The Daily News

With the official arrival of spring and 60 plus degree temperatures last week, the last of winter's snow has finally melted and people are ready to get out and recreate. In Wahpeton, there are many parks and activities available to them courtesy of the parks and recreation department.

Fortunately, the city's parks were not damaged in any way by the season's flooding.

"We really came out of the flood in good shape," said Parks and Recreation Director Wayne Beyer. "There aren't significant damages that we have to recover from. We have some clean up with high waters that leave some residue and silt in areas... at the Kidder Recreation Area."

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He added that it seemed in 2009 there was more water at Kidder Recreation Area, but the city was well-prepared having moved anything that could have floated away.

The rewards of his department's and the city's flood preparedness are visible to all.

"Last night, going to the Kidder Recreation Area, it was neat to see the shore lines filled with many fishermen... starting to catch fish already," said Beyer. "That was good to see."

In addition to fishing at Kidder, people are also starting to take advantage of the thawed ballfields in Chahinkapa Park.

"With the exception of some damp spots here or there they're mostly playable," said Beyer.

Still, Beyer's office will wait a couple of weeks before opening certain park facilities to the public, like restrooms and shelters. They typically open around April 15.

"Obviously, there's still going to be some cooler weather yet, so we have to be a little careful with waterlines freezing, for example," said Beyer.

Because of the high water table, a few areas like the sand volleyball court are restricted.

"But things are drying out quickly," he said.

There will be many activities and events to enjoy in the coming months, too many to list here. One example, though, is the youth fishing derby on Saturday, May 22.

"That's always a good opportunity for families to get out and fish on the (Red) river and learn that we have some fishing waters and natural resources right in our backyard," said Beyer.

Beyer's office has also made preparations for one of Wahpeton-Breckenridge's favorite pastimes — gardening. They are "accepting registrations for garden plots... from people who have previously gardened, so they get an opportunity to rent the same plots again," said Beyer.

The Twin Towns' enthusiasm for gardening is such that Parks and Recreation had to create new space gor gardening.

While Beyer's office revels in providing the optimal outdoor recreation experience, it largely emphasizes "trying to do a good job taking care of what we have."

"We're doing projects like putting siding up on swim pool buildings, we rebuilt the football crow's nest," said Beyer. "A lot of times your funds have to go toward taking care of things you have. It's always exciting to do new things, of course."

Beyer said it was an endeavor that could not be done without the participation of the community.

"We work with so many partners and we're really grateful for the different groups that work with us to provide all these opportunities," said Beyer. "A single governmental agency isn't going to be able to do all of these things, so we're pretty grateful for all the help that we get with a number of activities."

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