ess ▁of ▁the ▁river ▁and ▁have ▁it ▁del isted ▁as ▁an ▁A OC ▁with ▁the ▁E PA ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 5 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁N ess ▁secured ▁State ▁authorization ▁to ▁re - est ab lish ▁a ▁half ▁percent ▁tax ▁on ▁lod ging ▁and ▁half ▁percent ▁on ▁food ▁and ▁be ver ages ▁tax . ▁These ▁funds ▁would ▁be ▁dedicated ▁to ▁developing ▁the ▁cor rid or ▁into ▁an ▁out door ▁advent ure ▁destination . ▁ ▁Im prov ements ▁to ▁the ▁area ▁include ▁a ▁re h abil itation ▁of ▁Grand ▁Avenue ▁by ▁adding ▁in ▁more ▁side wal ks , ▁bi ke ▁lan es , ▁and ▁connections ▁to ▁nearby ▁bi ke ▁tra ils . ▁The ▁city ▁and ▁volunte ers ▁through ▁CO G GS ▁are ▁working ▁to ▁complete ▁a ▁ 1 0 0 - mile ▁single ▁track ▁bi ke ▁trail ▁called ▁the ▁D ul uth ▁Tra verse ▁that ▁will ▁connect ▁to ▁tra ils ▁in ▁the ▁cor rid or . ▁A ▁city - sub s id ized ▁ch alet ▁at ▁Spirit ▁Mountain ▁connect s ▁the ▁ski ▁hill ▁to ▁Grand ▁Avenue . ▁The ▁city ▁is ▁also ▁working ▁to ▁improve ▁access ▁points ▁to ▁the ▁river ▁for ▁p add lers . ▁ ▁Personal ▁life ▁N ess ▁and ▁his ▁wife , ▁Laura , ▁met ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁when ▁she ▁was ▁a ▁field ▁st af fer ▁for ▁Paul ▁Well stone . ▁They ▁were ▁married ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁and ▁have ▁three ▁children . ▁Active ▁in ▁community ▁organizations , ▁Laura ▁N ess