ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DICKINSONPARKBOARD&STAFF
Scott Karsky, President
Tim Daniel, Vice President
Zach Keller, Commissioner
Nic Stevenson, Commissioner
Tyler Tucker. Commissioner
Benjamin Rae, Executive Director
Caleb Burgard, Director of Recreation/Facilities
Craig Pearson, Director of Buildings/Grounds
DICKINSONCITYCOMMISSION&STAFF
Scott Decker, Mayor
Dr. Robert Baer, Vice President
Jason Fridrich, Commissioner
Joe Ridl, Commissioner
Russ Murphy, Commissioner
Dustin Dassinger, City Administrator
CITIZENSOFDICKINSON
Special thanks to the many Dickinson residents and local area stakeholders who shared their valuable input and time through the community survey and participation in community meetings to contribute to the Dickinson Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
MASTER PLAN APPROVAL PROCESS
Adopted/Approved by Board of Park Commissioners: 12-8-2025
CHAPTER1| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Dickinson Parks & Recreation District (DPRD or District) has provided quality recreational opportunities for residents and visitors of Dickinson, North Dakota for over 75 years. As a forward-focused organization, we have established a Master Plan that serves as a road map to future recreational opportunities within its service area. The e ort signifies a community driven approach, shaping a visionary document that not only delineates goals, objectives, strategies, and policies but also serves as the compass in guiding the decision-making processes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to create a detailed blueprint, encapsulating specific objectives outlined in the broader City of Dickinson Direction 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Anchored in the mission, vision and core values of DPRD, this master plan meticulously evaluates the District’s infrastructure, including facilities, developed and undeveloped property, future projects, goals, and funding sources. The plan seeks to guide future policy decisions and the future development of other district plans.
The current version of the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Master Plan builds upon the previous plan while considering current community factors. With population stabilization as the backdrop, the updated plan is poised to prioritize the maintenance of existing facilities over new construction, in line with insights gleaned from the community survey conducted in the summer of 2023 and community engagement in 2024.
The plan undergoes rigorous review by sta and subsequent approval by the Board of Park Commissioners every five years.
MISSION,VISION,COREVALUES
Dickinson Parks and Recreation’s MISSION is to enhance the quality of life for the community and its visitors by providing leisure opportunities.
In alignment with this mission, our VISION is to inspire area residents to become aware and involved in making positive contributions to the well-being of themselves and others in the community.
Our CORE VALUES are grounded in the acronym L.E.I.S.U.R.E., which represents our commitment to being Leaders in our field, striving for Excellence, upholding Integrity, delivering exceptional Service, promoting Unity, showing Respect, and adhering to the highest Ethical standards. Through these principles, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and vibrant community.
Crooked Crane Trail, Patterson Lake Recreation Area
PLANNINGHISTORY
DPRD forged a pivotal partnership with the City of Dickinson to cra the Dickinson 2035 “Roadmap to the Future” Comprehensive Plan and continues that relationship with the forging of the Direction 2050 Plan. This collaborative e ort signifies a community-driven approach, by uniting all public entities with Dickinson under one singular plan, it harmonizes disparate decision-making boards, fostering cohesive development. As the City of Dickinson embarks on revising the 2035 “Roadmap to the Future,” it responds to the evolving landscape marked by significant shi s in indicators, notably the conclusion of the oil boom that characterized the early 2010s. This period has now transitioned into one of revenue and population stabilization, prompting the need for a recalibration of strategies. Recognizing the importance of inclusive representation, the Executive Director of DPRD has been called upon to contribute to the committee tasked with shaping the new City of Dickinson Comprehensive Plan – Dickinson 2050 is slated for completion by the fall of 2025.
In essence, the symbiotic relationship between the City of Dickinson Comprehensive Plan and the DPRD Master Plan underscores their collective role in shaping the vision and actions of DPRD, with an unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life within Dickinson.
Furthermore, the Master Plan serves as the cornerstone of the District’s strategic initiatives, influencing the development of subsequent plans such as the Strategic Plan and Program Plan.
The DPRD Strategic Plan provides a framework that guides the district in establishing priorities for the current 3-year timeframe. The District works with stakeholders, community partners, and other key individuals to establish strategic priorities. The Strategic Plan emphasizes three priorities:
1.The need for being a model organization in training, recruitment, retention, and employee well-being;
2.Maintain and develop athletic venues, destination parks, and Patterson Lake in an e ort to be a premier tourist destination in western North Dakota; and
3.Improve the reach of leisure services to all segments of the community including age, gender, disability, program interest, and income level. Rigorously reviewed annually by the District’s leadership team, the plan remains dynamic, adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities, with a forthcoming update geared towards addressing the landscape of 2026 and beyond.
The DPRD Program Plan was first established in 2024 and provides the framework for recreation programming for a 5-year period. The plan considers past and current trends to create an inclusive planning tool pivotal in providing leisure opportunities for all ages, stages and abilities. Additional plans under development include standard operating procedures for all facilities and maintenance plans.
West River Complex showing birds eye view of West River Community Center, West River Ice Center, Mustang Complex, Heroes Park, Leisure Park Trail and West River Soccer Complex.
REFERENCESTOOTHERAREAPLANS
Direction2050–CommunityVision
The City of Dickinson is updating both its Transportation Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan. These planning e orts are being combined into one plan - Direction 2050. Final Plan is due to be completed by August 2025.
https://inputcentral.com/direction2050
As part of the Dickinson 2035 – Roadmap to the Future the following policies and objectives were identified that have not yet been completed:
Objective 1: Distribute parks and recreation areas across the geographic area of the city to provide convenient access to all city residents.
Policy 1.1 – Prepare a comprehensive Parks Master Plan to achieve the following objectives:
Policy 1.1.b – Determine location of new parks based on the geographic distribution of existing parks and the demand for new parks in future growth areas.
Policy 1.1.c – Establish a maintenance plan for existing parks adequately funded by the Park Board. The maintenance plan should program the repair and replacement of all park facilities including but not limited to all paved surfaces, playgrounds, shelters, signage, irrigation, ball fields, etc.
Policy 1.1.d – Establish acreage and recreational facility standards for neighborhood and community parks.
Policy 1.1.e – Establish a program to annually assess the indoor recreational needs of the community.
Policy 1.1.f – Identify existing undeveloped parkland that is not needed to meet existing and future recreation needs and identify a strategy to dispose of such parkland. The City of Dickinson shall be given first consideration in acquiring the properties.
Policy 1.1.g – Create a unifying physical identity and appearance for city parks. The use of uniform facilities such as shelters, signage, benches, trash receptacles, recycling bins and other amenities will provide a clean identifiable appearance to the park system. Doing so will minimize the need for stocking parts and facilitate the repair of facilities.
Policy 1.3 – Coordinate with the Park Board to identify unutilized or under-utilized existing city-owned property that may be used for future parkland.
Policy 1.7 – Prior to the acquisition of any new parkland, a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment and a Cultural Resource Survey should be conducted to determine if there is on-site hazardous waste or cultural resources that would preclude or significantly increase the cost of developing the park.
Policy 1.8 – Amend the City of Dickinson Zoning Ordinance to require private recreation areas for multifamily projects in excess of 100 dwelling units. The Zoning Ordinance amendment should establish standards for the minimum area, location and minimum recreational amenities for the required recreation area.
Policy 1.9 – Pursue landscaping and pedestrian improvements in key locations throughout the city.
Objective2:TheParkBoardshouldactively implementtheTrailsMasterPlan.
Policy 2.2 – The Park Board should fully fund maintenance of all existing and future trails.
Policy 2.3 – The Park Board should submit annual funding requests to the City for the construction of trail segments based on the priorities and phasing program contained in the Master Trails Plan.
Policy 2.4 – The Park Board should coordinate with City Police during preparation of construction plans for trails to determine if there is need for lighting along specific trail segments when no street lights are present or potential safety concerns.
Objective3:TheCityofDickinsonandthePark Boardshouldcoordinatetoenhancerecreational opportunitiesatPattersonLake.
Policy 3.2 – The Park Board maintenance plan should include and fully fund maintenance of existing and future recreational facilities at Patterson Lake.
