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Rinks and Fields in Fargo

  • In 1951, there were 12 parks and nearly fifty years later in 2010 the Park District had 94 parks.
  • In 1957, at Lewis and Clark, Washington School, Goldenridge site and Chaney Field the Park District installed ice skating rinks, hockey rinks and playgrounds.
  • Mickelson Park and Fields were originally called North Parade playgrounds until 1952 when the fields were renamed for P.E. Mickelson, a prominent Director of Phy Ed in the Fargo Public Schools.  P.E. Mickelson was a swimmer, referee and organized the FM Softball Association in 1932. 

Recreation Along the Red River

  • The Linden Woods, the park’s charming original name, became simply Lindenwood Park, a place for tourists to camp (thanks to running water in 1921 and the addition of horse and motorbike mounted police in 1922), a lovely picnic and leisure spot for locals (due to benches and picnic areas being added in 1923-24), and home base for a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp (men constructed the main road and toilets and shelters in summer 1934). The main shelter is an original shelter built by the CCC.

Fargo Parks Today

  • The Fargo Park District offices are located in the old Northern Pacific Passenger Depot which was built in 1898. In 1975 it became the first Fargo building entered on the National Register of Historic Places. 
  • The Fargo Park District satillte offices and art classes are located at the Robert D Johnson Red Center. The Robert D Johnson Rec Center is located in the former Emerson Smith Elementary School, which was built in 1930. The building was purchased from the Fargo School District on July 1, 1996.
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