Making downtown Bismarck work requires more parking.

The city enjoys a downtown that's an asset to the community, unlike many cities where the center of the city has become an eyesore and an economic disadvantage. It's important to keep what's in downtown Bismarck and continue to expand upon it.

Having enough parking is part of the equation for a healthy downtown.

It's also important that Bismarck has become a regional medical center with a strong reputation. It means jobs. It means access to quality care. It means people travel to the city for medical attention and while they are here add to the economy. Adequate downtown parking is a part of that regional medical center package.

St. Alexius Medical Center is in the process of creating room for 90 parking spaces. And, proponents say that will not diminish the demand for downtown parking.

The city has been looking at this issue for a number of years. Sticker shock makes it a hard-to-close deal on building a parking ramp. Four years ago, the last time numbers were crunched, a 400-vehicle ramp was estimated to cost more than $5 million. It's likely the cost of construction would be carried by city-issued bonds and tax increment program.

Right now the city is looking at two sites: one-half block between Broadway and Thayer and another near the library.

We support Bismarck taking a reasoned and thoughtful approach to this issue.

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Gambling kiosks would be a bad bet

The North Dakota Racing Commission wants to install 100 walk-up wagering kiosks to increase horse racing's off-track betting. Without increased betting, horse racing may be in its dying stages here.

The racing commission helped fund the North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo, but that considerable investment has not paid for itself.

Gambling has a solid stake in North Dakota. You can wager at casinos and in bars and lounges. You can play bingo and buy lottery tickets. The individual pieces of the pie are shrinking. That may be about the free market when it comes to games of chance, however, gambling comes with its own set of issues: community-based charitable gaming, gambling addiction and support of nonprofit organizations.

The horse-racing kiosks split the pie one time too many. And they raise the stakes for social problems. The racing commission should leave well enough alone.