Policy 3.3 – The Park Master Plan should identify future improvements to the recreational facilities at Patterson Lake including planning level cost estimates for the improvements.
Crooked Crane Trail at Patterson Lake Recreation Area
StateComprehensiveOutdoorRecreationPlan(SCORP)
SCORP is a guide for managing and developing North Dakota’s outdoor recreation base. The SCORP planning process studies the demand for and supply of various types of outdoor recreation facilities and activities to prioritize outdoor recreation needs on a state and regional level. This information is then used by citizens and lawmakers when planning for future development.
https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/business/planning/master-plans/state-comprehensive-outdoor-recreation-plan-scorp
The 2023-2027 SCORP identified non-motorized trails, campgrounds, parks/open space, and parks/recreational areas as primary needs with canoe/kayak facilities, winter sports facilities, recreation boating facilities, and swimming/water facilities as secondary needs, and shooting sports facilities, sports courts/fields, and motorized trails as tertiary needs for the state.
Dickinson falls in Region 8 for the SCORP which scored as follows:
Primary: Campgrounds, non-motorized trails, parks and natural areas.
Secondary: Swimming/specialty pools, winter activities infrastructure, canoe/kayak infrastructure.
Tertiary: Recreational boating infrastructure, picnicking areas, shooting sports infrastructure.
NorthDakotaEconomicContributionStudy
North Dakota’s public parks and recreation agencies play an important role in regional and state economies with a combined impact of $802 million each year, according to a study from the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
https://ndrpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/AAE717-Statewide-NDParksRecStudy.pdf
StarkCounty2040ComprehensivePlan
The Stark County 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Plan) is a visionary, long-range plan for Stark County, North Dakota. The Plan’s purpose is to guide growth within the County by providing a roadmap for policy makers, decision makers, and County sta . The Plan is also intended to provide transparency to County residents, the local business community, and developers.
https://www.starkcountynd.gov/
Pleasant Valley Park
CHAPTER2| DEMOGRAPHICS
DEMOGRAPHICSANDTRENDS
PopulationTrends
Dickinson’s population held steady at about 16,000 from 1980–2008, then surged to 25,000 during the 2008–2017 oil boom, including many transient workers. Since 2017, it has stabilized as North Dakota’s 7th largest city. Future growth is hard to predict due to oil industry cycles, but current trends suggest stability. The City of Dickinson’s Direction 2050 Plan projects 1.5% growth over the next decade. State e orts to attract immigrant workers are early-stage, with impacts yet unknown.
StateOverview
North Dakota is vital to U.S. agriculture and energy. A er decades of decline, its population grew 17% since 2010. In 2023, it led in 12 agricultural commodities, produced 1.2 million barrels of oil daily (3rd nationally), had the highest GDP growth (5.9%), ranked 4th youngest, had the lowest unemployment for most of early 2024, and led in workforce participation.
CityBoundaries&Facilities
Dickinson covers 13.27 square miles, with additional residents in the surrounding ETZ. Though outside city tax districts, these residents heavily use city facilities—20% of West River Community Center members lived outside city limits in 2023.
Demographics&Education
The population is 81.5% White, with Hispanic/Latino residents at 8%. In 2023, schools reported 153 English learners speaking 22 languages. Enrollment has grown steadily, but based on birth rates peaking in 2020, kindergarten enrollment will peak in 2025–2026 before a slight decline unless in-migration increases.
Income&Poverty
In 2022, Dickinson’s median household income was $75,767, with a 10.7% poverty rate. Family income averaged $103,794 versus $46,222 for nonfamily households. Poverty rates were 6.2% for those under 18 and 14.1% for those over 65.
North Dakota Compass
NDCOMPASS (ndcompass.org) is a project of the Center for Social Research at North Dakota State University. A number of key statistics may impact the park district in the coming years.
1.As of 2023, children and youth under 18 years old comprised 23.6 percent of the population in North Dakota, a number that has risen since 2010 due to an increase in resident births and an influx of younger families to the state.
2.North Dakota ranks last among the 50 states for the percentage of children enrolled in preschool (29.1% in ND vs 46.7% nationally in 2022) even though the percentage of youth children (under 6 years old) for whom all parents are working increased (71.2% in 2022) ranking North Dakota 16th among the 50 states.
3.In 2022, 21.6% of North Dakota adults reported having one form of depression with about twice as many women as men reporting a depressive disorder. The 2023 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 35% of high school students reported being sad or hopeless almost every day for more than 2 weeks so that they stopped doing some usual activities and 17.5% of students seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
4.As of 2023, the percentage of high school students who smoked cigarettes or used electronic vapor products at least once per month was 19% with a much larger number having at least tried vapor products as opposed to smoking cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco products. About an equal percentage of students, 19.5%, drank alcohol at least once in the previous month.
GEOGRAPHICANDPHYSICALRESOURCES
Location&Geography
Dickinson, in Stark County, sits in southwestern North Dakota. The area features rolling plains and rugged badlands typical of the Great Plains. It has a semi-arid climate with cold winters, warm summers, and low precipitation, supporting both summer and winter recreation.
LandUse&Resources
Surrounding land is primarily agricultural, producing wheat, barley, and supporting ranching. The region is rich in fossil fuels, with the Bakken Formation driving oil and gas development. Local water resources include Patterson Lake, the Heart River, and the nearby Little Missouri River, while drinking water comes from Lake Sakakawea and local wells.
Tourism&Culture
Proximity to the Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and Medora enhances tourism. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, opening July 2026, will add cultural value to the area.
SWOTANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
•State-of-the-art facilities including the West River Community Center, West River Ice Center, Heart River Golf Course, and Stark County Veterans Pavilion.
•A wide variety of leagues, programs, tournaments, and special events for all ages and abilities.
•Great relationships with local schools, businesses, youth club teams, and other governmental agencies.
•An abundance of parks and reservable shelters.
•An established presence in the community.
•Positive public image and interaction.
•Strong internal working relationships and communication.
WEAKNESSES
•Significant turnover amongst full-time sta and not enough part-time sta , particularly willing to work nights and weekends when the community demand for services is the highest.
•Wages are below the industry average.
•Lack of institutional knowledge due to the number of new and young employees.
•Reactive vs. Proactive in dealing with challenges.
•Sta members that only know one way of doing tasks, i.e. lack of outside expertise.
•Keeping up with ever-changing technology.
•Incomplete or in-process policies and procedures.
•Lack of comprehensive ordinances
•Lack of ownership of facilities and property without clear MOUs or Joint Powers Agreements.
OPPORTUNITIES
•Minimal teen programming in the community outside of the school programs.
•Insu icient childcare and a er school/summer camp programs in the community.
•Indoor turf and/or courts facility to accommodate multiple user groups.
•Utilize and promote tra ic to Patterson Lake particularly with the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
•Enhancing the brand and mission of the Park District.
•Partner with other local entities to address mental health issues.
THREATS
•Highly competitive local job market with many highpaying jobs.
•Keeping young people in the community.
•Keeping aging facilities relevant to the community.
•Keeping the mission of youth user groups aligned with the mission of the Park District.
•Increasing costs of doing business, particularly the local costs associated with contracted labor. It is di icult to have competitive bids due to the scarcity of workers/ companies and the abundance of work.
StaffingOverview
Comparing staffing across communities is challenging due to varying amenities, but the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) benchmarks help guide planning. Dickinson Parks and Recreation, serving 20,000–49,999 residents, had 30 full-time employees and 76.86 FTEs in 2023—placing it in the upper quartile nationally (median: 34.2 FTEs). Dickinson Parks and Recreation also ranks high in FTEs per 10,000 residents at 30.74 (5.8 lower quartile, 11.2 median, 20.3 upper quartile).
Across North Dakota’s nine largest park districts, staffing averages about 1 full-time employee per 1,000 residents; Dickinson Parks and Recreation aligns with 1.2 full-time per 1,000 residents. Higher staffing reflects the number and diversity of facilities, including a campground, golf course, community center, and ice center—common in North Dakota but unusal in comparison to the nation as a whole.
