The Mandan Park Board gave its approval to the Dacotah Centennial Park master plan, despite the misgivings of one of its user groups.

The park board met Monday evening and heard a recommendation from a Dacotah Centennial Park committee, which has been meeting for several months in an effort to develop a master plan.

Park district Director Cole Higlin gave a short presentation on what came out of the committee's last meeting on Oct. 25. The groups involved in the committee included the Stockcar Association, Horse and Saddle Association, Mandan Progress Organization and the park district.

"The master plan is needed to give us a good understanding of the park and the direction it's taking," Higlin said.

The most immediate change will be moving the horse arena, located just southwest of the grandstands to the southeast. Work will begin soon, with expectations of having the move complete by May of next year.

There are several other amenities planned for the park, but no timeline has been set, and the changes will depend of future funding.

Some of the things laid out in the master plan included a playground and shelter, grandstand extension of each wing, technological enhancements, a grandstand cover, additional lighting, structured parking, a 38,000-square-foot indoor arena and room for a possible 25,000-square-foot hockey arena.

Higlin said that most of the items were far in the future and most had no dollars associated with them. He said that for some events, the grandstands were at capacity, and that an indoor arena would allow Dacotah Centennial to be open year-round. Currently, it is used four to six months.

Ellen Huber, representing the Horse and Saddle Association, told park board members that her group would just as soon see the horse arena remain where it is.

"It's been in its current location for 15 years, and we would love to have it stay there," Huber said.

"This move is being done at the request of the Stockcar Association. They want to put their cars where the current arena is. We're not for the move, but this is the compromise that was worked out."

Eventually, Higlin said, he wants to see the roads and some of the parking areas paved. The city is planning on redoing some streets, and he said that the recycled asphalt possibly could be used at the park.

Board member Bruce Brucker, who represented the park district at the user group meetings, made the motion to adopt the master plan, and it was unanimously approved by the park board.

In other activity, the board:

n Accepted at $7,200 donation from the Kiwanis Club.

n Heard that Mandan was awarded the 2009 Men's Master 40 and Over national softball tournament. The park district bid $8,000 for the tournament at the National Softball Association convention held in Louisville,Ky., last week.

The tournament will be held Aug. 28-30. A special tournament committee will be set up and start looking at what the district will do for the tournament. Higlin said he expects some improvements to the Mandan diamonds will be needed, and $10,000 has been set aside for the work.

The bid will be paid by the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)