Garrison gets OK on park grant
Half of total project cost awarded by ND Parks & Recreation Department
BY JAMES C. FALCON
james@nordaknorth.com
The Garrison Parks and Recreation District will receive $278,481 – half of the total projected cost – for their community swimming pool renovation.
On Monday afternoon, the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department announced that the Garrison district was among the list of recipients for their Park District Facility Renovation Grant.
“We have a lot of work to do,” said park board member Amber Klingbeil after board president Laura Hellebush made the announcement at the park board meeting Monday evening.
“At least we know we can get rolling,” added board member Heidi Smith.
Despite receiving the grant, the park board’s fundraising efforts will continue. Currently, the board is holding a gun raffle and selling water bottles; there are also several other fundraisers planned for the future, Hellebush said. The Park Board currently has about $22,000 in the pool renovation fund, Hellebush noted during the Monday evening meeting.
To pay for the matching costs, the City of Garrison would be taking out a loan – approximately $300,000 – on behalf of the park board. In paying it back, Garrison Area Improvement Association (GAIA) would be paying one-third and the other two-thirds would come from Sales and Use Tax funds, explained Keith Witt, a member of the Better Living for Garrison board. Witt also helped put the grant application together.
