Fargo Park Board authorizes Phase II of sports complex project

Phase II will feature a number of amenities, including: four additional multipurpose hardwood courts; two sheets of ice; two community rooms, six pickleball courts and an indoor play area with associated birthday party rooms.

FARGO — The Fargo Park Board on Tuesday, Oct. 4, approved its 2023 budget, which allows the park district to move ahead with Phase II of its Fargo Parks Sports Complex project, a facility board members say is about improving the quality of life for people of all ages.

Phase I of the project, which is currently under construction, includes a full-size indoor soccer turf field; four multipurpose hardwood courts; administrative offices; multipurpose community space; and an indoor walking track. 

Phase II will feature a number of amenities, including: four additional multipurpose hardwood courts; two sheets of ice; two community rooms; six pickleball courts and an indoor play area with associated birthday party rooms.

The total estimated cost of the project, according to park district officials, including Phase I and predesign of Phase II, is $127.5 million, with $95.1 million in public funds and $32.4 million in private funds earmarked for the project to date.

Sources of the public funds include $80.8 million in bonded indebtedness, 8.73 mills of increased property taxes to support debt, and $14 million in cash reserves.

Park district officials said the Fargo Park District Foundation continues to pursue private funding sources and that any additional private funds will be used to reduce the public portion of the funding model.

Vicki Dawson, a Park Board member, said Phase II will provide amenities above and beyond sports.

“It’s really easy right now to see ice and courts and turf and think it’s just for sports people, but it’s beyond that,” Dawson said. “The sky is the limit on what this facility will do for Fargo,” she added.

Officials estimated Phase II will benefit 7,000 children, bringing the total project benefit to more than 20,000 children in its first year of operation.

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