Compared to national averages, Dickinson Parks and Recreation has fewer administrative and operations/maintenance staff and a higher-than-average percentage of programming and recreation staff.
nrpa.org/siteassets/research/2024-agency-performance-review.pdf
CHAPTER3| RESOURCES
FUNDINGSOURCES
DickinsonParksandRecreationDistrictutilizesavarietyoffundingsourcestoprovide programingandamenitiesforthecommunity.
Property Taxes
North Dakota Century Code 40-55-10 allows park districts to levy a general fund mill levy up to 38 mills and a capital mill levy up to 5 mills. Traditionally, the park district has taken a conservative approach to property tax levies and is far below the cap allowed by the state. Additionally, while allowed under state code, the park district has not used special assessments as a means of funding capital improvements. State law also allows park districts to issue General Obligation (GO) Bonds for major capital projects and secured by future tax revenues.
User Fees
Individual user fees and charges constitute the largest revenue source for the park district, including program registration fees, facility rentals, admissions, and memberships. The largest revenue sources are West River Community Center memberships and green fees at the Heart River Golf Course. Traditionally, the park district strives to recoup all direct costs related to participation in a program.
Sales Tax
The Park District receives 13.8% of general sales tax distributions from the City of Dickinson. Additionally, the District receives a portion of the voter approved ½ cent sales tax for operating, maintaining, and capital improvements at the West River Community Center under the conditions set forth in City of Dickinson ordinance No. 1233.
State and Federal Grants
Dickinson Parks and Recreation takes advantage of several state and federal grant programs including the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and a variety of tree grants.
Donations and Sponsorships
The Park District relies heavily on the generosity of the local community to fund a variety of programs through charitable giving and sponsorships. In 2024, the District established the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Foundation to provide an additional avenue for charitable giving. Sponsorships for the District can be found in the form of naming rights, banners, event and program sponsorships, memorial benches and trees, and other in-kind donations.
DakotaCommunityBank&TrustBallpark
The Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark (DCBT) is home to the Dickinson Baseball Club, Dickinson High School Baseball, Dickinson State University Baseball and the Badlands Big Sticks. Within the ballpark are two fields, the stadium field featuring artificial turf infield and the Coke Field with grass infield. At the facility, there is stadium seating, men’s and women’s restrooms and concessions.
Maintenance Need: See page 28.
DickinsonDike
2302 W Broadway
Dickinson Dike is located next to Turtle Park. This Dike is 19 acres in size and approximately 20 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and Small Bluegill. Amenities include pond, boating, boat launch, bike/hike path, fishing, fishing pier, and nature area.
Maintenance Need: Woody growth removal.
DickinsonDogPark
455 8th Ave SW
Located next to Gress So ball Complex, the facility has two fenced in dog areas to keep small and large dogs separate. There are sanitation stations, nature areas, shelter and water.
INVENTORYOFINTERNALFACILITIES/AMENITIES
GressSoftballComplex
455 8th Ave SW
This men’s and women’s so ball complex is situated on 23 acres of land and runs alongside the Heart River. Within the complex, there are 6 so ball fields, a concession stand, restrooms, a small playground, nature trails, picnic shelters, and bleachers for seating. The Dickinson Dog Park and Eagles Park are just a brisk walk away.
Maintenance Need: See page 30.
HeartRiverGolfCourse
2510 8th St SW
Heart River Golf Course is a challenging 18-hole, par 72 layout that is nestled along the scenic Heart River with views of Patterson Lake. This course combines a rolling top nine with a wooded bottom nine that brings plenty of trees and water into play. The facility includes a pro shop and restaurant, in addition to cart rental, driving range, practice areas for chipping, putting and sand trap play.
Maintenance Need: See page 30.
HeartRiverRetreat
2475 W Broadway
This self-serve rental facility is located next to the Heart River Golf Course and Dickinson Dike. The venue o ers a kitchen with prep/bar area, microwave, sink, cooler, tables/chairs for a capacity of 100. It has a large open space with tv above the fireplace, wi-fi, men’s and women’s restroom.
Maintenance Need: Outdoor lighting.
MustangBaseballComplex
2004 Fairway Street
This facility is home to the Mustang Baseball Club (o ering Cal Ripken Baseball) for ages 7-12. The complex features 3 fully lighted fields with natural grass infields, covered dugouts, concession building with restrooms, picnic shelter, a playground, 2 batting cages, as well as Field of Swings 4 station batting cages w/pitching machines. The complex is surrounded by the Heroes Park, Leisure Park Trail, West River Community Center, and West River Ice Center.
Maintenance Need: Lighting replacement, updates to irrigation, concessions, and restrooms, turf infields.
NorthSoftballComplex
1600 Fairway Street
Home to the Dickinson Diamonds, the North Complex features 20’ backstops, 200’ foul lines and 225’ to center. Surrounding the fields are enclosed dugouts and batting cages along with six fast pitch bullpen mounds. DPRD also uses these fields for the T-ball program.
Maintenance Need: Make 2 infields transitional baseball/so ball.
ParksMaintenanceShop
549 W Broadway
Parks Maintenance Shop is the home base for all park maintenance needs for the Park District. The shop is located on west Broadway next to the City of Dickinson maintenance facility.
Maintenance Need: Expansion and roof repairs
INVENTORYOFINTERNALFACILITIES/AMENITIES
PattersonLakeRecreationArea
3753 114th Ave SW
Patterson Lake offers seasonal campground with 22 modern sites and 15 primitive sites available. The recreation area includes 26 miles of shoreline, 1,438 acres of land and 819 acres of water. Amenities include boating, fishing, swimming, water sports, camping, picnic areas, playgrounds, disc golf, horseshoe pits, hiking/biking, nature areas, sand volleyball courts and the Crooked Crane Trail.
StarkCountyVeteransPavilion
801
5th Ave W
The Veterans Pavilion is a self-serve rental facility that sits adjacent to the Veterans Memorial located in Veterans Memorial Park. The venue offers a large open space, 65’ TV, kitchen with oven, refrigerator/freezer, double sink, tables/chairs for a capacity of 85, men’s and women’s restrooms inside and outside the facility.
Maintenance Need: New carpet.
WestRiverCommunityCenter
2004 Fairway Street
The West River Community Center (WRCC) is a 135,000 square foot center with indoor/outdoor aquatic areas with leisure pool, lap pool, waterslides and lazy river, 4 full size gymnasiums, 1 multi-athletic court (MAC), 3 racquetball/wallyball courts, 2 indoor tennis/pickleball courts, golf simulator/driving cage, 3 group fitness studios, cardio and strength areas, indoor track, locker rooms, indoor playground, climbing wall, community rooms, drop-in childcare, tanning and personal training services.
Maintenance Need: See page 31.
West River Ice Center
1865 Empire Road
The West River Ice Center (WRIC) consists of two arenas and a large community room. WRIC is home to the Dickinson Hockey Club. The hockey club utilizes the facility for in-season hockey programming. During the off-season, the Charbonneau arena is used for outside rentals and the Cornerstone Arena has ice year-round for off-season programming and public skate use.
Maintenance Need: See page 31.
WestRiverSkatePark
2015 Empire Road
The skate park located adjacent to Heroes Park, is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, scootering, and inline skating. The skating area is easily accessible and has access to the restrooms and vending machines of the West River Community Center. The wide variety of skate features are constructed of concrete and accommodate skaters of all skill levels.
Maintenance Need: Bowl expansion, synthetic pump track, lighting, grafitti removal.
WestRiverSoccerComplex
2015 Empire Road
This complex feature six youth soccer fields for a combined acreage of six acres. The fields are located behind the West River Community Center and across the street from the West River Ice Center. It is situated within Heroes Park which contains a two-story outdoor playground along with a toddler playground. There is a 1.1-mile walking trail surrounding the entire complex.
Maintenance Need: Restroom facility, additional irrigation, develop one additional field.
PUBLICSCHOOLS
BergElementary 2015 Empire Road
This elementary school has 4 regular swings, 2 tire swings, a play structure, 3 picnic tables, 7 benches, and 1 outdoor full court basketball court (2 hoops). Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 basketball/volleyball court. The District uses the school for volleyball league play.
