Lester Park is a neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota, often taken as Lakeside. It is at the far northern reaches of Lakeside, and borders the Lester River. The mouth of the Lester River is the most popular smelting area in Minnesota.
The main streets in Lester Park are London Road, Superior Street, and Glenwood Street.
Festival
The annual Lester River Rendezvous festival takes place every September, drawing people from all over. Sponsored by the Lakeside-Lester Park Business Association and Duluth Parks and Recreation Department, this event brings the neighborhood and greater community together.
The Lester River Rendezvous features the Voyageur Village, where members play out the day in the life of a voyageurs camp from the late 18th century in Northern Minnesota. Local residents dressg up as voyageurs in the fur trading era, demonstrating outdoor cooking techniques, as well as telling stories of their historic adventures.
There are also games by the Duluth Children's Museum and pony rides. Musicians perform either at the park stage, strolling the park, or at the entrance gates.
Nestled along the Lester River are two structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are: Lester River Bridge-Bridge No. 5772 and the United States Fisheries Station, Duluth. The Fisheries Station was built in 1882 and is located at the mouth of the Lester River. The University of Minnesota Duluth owns the complex which includes the Hatchery/Bunk-room Building, Boat House, Pump House, Supervisor's Cabin on the south side of Congdon Boulevard, and a Superintendant's House on the north side of Congdon Boulevard.
Photo's courtesy of Hawk Ridge Arts -- Paintings by John L. Peyton. See more at www.paintingsprintsandarts.com