Grant will bring bike tools, mural

A $42,000 Safe Routes to School boost grant is bringing eight bicycle fix-it stations to locations in Cloquet and the Fond du Lac Reservation, along with dual-language signs and a community mural by an indigenous artist to be selected.

The fix-it stations will be located at the three FDL community centers, the FDL Ojibwe school, Big Lake Road trail, Washington Elementary, Pinehurst Park and the Cloquet Public Library.

The dual-language signs are intended to increase awareness for walking and bicycling that incorporates indigenous arts and culture.

Cloquet city councilors gave their approval Tuesday for the third part of the grant: a mural by an Ojibwe artist that will be placed somewhere in Pinehurst Park.

Public health educator Ali Bachinski said they’d like to place the mural on the arch of the bandshell, but elected officials weren’t ready to sign off on that without more information. They were willing, however, to commit to allowing the mural to make its home somewhere in the park.

The next step is to hire the artist. They’re planning to recruit five community members to serve on an advisory board to choose the artist. After that would come design discussions.

“We want to bring the community into the design,” Bachinski said.