DickinsonHighSchool 979 13th Ave W
This school has 2 large multiuse grass fields and an asphalt track. Additionally, the school has 2 gyms with 3 full basketball courts (12 total hoops) and up to 5 volleyball courts, a batting cage, gymnastics gym, weightroom, and small performing arts theater. The district uses the school for volleyball and basketball leagues and tournaments. The district does not use the grass fields or track for any programming but has a lease agreement for the North So ball Complex. As part of the high school reconstruction in 2025-2027, the performing art theater will be removed and replaced with a new theater, however, the new theater is not currently funded and will be a blank space. The reconstruction should not a ect any other recreational amenities.
DickinsonStateUniversity 291 Campus Drive
The university has 4 outdoor tennis courts, a football stadium with turf field and rubberized track, and multiuse field space typically used for soccer. The University owns the Sanford Sports Complex which contains 4 so ball fields (1 full turf and 3 turf infield), 2 full size grass soccer fields, 3 youth grass soccer fields, and a play structure with turf surface. Additionally, the school has 2 gyms with 4 total basketball courts, a large auditorium, weight room, indoor golf facility. The university is also under construction on the new Agriculture Building and Indoor Rodeo Arena due to be completed in 2026. The District uses the university for the youth track meet, punt-pass-kick event, and the Coca-Cola Blue Hawk Youth Basketball Tournament.
FormerHagenJuniorHighSchool
402 4th St W
The school has a gym with 1 basketball/volleyball court which is no longer used for District programming.
HeartRiverElementary 720 7th St SW
This elementary school has 3 backstops, 4 soccer goals on a multiuse grass area, 5 play structures, 1 outdoor full court basketball court (2 hoops), 20 regular swings, 2 accessible swings, 3 benches, and 2 memorial benches. Additionally, the school has a gym with 2 multi-use courts with 8 hoops. The District does not use the school for any programming because of the carpeted courts.
JeffersonElementary 599 11th Ave W
This elementary school has 20 regular swings, 3 play structures, other small playground features, 1 bench, 6 soccer goals on a multiuse grass area, and 5 outdoor full court basketball court (2 hoops each). Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 basketball court. The district does not use the school for any programming because the gym is small.
LincolnElementary 102 10th St W
This elementary school has 3 play structures, multiple foursquare courts, 4 full court basketball courts (2 hoops each), 2 half court basketball courts (1 hoop each), 2 soccer goals on a small grass area, 2 picnic tables, 3 tire swings, 8 regular swings, 2 gaga courts, and 5 benches. Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 basketball court. The District does not use the school for programming because the gym is small.
PrairieRoseElementary 2785 10th Ave W
This elementary school has 9 regular swings, 1 accessible swing, 4 play structures, 4 soccer goals on a multiuse grass area, 3 benches, and 2 outdoor full court basketball courts (2 hoops each). Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 basketball court. The district does not use the school for any programming.
RooseveltElementary 230 3rd Ave E
This elementary school has 3 outdoor full court basketball courts (2 hoops each), 2 soccer goals on a multiuse grass area, 4 play structures, multiple four-square courts, 16 regular swings, 4 tire swings, 2 accessible swings, and 4 picnic tables. Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 carpeted basketball court. The district does not use the school for programming because of the carpeted court.
PRIVATESCHOOLS
HopeChristianAcademy 2891 5th Ave W
This elementary school has 12 regular swings, 2 play structures, 3 basketball hoops, and 2 soccer goals on a multiuse grass area. Additionally, the school has a gym with 2 basketball hoops that can also be used for volleyball. The district does not currently use the facility but has been o ered the use of the gym.
TrinityElementaryEast 515 3rd St E
This elementary school has a large playground with turf surface. The district is not aware of any indoor recreational facilities at this school.
TrinityElementaryWest 145 3rd Ave W
This elementary school has a small play structure with a turf surface, 2 picnic tables, and 3 half court basketball courts (1 hoop each). Additionally, the school has a gym with 1 basketball court. The district does not use this facility for any programming.
TrinityJuniorHigh&HighSchool
810
Empire Road
This school has 1 large multiuse grass field, a preschool play structure, 3 picnic tables, and 2 half court basketball courts (1 hoop each). Additionally, the school has 2 gyms with 4 total basketball courts, a large auditorium, and weight room. The District only uses the facilities for basketball and volleyball tournaments.
CITYOFDICKINSON FACILITIES
DickinsonAreaPublicLibrary 139 3rd St W
The facility located in downtown Dickinson is designed to provide access and availability to an array of resources that promote literacy and life-long learning opportunities. The library contains a variety of collections including adult collections, board games, children and young adult collections, eBooks, and video games. Additionally, the library provides book club kits, a bookmobile, mobile printing, public speaker forums, and other community events for individuals of all ages.
DickinsonLegacySquare 122 1st Ave W
The facility is a 28,000 sq. ft. venue with a full concert stage with lighting, sound, and a large all season TV screen. The facility also contains a splash pad, dinosaur kids play area and dig pit, public restrooms, vendor space, covered pavilion, fire pits, pergolas, and green space. The venue has been used for fitness classes, community nights, live music, theater productions, business socials, art shows, festivals, vendor shows, movie nights, and weddings. To date, the facility has hosted events with up to 4,000 visitors.
DickinsonMuseumCenter& BadlandsDinosaurMuseum 188 Museum Dr.
Established in 1992, Badlands Dinosaur Museum features an evolving exhibit of fossils and minerals, a public preparation lab, and a vibrant research and fieldwork program. The Museum is currently undergoing a total overhaul of exhibits and facilities to meet the growing inventory of newly obtained fossils.
NorthDakotaArmyNationalGuard Armory 46 Museum Drive
The facility contains one indoor gym that the district uses for volleyball league. There is a new facility being constructed which should maintain the current level of service to the community. The existing facility will likely be demolished after the completion of the new facility.
PrairieOutpostPark 188 Museum Drive
Prairie Outpost Park originated as a U.S. Bicentennial Project (1976) that was moved forward with the assistance of several community groups, ethnic organizations, and service clubs, notably the Chamber of Commerce’s Fine Arts Committee and the Stark County Historical Society. Encompassing the majority of the Museum Center’s nearly 12-acre campus Prairie Outpost Park includes relocated historic structures and purpose-built ethnic structures celebrating the Czech, Scandinavian and Germans from Russia cultures. Other features include a collection of petrified tree stumps, the re-creation of a typical coal mine entrance, and a demonstration garden. The park contains 8 picnic tables in a large pavilion with men’s and women’s restrooms, a walking path with benches, and historical buildings and markers.
STARKCOUNTYFACILITIES
StarkCountyFairgrounds&EventsPark 4024 Highway 22 S
The facility located south of Dickinson and consists of rodeo grounds and events venue.
SouthwestSpeedway 11209 47th St SW
The Southwest Speedway located south of Dickinson consisting of a speedway track hosting up to 3 races per month. Next to the facility is a Kart Track for go kart races.
LakeviewPark 30th Ave SW & Lakeview Dr. Lakeview Park is owned by Stark County and maintained by Dickinson Parks and Recreation. The park has a tennis court, pavilion with picnic tables, and a playground.
COMMUNITYFITNESS FACILITIES
AspireHealthFitness 193 24th St E
AnytimeFitness 620 19th St W
BodyLiftFitness 1720 Market Drive, Suite I
CrossfitAmicus 340 29th St E, Suite A
ElevateHealth 1251 1st St S
NextLevelTraining Address ?
TheIronChapel 129 1st St E
ThePitStrengthandFitness 564 23rd Ave E
OTHERRECREATION
AMENITIES
• Calvary Chapel (small play structure)
• Church of Christ (small play structure)
• Dickinson Meadows Luxury Apartments (small play structure)
• Heartland Village Mobile Home Park (play structure, sand volleyball, 4 benches, 1 outdoor full court basketball court, and green space)
• Lincoln Park Townhomes (small play structure)
• North Place Apartments (small play structure)
• Prairie Hills Townhomes (small play structure)
• Prairie Winds Apartments (small play structure)
• Redeemer Lutheran (play structure and swing set)
• The Bakken Lodge (shelter with 2 tables)
• Therapy Solutions (2 outdoor full court basketball courts)
• West Ridge Apartments (small play structure)
• West River at Dickinson Apartments (small dog area)
• Yellowstone Circle (small play structure and trail system)
PARKLANDINVENTORY
PARKCLASSIFICATIONS/DEFINITIONS
Mini-Park(pocketpark)
A small-scale park designed to address limited, isolated, or unique recreational needs within a specific area, such as a residential block or urban setting. Size is typically less than 1 acre. Serves a concentrated population within a .25 mile radius. Features may include playgrounds, seating areas, community gardens, or open green space depending on the community’s needs.
