North Dakota parks and recreation receives $4.5 million Grant

By Scout Nelson

Significant funding has been provided to North Dakota Parks and Recreation (NDPRD) for neighborhood park initiatives in the state's northeastern region. The National Park Service (NPS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program has granted the organization funding totaling about $4.5 million.

The Grand Forks and Bottineau revitalization projects will be aided by the financing. The Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway, a 2,200-acre outdoor leisure area, will be improved with a grant of $3,489,750 from the city. A new family recreation area in Bottineau will be developed with a $1,000,000 grant from the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority.

"This is a monumental achievement for North Dakota Parks and Recreation, as it's the first time our state has received an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant," said Cody Schulz, the director of the NDPRD. "We're excited to be working with both the City of Grand Forks and the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority on these projects, which will provide new recreational opportunities and lasting benefits for these communities and visitors."

The ORLP Program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Grand Forks Park project is part of a larger master plan to redevelop Greenway Recreational Features in downtown.

"Winning this highly competitive grant is a huge victory for our hard-working city staff," said Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski. "Enhancing the Greenway continues to improve the quality of life in Grand Forks and is a great addition to both attract and retain families and workforce."

A total of 54 projects throughout the country received grants from the National Park Service, totaling $254 million. The funding will support a variety of park improvement projects across the United States.

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