Vicki Dawson

As the current Fargo Park Board President, I have served as a commissioner since 2018. My family has utilized and participated in numerous program, parks, and facilities of the parks, giving me first hand knowledge of Fargo Parks. Having served on the Clara Barton Hawthorne PTA, Fargo Youth Hockey, and Northern Region Association of Safety Professionals, gives me skills to work as a team on a common goal to serve others. Together, my fellow commissioners and Fargo Parks staff developed master plans for Island Park and Yunker Farm. We designed and built Island Park Pool and the Fargo Parks Sports Center.

1. Providing opportunities to all Fargo Residents. This includes programs for all ages. Everyone deserves to have parks and recreation available to them. We need to continue to provide playgrounds and parks that are accessible to all.
2. Seeking Community Input. Gathering community input on projects, parks and playgrounds has been developed and improved during my time on the board. Input from our stakeholders, the residents of Fargo, helps Fargo Parks thrive.
3. Being Fiscally Responsible to the Fargo Taxpayer. Careful spending of taxpayer dollars while providing necessary resources for the health and wellbeing of Fargo is crucial.

Continuing to provide new opportunities, parks and facilities, while taking care of existing parks and facilities is our greatest challenge and most important opportunity. As a steward of Fargo Taxpayers’ money and Fargo Parks budget, this is crucial. Long-term maintenance isn’t attractive, but if neglected, we will face greater issues.
One great opportunity is serving residents age 55-110 years old. Many are active and will be for decades to come. As one of our fastest growing populations, we must provide this group more opportunities such as the successful SAIL class offered at no cost at the Fargo Parks Sports Center.

We are currently developing an overall Fargo Parks Master Plan to guide us for several decades. It will provide us with a blueprint for long-term and short-term goals and opportunities. Developing the Master Plan has enabled us to see what areas of Fargo and who need our attention. It will also enable us to be even more fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars through our Capital Improvement Projects guide. This plan will insure the long-term success of Fargo Parks to the benefit for the entire Fargo community.