NeighborhoodPark
A park designed to provide recreational opportunities and open space to meet the needs of residents within a neighborhood. It is o en the recreational and social hub of the community. Size is typically 1 to 10 acres. Serves a population within .5 to 1 mile radius. Features include playgrounds, picnic areas, walking paths, sports courts, multi-use open spaces, and sometimes small sports fields. Facilities are designed for informal, unstructured activities and community gatherings. Neighborhood parks emphasize accessibility and walkability, o en located to minimize barriers like major roads.
CommunityPark
A park designed to serve the recreational needs of multiple neighborhoods or an entire community, o ering a broader range of activities and amenities than a neighborhood park. These parks o en accommodate group activities, organized sports, and special events. Typically ranges in size from 10 to 50 acres with a service area of 1 to 3 mile radius. Features may include large sports complexes, multi-use fields, swimming pools, walking or biking trails, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and natural areas for passive recreation. They are also suitable for special events and cultural activities. Community parks are planned to balance active recreation, passive uses, and natural resource preservation, catering to a diverse array of community needs.
NaturalArea
Land primarily preserved for the protection and conservation of natural resources, wildlife, and ecosystems. It also provides opportunities for passive recreation that does not interfere with its ecological value. Size varies widely based on the resources being preserved. The service radius is not specifically defined, as these areas o en serve broader or specialized regional purposes. Features includes forests, wetlands, prairies, and other natural landscapes. Facilities, if present, are minimal and may include nature trails, interpretive signage, or observation areas. Natural areas focus on environmental stewardship, education, and the enhancement of biodiversity, while allowing for low-impact recreation such as hiking, birdwatching, and nature study.
SpecialUse
A park or recreational facility designed to support a single purpose or a limited range of specialized activities that cater to specific community interests. Size varies depending on the activity or facility and service radius is determined by the nature of the facility, with some serving local needs and others attracting visitors regionally or beyond. Features may include facilities such as golf courses, sports complexes, botanical gardens, skate parks, aquatic centers, amphitheaters, historical or cultural sites, and other unique amenities. Special Use Parks are o en destination-based and tailored to provide unique recreational, cultural, or educational experiences not typically found in standard park classifications.
Eagles Park Shelters
Hewson Park
Suncrest Park
Heroes Park
PARKLANDINVENTORY
PARKS&COMPLEXES
CentennialPark| 1181 3rd Ave W
Mini-Park
(located in SW corner intersection of Hwy 22 & 12th St W)
Acreage: 1.16. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Greenspace, 3 concrete park benches.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Replace irrigation, sign replacement, remove railroad ties, update benches, and plant trees.
CokeField| 150 3rd St SE
Special Use Park
(located at the Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark)
Acreage: 5.38. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Baseball field with grass infield
Maintenance Need: Add lights, move backstop.
CollegePark| 1474 2nd St W
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .68. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Playground, swing set, two park shelters, irrigation.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Rename, paint shelter, bolt down tables.
DakotaCommunityBank&TrustBallpark|
240 2nd St SE
Special Use Park
Acreage: 8.71. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Stadium field featuring artificial turf infield, stadium seating, men/women restrooms, concessions, electricity, picnic tables, basketball court, lighting, irrigation, several outbuildings for storage.
Maintenance Need: Bathroom renovation, additional stadium seats, new outfield fence, lighting upgrade, purchase adjoining property.
DickinsonDike| 2302 Broadway W
Natural Area
Acreage: 21.9. Owned by City of Dickinson
Amenities: Bike/hike path, boat launch, kayak launch, 5 park benches, fishing pier, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Rip-rap/woody growth control, new dock, paved trail.
DickinsonDogPark| 455 8th Ave SW
Special Use Park
Acreage: 1.28. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Small dog space, large dog space (30+ lbs.), sanitation stations, nature area, two park shelters, benches, water access, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Tree planting, lighting, more features, finish welcome sign.
DowntownPark| 10 Sims St
Mini-Park
Acreage: .4. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: 4 park benches, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Consider elimination due to the proximity to Legacy Square.
EaglesPark| 428 2nd Ave SW
Community Park
Acreage: 5.78. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Bike/hike path, 3 horseshoe pits, kayak launch, 2 park shelters, playground, swing set, restroom, 2 tennis/pickleball courts, sand volleyball court, basketball court, park benches, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Tree planting, shelter updates, sand volleyball updates, restroom updates, lighting updates for tennis/ pickleball, splash pad, small playground equipment additions, soccer goals, table repainting or replacement.
EastsideComplex| 245 9th Ave E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 2.08. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Baseball field, playground, swing set, outdoor ice rink, park benches.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Rename, top-soil on old tennis ourt site for soccer field, tree planting, upgrade ice rink area.
FisherPark| 825 19th St E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.93. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Park shelter, barbeque grill, playground, swing set, sand volleyball court, basketball court, 4 park benches.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Add trail to connect to 10th Ave E trail.
FriendshipPark| 1388 Gum Ave
Community Park
(featuring an accessible playground for individuals of all abilities)
Acreage: 6.58. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Bike/Hike path, electricity, fully accessible park shelter, playground, swing set, and restrooms, 5 park benches, parking lot, irrigation, little library, poured in place surface.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Add an additional shelter, add benches to walking trail, add additional play features including metal slide (cochlear implants), and connect the trail to the 10th Ave E sidewalk, better defined parking area.
GressPark| 632 2nd Ave SE
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.03. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Park shelter, playground, basketball court, park bench.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Add swing set, tree planting, update shelter, replace basketball court.
Friendship Park Play Structure
College Park
PARKLANDINVENTORY
GressSoftballComplex| 455 8th Ave SW
Special Use Park
Acreage: 27.24. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: 6 lighted so ball fields, bike/hike path, 2 park shelters, playground, men’s/women’s restrooms, park benches, concessions, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: Expand north into the lime pits, power to Diamonds 5 and 6, slat dugouts/concrete pad at entrance, trail around park, tree removal/planting, improve trail drainage, replace lighting, concessions improvements, parking lot improvements.
HeartRiverGolfCourse| 2510 8th St SW
Special Use Park
Acreage: 186.42. Owned by Dickinson Park District, Bureau of Reclamation, City of Dickinson.
Amenities: 18-hole golf course, pro shop, driving range, putting green, restaurant.
HeroesPark| 2015 Empire Road
Community Park
Acreage: 1.87. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Park shelter, playground, toddler playground with artificial turf, 4 park benches, little library, irrigation, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Addition of Ninja Course.
HewsonPark| 1605 1st Ave E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 4.63. Owned by City of Dickinson Amenities: Baseball field, park shelter, playground, swing set, basketball court, 2 park benches.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Tree planting, potential storm water retention project, add irrigation, add walking path, additional backstop, soccer goals, add a covered pavilion, dog park, parking lot.
HillsidePark| 1125 10th St E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.03. Owned by City of Dickinson Amenities: Playground, sand volleyball court, park bench.
HospitalPark| 175 9th St W
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.8. Owned by City of Dickinson
Amenities: Park shelter, playground, swing set, park bench.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Rename, tree planting.
JayceePark| 497 2nd St SE
Community Park
Acreage: 9.45. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Disc golf course, 2 horseshoe pits, 4 park shelters, playground, swing set, restroom, park bench, parking lot, riverfront.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Rename and connect with Riverside property (undeveloped #12), river walking bridge, tree planting, pump track, restroom upgrades, trail on both sides of river, soccer fields/open space.
KiwanisPark| 1084 2nd Ave E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .73. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Park shelter, playground, swing set, basketball court, 2 park benches.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Tree planting, irrigation.
