Money woes

The prospects of skiing at Spring Lake Park this coming winter are dimming, as proponents of a winter park there have not returned a lease agreement to the Williston Parks and Recreation Department.

Parks and Rec director Darin Krueger told the Williston Park Board during its recent regular monthly meeting that organizers of the proposed Dakota Winter Park are apparently still working on financing. The facility has been proposed by Shannon Burns, his father, Dennis Hilton, and Steve and Kristine Kemp.

The group earlier proposed a facility at Spring Lake Park north of Williston that includes downhill tubing, snow boarding and skiing. The proposed area involves about 3 acres on the park's north side northwest of the swimming area.

The proposal involves drawing water from the adjacent lake for a snow gun that would make snow to cover the slopes.

At it's regular monthly September meeting, the park board approved a five-year lease for the Dakota Winter Park group to assist it in obtaining financing.

"I don't know if it's going to happen or not," Krueger said of the winter park. "The lease is in their court. I hope they get it done."

Krueger said he's heard a lot of comments from the public about the proposed facility.

"I think it will be great for Williston," he said.

In other matters, Krueger told the board the district is in need of volunteers for Thursday's haunted house at the keel boat in Spring Lake Park and for the all-city Halloween Party on Saturday at the Raymond Family Community Center.

Krueger said the haunted house was moved from the community center this year because are youth have learned where people are coming out.

"You got to change it up," Krueger said of the haunted house layout. "There's no excitement for the kids who have been coming for the past three years."

He said having the event in the keel boat provides something different for everyone involved.