Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the correct date for the pub crawl later in April.
This year’s Leadership Aberdeen class wants to leave its mark at Baird Park.
The group is raising money to purchase a snow machine to create the ideal powder for Aberdeen’s sledding hill. The class has organized a capital campaign and a pub crawl to raise $100,000, which includes a contribution from the city.
A snow hill is currently the main feature of the park at 1715 24th Ave. N.E. east of Holgate Middle School. A long-term plan drafted in 2013 includes recreation trails, a pond, a parking area, a shelter, a playground and a viewing tower. Recreation trail development has begun, but many of the other features are still in the planning phase.
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Parks Recreation and Forestry Director Mark Hoven said the idea of a snow machine at Baird Park isn’t new. The city explored the idea in 2016, though at that time three fixed machines would have been needed and the cost was higher than expected, so the plan was shelved.
Leadership Aberdeen participant Buddy Yamaura said he and his classmates are proposing a snow machine on wheels that can then be moved to different positions to cover the hill.
As long as temperature is below 29, the machine would be able to run, he said, and the machine’s main fan is built in Aberdeen at Twin City Fan.
Once funds are raised, Yamaura said, the city will purchase and maintain the machine, which requires a water connection. The machine would spray out a fine mist that would change to snow when it hits the cool air, he said.
Yamaura said Leadership Aberdeen is raising money in two ways. The capital campaign is accepting direct contributions, and a pub crawl is slated for April 27. Proceeds will go to purchase the snow machine. Preregistration is $10 and the cost increases $5 the day of the event. People who register two weeks in advance will be guaranteed a pub crawl cup, which will feature a map of the downtown stops. The event begins at City Lights and finishes at The Zoo.
For more information, visit shorturl.at/nyHQ0.
Even with a successful campaign, the snow machine won’t be purchased until 2025 at the earliest, Yamaura and Hoven said. It would need to be added to the 2025-26 budget.
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Yamaura said he expects the purchase of the snow machine to cost about $38,000. The extra money would help with more park improvements, he said.
“The potential for the area is high,” Leadership Aberdeen class member Sarah Engel said. “We wanted to get the ball rolling.”
Leadership Aberdeen is a leadership training program for young adults.
News and notes
- Northern State University’s GiveNDay starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 3 and continues through 9 p.m. Thursday, April 4. The NSU Foundation event encourages contributions to programs on campus. There are a variety of donation opportunities. For more information, visit givingday.northern.edu.
- The Aberdeen Resource and Career Fair is Wednesday, April 3 from 2 to 6 p.m. at K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library, 215 Fourth Ave. S.E. All job seekers are welcome. Business owners and managers with resources or career opportunities for displaced workers can register at cutt.ly/AprilCareerFair. There is no cost to attend or participate. The fair is sponsored by the city, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Aberdeen Development Corp. and Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 605-225-2860 for more information.
- The April Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce Community Affairs Luncheon is at noon Friday, April 12 at the Best Western Ramkota Convention Center, 1400 Eighth Ave. N.W. David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will recap the 2024 legislative session. Lunch is $30 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers. Reservations are due April 9 by calling 605-225-2860 or emailing info@aberdeen-chamber.com.
- A campaign school organized by the Aberdeen Home Builders Association that was scheduled for Wednesday, March 27 has been postponed to April 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce conference room, 514 S. Main St. It’s from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The aim is to answer questions about running for elected office. Class space is limited to 20. The cost is $50, which includes lunch. Register by calling 605-225-2860 or emailing info@aberdeen-chamber.com.
- Minnesota State University Moorhead has created a tuition-free scholarship program for students from North Dakota and South Dakota. It will provide financial assistance to residents with an adjusted gross income of up to $80,000. The scholarships are available to new enrollees and transfer students.
- South Dakota Public Broadcasting is hosting a Dakota Life Community Conversation on Thursday, April 4 at the Britton Area Event Center, 1203 Third St. in Britton. The goal is to collect stories for a future episode of Dakota Life Britton. Community members can stop by between 1 and 5 p.m. to share their stories and learn more about Dakota Life.
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Brian Bengs, former legal advisor and operational law instructor at NATO School Oberammergau, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at Northern State University’s Johnson Fine Arts Center in Room 117. His presentation is titled “Collective Self-Defense: Understanding U.S. Involvement in NATO.” The talk will provide an exploration into the historical origins of NATO, its organizational structure and its role in the international security system. The event is sponsored by the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement and is open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow.
- A two-day beginner’s workshop for grant-writing is April 8 and April 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Ellendale American Legion Event Center in Ellendale, N.D. North Dakota Extension agent Danielle Dinger will cover developing ideas for winning grant proposals, identifying and working with funding sources and understanding the development, submittal and review processes. The cost is $45, and the class is limited to 20 people. Â Register at ndsu.ag/ellendalegrants.
- The Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is accepting job applications for summer season positions. The application deadline has been extended to Friday, April 12. Visit aberdeen.sd.us/jobs for more information.