KosteleckyPark| 1949 Prairie Ave
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 3.01. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Park Shelter, playground, swing set, basketball court, 2 park benches, irrigation.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Move irrigation around park sign, promote sledding opportunities, trail around park.
LionsPark| 3753 114th Ave SW
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .73. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Playground, sand volleyball court, 2 horseshoe pits, rentable park shelter, electrical, water access, restrooms, access to Crooked Crane Trail.
MustangBaseballComplex| 2004 Fairway St
Special Use Park
Acreage: 9.89. Owned by Dickinson Park District
Amenities: 3 Baseball fields, batting cage, 2 park shelters, 8 park benches, playground, swing set, restroom, concessions, electricity, water, irrigation, lighted fields.
NorthSoftballComplex| 1600 Fairway St
Special Use Park
Acreage: 8.56. Owned by Dickinson Public School District with maintenance agreement with Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: 4 So ball fields, restroom, 1 park bench, concessions, bleachers, batting cage, irrigation.
OptimistPark| 731 6th St W
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.9. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: 2 Park shelters, 1 charcoal barbeque grill, playground, 3 swing sets, 4 park benches, irrigation.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Tree planting.
Optimist Park Playground and Shelter
Kostelecky Park Playground Structure
PARKLANDINVENTORY
PattersonLakeRecreationArea|
3753 114th Ave SW
Natural Area
Acreage: 2,220.95. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Beach, bike/hike path (Crooked Crane Trail), 3 boat launches, disc golf course, 4 horseshoe pits, kayak launch, park shelters, 22 modern campground sites with electricity/water hookup, 15 primitive campground sites, playground, swing set, picnic tables, restrooms at 2 locations, sand volleyball court, water access, electricity, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: Cattail, beach expansion, tree removal/planting, Lions Park improvements, southside campground, southside shelter, 9-hole executive/junior golf course, soccer complex, tree nursery, power pedestial for food trucks/vendors.
PineTreePark| 733 2nd Ave W
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.17. Owned by Dickinson Park District. Amenities: Green space, 1 memorial bench.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Picnic tables and benches.
PleasantValleyPark| 875 4th Ave
E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.46. Owned by City of Dickinson. Amenities: Park Shelter, playground, swing set, basketball court, 4 park benches.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Tree planting.
PridePark| 349 6th St SW
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.27. Owned by Dickinson Park District. Amenities: Park shelter, playground, swing set, basketball court, little library, irrigation.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Rename, cover for wells, tree planting, trail on south to connect sidewalk.
RockyButtePark| 566 Fairway St
Community Park
Acreage: 24.97. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Bike/hike path, 2 park shelters, playground, swing set, restroom, 2 park benches along path, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Tree planting, restroom door locks and cameras, gra iti removal.
RoersPark| 285 23rd Ave W
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .7. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Playground, 1 park bench, irrigation.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Add swing set and shelter, tree planting.
SimpsonPark| 555 3rd St E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .78. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Playground, swing set, basketball court, 1 park bench.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Tree planting.
SuncrestPark| 222 10th Ave E
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: .63. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Playground, basketball court, 1 park bench, little library.
Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Rename, relocate to Undeveloped Property #10 and sell existing property, add trail, tree planting, add shelter and swing set.
SundanceCove| 2214 Arapaho Court
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.15. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Playground, .17 paved trail.
Maintenance Need: None.
TurtlePark| 2352 Broadway W
Community Park
Acreage: 6.73. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Playground, swing set, 4 park shelters (2 rentable), restroom, 3 sand volleyball courts, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Add irrigation, restroom cameras, walking path connection to the Dickinson Dike, repair parking lot.
VeteransMemorialPark| 801 5th Ave W
Community Park
Acreage: 15. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Bandshell, Veterans Memorial, playground, disc golf course, bike/hike path, nature area, basketball court, outdoor skating rink, tennis court, restrooms, 21 granite benches, military tank, military airplane, parking lot.
Maintenance Need: High Priority. Outdoor ice improvements with warming house and separate ice with boards and leisure ice areas, overflow parking, extend irrigation to south and west, tree planting, lighting on sidewalk from bandshell to parking lot, power access for food truck/vendors.
WestendPark| 187 S College Ave
Neighborhood Park
Acreage: 1.49. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Amenities: Playground, swing set, bench.
Maintenance Need: Low Priority. Rename, tree planting, new border and wood fibers for playground.
WestRiverSkatePark| 2015 Empire Road
Special Use Park
Acreage: 1.41. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Amenities: Concrete skate surface.
Maintenance Need: Repair concrete edges and joints, Repair or replace select rails, relocate garbage containers, improve drainage, and add additional amenities including a bowl, horseshoe, and beginner rails.
Patterson Lake Recreation Area | Crooked Crane Trailhead
Rocky Butte Park
PARKLANDINVENTORY
UndevelopedLand#2| 10th Ave E, 21st St E, 19th St E
Located behind Fisher Park
Acreage: 5.73. Owned by City of Dickinson.
Maintenance Need: None. Develop when adjoining property is developed.
UndevelopedLand#3| 21st St W, Prairie Oak Dr
Located across from Century Apartments
Acreage: 3.58. Owned by City of Dickinson. Maintenance Need: Tree nursery, tree planting
UndevelopedLand#4(CommunityOrchard)| Behind 13th St W
Located west of old social services building
Acreage: 1.79. Owned by City of Dickinson. Maintenance Need: Medium Priority. Berry rows.
UndevelopedLand#6| 7th Ave E
Located on water tower hill
Acreage: .92. Owned by Dickinson Park District. Maintenance Need: Sell property.
UndevelopedLand#8| 8th Ave SW
Located between Gress Complex and Eagles Park
Acreage: 4.67. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
UndevelopedLand#10| 10th Ave E
Washington Park (old BMX track)
Acreage: 7.96. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
UndevelopedLand#11| Lyons
Located on water tower hill
Acreage: .25. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Maintenance Need: Work with City of Dickinson on adjoining land for park development.
UndevelopedLand#12| 6th Ave SE
Riverfront Estates
Acreage: 9.05. Owned by Dickinson Park District.
Park agencies of a similar size to Dickinson have a median of 2,014 residents per park. Dickinson Parks and Recreation has 28 parks for an average of 892 residents per park.
The median acres of parkland per 1,000 residents in park agencies of a similar size to Dickinson is 11.3. Dickinson Parks and Recreation has 16.72 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.
Undeveloped Land #4 | Community Orchard
Summaryof“ParkDesert”PortionsoftheCommunity
Proximity to parks is linked to increased physical activity, better mental health, stronger social cohesion, and environmental benefits. Dickinson Parks and Recreation District strives to provide easy access to a park for all members of the community. Barriers to park access include distance and barriers such as highways, train tracks, and unsafe routes (i.e. lack of sidewalk access). There are several areas of the community that currently have limited access to parks or green space based on these factors. These areas should be priority considerations for new park development. These areas include:
1. The neighborhood north of I-94, south of 15th St. W, and west of 30th Ave W.
2. The neighborhood north of 21st St W and west of State Ave primarily o Wahl St.
3. The neighborhood north of 21st St W, east of State Ave., south of 40th St W, and west of Highway 22.
4.The neighborhood north of 29th St. E, east of 4th Ave E, south of 40th St E, and west of 7th Ave. E.
It should be noted that there is no requirement from Stark County for park development within the Dickinson Extraterritorial Zone (ETZ) and the only existing parks in this zone are Turtle Park (DPRD) and Lakeview Park (Stark County). This could be problematic as neighborhoods on the periphery of Dickinson are built out with no park access. This will put pressure on existing park infrastructure and create challenges for the park district if these areas are annexed into the City of Dickinson.
TRAILINVENTORY
CrookedCraneTrailheads|
Patterson Lake Recreation Area
Consists of 1.9 miles of paved trail and 11.1 miles of natural surface trail through various trailheads.
