Bemidji MN

“The city operates as an urban center in certain ways, bringing income and price challenges.” City officials want to coordinate and leverage Bemidji’s resources with its Indigenous population’s skills and initiative. Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Ojibwe, and White Earth Nation transform rundown apartment complexes into transitional housing and old schools into community centers. Sharing the land and consulting with those who came before gives people a deep appreciation of the natural wonders and peaceful, untouched landscape experienced by settlers. Bemidji boasts 18 public parks covering 250 acres and an 8,000-foot shoreline. Relish in the three swimming beaches, boat docks, fishing pier, marina, and picnic shelters.Amenities extend to six baseball fields, eight tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts, and 10 playgrounds. The Bemidji Town and Country Club is home to the annual Birchmount and Club Vandersluis Memorial Golf Tournaments. Other nearby golf courses include Maple Ridge, Greenwood, and Castle Highlands. For adventurers, Bemidji’s parks offer 13 miles of trails, ATV/OHVing, a disc golf course, a skate park, and a dog area. The Mississippi Headwaters in Itasca State Park (a 30-minute drive) is where themightyMississippi River begins its knee-deep, 2,348-mile (3,779-kilometer) winding journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Winter recreational activities include four ice skating rinks, snowmobiling, and downhill and cross-country skiing. LOOKING AHEAD: SHAPING ITS DESTINY Bemidji prioritizes two items needing attention in 2024. “Partnering with developers and housing programs will help us start more projects,” says Prince.“We are going to tap into the funds available through the state.” 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 03