November 2, 2026

MEETING NOTES

DEPARTMENT MEETING NOTES

• Parks Meeting Notes
• Recreation Meeting Notes

IT CORNER

VPN UPDATE | The remote access VPN project is getting very close to the testing phase. A few other priorities required the team’s attention this week, which slowed progress slightly, but work will resume shortly. We’ll share more information as we finalize the testing plan and move closer to deployment.

PHONE REPLACEMENT PROJECT | Thank you to the managers who identified staff to participate in our requirements-gathering discussions. We’ve started this work and appreciate everyone’s involvement. While a few other priorities have slowed scheduling slightly, we’ll schedule the remaining discussions soon and expect to complete requirements gathering in November.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

PROGRAMS

• Beginner Fly Tying: Wooly Bugger (Teens & Adults)
• Junior Archery, Level 1 (Ages 9-12)
• Junior Archery, Level 2 (Ages 9-12)
• Self-Defense (Ages 9-12 & 16+)
• Adult Volleyball Leagues
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Adult Hockey League Starts
• Drop In Hockey Starts on Wednesday
• Art Workshop (60+) at Yunker Farm – Felting – November 3 1:00–2:30pm
• Safety Social at Broadway Station – Presented by Vision Zero – November 4 10:00–11:00am

PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN | Staff working on the Park System Master Plan met with Confluence on Friday to review the Executive Summary and Action Plan. Preparations are being made for the presentation of the master plan at the All Staff Meeting, December 8 at 2:00 p.m. A presentation will be made to the Commissioners that evening at the monthly board meeting. 

EVENTS

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING | The annual Holiday Tree Lighting sponsored by Luther Family Ford held at Broadway Square has a new date.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 at 6:00 pm. The event will be held on the same day as the Downtown Community Partnership's Xcel Holiday Lights Parade. The Fargo Park District will host the Holiday Tree Lighting just before the parade starts and will not have a float for the parade. Look for more details on the program coming in November.  

GIVE BACK

GREAT NORTH POLE | Staff are invited to volunteer to help spread holiday cheer during the Great North Pole - Week of Giving, December 7-10. You can volunteer by delivering presents or serving as a shopping specialist. Both roles are completed in teams of two or three. You can sign up as a team or individually. For more details about the Great North Pole, click here. To sign up, contact Marcy Brush, Administrative Specialist, at mbrush@fargoparks.com or 701-499-7788.

SECRET SANTA FOR SENIORS | Valley Senior Services (VSS) is looking for holiday heroes to help spread cheer to socially isolated and homebound seniors through its annual Secret Santa for Seniors program! Each year, VSS works with seniors who have limited financial resources to create holiday wish lists, which are fulfilled by generous community shoppers. In 2025, the program provided gifts to more than 260 senior households! This year, Fargo Park District staff are encouraged to volunteer one hour between December 7–18 to help deliver gifts, with the goal of reaching all recipients before December 24. Staff interested in participating should first receive approval from their direct supervisor, then email Kassie at kemanuel@fargoparks.com to coordinate a delivery time or ask questions.

Volunteers can participate individually or in small groups, and festive attire like Santa hats, elf ears, and ugly sweaters is highly encouraged! It's a wonderful opportunity to give back, spread some holiday joy, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local seniors. Thank you to everyone who helps make this special program possible!

HR CORNER

OPEN POSITIONS

Events Supervisor - interviewing top canidates

Park Maintenance - interviewing top canidates

Mow Crew Lead - interviewing top canidates

Facilities Operations Supervisor - application deadline is November 2

OPEN ENROLLMENT | Open Enrollment kicks off on November 2 through Paylocity. Be sure to log in, review your benefit selections, and make any changes needed for the upcoming year. Keep an eye on your email for enrollment resources, deadlines, and helpful reminders.

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS | Performance Reviews are live in Paylocity! Employees and Supervisors can now officially begin working towards the completion of the 2026 Performance Reviews! The template is the same as last year, however if employees or supervisors need assistance, they can reach out to anyone on the HR Team. Below are the specific deadlines for the process:

• November 13 - Employee Self-Appraisal Submitted
• November 28 – Supervisor Portion of Appraisal Submitted
• December 11 – Directors review of performance appraisal content completed
• December 16 – Performance appraisal finalized and final recommendation for merit increase submitted to Human Resources.

Employees can visit the SEED Wellness Program page on ParkBench for continued Wellness Resources.New information is posted frequently, so employees are encouraged to check back often!

PARK PRAISE

Great things are happening in our parks, and people are talking about it! If you receive a compliment, spot a positive news mention, or hear great feedback about our parks, events, or programs, share it with us. Let’s highlight the stories that remind us why we do what we do. Visit our weekly overview page to submit a story.

GROUNDED IN GOOD WORK

THE PEOPLE AND STORIES BEHIND OUR VALUES:

AUTHENTIC. BOLD. COLLABORATIVE.

Know someone who truly embodies our values? Share a quick story or shoutout recognizing a teammate, program, project, or anything that shows what it means to be authentic, bold, and collaborative. Submissions can highlight you or a coworker, and your story could be featured in an upcoming weekly overview! Visit our weekly overview page to submit a story.

SNOW READY | Operations held its annual winter preparation training last Tuesday, reinforcing safe operating practices for payloaders, tractors, trucks, and toolcats ahead of the winter season. Teams reviewed snow-pushing and snow-blowing techniques, as well as proper equipment recovery procedures, including identifying designated hookup points and safely recovering equipment stuck in snow or mud.

A big thank-you to Jeremiah, our Park Supervisors, and the entire Operations team for coming together to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and prepare for the winter season. Your teamwork and commitment to looking out for one another play a vital role in keeping our crews safe and ensuring we're ready to tackle whatever winter brings. Bring on the snow!

FARGO PARKS IN THE NEWS

Thank you for growing community through places, spaces and experiences!