•Fitness Loop - 3753 114th Ave SW
1.9 miles of paved loop with fitness pods
•Camp Nyoda - 3525 115th Ave SW
1.3 miles, Camp Nyoda to Stranski (additional 1 mile loop)
•Stranski - 3832 116th Ave SW
.5 miles, Stranski to Heart River
•Heart River - 3876 116th Ave SW
3.6 miles, Heart River to Badlanders (1.9 m loop included)
•Badlanders - 11501 39th St SW
1.9 miles, Badlanders to Ash Coulee
•Ash Coulee - 11425 39M St SW
2.8 miles, Ash Coulee to Little Hales
•Little Hales - 3897 S Boat Ramp Loop
2.8 miles, Little Hales to Ash Coulee
EaglesTrail|
Eagles
Park
to Gress So ball Complex
.8 mile paved trail - Accessible from 428 2nd Ave SW or 455 8th Ave SW.
FriendshipParkTrail| 1388 Gum Ave
.30 mile scenic trail that loops around Friendship Park.
RockyButteParkTrail| 566 Fairway St
.8 mile scenic trail that loops around Rocky Butte Park.
LeisureTrail| 2004 Fairway St
West River Community Center
1.1 mile trail loop around the West River Community Center, West River Ice Center, West River Soccer Complex, Heroes Park and Mustang Baseball Complex. The trail has connection to a 1 mile trail around CHI St. Alexius Health and connection to the Dickinson Research Extension Center trail and nature area.
Agencies the size of Dickinson have a median of 8 miles of trails. Dickinson Parks & Recreation has 4.6 miles of paved trails and 11.1 miles of natural surface trails.
Dickinson Parks and Recreation works hand-in-hand with the City of Dickinson to provide a connected network of trails and sidewalks. City of Dickinson Community Survey 1 reported that only 19% of respondents ranked the availability of safe bicycle/pedestrian facilities as excellent or good, while 45% of respondents ranked the facilities as poor or bad. Future trail plans are listed in Chapter 6, however, there are some notable gaps in sidewalk connectivity that must be addressed, namely:
1. The north side of 21st St W between Century Apartments and State Ave.
2. The south side of 14th St W west of 40th Ave W.
3. The north side of W Ridge Dr between Roughrider Blvd and 30th Ave W.
4. The intersection of 6th Ave W and 15th St W and along 15th St W to 3rd Ave W.
5. The south side of 15th St W between Western Dr and 14th St W.
6. The east side of 10th Ave E between 7th St E and Museum Dr.
7. The south side of 9th St W east of 2nd Ave W at the culvert.
8. The north side of 9th St W west of 5th Ave W to the entrance of Rocky Butte Park.
9. The west side of 18th Ave E between Carroll St and I-94 Business Loop E.
10. The west side of 10th Ave E between 1st St E and E Villard St and the north side of E Villard St between 10th Ave E and 9th Ave E.
11. The south side of E Broadway St between 6th Ave E and 5th Ave SE.
12. The north side of 8th St W to the west of S Main Ave.
Additionally, it should be noted that the addition of street lamps and signage in the sidewalk along Villard Street cause it to be di icult to safely utilize the sidewalk.
Crooked Crane Trail, Fitness Loop, Patterson Lake Recreation Area
PARKS & FACILITIES MAP
22. LIONS PARK
23. MEMORIAL PARK
24. MUSTANG BASEBALL COMPLEX
25. NORTH SOFTBALL COMPLEX
DICKINSON DOG PARK
DOWNTOWN PARK
EAGLES PARK
EASTSIDE COMPLEX
FISHER PARK
FRIENDSHIP PARK
GRESS PARK 12. GRESS SOFTBALL COMPLEX
HEART RIVER GOLF COURSE
HEART RIVER RETREAT
KIWANIS PARK
JAYCEE PARK
HOSPITAL PARK
KOSTELECKY PARK
26. OPTIMIST PARK
27. PATTERSON LAKE RECREATION AREA
28. PINE TREE PARK
29. PLEASANT VALLEY PARK
30. PRIDE PARK
31. ROCKY BUTTE PARK 32. ROERS PARK
33. SANFORD SPORTS COMPLEX 34. SIMPSON PARK 35. STARK COUNTY VETERANS PAVILION 36. SUNCREST PARK
37. SUNDANCE COVE PARK
38. TURTLE PARK
39. WEST RIVER COMMUNITY CENTER
40. WEST RIVER ICE CENTER
41. WEST RIVER SKATE PARK
42. WEST RIVER SOCCER FIELDS
43. WESTEND PARK
FACILITY&PARKMAINTENANCE
Parks&Complexes
Dickinson Parks and Recreation has 28 parks in operation plus 8 undeveloped park properties, the Heart River Retreat, Veterans Pavilion, Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark, North Complex, Mustang Complex, Soccer Complex, Skate Park, Gress Complex, and Patterson Lake. Within the parks, the District has developed a replacement plan for all playgrounds approximately every 25 years (see below) as well as regular updates to irrigation systems. Future irrigation additions may include: Hewson Park, Eastside Complex, Turtle Park, Jaycee Park, Kiwanis Park, and Veterans Memorial Park. Major maintenance items in the parks over the next 20 years include:
•DCBT Turf Replacement (completed in 2024)
•DCBT bathrooms, lighting, fencing, and seating improvements
•Outdoor Ice Improvements including warming houses
•Parking lot improvements
•Mustang and Gress lighting replacement
•Restroom renovations
•Gress Complex irrigation upgrades
HeartRiverGolfCourse
The Heart River Golf Course is a challenging 18-hole, par 72 course that is located along the Heart River. The course features a clubhouse with pro shop and restaurant, cart rental, driving range, practice areas, private cart storage, and parking. Major renovations that can be expected over the next 20 years include:
•Remodel of the clubhouse
•Parking and cart path replacement
• Bridge replacement
FACILITY&PARKMAINTENANCE
WestRiverIceCenter
The West River Ice Center main arena was first built in 1991 with the auxiliary arena added in 2014. The main arena has a seating capacity of 1,000 while the auxiliary arena has a seating capacity of 300. In addition to the arenas and numerous locker rooms, the facility contains a party room, mezzanine balcony, concession area, and meeting room. The locker rooms in the main arena were completely remodeled in 2023 and the condensing unit for both arenas was replaced in 2022. In addition to being used as ice arenas, the space is also used for special events in the off-season, however, starting in 2023 the auxiliary arena has been kept as ice year-round. As the facility continues to age, certain major components of the facility will be replaced over the next 20 years including:
• Flooring replacement in the lobby and auxiliary arena.
• Ice Hockey board replacement
• Additional storage
• HVAC updates
• LED Lighting
• Main arena bleacher replacement
• Auxiliary arena ice resurfacer
WestRiverCommunityCenter
The West River Community Center opened in May 2004, but has seen many additions since that time including the addition of the tennis center (2007), gymnasiums (2014), and outdoor pool (2014). The current building is 135,000 square feet and offers a variety of amenities including drop-in childcare, fitness areas, golf simulator, gymnasiums, indoor playground, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor track, locker rooms, racquetball courts, rock climbing wall, tanning bed, and tennis/pickleball courts. Over the next 20 years, the following major renovations can be anticipated:
• HVAC updates
• LED Lighting
• Indoor and Outdoor pool renovations including replacement of play features
• Parking Lot Mill and Overlay
• Lobby remodel
• Locker room remodel
• Flooring replacement
• Roof replacement
PLAYGROUNDREPLACEMENTSCHEDULE
CHAPTER4| PROGRAM OVERVIEW
INTERNALPROGRAMS|DEMOGRAPHICS
PROGRAM/ SERVICE
Tiny Sports
Programs
Learn to SwimPreschool A
Learn to SwimPreschool B
Learn to SwimPreschool C
Learn to SwimLevel 1
Learn to SwimLevel 2
Learn to SwimLevel 3
Learn to SwimLevel 4
Learn to SwimLevel 5
Learn to SwimParent & Me
Swim
INTERNALPROGRAMS|DEMOGRAPHICS
INTERNALPROGRAMS|DEMOGRAPHICS
INTERNALPROGRAMS|DEMOGRAPHICS
Special Events (continued)
Miller Lite Softball Tournament
MLB Pitch, Hit & Run
Optimist Basketball Tournaments
Parkside Movies
Recreation Programs - Youth & Adult (Continued)
Patterson Lake Beach Party XXXXXXX
Punt, Pass & Kick XXXX
Santa Hotline XXXXX
Softball State Tournaments
Summer Bingo Walking Challenge
Traveling Lantern Theatre
THS/DHS Booster Basketball Tournament
Youth Track & Field Meet
EXTERNALPROGRAMS
NRPAPARKMETRICSCOMPARISON
*O ered by DPRD.
