Today the Fargo Park District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2023 budget as presented at tonight’s meeting. Tonight’s budget approval includes a key decision to move forward with Phase II of the Fargo Parks Sports Complex project as presented at this evening’s Park Board meeting. The Board noted the project is about improving the quality of life for people of all ages.
This extraordinary building project will address a critically unmet need for indoor recreation facilities available to the public. This need was identified as part of a feasibility study that included a needs assessment and prioritization of recreational facilities, amenities and programmatic needs. Phase II is an intentional expansion of the current phase under construction and will provide connectedness of the new amenities to the full building. By making this decision tonight, JLG, the architect on the project estimates there are a number of cost saving measures that will be able to be utilized on phase one in the construction of phase two.
At tonight’s meeting, the Board underscored the project as a forward-thinking approach to overall community wellness in our region. Phase II of the Fargo Parks Sports Complex will benefit an additional 7,000 children, bringing the total project benefit to more than 20,000 children in our community in its first year of operation. The Fargo Park District feels working together with user groups and community partners is key to building a healthier future.
“We have done and continue to do great things to serve the citizens of Fargo as a whole,” says Park Board Commissioner, Jerry Rostad.
This expanded facility will accommodate indoor sports, community activities, tournaments and special events. Phase I of the project includes: one full size indoor soccer turf field, Four multipurpose hardwood courts, administrative offices, multipurpose community space and an indoor walking track. Tonight’s addition of Phase II features amenities including: four additional multipurpose hardwood courts, two sheets of ice, two community rooms, six pickleball courts and an indoor play area with associated birthday party rooms.
“I think this additional phase provides additional amenities beyond sports. It’s really easy right now to see ice and courts and turf and think it’s just for sports people but it’s beyond that, shared Vicki Dawson, Fargo Park Commissioner. “The sky is the limit on what this facility will do for Fargo.”
At tonight’s meeting, it was underscored that the Fargo Park District Foundation continues to pursue private funding sources to reduce the current burden of $95.1 million of public funds for this project. Several funding sources have been identified and efforts on ongoing in this regard. The total estimated cost, with with Phase I and predesign estimated Phase II included is $127.5 million, with $95.1 million in public funds and $32.4 million in private funds to date. The sources of the public funds are $80.8 million in bonded indebtedness, 8.73 mills of increased property taxes to support debt, and $14 million in cash reserves. Any additional private funds serve as an offset to the public portion of this current funding model.
As part of moving forward with Phase II of the Fargo Parks Sports Complex, the Park Board voted unanimously to advertise for Request for Qualifications for Construction Manager at Risk forward with Phase II of the Fargo Parks Sports Complex.
For more information on the Fargo Sports Complex and the Project Update Fact Sheet, please visit the Fargo Sports Complex Project page on the Fargo Park District website here.
