A slew of ideas have been discussed, debates have raged and it has all often ended up in hands thrown up in the air for some. While some communities in our region have developed event centers and similar institutions to act as prime visitor draws, Minot has not. Here, instead, we have chosen to maintain numerous venues, each with its own pluses and minuses.

It’s understandable then that the scenic Scandinavian Heritage Park is routinely rated the city’s top draws – and even the state’s top draw.

Yet, there are other assets in Minot that could grow to become regional attractions that bring visitors and revenue to the city on a regular basis.

One such institution is the Roosevelt Park Zoo. Our zoo is uncommonly good for a city the size of Minot, in terms of its exhibits, variety of animals and programming. Most communities our size simply don’t have such an asset.

Furthermore, the zoo has instituted improvements on an ongoing basis, whether adding “infrastructure,” bringing in new animal residents or altering exhibits and how visitors interact with the zoo inhabitants.

Spread out over a lovely campus, on a temperate day, spending several hours at Roosevelt Park Zoo is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things someone could do in town, particularly with families.

As Minot Daily News has previously opined, parks are one thing this city does exceedingly well, so it should come as no surprise that the zoo is considerably above average by every measure.

So what would it take to help bring more visitors to Minot to experience the zoo? Is it investment in expansion? Is it additional marketing? Are there additional programs that would attract visitors?

It would be wise to not lose sight of these questions, because the answers could potentially have a huge impact on the future of Minot as a regional destination.

Let’s not forget this valuable institution – an institution that’s full potential might not yet be explored.