Data from NRPA Park Metrics Agency Performance Review - 2024.
CHAPTER5| FUTURE
PROPOSEDFUTUREFACILITIES
DEPARTMENT REQUEST
PARKS
Pad
Friendship Park Pavilion
Park Ninja Course
Hewson Park Baseball/Soccer Fields
MASTERFACILITIESPLAN
additional pavilion
Optimist Outdoor Ice warming house, boards, zamboni, chiller system
Skate Park Improvements additional amentities including a bowl, horseshoe, and beginner rails
Friendship Park Phase #2 additional playground, expanded parking
West Ridge Park
North State Avenue Park
Relocate Suncrest Park
Outdoor Pickleball Complex
Park
Pump Track/Bike Park
Park Expansion
Complex Expansion
River Soccer Restroom
South State Avenue Park
Golf Course
open space, playground
fields, paths, playground
trail, open space
Park, 10 courts
fields at lime pits
pod, paved paths and natural trails, parking, playground, multi-use field
TRAILS
River Trail Phase 1 Jaycee Park to DCBT Ballpark
Kostelecky Loop
Gress Complex Loop
Hwy 10 Trail Phase 1
Hwy 10 Trail Phase 2
North and South Sidewalk on the West side of the park
Park to 10 Ave E Trail
to 114th Ave SW
Ave SW to 115th Ave SW
Hwy 22 Trail 8th St SW to Fairgrounds
State Avenue Trail State Avenue bridge to 8th St SW
River Trail Phase 2 DCBT Ballpark to Eagles Park
Hewson Loop
PROPOSEDFUTUREFACILITIES
DEPARTMENT REQUEST
PATTERSON LAKE
Crooked Crane Phase 2
Crooked Crane Phase 3
Crooked Crane Phase 4
Southside Campground
Crooked Crane Phase 5
Crooked Crane Phase 7
Crooked Crane Phase 6
Expanded Beachfront
Soccer Complex
WEST RIVER ICE CENTER
MASTERFACILITIESPLAN(continued)
State Avenue to Main Recreation Area
Heart River Trailhead Loop, improve Heart River Trailhead
Camp Nyoda Trailhead to Lions Park
Ash Coulee to Little Hales Trailheads
Little Hales Trailhead to State Avenue
Heart River Loop to Ash Coulee, improve Badlanders Trailhead
fields on the north side
Storage Addition Equipment, boards/glass for summer
3rd Sheet of Ice
WEST RIVER COMMUNITY CENTER
HEART RIVER GOLF COURSE
9-Hole Executive/Junior Golf Course
HIGH = 0-5 years
MODERATE = 6-10 years
LOW = 10+ years
Public comments taken during the City of Dickinson Direction 2050 plan included requests for cleaning up Patterson Lake, more trails, more trees, more attention to adult recreation sports, and a designated sledding area.
PROPOSEDFUTUREPROGRAMAREAS
Childcare/Preschool
As the demand for quality childcare services continues to grow, it is essential to consider future daycare needs and the potential expansion into a dedicated childcare facility. This expansion could provide a safe, nurturing environment for children while accommodating a broader age range and diverse educational programs. A larger facility would enable the incorporation of specialized learning spaces, outdoor play areas, and resources tailored to early childhood development. Strategic planning and investment in infrastructure, sta ing, and community engagement will be critical to meeting these evolving needs and ensuring sustainable growth.
TeenProgrammingExpansion
To better serve our teenage population, we should consider developing teen-specific programming, including more a er-hours events that foster socialization and personal growth. Expanding the programming and opportunities in our video game area can lead to serving a greater population of teenage participants. To align with future career opportunities, we can introduce more specific programming tied to the STEAM industry. Hosting tournaments, whether for video games, e-sports, or traditional board games, would further enhance teen engagement and bring a competitive edge to our o erings.
ExpandingSTRONGkidsProgram
The STRONGkids program can be expanded to include younger children and older teens to ensure that it supports a broader range of developmental needs. Activities tailored for younger participants might focus on foundational physical and emotional skills, while older age groups could benefit from leadership training, mentorship opportunities, and career-focused workshops.
SeasonalandSpecialEvents
Seasonal events create memorable experiences for all ages. A Winter Wonderland event could include ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, o ering family-friendly outdoor fun. For March, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed event might include festive games, cra s, and food choices. Hosting events like an Indoor Triathlon or unique movie experiences—“Movies in the Pool” or a drive-in movie at Patterson—can diversify our o erings and cater to di erent interests. Additionally, a Christmas Light Display at Patterson would attract families and create holiday cheer.
IntroductorySportsforK-2ndGrade
Developing introductory sports programs for children in kindergarten through second grade is crucial to building foundational athletic skills. O ering sports such as soccer, flag football, basketball, and baseball/so ball (prior to joining diamonds/ mustangs leagues) can help children build teamwork, coordination, and confidence. These programs can also serve as feeder systems for more advanced youth leagues.
SeniorCitizenandIntergenerational Programming
Senior citizens can benefit from engaging day trips to local attractions, theaters, or historical sites, fostering social connections and enrichment. Additionally, intergenerational programming could bring together grandparents and grandchildren for collaborative cra projects, cooking classes, and mentorship programs. Such initiatives strengthen family bonds and promote meaningful interactions across age groups.
AdaptiveProgramming
Creating adaptive programming ensures inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, providing tailored activities that meet diverse needs. This could include adaptive sports, sensory-friendly events, and workshops designed to empower participants and their families.
FillingProgrammingGaps
By stepping in to provide programs that other user groups may fail to o er, we position ourselves as a reliable and versatile resource for the community. This commitment demonstrates our dedication to inclusivity and comprehensive service, ensuring no population is le underserved.
By following and staying up to date with national trends, we can embrace a diverse range of sports and activities that reflect growing interest across the country. Sports like lacrosse, padel, figure skating, cricket, rugby, and wi le ball are gaining popularity for their ability to engage participants of all ages and skill levels. By incorporating these activities into our programs, we aim to foster inclusivity, encourage physical fitness, and provide opportunities for individuals to explore emerging and traditional sports. This approach ensures we stay current with evolving recreational interests and cater to a broad spectrum of community needs.
Teen After Hours
PROPOSEDFUTUREINITIATIVES
FutureInitiatives
1.Preserve Patterson Lake for future generations including addressing sedimentation, nutrient loading, cattail growth, preservation of natural areas, natural trail building, and preservation of hunting access.
2. Focus on a diverse tree canopy through a consistent tree planting program and development of a tree nursery.
3. Completion of the Crooked Crane Trail loop with solid surface trails on the east side and natural surface trails on the west side.
4. Maintain existing neighborhood parks while expanding services at regional parks including Eagles Park, Heroes Park, Turtle Park, Jaycee/Riverside Park, Friendship Park, and Veterans Memorial Park.
5. Address “park desert” locations on the west and north sides of Dickinson.
6. Develop and maintain a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and written Maintenance Plan for all existing facilities and parks.
7. Create a unified physical identity and appearance for city parks by using consistent colors and designs for shelters, signage, benches, trash receptacles, and recycling bins.
8. Work with the City of Dickinson and Stark County to fund a trail network along the Heart River with connections to Patterson Lake and address sidewalk connectivity.
9. Utilize City of Dickinson infrastructure for future park development, particularly water shed and detention areas.
10. Plan for updating existing irrigation systems and strategic addition of new irrigation systems.
11. Provide additional indoor multiuse recreational facilities to support local user groups and promote additional winter season tournament opportunities.
12. Grow teen, preschool, and senior recreational opportunities.
13. Develop adaptive and inclusive recreational opportunities.
14. Develop the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Foundation into a self-sustaining entity to support capital improvements and youth recreational initiatives.
15. Develop the West River Community Center into a “community hub” that supports a variety of nonprofit initiatives.
APPENDIX
APPENDIXA
SURVEYRESULTS
