GLYNDON, Minn. – A plan under development for Buffalo River State Park will help determine the future of recreational opportunities and natural resources at the park, including its decommissioned swimming pond.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is in the first steps of developing a new management plan for Buffalo River State Park that will guide decisions about the park's programs and facilities for the next 15 to 20 years. An open day on Monday December 9th at 6.30pm will collect suggestions from members of the public about what they would like to see in the park.
The last management plan for the park was completed in the late 1970s, said park manager Brian Nelson. The plan directs the park to invest efforts in the natural and cultural resources as well as the interpretive and recreational opportunities provided by the park.
“It’s really a guide for us as to what we’d like to see in the park going forward,” Nelson said.
In developing the plan, DNR staff would examine recreational use trends in the park, such as trends in winter recreation, trail use and campsite reservations, he said. Now the DNR is surveying the public about their interests.
A leisure facility, a swimming pond with a sandy bottom, was last open in 2019. Over the years, it has been closed due to lifeguard shortages, COVID-19 restrictions and, most recently, damage to the pool's infrastructure. Whether the plan includes repairs to the pond depends on interest, Nelson said.
“This will come at a high cost,” Nelson said. “Whether this is something we want to put our money into or whether it's something else, we'll find out based on people's contributions. Maybe there are other ideas we want to invest in.”
During Monday's open house, staff will provide information about the park and attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas about desired features of the park in the future.
For more information about the management plan, visit the DNR website at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/mgmtplans/parks_trails/buffalo-river-state-park-planning.html. The page also includes a link to a public questionnaire so that people who cannot attend the open house can provide input.
What: Buffalo River State Park Management Plan Open House.
When: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., Monday, December 9th.
Where: Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Science Center, 663 164th St. S, Glyndon, Minn.
