HARVEY This community certainly isn’t on the list of major cities in North Dakota, but you’d never know that from its system of parks. A tour of the town quickly reveals that places to play and relax are important to the citizens of Harvey. There’s improvements on the horizon, too.

Brad Kline is president of the Harvey Park Board. He talks in glowing terms about board members who also realize the importance of nice parks to the health of a community. One of the popular parks is Schroeder Park, located along the scenic Sheyenne River on Harvey’s south edge.

“We lease that from the city and maintain it,” said Kline. “We keep it up to par.”

Schroeder Park includes a boat ramp, three docks, fishing pier, sand beach, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court and plenty of room for people to picnic and otherwise enjoy the scenic location along one of the state’s most notable rivers.

Not far away is Centennial Park. It contains a frisbee golf course that is well used. Centennial Park was donated by the Harvey Eagles Club and is owned by the city, not the park board.

A popular location during Wednesday evenings throughout the summer is Soo Line Park, located at the end of Harvey’s Main Street. It is there that the local Lion’s Club hosts “Music in the Park,” an evening of entertainment featuring local and area talent. A Soo Line Railroad locomotive is on display at the park, a historical reminder that the park is located on land donated by the Soo Line Railroad.

On the west side of the park is an impressive monument to all military veterans. It consists of resting benches donated by American Legion Post No. 28 and Wells County VFW Post No. 1868 and their auxiliaries. A special plaque commemorates Robert E. Schmitz who lost his life in service to the U.S. Sept. 16, 1969. A statue of a soldier stands in front of the flags and monument. In addition, a picnic shelter at the park bears a sign reading, “Support our troops, remember our veterans.”

The park board has five employees and a supervisor who are tasked with grounds keeping.

“They make our parks nice, beautiful places to go,” said Kline.

Included in the Harvey park system is the community swimming pool. The pool provides employment for 14 along with a pool manager and assistant manager. It is a popular place to meet friends and cool down on a hot day. A miniature golf course is maintained by the park board adjacent to the swimming pool. According to Kline, that park may soon host another activity.

“It’s called SNAG golf. It’s popular on the East coast. We’re trying to get it going here,” said Kline. “We’re in the process of getting new signs.”

Basically, SNAG (Starting New At Golf) golf involves hitting specially made tennis balls into targets where they will stick. Putting is done in similar fashion. The game is designed for all ages but is particularly aimed at teaching golf to those of all ability levels.

A major project in the works by the Harvey Park Board involves the city’s main baseball diamond which Kline rates as one of the nicest in the state for a town the size of Harvey. Those who have watched games there or played there are likely to agree. Kline says the park board hopes to make a great ballpark even better.

“We want to take down the grandstand and put up a new grandstand and dugouts at Veteran’s Memorial Park,” said Kline. “The grandstand there now was constructed in 1963.”

Veteran’s Memorial Park is located on the east side of Harvey, near the town’s football field. Not to be overlooked are two other parks within the city limits Pioneer Park on the town’s west side and an outdoor skating rink park. A heated “warm-up” house helps make the skating rink enjoyable throughout the winter.

“We definitely get usage of our parks, we really do,” said Kline. “They are especially used for big reunions and that kind of stuff.”