers. These are all components of creating a good quality of life, which is key to attracting new residents and businesses to any community.

But one missing ingredient from the city is a proper public boat landing and other amenities to make better use of another city asset— the Little Fork River, which meanders through the heart of the city. Well-maintained riverfronts can be extremely popular. Trails or even a boardwalk in places, boat access, picnic tables and other amenities, could turn a largely ignored riverfront into an attractive place for residents and visitors alike.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has proposed partnering with Cook to install a boat landing within the city or nearby. That’s a good first step, but the city should consider going further and explore ways to make better use of this resource.

Even a small boat landing is better than nothing, but it could be so much more. With the DNR already offering a partnership on a public access, the city should think bigger. A well-designed plan could attract funding from a number of sources for trails, bank stabilization, picnic areas, and other improvements. The city of Tower has already received considerable funds for improvements to its frontage on the East Two River. Folks in Cook should consider the possibilities to make similar upgrades.

The Little Fork River is one of the region’s most significant rivers and with a little promotion it could become a popular river destination for canoeists and anglers.

Cook residents boast a long tradition of recognizing the various needs of their city — such as more youth activities or the lack of a proper site for community gatherings — and responding to the challenge. The long-in-the-works community center at the Doug Johnson Recreation Area is just the latest example. Hundreds volunteered funds, materials and labor to the project and dozens of fundraisers were held on the center’s behalf. What began as a dream by a handful became reality over time thanks to the efforts of hundreds.

Cook can meet the next challenge by providing a proper public landing and transforming the Little Fork River into another asset in a full-service city.