Pipeline dream to community placemaker: New Fargo Parks Sports Center prepares to take Red River Valley to the next level

New Fargo Parks Sports Center prepares to take Red River Valley to the next level

Scents of fresh paint crossed with a myriad of construction noises fill the air as Kali Mork walks backward, pointing out details and features to a group clothed in neon vests that rival the sun on a North Dakota summer day.

The attention to detail is spectacular; for a facility spanning 392,000 square feet, the Fargo Parks Sports Center checks all the boxes for youth and adult athletes, community members, and even referees.

And while the smell of fresh paint lingers, the big picture is evident. Come June 3, Fargo will tout a state-of-the-art community-oriented facility that is unprecedented in the region.

Community input, results driven
Two banks of hardwood courts, a walking track overlooking the largest turf field in the state, two ice rinks, and a full-service catering kitchen are just the tip of the iceberg of what the Sports Center will offer to the community.

"This is a place meant for everyone," Mork, who serves as Director of the Sports Center, says. "We know the traditional sports that we'll be able to host, but this building is so versatile that there are things we'll be able to do that we don't even know yet."

Designed on input from community organizations and elevated by instrumental direction from the Fargo Park Board, versatility shines in the details. With permanent seating limited to the championship hardwood court and overlooking the ice rinks, the facility's core spaces will cater to athletes of all stripes...often at the same time.

"If you visit our turf in December or January, it's going to be packed," Mork says. "We can run soccer on one quadrant, lacrosse on another, CrossFit on one, and baseball taking infield on the fourth."

Venture past the doors of the hardwood courts and you'll find community rooms that can house teams come tourney time, a concessions venue that far exceeds a hotdog and chips, and even an officials lounge to provide a peaceful haven if things get a bit chippy out on the court.

"We're very aware of the official shortage (in youth sports) and hope that space will draw officials to tournaments hosted here," Mork says.

Doing the homework, keeping the lights on
Similar to the world of electric cooperatives, there is a fraternity amongst park districts that proved integral in high-level planning for the Sports Center.

"Once we were in a position where we knew we could do this, there was a lot of research done," Fargo Parks Deputy Director of Operations Dave Bietz says. "As park professionals, we began our homework."

That homework included trips to similar facilities across the nation where Fargo Park District leadership learned the dos and don'ts from those who had gone through the process.

"To me, that was where the learning really began because we were able to tap into What works? What would you do differently? from source experts," Bietz says.

The due diligence can be seen from a broad perspective down to the two-, four-, and six-foot wood planks that were individually laid for the facility's hardwood courts. The walking track features large windows at each corner to flush in sunlight. Custom-sized chairs line the sled-hockey-compatible ice rinks to create a positive viewing experience for all ages. Parents will be able to keep young children occupied while also watching older siblings compete thanks to a strategically located interactive game wall.

And while all the bells and whistles are bountiful, nothing can come to fruition without electricity. The Sports Center adds to a long list of Fargo Park District facilities that Cass County Electric Cooperative proudly serves. That meant early communication once the monumental project was approved.

"Cass County Electric and Fargo Park District had a longstanding relationship, long before I began," CCEC Vice President of Member and Energy Services Chad Brousseau says. "This facility will be a catalyst for drawing people to the area, so we were in immediate contact with (Dave) Bietz and his team on how to best serve them during the construction process."

Those conversations involved identifying high-energy use times and devices, leveraging technology, and crafting strategies to reduce energy costs, something that isn't new for Brousseau and Bietz.

"Chad reached out to me 6-7 years ago to set up standing meetings on the Park District's energy use," Bietz says. "That's when I realized there was an opportunity to be smarter with our energy. It was eye-opening to me that CCEC was willing to work with us as a high-energy consumer on how we can reduce costs."

Untapped development
With a metro population of 258,000, the Fargo Parks Sports Center will cover a need that comes with a blossoming community. Yet serving local needs is just a piece of the pie.

With the space and amenities to host hundreds of local, regional, and national tournaments, Faus anticipates the Sports Center will attract thousands of visitors to the Red River Valley.

"Everything is under one roof. The size of the facility and how many people it can accommodate, you just don't find that anywhere else around here. You'll find hockey arenas and gyms, but not under one roof," Faus says.

The space around the facility is primarily untapped, cultivating a hotbed for future businesses to complement the Sports Center's community benefit objective of being an economic driver.

"We're actually just getting started with a master plan that includes this area and will compare us to other communities so we can say okay, let's dream," Faus says.

Bietz notes that Fargo Public Schools has purchased land just west of the facility and that the Park District works hand in hand with them and the City of Fargo to strategically plan for growth around the Sports Center.

"Those are two of many great partners we have so we have a front-row seat at the growth of this area while making sure we share the same vision," Bietz says.

A project that has spanned nearly a decade and is on the cusp of life, Faus couldn't be prouder of her team and the community that has helped turn an idea into action.

"It's just exciting being here. Being able to walk through and see the spaces come to life and realize how many people are going to be impacted by this facility, it's incredible."

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