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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.

Early Fargo Parks History

  • In 1910, the Fargo Park District started with only one park. Fargo's population was 14,000.
  • Island Park was the first park in Fargo. Lindenwood is the second oldest park in Fargo.
  • Dill Hill got its name from Dill Hall, the building that sat atop the hill built in 1908.
  • Lindenwood Campground was established in 1921.
  • Lindenwood Park saw a number of amenities added in the 1920's. Water was provided in 1921, benches in 1923 and the picnic grounds were added in 1924.   

Fargo's Aquatics History

  • In 1939 the original Island Park Pool was built through the Federal Government's Works Progress Administration. The pool was originally located where the Scherling Complex Tennis Courts stand today.
  • In the 1950's the lifeguard staff at Island Park put on an annual water show. They had clown acts, synchronized swimming, diving and dancing.
  • On a Tuesday in July 1956, there was an attendance record set of 4,022 swimmers at Island Park Pool breaking the record set the Monday before of 3,757.

Fargo Parks History

Parks are ingrained with personal meaning. The playgrounds that live in the memories of generations of people are the soul of our communities. Today, the Fargo Park District is an over 2,100-acre system consisting of local and regional parks, playgrounds, golf courses, biking and walking paths, nature parks, campground, river parks and complexes. Take a step back in time to discover how our park system got its start.

 

About Us

Established in 1910, the Fargo Park District has been dedicated to providing high-quality recreational and leisure services at an accessible price point, aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Fargo residents and those in surrounding areas. Covering over 2,800 acres of land, we take pride in the meticulous care and maintenance of our city's green spaces and facilities, including parks, trails, complexes, golf courses, and a campground along the Red River. 

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