This Saturday, New Town will witness the ribbon cutting and grand opening of a new water park located across the parking lot from 4 Bears Casino & Lodge.

The project, under construction since November, represents good long-term planning, good vision and smart conceptualization in New Town – the kind of forward thiking from which all of our region of North Dakota would benefit.

4 Bears Casino & Lodge is a tremendous regional attraction and an important economic generating engine. It would be easy for New Town to exclusively rely on its visitor traffic (and surprisingly good, intimate concert venue) to continue to drive the local economy.

Instead, the Three Affiliated Tribes worked with Minot-based Ackerman-Estvold, a regional architectural and civil engineering firm, to design the water park project. Once completed, the 4 Bears Waterpark will feature a 2,375-square-foot splash pad and a zero entry lazy river with action channel. It will have a speed slide and a twist slide, with the possibility of a third being added, along with a sun bathing deck, designated birthday party area, a concessions building and bathhouse building, and wildflower and natural green grass areas.

Mark Fox, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, recognizes what an important development this is. “It is going to greatly improve the recreational efforts our tribal administration and the 4 Bears Casino have been working toward building within our Nation,” said Fox. “It will also draw more people to our casino with the new family friendly addition. Increasing our community member’s overall wellness has always been very important to me, so the access to different forms of physical exercise this facility is going to provide is going to be very instrumental as well. It will positively impact our community and provide an overall safe, fun and energizing experience for everyone who utilizes it.”

Fox has long been a visionary leader and one can see this even in a commercial development such as a water park. He sees the longterm, the organic partnerships, the power of economic development.

This move will pay dividends to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation for years to come. Congratulations to the Tribes, to Fox and to all of New Town for such a smart move.

Saturday, the first 100 guests will be given a gift, and after the ribbon cutting there will be free swim all afternoon, along with free food and beverages. Hours for the remainder of the 2018 season will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with admission being $5 per person.