Once fashionable swimming pond received’t reopen, however could possibly be changed with new function – InForum

GLYNDON, Minn. — The sand-bottom swimming pond at Buffalo River State Park is not going to reopen, however a draft administration plan for the park offers a sneak peek of what might substitute it.

The draft plan, which is in a public overview stage, suggests changing the sand-bottom swimming pond right into a nature play space. Gratia Joice, principal planner with the

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Parks and Trails Division, stated the proposed play space might incorporate options of the park, just like the prairie and river.

“Due to a number of reasons, we’re not planning to reopen the pond, and instead, we want to develop a nature play area where the pond was that … brings in a lot of different elements of the park to kind of provide this mini gateway experience to the larger park,” Joice stated.

The suggestion is one among many included within the draft of the administration plan that may information future improvement and operations at Buffalo River State Park. The long-range plan gives path for pure useful resource administration and leisure and interpretive options on the park. The plan was written after public enter and suggestions from a citizen advisory committee.

The DNR will host an open home from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Science Center to gather public suggestions on the draft plan.

According to the draft plan, Buffalo River State Park was established in 1937. The Works Progress Administration constructed the park, which initially centered on outside recreation facilities just like the man-made swimming pond.

The swimming pond closed in 2019. Over the years, it has been closed due to

lifeguard shortages,

COVID-19 restrictions

and, most lately, injury to the pool’s infrastructure. During the ultimate season the pond was open, 9-year-old Grace Bettie drowned throughout a Moorhead police summer season youth program outing on June 27, 2018. The pond was closed for a number of days after.

Today, the pond, “being a highly modified and artificial feature, does not align with state parks’ statutory purpose,” the draft plan stated. It suggests the proposed nature play space might embody ecologically-inspired artwork and a water function that serves as a leisure play space and an academic device.

The draft plan additionally recommends an enlargement of the park’s campground, together with rising the variety of campsites and probably changing a Works Progress Administration constructing into camper cabins. The plan suggests constructing an amphitheater within the picnic space for park programming, exploring connections to the proposed

Heartland Trail extension

by Clay County and enhancing water entry for fishing, kayaking and canoeing.

When it involves managing the park’s native prairie and old-growth forest, the advice is for employees to proceed their work, Joice stated.

“They’re doing amazing work in the prairie, so just a continuation of that, of restoring that native prairie in the park and continuing to protect those rare prairie resources, I think is really great,” Joice stated.

Once finalized, the suggestions is not going to be carried out instantly, as many require funding, Joice stated. But, with tasks outlined in a brand new administration plan, Parks and Trails will be capable of pursue funding for them.

The DNR is accumulating suggestions for the plan till Dec. 17. More details about the draft plan and submitting feedback is obtainable on the DNR’s web site at