Last updated: July 20, 2023
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Podcast 088: Paths through History: Accessible Trails at Voyagers National Park
National Park Service
Elsworth Rock Gardens
Debbie Smith: David and Jason, thank you for joining me today. David, could you tell me a little bit about Ellsworth Rock Gardens?
David Driapsa: Ellsworth Rock Gardens is an historic district in Voyageurs National Park. It was the summer home of Jack and Elsa Ellsworth, and they spent a number of years here, decades, building these beautiful gardens of rock. They laid up glacier rock on the granite outcroppings and then planted flowers in raised beds. It became known as the showcase of Lake Kabetogama.
Debbie Smith: How long did it take him to build the gardens?
David Driapsa: I’m going by recall, but I’m thinking something like 20 years or some more possibly.
Debbie Smith: Do you know when he started to build them?
David Driapsa: I know that he stopped in about 1966. He worked on these gardens between 1944 and 1966.
Universal Accessibility
Debbie Smith: Why is there a need for this new trail? I know there are a number of trails here already.
National Park Service
David Driapsa: Well, the real need, Debbie, is for a universal accessibility, so people with maneuverability disabilities can access this historic landscape equally as anyone who is mobile.
Debbie Smith: I noticed when I came here there was very steep steps at the current landing.
David Driapsa: Yes, there is and I counted those. There are fifteen risers, which would make it very difficult or impossible for some people to access.
Debbie Smith: I’m interested in this trail because it goes through an historic district. How is the trail going to blend in with that historic landscape?
David Driapsa: Well, that is the beauty of the preservation treatment. It is a solid trail that will be wheelchair accessible, and the top surface is grass just like the surrounding area. So, it does not impair the visual quality of the historic resource.
Layering in the Lawn
Debbie Smith: Jason, can you tell me, I’ve seen some of the construction documents and plans that David created. Can you tell me about the layering in the lawn?
National Park Service
Jason Christensen: Sure. We first we flagged the lawn where the trail is going to go.
Next, we dug down 10 inches till we found a good solid soil to work off of, and then we brought in a sandy clay material that we packed in layers.
After that, we lay a separation fabric of a geotextile material over the new soil, which is basically the base layer for the trail, the foundation of the trail.
And then, over that it’s the geogrid, they look like big cup holders.
That’s the final grade, and the grass grows through the geogrid when it’s all said and done, to match the surrounding grass.
Debbie Smith: I can see some grass in the grid coming through, and I understand it was seeded this year. Is that correct?
Jason Christensen: Yes. It was seeded about a month and a half ago.
Debbie Smith: It’s amazing how much grass has already grown through.
Jason Christensen: Yes, it’s coming up real nice.
National Park Service
Debbie Smith: I understand you started in May. When do you hope to complete the project?
Jason Christensen: Well, also involved in the project are new his-and-hers comfort stations, a big dock with much more dock space, and a switchback trail for accessibility up the slope.
Jason Christensen: We hope to be done with the accessibility part of the project by this fall (2018), and to complete the project we’re looking at probably mid-summer (2019) to have the dock in and the comfort station built, and everything wrapped up.
Debbie Smith: Jason, I noticed the difference in the trail. Around the location for the comfort station, it’s a crushed gravel. Can you tell me how this construction is different from the trail?
Jason Christensen: The trail edge is outlined with 5 x 6” green-treated timbers that we fill with a crusher fine, so it’s a real good solid surface.
Debbie Smith: Does it compact down with time?
Maintenance Free for 10-15 Years
Jason Christensen: Yes, and we run compactors over it so it’s completely solid and crowned in the middle so it sheds water off of the trail.
Debbie Smith: Is it something that you will have to maintain by continually rolling over, or will it just stay in place?
Jason Christensen: You might be looking at maintenance-free for 10 to 15 years. You might have to occasionally add bit more gravel, but they maintain themselves pretty well.
Accessibility
Debbie Smith: I understand that at I. W. Stevens historic site within Voyageurs National Park, there’s a similar type of a trail that’s been recently put in.
It’s also handicap accessible. David, could you tell me a little about that project? I understand you also designed that site.
David Driapsa: Yes, I.W. Stevens Resort is another visitor day-use historic site, and the main trails are handicap accessible.
David Driapsa:There are backcountry trails that are not accessible, but the main ones leading from the boat dock all the way over to the picnic area are accessible.
David Driapsa: Even the boat dock is accessible, so the visitor gets an overview of how Mr. Stevens lived from his home to his sauna and the lawns and the cabins.
National Park Service
Debbie Smith: I understand that at I. W. Stevens historic site within Voyageurs National Park, there’s a similar type of a trail that’s been recently put in.
It’s also handicap accessible. David, could you tell me a little about that project? I understand you also designed that site.
David Driapsa: Yes, I.W. Stevens Resort is another visitor day-use historic site, and the main trails are handicap accessible.
David Driapsa:There are backcountry trails that are not accessible, but the main ones leading from the boat dock all the way over to the picnic area are accessible.
David Driapsa: Even the boat dock is accessible, so the visitor gets an overview of how Mr. Stevens lived from his home to his sauna and the lawns and the cabins.
Debbie Smith: These are two examples of where handicap-accessible trails have been constructed at Voyageurs. Do you know if there are more planned?
Jason Christensen: Yes, recently at the Ash River Visitor Center where they constructed a nice handicap-accessible trail, and picnic areas at Rainy Lake City and Camp Marston on Rainy Lake. There are plenty more sites to come.
Debbie Smith: Thank you both for talking with me today.
National Park Service
David Driapsa: It’s a pleasure being here. Thank you. Bye now.
David Driapsa: Bye.
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