DOI Awards $1.3 Million for North Dakota Public Parks, Outdoor Recreation Projects

October 04, 2022

Sen. Cramer: DOI Awards $1.3 Million for North Dakota Public Parks, Outdoor Recreation Projects

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced the Department of the Interior (DOI) awarded $1,250,858.23 to North Dakota from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

$431,347.20 to the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District to develop of a piece of park property adjacent to 26^th Street and the Hay Creek Trail to serve as a neighborhood park and trailhead for Hay Creek Trail;
$148,787.50 to the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District to update and revise the Lawrence Softball Field at McElroy Park;
$105,350.00 to the Hatton-Eielson Public School to renovate the playground area to address surface problems, safety issues, and age-appropriate play;
$100,000.00 to the Devils Lake Park Board to develop an accessible building to support outdoor activities;
$100,000.00 to the Powers Lake City Board to create a splash pad with many different water features;
$97,075.00 to the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District to replace and improve the playground area at the McQuade Softball Complex;
$71,500.00 to Ashley Park District to construct three pickleball courts at the Ashely City Park;
$51,920.94 to the City of Coleharbor to install new playground equipment at the Coleharbor City Park;
$39,200.63 to the Lincoln Park District to make improvements at Daly Park;
$38,583.00 to the Beach School District #3 to install multigenerational handicapped accessible swings at Lincoln Elementary School;
$37,500.00 to the Fordville-Lankin Public School #5 to add accessible playground equipment such as a swing and engineered rubber surfacing for the existing playground; and
$29,593.96 to the Leeds Park District to repurpose the sand volleyball court to a playground suitable for children ages five and under at the Leeds City Park.

The funds are authorized by Congress through LWCF and the State of North Dakota will further allocate these funds to support local public parks projects, state conservation, and expand outdoor recreation access.

Background:

When he first came to the Senate, Senator Cramer helped pass the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act which was signed into law by President Trump in March 2019. The bill reauthorized and reformed LWCF program so states receive at least 40 percent of its funding. Traditionally, the majority of investments were spent on federal land acquisition.