FARGO — When a North Dakota State University landscape architecture student discovered his class was working on plans for the next phase of the Garden of Healing and Health at Urban Plains Park next to Scheels Arena in South Fargo, he was all for it. .
The student, Bennett Rindy, had been a classmate and friend at West Fargo High School of Cameron Bolton, whose parents started the garden project last year to honor the 22-year-old who died in a car accident in 2018 and went on to save several lives through organ donation.
“He was very excited and motivated,” said father-in-law Arlin Fisher, who, along with his wife, Sarah, and Jodi Plecity of nonprofit Peoples Rising Academy, is trying to raise up to $1 million. dollars to significantly improve the garden. east of the arena.
Possible layouts for the place where they hope people can come to reflect, remember, meditate and heal in the stillness of nature include sculptures, fountains, benches, lighting, eternal flames, bodies of water, plantations, green spaces and music.
Rindy drew up plans for what the 100-by-300-foot second phase might look like, including a wall and plantings to try to drown out some of the noise from nearby, busy 32nd Avenue South.
“These are just concept plans,” Fisher said of the many ideas for the park.
Already, the park district has planted several taller trees in the unique, block-long but narrow park garden.
Fishers and Plecity presented their idea to the Fargo Park Board of Trustees last week and received approval to move forward with planning a full construction of the garden and fundraising.
A memorandum of understanding was also approved, giving the garden developers three years to complete the project, although Fisher said they hoped to start and complete most of the work next summer.
Council members asked about the three-year deadline, but recreation director Kevin Boe said any final deal could grant an extension.
The District and the Park Board should approve all final plans for the garden as it is on Park District property. The agreement also provides for maintenance to be provided by the gardening group.
Fisher said in the interview after the meeting that the Park District had been “great to work with and very cooperative.”
“Their knowledge of working with parks is valuable to us as well,” he said.
Garden promoters sell custom bricks for the park’s walkways and also participate in the Dakota Medical Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day.
A website – gardenofhealingfargo.com – explains more about the project and how to donate.
Fisher said the park, which sits midway between the city’s two main hospitals, will be a place for “all types of healing.”
He said it’s not just for those who have lost loved ones, but also for those who may know someone who is struggling or sick or recovering and regaining their life.
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