Potential North Dam Park improvements discussed

Would you like it if North Dam Park had new tennis courts, lighted ball fields, new playground equipment, and more flowers? We want to know. 

Commissioners for The Coulee Area Parks and Recreation District last week discussed improvements that could be made at North Dam Park, which it manages. 

The improvements could potentially be paid for, at least in part, with money from various grants. 

The commissioners at their Dec. 9 meeting agreed to each look into various estimates for certain improvements to gain firmer cost ideas for any grant writing they pursue. 

One improvement discussed was resurfacing the tennis courts. 

Commissioner Tim Rasmussen, who is also the athletic director at Lake Roosevelt Schools, said that after speaking with companies that resurface tennis courts, he thought a rough estimate would be $5,000-$10,000 per court, although contractors would have to come on site for a true estimate.

Brand new courts cost about $20,000 each, he added.

CAPRD Treasurer Bob Valen suggested lighting the courts and ball fields, which Chairman Kevin Portch said would be a “game changer,” and would allow adult summer softball games to be played past dusk.

Valen said that Grant PUD helped light up the nearby Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds, and it would be smart to reach out to that utility concerning lighting the courts and fields and North Dam Park.

Portch said he would like flowers around the trees in the park, particularly along the highway, and noted how good the flowers look at the USBR-managed Banks Lake Park, which borders North Dam Park to the south.

Councilmember Carla Marconi said she felt the playground equipment was “old school” and could stand to be updated. 

The group would like public input on the park, Portch told The Star. 

The newspaper has created a brief online survey on the topic. It can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6WSX5SF .