Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

Pinehurst Beach in Cloquet has opened for the summer. Above, Luxun Fjeld, Reina Miens and Kallen Miens cool off at the Pinehurst Beach on a hot Tuesday afternoon. Right, Jack Deters plays in the sand at the beach.

A few changes have been made to how the beach is operating this year:

• The concession stand has been closed, replaced with ice cream sold at the front desk, and pop, cookies and chips from vending machines. Patrons are now allowed to bring their own food into the park.

• Swim tests for children ages 9 through 11 are scheduled every hour. Children who pass the test are not required to wear lifejackets.

Edward Schulstrom

Jack Deters plays in the sand at the beach.

• Lifejackets are also not required on children in the canoe slide area, designated by a lane line. This will also be extended to the frog slide area as soon as its lane line is replaced. Children 6 years old and under still require parents in the water with them.

• Hours have been extended to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Safety breaks have also changed to reflect this, with 15-minute breaks at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. All other hourly safety breaks will still be 5 minutes long.

• Aquatics coordinator Kimberly Miens said that the Beach will not close before

4 p.m. except when there are weather concerns. The beach will not be open

June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.