In case you missed the Park Board Meeting on February 13, 2024 below are some highlights to be aware of.
To view a full agenda and memos click HERE. For a full recording of the meeting visit the Fargo Park District YouTube page.
Permission granted to solicit bids for Forest River and Orchard Glen Trail Projects
As part of the consent agenda, Park Board Commissioners voted 3-0 to grant permission for staff to solicit bids for the Forest River and Orchard Glen Trail Projects.
The Forest River and Orchard Glen Trail projects will consist of more than 5,950 feet of new trail and more than 10,560 feet of existing trail restoration, a new concrete picnic shelter pad, small picnic shelter, two concrete pads for portable toilet placement and privacy screening and trailhead signage.
Funds for these projects were budgeted in 2024 and are supplemented by a grant received from the Recreational Trail Program (RTP) which is administered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.
The public bid opening will take place on March 21, 2024 and a bid could be awarded at the April 9, 2024 Fargo Park Board meeting.
To view more information about the project plans click here and scroll to page 20.
Permission granted to apply for 2024 Garrison Diversion Conservancy District Grant and Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant
As part of the consent agenda, Park Board Commissioners voted 3-0 to grant permission for staff to formally apply for the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (GDCD) Grant and Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Grant that are funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (GDCD) grants may be requested for outdoor recreational opportunities including but not limited to boat ramps and docks, picnic facilities, restrooms, campgrounds, bathhouses, playground areas, and bicycle and pedestrian trails.
If awarded, staff will use the GDCD grant to assist with the replacement of the playground structure and plastic border at Rheault Farm Park.
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Grant was established by Congress in 2014 and is administered through the National Park Service. It is a nationally competitive grant program that delivers funding to urban areas with populations of at least 30,000 people. Priority is given to projects located in community areas that are lacking outdoor recreation opportunities and are meant to help underserved communities address outdoor recreation deficits by creating new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorating existing parks and forming connections between people and the outdoors.
If awarded, staff will use the ORLP Grant to assist in the revitalization of Rabanus Park.
Approval and authorization for administration to seek sale of the Depot
Park Board Commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize staff to pursue the sale of the Depot Plaza located at 701 Main Ave in downtown Fargo.
The Northern Pacific Depot has been a Fargo landmark since its construction in 1898. In 1971, the Fargo City Commission negotiated purchase of the Depot from the Burlington Northern Railroad and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Renovation of the building and restoration of the park surrounding the building was shared between the North Dakota Historical Society, the State Commission on Aging and the Fargo Park District. The renovated Depot Plaza was dedicated on September 8, 1984.
For decades, Fargo Park District staff have worked from offices located inside the Depot. With the completion of the Fargo Parks Sports Center slated for early summer 2024, office space at the Depot is no longer needed.
Special considerations regarding the sale of the Depot include: its place on the National Register of Historic Places, BNSF Easement granted in 2005, the Depot Plaza Dedication Program, and improvement costs invested in the building. Administration will continue to research any possible sale restrictions through the North Dakota State Historical Society.
Media Contact:
Tori Benders, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Fargo Park District
701-630-0096
