This year the focus will be on Rice Lake, said Travis Schmit, assistant county engineer. The park board will meet May 4 to consider the feasibility of funding beach restoration and restrooms. The county sold 2-¢ lots on the north side of the beach and has allocated that money toward beach improvements.

“We are planning improvements to rehabilitate the swim beach to make it more user friendly and increase our capacity, bringing it to modernization with working restrooms and running water,” Schmit said.

Schmit said the beach restoration could include building out an access loop road and better defining the parking area. If additional funds are available this year, the park board wants to construct the restrooms and an outdoor rinse station this year as well.

“We are working with contractors currently to find out the true costs,” Schmit said.

Submitted Photo Piers extend into Nelson Carlson Lake, where water recreation is a main park attraction.

Any work on the beach this summer would require temporary closure of the beach, likely for two to four weeks, Schmit said.

Rice Lake, which added a fishing pier a few years ago, features additional recreational opportunities for volleyball and horseshoes and has accommodations for picnics and camping.

Schmit said the park will be in good shape once the beach and bathrooms are completed. However, he noted, “Campground improvements will be studied to bring it up to higher standards and a caliber patrons are looking for.”

The park board installed swim pads at Nelson Carlson Lake and Rice Lake last year. The 8-foot by 10-foot pads serve as platforms for sunbathing or taking a break from the water on the two lakes, both located in southern Ward County.

Large 2-foot by 5-foot buoy markers and rope floaters around the swim area also were added at Rice Lake. Members of the Minot Rural Dive Team assisted in anchoring the new water features.

Also last year, a canoe launch on the Souris River was installed at Eastside Estates near Minot.

Other new features last year included a tire swing at Nelson Carlson Lake, picnic tables at Eastside Estates near Minot and picnic tables, barbecue pits and park benches at Old Settlers Park in Burlington.

Quite a bit of funding has gone into Old Settlers Park in the past five years, and no additional improvements are on the immediate horizon, Schmit said. The only park currently with running water, Old Settlers Park offers RV and tent camping, restrooms with showers, disk golf, volleyball court, playground, barbecue and bonfire pits, covered picnic shelters and two pedestrian bridges.

In longer range planning, Nelson Carlson Lake, which offers swimming and day camping, is being considered for additional camping on the south side.

At Eastside Estates, the park board is looking at adding grills in the near term and additional canoe launch facilities over the longer term. Schmit said the park board hopes to work with the Minot Park District on turning the Souris River into a resource with more canoe access points. There’s also interest in creating online maps with locations showing access points, coffer dams to be avoided and other important markers as well as safety guidance for navigating the river.

“Canoeing and kayaking seems to be a new favorite or our local area,'” Schmit said. “As we accomplished the first canoe launch, we had a lot of positive feedback on that resource.”

The county receives about $160,000 in tax support, which covers park maintenance costs and a small amount of improvements each year, Schmit said. Other funds, particularly grants, have enabled the park board to make bigger investments. The park board has received cost-share assistance from the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District and donations from Verendrye Electric’s Operation Round Up, St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation, Enbridge and Minot Community Endowment to assist with recent projects.

The park system officially opens around Memorial Day but people are welcome to enjoy the parks year-round. An ATV area at Eastside Estates and ice fishing at Rice Lake are among activities that people can engage in outside of the summer season.