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Parks and Recreation highlights awards, programs and rising participation in 2024 annual report
Summary
Dickinson Parks and Recreation told the commission it won a National Gold Medal, received multiple state awards, expanded programming for teens and toddlers and recorded record golf rounds and high community center attendance in 2024.
Dickinson’s Parks and Recreation Executive Director Ray told the City Commission on March 4 that 2024 was an award-winning year for the district, and that participation, programs and several capital improvements are driving higher use of facilities.
Ray said the district won the National Gold Medal Award for excellence in parks and recreation management and received multiple awards from the North Dakota Recreation and Parks Association, including a Partnership Award for Sanford Sports Complex, a Golden Egg Award for Friendship Park (the city’s first all-abilities playground) and an Innovative Program Award for the Strong Kids program, a free middle-school offering run with Best Friends Mentoring.
"None of these things would be possible without the partnership that we have with the City of Dickinson and the support that we have from the Commission and the staff," Ray said.
Key 2024 figures and projects Ray highlighted include: - Staffing and operations: about 28 full-time and 344 seasonal/part-time employees; management of nearly 3,000 acres of parkland, 28 parks, 14 facilities and seven sports complexes; - New and renovated playgrounds at Heroes Park (toddler-specific), the new sports complex and Pleasant Valley Park; - A recycling pilot at the West River Community Center in partnership with the city and plans to expand recycling as the Bailey Building (Baylor Building in packet) programs grow; - New programming: 19 recreational activities added, including Strong Kids (middle-school program), CSI, eSports and a "teens after hours" free event averaging about 75 high-school students per session and a first middle-school night that drew about 250 students; - Heart River Golf Course set a record with nearly 29,000 rounds in 2024, roughly 1,500 more than the next-highest year; - Community center: 20th anniversary, equipment replacement cycle, planned lap-pool mechanical work with a 2.5-week closure, locker-room design work and outdoor pool plaster and plumbing repairs completed for the 2025 season; - Planned golf-cart fleet replacement with GPS units and an increase from 50 to 60 carts for 2025.
Ray also said the district formed the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Foundation in 2024 to help seek grants and support youth and capital projects; the foundation’s inaugural fundraising golf scramble is scheduled for May 13.
Why it matters: Ray framed the awards and participation increases as evidence the district’s programming and partnerships are responding to community requests, citing a 2023 community survey that generated about 2,000 responses. "We got 2,000 responses, which is phenomenal," Ray said, and he noted the survey feedback drove additions like more teen programming and toddler-specific offerings.
Commissioners congratulated Ray and staff on the honors and rising use; one commissioner suggested discussion with the Park Board about future facility expansion given heavy use of the community center. Ray said capital repairs and renovations will continue as part of lifecycle planning for the 20-year-old community center and other assets.
Ending: The commission received the annual report and asked staff and the Park Board to continue updates on major capital projects and the foundation’s launch activities.
