It was a surprise to many Fargo residents when it was announced this week that the sliding hill at Dike West Park will be closed this winter to accommodate pump station construction. But the project is ready to go, and as part of the city’s comprehensive flood control plan, it should not be delayed.
The “hill” is in fact the west side of a Red River levee. It’s not a natural feature of the landscape. It was constructed. Nonetheless, the Dike West sliding hill is one of the most popular winter recreation areas in the metro. Over the years, it’s been managed well by the Park District, including making artificial snow when Mother Nature does not cooperate. In the course of the Red River Valley’s long winter, thousands of kids and families enjoy the hill.
Not this winter. The $17 million pump station work must take priority. The city has made excellent progress since the great flood of 1997 in raising the flood protection levels for nearly all sections of Fargo. Pumps and lift stations are essential parts of that effort. The new one at Dike West is another important improvement in the city’s overall flood protection picture. The work will get done and the hill will reopen next year.
Hills are hard to find in mostly flat Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo. But Fargo has a snow sliding option at Edgewood Golf Course in north Fargo. It’s a beautiful setting and a good hill. West Fargo also has a hill in one of its parks. Of course, sledders need snow. The forecast for the next few days, however, is snow free.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper’s Editorial Board.
