The park closed in early September to give construction crews space to work. The Minot Park Board toured the project Monday, Nov. 3, to get an update from engineers and see the progress.

The phase MI-7 flood wall construction should be complete by the end of this year, said Ryan Ackerman with Ackerman-Estvold, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board. The last piece of flood wall remaining, from the new pump station near the park’s swimming pool to Seventh Street, is set to be completed next year as part of phase MI-6.

An extensive flood wall already is in place, and the park board will face decisions on possible mural designs or colors that it wants to incorporate for aesthetics.

Pickleball courts should be operational again next May, with new restrooms nearby. Ackerman said visitors initially will have some construction to contend with, but it will not be heavy construction nor present a lot of conflict of use in the area. Park visitors may find some areas closed to foot traffic to give newly seeded grass time to establish.

Rusten Roteliuk with Houston Engineering, left, and Park Board member Justin Hammer stand in front of a pump station under construction near Roosevelt Park pool during a tour of the flood project Monday, Nov. 3.

The park board is shooting for a June 5 opening of the swimming pool, which remained closed this past summer due to safety concerns associated with the construction in the area. It will open with a new filtration system.

The new pump station, which is part of MI-6, remains under construction. It was noted traffic will need to be redirected once the pool opens due to the MI-6 work continuing to impact the usual roadway into the park.

The Magic City Express mini-train is expected to be back in service next summer, with some new track and a newly constructed boarding area and maintenance building.

Ackerman estimated roughly $70 million is being invested in flood protection in Roosevelt Park.

Flood project impacts on Roosevelt Park Zoo will continue next year.

Jill Schramm/MDN Park board members are given a tour of the progress on flood protection in Roosevelt Park Monday, Nov. 3. Work is ongoing in an area that will serve as a boarding area for the park’s mini-train and will include a picnic shelter.

The Souris River Joint Board will be considering bids this week on three projects at the zoo, Ackerman said. A storage facility and the North American exhibit and wolf exhibit are to be rebuilt next year in flood-protected areas.