BeforeAfterDrag the handle to compare before and after.
Puddlejumper Park Takes Flight in Ely, Honoring History Through Interactive Art
Ely, MN
Showcasing an important part of Ely’s history and charm, Puddlejumper Park was designed for our youth, community and visitors to the area to be enjoyed, respected and hopefully used as inspiration to future generations.
The inspiration for this build comes from the 1956 de Havilland Beaver floatplane, which was purchased by the Ely-based U.S. Forest Service and is still in use, servicing Ely and the surrounding 3-million-acre Superior National Forest.
Using only a photo of the original floatplane as a reference, this interactive art piece was entirely hand-built by Brad Pearse of Ozfab Welding and Fabrication, here in Ely, MN.
Supported by a Culture & Tourism Grant from the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Read the Ely Echo’s story on the unveiling.
From Dirt Lot to Park
Excavators cleared and graded the empty lot, forms went in and the curving concrete paths were poured, then came mulch, lawn and trees. Tap any photo to see it larger.
The Floatplane Arrives
The hand-built floatplane, marked ELY56 with the U.S. Forest Service shield, was rolled off a trailer and set on its floats in the middle of the park.
Ready for Takeoff
Kids climb in the cockpit, families picnic on the lawn, and the park’s big Ely mural, complete with its own floatplane, watches over it all.
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