Bismarck Parks and Rec, in a joint venture with the City of Bismarck, is inviting the community to an open house and public meeting on Wednesday, October 28th, to discuss a feasibility study for a potential Indoor Recreation and Sports Facility. Both events will take place at Bismarck Public Works, located at 601 South 26th Street.
The open house portion is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. During this time, attendees can stop by to learn about the study's progress and engage in one-on-one discussions with project consultants. According to a press release from Bismarck Parks and Rec, there will not be a formal presentation during the open house session.
Later that day, a community meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This session will include a formal presentation on the study's current progress and preliminary findings. Consultants will also be available to answer questions from those in attendance.
At both the open house and the evening meeting, consultants will share information gathered from community input sessions held in August. They will also present findings from survey responses that detail what residents are seeking in a future indoor recreation and sports facility. This ongoing effort aims to explore future indoor recreation opportunities within Bismarck.
The feasibility study is intended to guide future decisions regarding recreation investments that support the community's quality of life and economic vitality.
Jason Tomanek, City of Bismarck Administrator, indicated that the potential scope of this Indoor Recreation and Sports Complex is currently "wide open." He suggested the facility could host tournaments for sports such as basketball and volleyball, and might also include artificial turf for activities like baseball and lacrosse. The possibility of incorporating a fitness center was also mentioned. Tomanek stressed that the specific features of the facility will heavily depend on the results from the community surveys, which will be revealed at the upcoming open house. There has been no announcement yet regarding a potential location for this facility.
Funding for such a project is also considered flexible at this stage, potentially involving a combination of public and private partnerships, private donations, or even a community vote to fund it through a sales tax. The City of Bismarck and Bismarck Parks and Rec continue to explore all options as part of this comprehensive feasibility study.
