What’s the future of casino skywalk?

With work underway for Casino Queen Marquette’s full landside move, city officials are considering the future of the skywalk that’s connected the gambling boat to landside operations for 30 years. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

The skywalk is enclosed by glass and a roof. It’s carpeted inside and currently outfitted with lighting, TV screens and benches.
City officials begin weighing options as boat departure nears
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Do you have a use for the skywalk that connects the Casino Queen Marquette gambling boat to its landside operations? If so, the city of Marquette would like to hear from you.
With work underway on the casino’s expansion and full landside move, the structure that has crossed Highway 76 for 30 years will no longer be necessary without the boat on the riverfront.
“We met with some members of the casino last month and were discussing removal of the skywalk, because we’re approaching that point where it needs to become a conversation. Ultimately, it is up to the council to decide whether they want to keep it and try to utilize it for future projects,” said mayor Brittany Hemmer at the Jan. 14 city council meeting.
The city of Marquette owns the skywalk and has set aside $100,000 in a CD to take down the structure, but officials believe removal will be more costly than the budgeted amount.
“My thought process, which we talked about during a budget meeting, if there’s someone interested in it, we sell it. Or donate it to the right organization. I don’t care. But it would cost the city a lot more than $100,000 to remove it,” said council member Dave Schneider.
“We can hope there might be a good enough use that somebody might want to purchase it,” agreed council member Tracy Melver. “Maybe we can make something off it and put that $100,000 in the bank toward something else.”
If the city itself were to keep it, “What would we do with it?” he wondered.
Audience members suggested a trail connection, or bridging from Riverfront Park to the area the boat will vacate, across where Bloody Run Creek empties into the Mississippi River. Similar plans were mentioned at visioning sessions in recent years.
While interesting ideas, Hemmer worried they may be structurally or financially difficult to achieve.
“During the meeting, that was something we were discussing with [the casino]. That was one of our ideas. But, financially, I don’t think it would be a smart idea to use it there,” Hemmer said. “Utilizing it for a trail, it would basically be the metal, or whatever the frame is made of. You’d want to take the glass and overhead piece off.”
The interior of the skywalk is currently carpeted and outfitted with lighting, TV screens and benches.
Melver noted the cost of maintenance.
“The amount of money it takes to paint that and keep it up, and it has been there for 30 years,” he said.
Relocating the skywalk, particularly on the riverfront, could also result in dealing with the Iowa DNR or conducting a Higgins’ Eye mussel study.
“It depends on how much the city wants to do,” Melver added.
For now, said Hemmer, Marquette just wants people to know the city is looking to take it down.
“No one even knows,” she said.
Welcome sign to be rehabbed
Also at last week’s meeting, the council approved repainting of the city welcome sign along Highway 18, not to exceed $1,500. The sign has become faded, and was last updated a decade ago, according to public works director Jason Sullivan. Work will likely be completed this spring.
Park inspections to be conducted
The council approved hiring an independent, certified company to conduct an inspection of city parks in the Bench Neighborhood and downtown. The cost will be $3,000 total—$1,500 per park.