Bismarck Considers Green Spaces During Rapid Growth - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Bismarck Considers Green Spaces During Rapid Growth

As the city of Bismarck continues to grow, land is being gobbled up for houses and businesses.

But city officials are considering a new ordinance that would set aside spaces for all to enjoy.

Tom Gerhardt reports.

Bismarck is known for its parks. As the city continues to grow, a group is working on a plan to make sure green spaces are not forgotten.

"It's really about trying to make our community more beautiful, more healthy, but also providing some value. Those properties that build around schools, parks there are usually more valuable, they usually have an aesthetic value to them and so providing that," says city commissioner Josh Askvig.

Askvig and others have been working to develop an ordinance that would be passed by the city commission. Some possibilities include setting aside land, money or a combination of both to make sure parks are included as the city grows.

"Tried to address citizens concerns, developers concerns, and try to find a way to make it work so we can leave a legacy. One of the reasons we live just up the street, that's why I thought of it, this is the place we bring our son and hang out and bring the dog to play fetch and we meet our neighbors all the time," says Askvig.

Askvig says with the rapid development, it's the perfect time to bring this to the table. He says other communities like Dickinson, Grand Forks, and Fargo have ordinances for green spaces.

"Were talking about looking at the whole concept of how we are going to grow as a community as a whole. Having in place that we want to make sure that we dedicate space for people to be able to recreate or provide some beauty or aesthetics fits right into that whole planning," says Askvig.

Askvig says if the community and the city commission decides to move forward with the plan now is the time to do it, or we could risk falling behind.

You can offer your opinion at a meeting tomorrow night at the library. The meeting begins at 6pm and the public is encouraged to attend.