U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) is advancing plans to transform a former landfill in southwest Minot, N.D., into a major recreation hub while also supporting transportation improvements designed to accommodate the region’s future growth.
The redevelopment effort centers on a 26-acre site that was once designated as a Superfund property. Since 2018, Sen. Hoeven has worked with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minot Park Board to move the project through environmental reviews and a lengthy approval process required to modify a 1996 settlement that prohibits development on the former landfill.
Under the proposal, the site would feature an 18-hole disc golf course, mountain biking trails, and cross-country running trails. The project also would provide space for a proposed expansion of the Maysa Arena, including a fourth ice rink and a field house, according to information provided by the senator’s staff.
“Between the redevelopment of Minot’s former landfill and the proposed expansion of the Maysa Arena, we are working to make a major, multi-purpose upgrade to the recreational facilities available in the Minot region,” Sen. Hoeven said. “We’ve been at this since 2018, working with the EPA and the City of Minot to develop a plan, move through the required approvals, and make the needed modifications to the court settlement that prevents any development on the site.
The EPA’s public comment period on the redevelopment plan ends June 1. If few comments are received, the EPA could seek final court approval within 30 to 60 days. The agency has committed to completing the process by Sept. 30, supporting the city’s goal of beginning construction this year, staff said.
Sen. Hoeven also recently secured a commitment from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to move the process forward as quickly as possible.
The recreation project is also tied to Sen. Hoeven’s efforts to improve safety and reduce congestion near the site through Minot’s Accessible, Growth-driving Intermodal Connector (MAGIC) project.
Sen. Hoeven previously secured $4 million in federal funding for planning, design, and construction of the proposed bypass connecting Highways 2/52 and U.S. 83. Ward County expects engineering and environmental work to be completed by June 2028, with construction to follow.
“This project will benefit from our work to improve safety at the nearby intersection of Highway 2/52 and the Burdick Expressway as part of the broader MAGIC project,” Sen. Hoeven said. “This bypass project will be an investment in the region’s economic and population growth, while providing needed transportation capacity as we undertake nuclear modernization at the Minot Air Force Base.”