The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department has identified various infrastructure projects to be dealt with in the coming three years, utilizing almost $16 million in federal coronavirus assistance funds, a report said.
Last year, the legislature approved $17.9 million of North Dakota’s federal American Rescue Plan budget for state parks’ deferred maintenance and capital projects, amid an explosion in visits to state parks in the course of the pandemic.
In 202l, the state parks in North Dakota recorded another prosperous year with 95,000 nights spent at camping sites and cabins.
The park has a backlog of $74 million of deferred maintenance, including roadways, shorelines, and buildings.
The project list contains almost $4.6 million of work up for bidding this year. The bidding year does not necessarily mean that construction will begin. Still, some projects are scheduled in the summer, like utility projects.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park situated just south of Mandan has $440,000 of projects scheduled for bid this year, which includes general maintenance, campground electrical upgrades, and an accessible walkway to connect all Cavalry Square structures.
Two of the biggest projects in 2022 up for bidding are $800,000 to build a maintenance shop and seasonal housing at Sully Creek State Park near Medora and $728,000 to improve water hydrants and electrical panels in two campgrounds at Grahams Island State Park on Devils Lake.
According to Spokesperson Kristin Byram, Parks and Recreation is still waiting for more engineering data and bids to return. The department is also considering inflation in prioritizing projects.
This story originally appeared on The Bismarck Tribune.